What Kiss Land Taught Me About Albums.

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

Listen to the extended cut on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Podcasts! OurThoughts Live🎙 is a weekly livestream show we do every Thursday @ 5 pm pst / 8 pm est, covering all things music, pop culture, and whatever else is on our mind💭 peep the latest episode here!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYWcc614o7ieppI We have some other Weeknd breakdowns that you might find interesting: After Hours deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqnci3dqf8l6fK8 Farewell to After Hours era: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHa8c6mfmqxgf7M DAWN FM deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnvGfGmQjJVjoas HDIMYLM music video breakdown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIfbamOobMatidE

[@kitchenboy4221]

Man it’s crazy to think that The Weeknd, a man who was homeless, and kinda had nothing brought us all together

[@mamkn1008]

fr,my guy literally became our home

[@Luna-nw4tk]

@King listen to the song NOMADS ft TheWeeknd

[@user-gk5mt9ox5f]

He went from homeless to performing at a super bowl

[@reddon7045]

crazy he's not in jail rn

[@Luna-nw4tk]

@@reddon7045 he got arrested a while back. punched a police officer in the BBTM era

[@freddiegibbsintern345]

Kissland is an underappreciated masterpiece

[@doubtamv]

Preach

[@deee6095]

Agreed!

[@Archonsx]

true

[@robford374]

a fantastic album

[@Angel7black]

Hard agree, tho ngl, couldve done without Live For

[@carlosdiaz7573]

Kiss Land was ahead of its time. Love in the Sky could be one of Abel's best songs, but no one knows it

[@lusilverrr]

its incredible

[@mihael.jaksic4]

his best sing imo

[@athuldas2634]

best song

[@jazzypanduh]

Best song hands down

[@juliosoares4880]

agreed

[@ambitiousmindsofgreatness]

Trilogy & Kiss Land are The Weekend’s true artistry expressed at the highest level. Dawn FM is The Weekend’s greatest Pop Album.

[@OldTechMemories.mp3]

I think beauty behind the madness is still considered the old generation of Abel tasfaye And I believe Starboy is when he changed. He was always better when he had that crazy hair.

[@ambitiousmindsofgreatness]

@@OldTechMemories.mp3 Beauty behind the madness was a transition of him stepping into the pop world. Trilogy & Kiss Land are his true expressions without really caring about trying to reach a wider audience.

[@OldTechMemories.mp3]

@@ambitiousmindsofgreatness but in beauty behind the madness he is still open about sexual words and drugs. I know it has more pop songs on there but it's still at a time when he wanted to sing only about the harsh lifestyle he had and just because it's not a story like trilogy it's still the old ways in a slow transition to what he is now. Starboy made a dramatic change in his style so I feel like that's what you should be hating.

[@ambitiousmindsofgreatness]

@@OldTechMemories.mp3 You literally just reiterated what I said. It was a transition to pop, it’s not 100% pure authentic “The Weekend” it was an experiment. Trilogy and Kiss Land are The Weekends true expression which is the point I was making exactly.

[@OldTechMemories.mp3]

@@ambitiousmindsofgreatness whatever

[@user-gk5mt9ox5f]

Kissland is an album that I feel like no one else can do. The immersive cinematic yet dystopian experience can put someone off on first listen, especially since we will listen to music for hits but revisiting the albums puts in the perspective the hollowness Abel was at and the deeper into the abyss he was headed.

[@turtleboy35]

Kiss Land is a cinematic experience. Sonically, it's gorgeous. Thematically, it's deep. Overall it's just an enjoyable experience.

[@omarvillegas9421]

Albums don’t change, we do. Beautiful

[@ariaxoxo23]

When Kissland came out i only liked about 1,2 songs. I was obsessed with Trilogy and kept listening to his old work. 5 years later i was in the train and it was snowing outside. Kissland came on my playlist and i totally zoned out. I don't know what had changed, but i started to notice so much in that album, that i havent noticed before. It's one of my favs today

[@Kevin257]

I didn’t appreciate Kissland in 2013 because I was 16 & never really had my heartbroken. fast forward to 2018 I’m 21 & I went through a breakup after my ex cheated on me after 4 years & Kissland came on one day & I fell in love with it. I feel like only certain people understood it because they experienced that pain. I didn’t feel it until 5 years later

[@zb4725]

It’s crazy you say that because I was 14 and it’s been my favorite album since

[@pabloescobarschanclas]

damn, time moves fast. it feels like 2018 was just yesterday and i was blasting my dear melancholy.

