The Weeknd - "Dancing In The Flames"

[Ling-Ling]

I like it and I do like this sound from The Weeknd, but it feels redundant. You could plop this on his last two albums and not even notice the difference.

I'm curious how radio is gonna react. His last two 80's-esque uptempos both underperformed at radio and got terrible callouts. Which is why "OOT" was always the best single choice (Jesus, let the LTZ fantasy go already), even it's streaming told that story. And then "Die For You" came and smashed, kinda signalling people were over that 80's sound from him. But that was after the massive oversaturation of "BL" and "NMT." Maybe enough time has gone by for this sound to hit again?

[Enigma.]

Sept 13, 2024 6:22:44 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

I like it and I do like this sound from The Weeknd, but it feels redundant. You could plop this on his last two albums and not even notice the difference.

I'm curious how radio is gonna react. His last two 80's-esque uptempos both underperformed at radio and got terrible callouts. Which is why "OOT" was always the best single choice (Jesus, let the LTZ fantasy go already), even it's streaming told that story.

This 100% - it wouldn't have gone beyond the #53 peak anyway

The only effect would've been that the fans wouldn't bring it up in EVERY occasion if it indeed was the top 70 single smash when sent to radio.

[fearlessarrow]

I definitely hear the "we can't be friends" comparisons. I like it but wish the music swelled to a bigger peak in the last chorus (I guess WBCF doesn't really swell in the last chorus either but I really like the outro in that one that makes up for it).

[Carlitoz]

I’ve enjoyed very much many of his songs throughout the years. I find this one underwhelming. I mean, not a bad song, but 1st single material??
And if you grew up in the 80s like me, this synth sound of the song is not that impressive anymore. BUT I must say… on third listen the song keeps getting better and better. :)

[wjr15]

I’m not surprised by the 80s synth on this since his upcoming album is the third album in a trilogy and both previous albums in the trilogy had the same 80s synth sound on many songs.

[avamaxstan]

Yeah this kinda falls flat. At this point he's beaten the 80s synthpop sound to death, this was the time to switch things up, not try to recreate past hits with something inferior.

[tamed09]

Ehhhhh idk about this one but itll do well

[haven]

rest of the song is fine, but i find the main synth line really annoying. i hope i dont have to hear it everywhere...

[Ling-Ling]

Speaking of that, I actually like that main synth-line that comes in during the chorus. But OMG, it's totally jacked from another song and it's driving me crazy that I can't figure it out.

[wjr15]

Sept 13, 2024 9:14:48 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

Speaking of that, I actually like that main synth-line that comes in during the chorus. But OMG, it's totally jacked from another song and it's driving me crazy that I can't figure it out.

Ariana’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends’?

[jenglisbe]

Yeah as others have said, this just feels like more of the same from him. It's not bad and will likely perform well, but it doesn't feel exciting or anything.

[Ling-Ling]

Sept 13, 2024 9:19:18 GMT -5 wjr15 said:

Sept 13, 2024 9:14:48 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

Speaking of that, I actually like that main synth-line that comes in during the chorus. But OMG, it's totally jacked from another song and it's driving me crazy that I can't figure it out.

Ariana’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends’?

Melodically, I totally see where people are getting that comparison. But WCBF doesn't have a synth line like that, OMG, it's driving me crazy, lol.

[RoseColoredGirl]

Love this! I agree with others that it's maybe a little same-sy, but I think it sounds really good.

[wavey.]

Sept 13, 2024 9:14:48 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

Speaking of that, I actually like that main synth-line that comes in during the chorus. But OMG, it's totally jacked from another song and it's driving me crazy that I can't figure it out.

I was going to say "Looking For The Perfect Beat", but could be off.

[Mayman]

Sept 13, 2024 1:25:35 GMT -5 Dylan :) said:

Sept 12, 2024 23:36:17 GMT -5 leonagwen said:

Sounds like the same stuff that he's been putting out the last few years.

Yeah, it’s kind of boring to be honest. I expected more from the instrumental, and his vocals aren’t the best. The drums at the end of the bridge feel like they’re building up to a big last chorus and then.. it’s just the same as all the others. I can’t see it doing much, to be honest

I feel like listening to this more than once really works for it. Really clicked with me on second listen. Definitely feel like there is still a small touch of genericness in parts of the melody but something I can overlook because the rest of the song is so good.

[allow that]

I really like this. But it feels much more intentionally "smash intended" than his other songs in this style. Like, Max Martin REALLY pops here lol.

Sept 13, 2024 6:22:44 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

I like it and I do like this sound from The Weeknd, but it feels redundant. You could plop this on his last two albums and not even notice the difference.

I get that but I LOVE this style from him. As the lead single to a third album in a trilogy, I wasn't expecting him to deviate. Still, I think there's some subtle differences. "Blinding Lights" and "Save Your Tears" felt more new wave inspired. "Take Your Breath" and "Sacrifice" felt more 80's disco inspired. But "Dancing In The Flames" just feels like straight up synthpop. It's 80's influenced - but it doesn't feel *authentically* 80's like some of the others. Just my little opinion though lol.

I'm curious how radio is gonna react. His last two 80's-esque uptempos both underperformed at radio and got terrible callouts.

