There is a classic Chinese saying that goes, “How many decades are there in a lifetime?” The Weeknd captivated audiences at AsiaWorld-Expo during his Hong Kong concert debut in 2018. Three studio albums, one TV show and almost a decade later, The Weeknd is back and better than ever.
For the After Hours Til Dawn Tour, the pop star took Kai Tak Stadium by storm. With its otherworldly stage design, stunning visual effects, and back-to-back hits, The Weeknd transported the audience to his apocalyptic world, and the first show on October 24 instantly became a viral sensation. The last show of his four sold-out nights in Hong Kong took place on October 31, 2026—undoubtedly a core Halloween memory for audiences who attended.
The Weeknd debuts “Hong Kong (feat. 王菲季候風)”—a love letter to the city
“Hong Kong” single artwork by Christopher Doyle
Photo: @theweeknd via Instagram
The Weeknd secretly arrived in Hong Kong a week before his first show and prepared a surprise love song for the Hong Kong audience. “Hong Kong” samples Faye Wong’s 1993 Cantonese ballad “Seasonal Winds”, uniting the crowd and adding an R&B flair to a melody many Hong Kongers are familiar with.
To accompany “Hong Kong”, the artist created a visualiser brimmed with Hong Kong flair. Iconic scenes of Victoria Harbour, neon signs, and flashing lights were rendered in a Wong Kar Wai-esque colour tone. The special project, completed with layers of references, made the Hong Kong concert extra meaningful.
“Hong Kong (feat. 王菲季候風)” is now available on Spotify. The official cover art features an archival image by legendary cinematographer Christopher Doyle, whose hallmark works include Chungking Express, starring Faye Wong, In the Mood For Love, and countless other Wong Kar-wai movies.
The towering Stargirl stunned in Kai Tak Stadium
Of course, the captivating stage production of The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour remained a pillar of the Hong Kong concert experience. The towering Stargirl was erected in the middle of the stage, laser beams pierced the air, while smoke and fire completed the dystopian vision.
The Weeknd is known for viral hits, but “After Hours”, “One of the girls”, and “Die For You” were what got the crowd going. Masked dancers in red robes added an undeniable cyberpunk edge, and the giant silver balloons released into the air were an unforgettable way to end the concert on a high.
Breaking down The Weeknd’s singular lexicon
From his 2011 mixtape House of Balloons, The Weeknd has honed in on an alternative R&B universe marked by brooding vocals, hazy atmosphere, and narratives focused on desire, loneliness, and hedonism.
Across albums—from Beauty Behind the Madness (2015) to Starboy (2016), and After Hours (2020)—his sound, personal style, and visual imagery have continually been intertwined. In particular, After Hours (2020) blended the retro-synth sound of “Blinding Lights” with a signature red suit, motifs of blood, and evocative urban nightscapes, establishing one of the most instantly recognisable visual languages of recent years.
Dawn FM (2022) employed a purgatorial radio broadcast as its narrative framework, diving into a more surreal, ethereal realm. With the After Hours Til Dawn Tour, this aesthetic was further amplified on a massive stage. Apocalyptic cityscapes, surreal sculptures, intense lighting, and cinematic visuals converged, as if transforming the musical universe The Weeknd has cultivated for more than a decade into a real world.
It is precisely for this reason that when the neon-lit streets of Hong Kong, the nightscape of Victoria Harbour, and the shifting play of light and shadow appeared in the visuals for “Hong Kong,” they integrated seamlessly into his established creative lexicon.
A symbol of the times
May 27, 2021The Weeknd and Ariana Grande perform onstage at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
The Weeknd’s influence extends far beyond the music industry. From writing “Earned It” for the Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) movie soundtrack to collaborating with dozens of artists across genres, including Ariana Grande, Calvin Harris, Rosalía, and Maluma, The Weeknd has traversed R&B, pop, and electronic music expressions.
Fashion is an important pillar of his expression. Starboy was marked by futuristic aesthetics, and After Hours brought about the signature custom-made red suit and bloodied look. These were not just costumes, but personas.
By weaving music, persona, and visual imagery into a cohesive narrative, he has established himself as one of the few artists in contemporary pop culture to cultivate a comprehensive and singular personal aesthetic.
Editor
Cherry Shum and Karrie LamCredit
Lead image: @livenationhk via Instagram