[@francescacolby6513]

You just described my life

[@gman987]

Personally I think Weeknd albums are at their best when they have a specific thematic setting-Trilogy has the house of balloons, Kissland has Japan, After Hours has Las Vegas, and Dawn FM has purgatory/the passage into the afterlife. Not to say that BBTM, Starboy or MDM needed a specific setting, but the closest I could think of are LA maybe? Most artist don’t use their music for world building, and I think that’s something that Abel really excels at when he does it.

[@mjovany403]

KissLand Cult. Truly an underrated work of art.

[@MegaZackRyder]

And this was only focusing on Abel's character in the album. The sound design of the album is absolutely insane. The minimalistic boldness from trilogy gets maximized. The sound is so overwhelmingly signature to the album, from the literal textures to the percussive grooves, that I barely see people able to replicate it. From a music maker standpoint, I continuously scratch my head as to how to create something so different yet so cohesive and so moving.

[@XCLIPSE888]

Kiss Land was the one Weeknd album I slept on for so long, after looking into the concept and relistening it’s becoming one of my favorites, sonically, aesthetically, and conceptually

[@elizabethyoskova]

What a cool way to talk about the album. It's funny that just the other day I was thinking about how I am glad that I discovered Kissland later. I fully dove into the album in 2020 in the midst of a life crisis, only to have listened individual songs (pretty, tears in the rain) beforehand. Listening it as a whole piece absolutely blew me away. If I had listened to it as a teen, I would've slept on it. Listening to it as an adult, it just came at the right moment. I fully understood, I knew what he was talking about and learned a lot about myself too. Definitely one of the best Weeknd album, a masterpiece like nothing else.

[@MoeSkittles247]

literally same in 2020. i was 21 about to be 22 and had a lot more similar & relatively relatable experiences as those said on the album, almost to an exact point at times kissland more than any piece of art has so far been the theme to my life in the 2020s. lots of beautiful girls, heartbreaks , lots of drinking, drugs & smoking, getting lost in lust. a wonderful life really. its not for everybody though

[@broccoliking6668]

Great point at the end. Really liked your video. You had your story but didn't drag on and make it entirely about you, but about the point you're trying to make, which you did succinctly.

[@holaholaholahola0]

i was a (die hard) fan at that time and this video brought me back!

[@afungangmusic]

I always tell my friends, to be a Weeknd fam, you have to have dealt with heart aching pain. Most will never understand. I hope the xo fam is doing well 😊

[@unknown19K]

Professional, adaptation, the town and my personal fav TEARS IN THE RAIN 😭 this video made me go back to the whole album rn. So much nostalgia. I’m grateful to have heard it when it first came out. So underrated and under appreciated

[@carias98]

Man I remember listening to The Weeknd’s mixtapes. That’s when I fell deep with his music.. you feel every song, crazy trip. XO till we OD

[@David.Isaac.147]

As the years have gone on, Kiss Land has become my favorite Weeknd project. The dark dystopian trip-hop vibe combined with the songwriting, vocals, and track sequencing is amazing

[@RobMiranda]

I started to enjoy the weekend after a really bad break up … and now I listen to it every day

[@biankadiaz1235]

He’s like no other. Everything about his music it’s just indescribable

[@gellegrainja9805]

yup.

[@lakshvijayvargiya9511]

Bro you literally spoke what I've been thinking for a while now. Kiss Land is one of the best compositions of music ever!!

