I last posted an installment of my ‘What the Kids Are Listening To’ series more than a year ago, before the coronavirus had even reached U.S. soil. The final song back then was The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights,’ sitting at #15 prior to the release of his album After Hours.
‘Blinding Lights’ is at #11 now, after setting a record by becoming the first song in history to spend a full year in Billboard’s Top 10. It holds the record for the most weeks spent in the Top 5, Top 10, Top 20 and Top 40. If only the rest of the world could have had as rewarding a year as that song.
On the current Hot 100, The Weeknd finds himself in the #1 spot with a remix of another song from After Hours. ‘Save Your Tears’ reached #4 back in August, but it took a recording with Ariana Grande to push the song to the top spot. This is the sixth #1 for both The Weeknd and Grande.
I’m not crazy about the trend of reworking songs to hold on to a spot on the charts. It feels too much like cheating, and makes me wonder if Billboard will have to create some rules around the practice.
That said, Grande’s presence fits this already excellent song beautifully. I haven’t really enjoyed her past few albums, but she nails this performance.
Ooh (Ooh)
Na-na, yeah
[Verse 1: The Weeknd]
I saw you dancing in a crowded room (Uh)
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
[Refrain: The Weeknd & Ariana Grande]
I don’t know why I run away (Oh)
I make you cry when I run away (Oh)
[Pre-Chorus: The Weeknd]
Take me back ’cause I wanna stay
Save your tears for another
[Chorus: The Weeknd & Ariana Grande]
Save your tears for another day (Oh)
Save your tears for another day (Mm)
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
Met you once under a Pisces moon
I kept my distance ’cause I know that you
Don’t like when I’m with nobody else
I couldn’t help it, I put you through hell
[Refrain: Ariana Grande]
I don’t know why I run away, oh boy (Run away, oh yeah; oh)
I make you cry when I run away (Away, oh; oh)
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Boy, take me back ’cause I wanna stay
Save your tears for another
I realize that it’s much too late
And you deserve someone better
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Save your tears for another day (Oh)
Save your tears for another day (Oh)
[Refrain: Both, Ariana Grande]
(Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum)
I don’t know why I run away (Oh)
(Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum)
I make you cry when I run away (Save)
[Chorus: Both, Ariana Grande & The Weeknd]
Save your tears for another day (Ooh; oh)
Ooh, girl, I said (Okay)
Save (Save) your (Your) tears for another day (Oh yeah, yeah; oh)
[Outro: The Weeknd & Both]
Save your tears for another day (Oh)
Save your tears for another day (Oh)
Save your tears for another day
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m not too bothered by the double charting of a remixed song. Perhaps one of the best recent examples is “Old Town Road” with Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus.
To me, the double charting of a remix is similar to what has happened for decades with an already released moderately charted song getting a second greater life by inclusion in a movie or TV show. I’m sure in many cases the motive for the artist is to juice the popularity of the song.
I just hope he’s removed all the bandages by now! I was underwhelmed by his Super Bowl show, though I’ve generally enjoyed his music. As for the trend, it does seem a bit disingenuous. Include Ariana from the start; she’s a great addition
The Weeknd fully committed to this shift to a 80s more synth driven sound on “After Hours”. However, it’s not exactly a shift that I’m a huge fan of. I am not the biggest fan of this song. I find it pretty generic with a bland chorus. Ariana Grande has a great voice and serves this song fine, but doesn’t bring such a flare to change my opinion of the song in any way.
I hope on The Weeknd’s next album he returns to the moody R&B soul sample and thumping bass driven songs from “Beauty Behind the Madness” and “Starboy”. If not, then it’d be difficult to call myself a fan anymore.