Is it just me, or does The Weeknd sound like he wants to get back together with Bella Hadid [1]? After almost four long years, The Weeknd released his fourth studio album [2], After Hours, last week, and it's filled to the brim with references about his ex. The Weeknd and Hadid famously dated on and off [3] from 2015 to 2019, but it seems like the singer may be having second thoughts about their split [4]. In fact, in "Snowchild," many fans are convinced they hear the model giggling in the background. To top it off, The Weeknd just released three new songs [5] in a deluxe edition of the album, and two of those seem to include lyrics about his ex. Hmm . . . It's unclear if Hadid has heard the album yet, but it sure sounds like The Weeknd had her on his mind when he wrote it. Keep reading for a track-by-track breakdown of all the references.
"Too Late"
- "Sources say that we're done, how would they know? / We're in hell, it's disguised as a paradise with flashing lights." — The Weeknd and Hadid's on-again, off-again relationship [7] has been well-documented in the media, but given the fact that he's pretty private when it comes to his personal life and rarely gives interviews [8], he's wondering how they would know anything about the status of their romance.
"Hardest to Love"
- "You try with me so many times, yeah." — The Weeknd and Hadid have been dating on and off [9] since 2015.
- "But I've been the hardest to love / You're tryna let me go, yeah / And I can see it, I can see it." — Given the couple's tumultuous history, it makes sense that Hadid would want to move on from The Weeknd. In between their breakups, she reportedly dated Drake [10] and Odell Beckham Jr.
"Scared to Live"
- "When I saw the signs, I shoulda let you go / But I kept you beside me / And if I held you back, at least I held you close." — Instead of moving on after their first breakup [11] in November 2016, The Weeknd and Hadid just couldn't quit each other. Here, The Weeknd realizes it was probably best to just let Hadid go the first time around.
- "You always miss the chance to fall for someone else / Cause your heart only knows me / They try to win your love, but there was nothing left / They just made you feel lonely." — Even though Hadid has been linked to Drake and Odell Beckham Jr., her most prominent relationship has been with The Weeknd.
"Snowchild"
- "She never need a man, she what a man need / So I keep on falling for her daily / We was at Coachella going brazy / Stack a couple Ms like I was Shady / Now I'm in Tribeca like I'm JAY-Z." — The Weeknd and Hadid first sparked dating rumors at Coachella [12] in 2015, and three years later, she moved in to his apartment in Tribeca [13]. Fans also noticed a giggle in the background here, which many believe may be Hadid's.
"Escape From LA"
- "She got Chrome Hearts hangin' from her neck." — Hadid is a model and spokesperson [14] for Chrome Hearts.
"Heartless"
- "I thought I lost you this time / You just came back in my life / You never gave up on me / I'll never know what you see." — Following their August 2019 split, the two started hanging out again a month later. The Weeknd attended Hadid's 23rd birthday party in NYC [15], though a rep told People they just went as friends.
"In Your Eyes"
- "I tried to find love / In someone else too many times / But I hope you know I mean it / When I tell you you're the one that was on my mind, oh." — In between one of The Weeknd and Hadid's breakups, he famously dated Selena Gomez [16] for seven months in 2017. Shortly after their breakup, though, The Weeknd rekindled his romance with Hadid [17].
"Save Your Tears"
- "I saw you dancing in a crowded room / You look so happy when I'm not with you / But then you saw me, caught you by surprise / A single teardrop falling from your eye." — This perhaps is a reference to The Weeknd and Hadid's run-in at a night club in August 2019. Just days after their split, The Weeknd and Hadid both showed up to the same club [18] in LA, but the model ended up leaving shortly after her ex arrived.
"After Hours"
- "Where are you now when I need you most? / I'd give it all just to hold you close / Sorry that I broke your heart, your heart." — Here, The Weeknd sounds like he's regretting breaking up with Hadid and maybe even wants to get back together with her.
- "It was simply a blessing wakin' beside you / I'll never let you down again, again." — The Weeknd seems to be missing his relationship with Hadid and is feeling remorseful about his actions.
"Nothing Compares"
- "I been tryin' hard to find the words to say / If we tried again, we'd make the same mistakes." — This one is a little vague, but The Weeknd may still have strong feelings for Hadid. However, he's scared things may not work out if they try again, given their history.
"Missed You"
- "Convinced myself to run around with someone else to forget about you / But I can't hold you responsible for the things I do." — The Weeknd could be referencing the time he dated Selena Gomez [19] during his brief split from Hadid in 2017. The two dated for almost a year before Selena eventually reconciled with Justin Bieber [20] and The Weeknd reunited with Bella [21].
Links:
[1] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Bella-Hadid-Weeknd-Relationship-Timeline-44836563
[2] https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/when-is-weeknd-dropping-his-new-album-after-hours-47232312
[3] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Bella-Hadid-Weeknd-Cutest-Pictures-40216590
[4] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Bella-Hadid-Weeknd-Break-Up-2019-46462572
[5] https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/the-weeknd-after-hours-bonus-songs-47352453
[6] https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/snl-on-the-couch-skit-the-weeknd-video-47289306
[7] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Bella-Hadid-Weeknd-Relationship-Timeline-44836563
[8] https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/weeknd-talks-about-his-after-hours-album-in-cr-men-47236256
[9] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Bella-Hadid-Weeknd-Cutest-Pictures-40216590
[10] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Who-Has-Bella-Hadid-Dated-46543232
[11] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Weeknd-Bella-Hadid-Break-Up-November-2016-42693400
[12] http://www.eonline.com/news/654281/bella-hadid-and-the-weeknd-dating-they-have-many-things-in-common-get-the-scoop
[13] http://www.wmagazine.com/story/bella-hadid-weeknd-tribeca-apartment/
[14] http://hypebae.com/2019/11/bella-hadid-chrome-hearts-collaboration-tease-first-look
[15] http://people.com/music/bella-hadid-the-weeknd-celebrated-her-birthday-as-friends/
[16] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Best-Selena-Gomez-Weeknd-Pictures-2017-43992913
[17] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Weeknd-Leaving-Bella-Hadid-NYC-Apartment-November-2017-44264101
[18] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=941UZiIMaXo
[19] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Selena-Gomez-Weeknd-Relationship-Details-43089381
[20] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Selena-Gomez-Justin-Bieber-Out-LA-November-2017-44206432
[21] https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Weeknd-Bella-Hadid-Dating-Again-44899193