[@krsna.-]

thank u for saying the playlist thing that it’s hard to put some of these songs on playlists cuz i swear i listen to abel and kissland daily but kissland is in noneeee of my regular playlists

[@ka5hin]

I thought I was the only one, I been a fan since the early days , 2013 ish & skipped right over kissland. It took the pandemic for me to give it another listen and I fell in love with it, it’s truly a hidden masterpiece. Just like you did, it took some time for me to grow accustomed it , I think we were very young when it released so we couldn’t relate to it much but as we get older we realize how similar some of us relate to it now

[@Nishinga.]

Really appreciate you putting this video together. Kiss Land continues to grow on me almost a decade later. When I first listened to it, the only song that really grabbed me was Wanderlust. Now though, I’m obsessed with pretty much every track. The story telling and the complete atmosphere he created with the lyrics and the instruments continues to wow me every single listen. I find it fascinating that to this day I still find new layers and subtle nuances in these songs that completely make my jaw drop. Kiss Land is one of the most underrated, under appreciate albums of all time. It’s an absolute masterpiece.

[@omarvillegas9421]

This was beautiful and yes I’m a really big fan of Abel and kissland is on them thank you for making this video !

[@RedRumble14]

I think Asia is really a different world, No wonder Abel was inspired by it when working on kiss land

[@NoobMaster-lr2li]

I'm not sure whether I'm tripping or not but I kinda saw a video where he answered this question.. Pretty sure he said 'me being homeless surrounded by heavy drugs and Asian strippers' 😭

[@davidhimmelfahrt3732]

@@NoobMaster-lr2li well, well well

[@noone-hd1ck]

Lmao

[@CIII328]

Considering he’s a humongous cinephile, the fact that his music is cinematic is truly a given. It’s really great when you can visualize the song that you’re listening to; The Weeknd’s one of the best at giving his listeners that feeling

[@RedRumble14]

Loved your ON THE MIC moment man! Those personal stories are the best

[@brando4033]

I discovered The Weeknd in 2010-2011, before his face was revealed. His music found its way in my life right at the peak of my, use of substance is what will call it. It fit and played perfectly in my life from the very first time his voice landed on my ear. It was euphoric to say the least. I went to his first two shows in my hometown. Small venue, 2k people at max. Everybody knew every word to every song. The Weeknd's music was THE sound track to my life, at the time in my early 20's. Every song is a nostalgic, reminiscence of all the highs and lows in my life. It brings me right back, every time. XOTWOD

[@iris6165]

This is my fav album of all time

[@xopepe9808]

what an absolute banger of a video bro, beautiful.

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

Much appreciated :) We have some other Weeknd breakdowns that you might find interesting: After Hours deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqnci3dqf8l6fK8 Farewell to After Hours era: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHa8c6mfmqxgf7M DAWN FM deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnvGfGmQjJVjoas HDIMYLM music video breakdown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIfbamOobMatidE

[@MartiPastrami]

The kissland concert was awesome!

[@daltoncunningham2762]

I used to VIBE to kiss land, the flow and cohesion of it is incredible. It’s such a great picture into the phase of life he was in during the time.

[@quangibson6075]

Amazing video. I had this same experience with KissLand. It's now one of my favorites for sure.

[@gooseymcgoose2278]

this is the first video i watched of yours and i love it pls do more

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

We appreciate it :) we also have some deep dives on After Hours & Dawn FM that you might enjoy… After Hours Explained - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqnci3dqf8l6fK8 Farewell to the After Hours Era - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHa8c6mfmqxgf7M Dawn FM Explained - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnvGfGmQjJVjoas

[@RReyving]

First (Literally)😂😂 but a great video about Kiss Land. I'll admit this was an album after first hearing I wasn't into it. Years later it grew on me. Love the quote "Albums don't change, we do"

[@CristianPerez-eq8ev]

I fuckin love this video, you set the picture so well🤝

[@user-vc9mv8jw8d]

Kiss Land will forever remain my favorite album of all time.

[@Baccanaso]

Adaptation really is one of his best songs, that intro is a masterpiece

[@alexliebhaber3109]

Dope video. Kissland is still one of my favorite albums. I’m glad your video hit my feed today. I’m going to revisit it now. Appreciate the work man.

