A Track-by-Track Breakdown of All the Bella Hadid References on The Weeknd's New Album
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Is it just me, or does The Weeknd sound like he wants to get back together with Bella Hadid? After almost four long years, The Weeknd released his fourth studio album, 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 from 2015 to 2019, but it seems like the singer may be having second thoughts about their split. 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 in 2015, and three years later, she moved in to his apartment in Tribeca. 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 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, 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 for seven months in 2017. Shortly after their breakup, though, The Weeknd rekindled his romance with Hadid.
"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 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 during his brief split from Hadid in 2017. The two dated for almost a year before Selena eventually reconciled with Justin Bieber and The Weeknd reunited with Bella.