DAWN FM: Every Song Ranked
Since The Weeknd’s announcement for his After Hours Til Dawn Stadium tour- that I and millions of others cannot wait for- I have been revisiting Dawn FM, the Weeknd’s most recent studio album. Dawn FM is structured like you are listening to the radio, each song bleeds into the next. We meet the Weeknd in purgatory, reflecting on his past life. It is the come down from the After Hours persona who was heartless and blinded by the lights. Albums like Dawn FM are rarely made anymore- the album stands together, rather than having singles. It feels like one continuous song, yet here we are, breaking each piece down and ranking it. So let’s dive in…
16. Best Friends
Similar to “Here We Go…Again”, this song feels out of place on the album. However, it doesn’t have the lyrics and melody to back it up.
15. Don’t You Break My Heart
This song feels the most forgettable on the album. It has themes that other songs on the album do better, and a beat that is lacking. Yet, it is still a Weeknd song, and is still wonderful.
14. I Heard You’re Married
This song was the root of most Ariana Grande and the Weeknd rumors, but otherwise feels forgettable compared to the rest of the album.
13. How Do I Make You Love Me?
“How Do I Make You Love Me?” is a great song on it’s own, especially the build up to it’s chorus. But it gets lost in the album for me- other songs seem to resonate more.
12. Every Angel is Terrifying
Every Angel is Terrifying acts as a good midpoint for the album: it has a song, a spoken word, and the interlude, advertising Afterlife like it is an 80’s workout plan.
11. Dawn FM
Dawn FM sets the tone for the album with Jim Carrey introducing us to what we are about to experience. It isn’t as effective as Phantom Regret, but serves its purpose to the story.
10. Is There Someone Else?
The placing of this song, right after Best Friends, is very clever on the Weeknd’s part. Best Friends is the Weeknd’s “Heartless” persona- all he cares about is his best friend not wanting to have meaningless sex anymore. But here, we meet the Weeknd at a more vulnerable place. He wonders, “Oh (oh), is there someone else or not?, 'Cause I wanna keep you close”.
9. Sacrifice
Sacrifice immediately pulls you in with it’s base. It is one of the only songs on the album that talks about life: “I was born in a city, Where the winter nights don't ever sleep, So this life's always with me, The ice inside my veins will never bleed.” It shifts a different tone in this purgatory the Weeknd created, adding something new to the journey. He sings, “Life is still worth living.”
8. Out of Time
Out of Time is what Dawn FM is about: “I look back now, and I realize…” Dawn FM is about reflecting on life. TheWeeknd ponders his regrets - the bad timing and miscommunications. This prompts us to do the same.
7. A Tale By Quincy
Quincy reflects on his life - was he a good dad? He doesn’t know. But he wanted to be. But his childhood was broken, which left him broken. A Tale By Quincy tells the story of life, and the vicious cycles we face- reminding us we are still in purgatory.
6. Starry Eyes
After “Is There Someone Else?”, we meet the Weeknd at an even more vulnerable place. He sings, “And now you're my reality, And I wanna feel you close, But you're defeated, baby Broken, hurtin', sufferin' from a shattered soul...I'll get you back on your feet Let me love you, let me love you like you need.” The Weeknd wants to care for his lover, a side of the Weeknd we don’t often see.
5. Take My Breath
The beat is undeniable on this one—it was a good choice for the Weeknd to release it first.
4. Here We Go… Again
Here We Go…Again sounds like it could be on another Weeknd album- it is very reminiscent of Starboy, calling people out somewhat directly. The Weeknd reflects on the LA culture and dating scene: “The city dark, city dangerous, Your girlfriend's tryna pair you with somebody more famous, But instead you ended up with someone so basic, Faceless, Someone to take your pictures and frame it.” Despite it feeling somewhat out of place, the lyricism and melody created by the Weeknd and Tyler the Creator are undeniably incredible.
3. Gasoline
Gasoline contemplates death while a catchy beat plays in the background- very on theme for the album. “And I love it when you watch me sleep, You spin me 'round so I can breathe It's only safe for you and me,I know you won't let me OD, And if I finally die in peace Just wrap my body in these sheets (Sheets), And pour out the gasolinе, It don’t mean much to me.” One of the best things about the Weeknd’s music is the slow reveal of what you are actually singing. You like the song because the beat won’t get out of your head, and then realize the weight of the lyrics. Gasoline also does something new during the first half of the song. It is repetitive and sung in a lower autotuned voice. I have never heard a song quite like this.
2. Phantom Regret
Phantom Regret is the perfect closing to the album. Jim Carrey narrates our exit from Dawn FM, and makes us reflect on something more profound. What does the afterlife mean? What does it look like? At this point in the album, we have surrendered to the Weeknd, and are almost hypnotized. “And if your broken heart's heavy when you step on the scale, You'll be lighter than air when they pull back the veil, Consider the flowers, they don't try to look right, They just open their petals and turn to the light.” The song is melancholic, haunting, and leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction yet a desire for more once you finish the album.
1. Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero immediately grabs you in. It does what the Weeknd does best: it has a beat you can’t get out of your head, while feeling like you are too broken to ever be loved again: “I know, I'll always be less than zero, oh yeah, You tried your best with me, I know, I couldn't face you with my darkest truth of all, oh-oh.”
Cover Photo by The Pitchfork.