[@tamarimalcolm9360]

He released kissland on my birthday and I’m forever grateful😭💝

[@FunnyShorts2929]

Trilogy and kiss land hit so hard in high school but everyone goes through different shit.

[@ruchristlyke]

Finally someone makes a Kiss Land video, love to see it man great work!

[@radekf9125]

great video essey, thumbs up!

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

Much appreciated! :) We have some other Weeknd breakdowns that you might find interesting: After Hours deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqnci3dqf8l6fK8 Farewell to After Hours era: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHa8c6mfmqxgf7M DAWN FM deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnvGfGmQjJVjoas HDIMYLM music video breakdown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIfbamOobMatidE

[@sammydarko11]

Kissland was The Weeknd’s First Album and it was great. I went back to it a couple years ago. Since I’m older and experienced more life to understand it fully and appreciate it. Very Beautiful.

[@phumlanindlovu5653]

I like how you describe it, listened to KISS LAND while I was going through a heartbreak recovery. dropping out of university and working at McDonalds. shit was all over but t got me through. thats like 2013-14.

[@FieryLuna]

To this day I love that my uncle introduced The Weeknd to me. I definitely got introduced at a very young age but regardless The Weeknd has made a very strong hold on me. I’ve always loved the rhythm, beats and lyricism put into his songs. His music continues to resonate with me and when I witnessed him live recently I was blown away. The analogy of “the Hills” being too disruptive inbetween radio songs was perfect lol. Cause hearing it from that perspective makes it cooler for me for whatever reason. Great video man!

[@sleep6837]

I'm just here for the Kiss Land love. It's my favorite studio album by him, but After Hours is close. Great video.

[@kxstr745]

I feel like I’m on drugs when professional hits with headphones 🫠

[@colinmx.]

It's ideal

[@WeekndXO-u4w]

Adaptation is my fav from Kissland

[@christiantapia743]

Kissland came out when I was a freshman in high school. Great dark times. Depression was great

[@colinmx.]

Weeknd saved alot of us

[@RedRumble14]

Nice job guys, finally many views !

[@Oxcymoron]

Kissland is his greatest album, fight me. I’ll die on this hill. It would’ve been a 10/10 if he replaced live for with one of the unreleased songs he played on momento mori .

[@calvinc1151]

Exactly Live for seemed off, Jut put enemy and it would have been a perfect album

[@elijahtrotman8257]

Dawn fm and after hours better

[@calvinc1151]

@@elijahtrotman8257 Lol I can guess you’re a new fan

[@elijahtrotman8257]

@@calvinc1151 I’m actually not lol. Been a fan since hob days. not crazy about Starboy and bbtm but I think he’s had a rebirth recently with his last 2 projects.

[@Oxcymoron]

@@elijahtrotman8257 I can agree with you about after hours and dawn fm being a rebirth for Abel but kissland and bbtm are the most reminiscent of trilogy, which is a main reason why I’m so fond of them. I actually had to listen to dawn fm a couple times to start feeling it, mainly because I’m not too into the whole 80s synth vibe he went for but I instantly fell in love with his first 2 albums on first listen. And since you’ve been listening about as long as me you might be as hurt about it as me but Abel said his next album will be his last as The Weeknd. 😪

[@DanielZeal]

This album makes me so nostalgic for a very difficult time in my life. I'll always appreciate it. Plus, it's just a fire album 🔥

[@Lan96]

One of my all time favorite albums. It dropped when I was 16. 10 years ago & I love it even more

[@lincolncurtis1725]

I will never understand how kiss land didn’t become popular. Every song is insane. Like I genuinely don’t get it

[@LurielNjotr]

It's because of the Weeknd's public at the time, they weren't as diverse as today. Abel gave nuances to a new genre were we got sensual songs, funny beat songs, rock and roll songs, heavy distorted songs and they all came together into a whole 30 songs heavy with new concepts, and then there's Kiss Land, wich gave a lot of new concepts like electronic beats, electronic beats, electronic beats and a lot more of electronic beats. The fans were kinda okay with that but not so much.

[@Zerej89]

The one that turned me from a fan to an entire air conditioner. 🙌🙌🔥🔥

[@PiosPlace]

😂😂love this

[@sarhas2155]

U definitely made me miss the first time i heard these albums, they literally hit my soul, made me wanna listen to em every week to keep understanding new meanings hidden in each song, it was pure art, and now they dont hit me this way anymore ;-;

[@TheDrunkLawyer]

I had a similar reaction to the early Weeknd albums. I think I was so used to the debauchery of hip hop that at the time I didn’t realize how unique it was for this guy to be straight up talking about doing lines in a beautiful falsetto

[@KeliosoThaGoat]

been following Weeknd since i was in jr high. he has never disappointed me not once. imo he the greatest artist

[@Itsmondellotime]

this is my favorite weeknd album

[@jchris333]

Kiss Land is damn near perfect

[@kevinmarks1239]

Adaption is my fav off Kiss Land

[@edwinmaganda2934]

I love the weeknd so much but you know it’s crazy my first reaction to trilogy and kissland were exactly like yours. I am going to listen to them again right now

[@niccole3542]

How you described your first reaction to The Weeknd's second album and where you were at that time is exactly how I was and I too was in high school at the time and disliked it but loved Trilogy and even Kissland,I remember seeing Belong to the world music video back in 2013 and at first found it weird but ended up loving it mainly because of how the album incorporates Tokyo in a way that is dystopian which is very common in scifi but also was right up my alley since I loved dystopian movies and books like The Hunger Games.I of course love the Weeknd's recent albums preferably After Hours.

[@Niskovic1]

Holyshit that "albums don't change, we do" hit different. Cause that's so obvious yet you don't think bout it. Damn wtf

[@TrvisXXIII]

Sheeeeesh, my favorite Weeknd album!! Too much nostalgia when it came out for me

[@duckslik3bread]

This is a beautiful video, I love it through and through! I am really excited and I’m happy I mentioned a deep dive on this album not too long ago. It makes me joyful and exited to see this and to express my thoughts on Kiss-Land. So, here we go…again (get it? p.s- Read If you like it’s pretty long.) I feel Kiss-Land is Trilogy but now it’s larger, and in a bigger atmosphere and yet, it’s still so claustrophobic. The songs make you feel so uneasy yet comforted. I think the lyrical content explains his relationship with a exotic dancer (maybe from his home town that he met) whose broken and hollow like him. He comments on that broken and hollowness in Belong to The World, “I just love that you’re dead inside.” Shes different from other woman he’s mentioned up to this point because he’s met someone like him, he connects to her. We can guess she promised to stay loyal to him while he went on tour but we can confirm ended up cheating on him. In his cinematic world, a.k.a the “Pretty” music video, he ends up killing her and her new lover. But he ends up regretting it in “Tears in the Rain.” He mentions some pretty deep and heartbreaking lines in the song like, “She has no recollection of the life she had without me , she let it slip away” and “They all feel the same, adjust to the fame. Cause no one will love you like her, it’s pointless, like tears in the rain. So now that she’s gone, embrace all that comes. And die with a smile, don’t show the world how alone you’ve become.” I would also like to leave this translation of the man talking at the end of “Pretty” and my interpretation of it. The translation: “When a f**cking white dove sings its song, that’s all we hear. Days roll like string in the wind. Tangled into my web I reveal them again. It’s been 10 years, my friend, that nothing else matters. She was just a kid at this time. Suffering from a broken heart, a very deep pain. This is where I saw her, alone, ready to begin her 17 years.” (Genius.com.) Maybe Abel put this to symbolize the mistakes the girl he was with made while she was much too young and how it led her down a dark path to money hunger, drugs, pain, and lust. Kiss-Land, to me, is a dramatic, thrilling, and beautifully painful version of Abel Tesfaye’s tour life turned into a cinematic thriller.

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

the lyricism on Kiss Land is unlike any other album - literally written like poems. Thank you for the amazing comment + everything you do Amiracle!

[@duckslik3bread]

@@OurThoughtsPodcast Of course! I love this channel, forever grateful for you guys!

[@HiSpeedOxygen]

You said it perfectly - claustrophobic, uneasy but still comforted. With Trilogy I had the feeling the anxiety was too much for me to enjoy, whereas Kiss land was such a thrill, almost masochistic

[@witchingbrew3]

It all came together with his Universal Studios Haunted House. It felt complete with what he tried to bring with the world. And it left some easter eggs that he could continue the world in a movie to, like a horror movie

[@NinaBell826]

Kissland clicked on the intitial first listen of the single “Kissland”. Didn’t have much access to the internet in 2013 but was able to download that song on my phone and listened to it all summer. When the album dropped I was like “This sounds different from Trilogy” but it was a good different I enjoyed. Last year I brought it on vinyl (a must have since I absolutely love this album). A lot of people I know don’t know about this project or ignore it in his catalog because they don’t like it and I tell them “Well you’re missing out”.

[@amogus9213]

There's nothing quite like Kiss Land.

[@michaelhooper6227]

Kiss Land is a polished trilogy to me and every song on there bangs

[@lusilverrr]

This album just makes me feel something. Especially the first four songs that just glide into each other

[@Archonsx]

this album is a masterpiece imo

[@Noahvroo]

I love seeing people appreciate the weeknd, he’a a musical genius. Like he’s big now but I feel like he should be so much bigger with not just songs and albums but the connection and worlds and stories he tells . Nobody else is doing that…

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

He’s definitely setting the standard! We have some other Weeknd breakdowns that you might find interesting: After Hours deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqnci3dqf8l6fK8 Farewell to After Hours era: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHa8c6mfmqxgf7M DAWN FM deep dive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnvGfGmQjJVjoas HDIMYLM music video breakdown: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIfbamOobMatidE

[@DelanyFonseca]

So true what you said at the end. I loved the Weeknd when I was 12 and didn't relate to a single lyric- and I'm just still so in love with him now that I'm turning 22 this year and can relate to like EVERYTHING its insane . I tripped dm T to all of Trilogy Im so emotionally involved w Abel idc

[@nathanielbuchanan2257]

Listened to Kissland a very long time ago. Has always been amazing. Love it more every time.

[@laroychase1023]

I first listened to kiss land on my last deployment in 2018... changed my life and thats when I started fucking with him heavy... now I have a special Playlist just for him and he's also throw on about 6 others. Love this dude #xo

[@zclan4130]

One of my instant classics. Loved it since it dropped

[@kurtwagner350]

Tears In the rain is a masterpiece of pop

[@izahavigil380]

I appreciate this video bro, Kiss Land is criminally underrated but like you said it takes time for some people to appreciate art ❤

[@aliasthekxd5588]

Your experience with the hills was my experience with wicked games but i loved the music from the start

[@Jaygg481]

One of the best deep dives I've every heard

[@RedRumble14]

Ohh this album is such a horror sometimes, some sounds are really scary but I looooove it. I love remember myself skipping this album back in 2019, but then it grew on me so much. My tops are prolly Pretty, Tears in the rain, adaptation.

[@Esteven171]

Omg you’re so right I first heard it last year and I found it ok it wasn’t my favorite. But this year I can’t stop listening to it I love it and is one of my favorites. I’m glad you love it as well!

[@lucidmind9676]

I’ve been listening to Kissland a lot more recently and I honestly like it more than After Hours now, of course AH is a masterpiece but Kissland is such a deep album that centers on life in general whereas After Hours is centered around breakups and heartbreak. Kissland really is such a slept on album Fr

[@jonnyvaladez8859]

My favorite weeknd album !💚 my favorite universe to go to. Professional one the best intros of all time, always ascends my soul. & kissland the song 1 of the hardest songs of all time. Nobody but abel could ever make something like this. So fucken beautiful yet dark & cinematic. xotwod 🔥❤️‍🔥

[@dominikcygan2664]

I didn't like this album first time around but after watching essays on it and understanding the themes and being drawn more and more to the whole aesthetic of the album i gave it another go and the songs grew on me, but i get why people don't like the album compared to the mixtape trilogy. It sounds too cinematic and less personal and there are a lot of weird production choices u ever love or hate

[@ibrahimkamara8019]

Masterpiece.

[@mohitwanjare7951]

You told almost the same story that I had with Weeknd's music, I was a little late on the timeline. Now I listen to the Weeknd 50% of the time. His music is a remedy.

[@Angelaalva24]

I will always love his song Rolling Stone because he knew what fame would bring him. “So baby love me, before they all love me. Until you won’t love me , because they’ll all love me . I’ll be different , I hope I’m not different. And I hope you’ll still listen .”

[@OurThoughtsPodcast]

it’s kind of incredible to think how far ahead of the moment he was with that song - looking back at it, it’s almost like foreshadowing of what the “The Weeknd” character would end up becoming, especially re: his relationship with his fans.

[@jayfugazi9751]

0:33 lmao i never seen the weeknd move like that caught me off guard

[@sebastienvincemartinez8011]

Love the video essay, kiss land deserves it's flowers on the mainstream audience

[@abeltesfaye_]

*I went to Abel's Kiss Land/The Fall Tour in LA in September 2013 & Abel signed my album and talked to me after the show! He was so sweet and could tell I was nervous so he took extra time chatting to me. I told him how much I enjoyed his show and how much his music means to me. I also thanked him for continuing to share his passion with us while being vulnerable with XO :) He was super humble, gracious and empathetic 💜 Then I told him I loved him haha. He responded by looking at my former boyfriend who was behind me, winking at me, and then saying, "I love you too, baby"* 😭 *It was honestly the best concert I've ever been to. There was something about Abel in those days, he could be totally free on stage and even now, it was the most liberated I've ever seen Abel on tour. Before he became as mainstream as he is now, it appears that he felt more comfortable jumping around stage and being as care-free as he was. Oh and while his tickets today cost over $200 on average, I paid $36 to meet Abel & for GREAT seats! Most importantly, that show helped me a lot and showed me that even people who feel insecure or have underwent serious traumas can find peace, success and dare I say, happiness.* *I enjoy seeing so many XO these days but at least for me, having been XO since 2011, there was a closeness & vulnerability Abel had with his fan-base that seemed at its high-point prior to 2014. I first discovered Abel in 2011 and listened to, "The Knowing," & "Wicked Games" before immediately relating to his music and listening to the entirety of Trilogy the same day... and I've listened to Abel every single day since then (over 12 years 😂).* *Abel has helped me so much more than I can explain and honestly, I owe him a lot. His music has provided healing and therapy for me in a world where I used to think I'd always be at war with myself. I love Abel and I'm SO proud of him. It's been a wild ride and something tells me that we've only just begun...* 😉

[@kazyink7187]

Same, he signed my trilogy too but it was in Detroit. And BANKS opened...insane.

[@dkvitaleme]

Aye that old boyfriend should've dump ya there with him🤣

[@barbaramoore209]

Wow babe you tripped out But yet I really enjoyed all you said here thank you for sharing it wow. I wish I could talk to Mr. Able The Weeknd is my wish for life. This young man has captured my heart ❤️ his music is really out of this world literally.

[@Alexrevmusic]

I started listening to The Weeknd during his Beauty behind the madness era. Wasn’t a huge fan of him even throughout his Starboy era. When my dear Melancholy was released, it was the moment when his artwork became a part of my life. Then the pandemic hit and he released After Hours and Boom!I was in a very low place in my life. During quarantine, i was in a very dark moment. My emotional connection with After Hours is deep. At the same I started exploring his trilogy mixtapes. House of balloons grew on me so did Echoes of Silence. I went for his Toronto show back in September He performed “Kiss Land” and I immediately was like woah this sounds interesting. Now , Kiss Land (album)is easily my most favourite projects from The Weeknd.

[@udai963]

I knewww ittt I always thought kissland and dawn fm were the same

[@adriandavis619]

Wanderlust was way ahead of its time