I think the coast is very clear for him to have a huge radio hit this time. Not only is this less experimental than "TMB," but the massive overplay of past hits is not part of the equation this time. But the REAL reason is because it's not competing against half a dozen other Weekend songs. He oddly released collaborations with Swedish House Mafia (this one even sounded like "TMB" to some extent), FKA Twigs, Rosalia, Post Malone, Kanye West, and even Aaliyah! at the same time as launching his lead single from a "new era" (when his existing era didn't even feel over yet). It's like his team learned from their mistakes and made sure THIS lead single has a lane to itself.

Which is why "OOT" was always the best single choice (Jesus, let the LTZ fantasy go already), even it's streaming told that story. And then "Die For You" came and smashed, kinda signalling people were over that 80's sound from him. But that was after the massive oversaturation of "BL" and "NMT." Maybe enough time has gone by for this sound to hit again?

"Out of Time" was absolutely the best single option... given where things stood at that time. On an alternate timeline, when "Take My Breath" was held back until 2022 and "Sacrifice" was skipped over entirely, then "Less Than Zero" could have smashed. But it certainly wasn't going to suddenly become a hit after the era was already cold as ice and a bunch of rush releases already flopped.

[ampersand]

This is a bop. He never disappoints. He looks hot on the album cover, too. I hope he does a Toronto date on the tour; I was supposed to go to the date cancelled by the Rogers outage and couldn’t make the new date.

[avamaxstan]

Sept 13, 2024 6:22:44 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

I like it and I do like this sound from The Weeknd, but it feels redundant. You could plop this on his last two albums and not even notice the difference.

I'm curious how radio is gonna react. His last two 80's-esque uptempos both underperformed at radio and got terrible callouts. Which is why "OOT" was always the best single choice (Jesus, let the LTZ fantasy go already), even it's streaming told that story. And then "Die For You" came and smashed, kinda signalling people were over that 80's sound from him. But that was after the massive oversaturation of "BL" and "NMT." Maybe enough time has gone by for this sound to hit again?

What is NMT?

[Ling-Ling]

Sept 13, 2024 11:37:49 GMT -5 avamaxstan said:

Sept 13, 2024 6:22:44 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

I like it and I do like this sound from The Weeknd, but it feels redundant. You could plop this on his last two albums and not even notice the difference.

I'm curious how radio is gonna react. His last two 80's-esque uptempos both underperformed at radio and got terrible callouts. Which is why "OOT" was always the best single choice (Jesus, let the LTZ fantasy go already), even it's streaming told that story. And then "Die For You" came and smashed, kinda signalling people were over that 80's sound from him. But that was after the massive oversaturation of "BL" and "NMT." Maybe enough time has gone by for this sound to hit again?

What is NMT?

I meant "Save Your Tears." Not sure what I had in mind for that typo, lol.

[clsvltn]

it's fine, I'll probably enjoy it for a week or 2 and then be burned out on it. Its funny how some members will praise The weeknd for doing literally the same sound over and over but yet criticize Drake for what they claim to be doing the same thing.

[avamaxstan]

Sept 13, 2024 11:41:32 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

Sept 13, 2024 11:37:49 GMT -5 avamaxstan said:

What is NMT?

I meant "Save Your Tears." Not sure what I had in mind for that typo, lol.

You were clearly thinking of the legendary Bionic lead single xx

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Sept 13, 2024 10:14:29 GMT -5 allow that said:

Sept 13, 2024 6:22:44 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

I like it and I do like this sound from The Weeknd, but it feels redundant. You could plop this on his last two albums and not even notice the difference.

I get that but I LOVE this style from him. As the lead single to a third album in a trilogy, I wasn't expecting him to deviate. Still, I think there's some subtle differences. "Blinding Lights" and "Save Your Tears" felt more new wave inspired. "Take Your Breath" and "Sacrifice" felt more 80's disco inspired. But "Dancing In The Flames" just feels like straight up synthpop. It's 80's influenced - but it doesn't feel *authentically* 80's like some of the others. Just my little opinion though lol.

I agree with this. My issue with the Dawn FM singles is that they were just too pastiche, I liked the album as a concept but TMB and OOT in particular just felt like they were beamed in from the era they were inspired by. This has elements for sure but has a modern sheen like BL and SYT. I like the combo.

Lol’d at the NMT typo 😂

[shakemaki]

I think Starboy legitimately has multiple bigger hits than this in 2024 left on it, but this is also super inoffensive so maybe it will do well. Won’t really surprise me if it has a big debut and then fades quickly though.

[kcdawg13]

He didn't do good with this sound on his last effort but retro pop is still here, look at the synth offerings from Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. There's still a large place for synth-pop in the current pop landscape, the biggest question is if people want this sound from him. Fortunately from what he previewed at his Sao Paulo show, it sounds like there's several different sounds on this next album and not just straight up 80's pop like Dawn FM, if people don't like this single he can just move on to something else unlike Dawn FM where he was stuck with that sound.

[allow that]

Sept 13, 2024 13:29:44 GMT -5 kcdawg13 said:

He didn't do good with this sound on his last effort but retro pop is still here, look at the synth offerings from Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. There's still a large place for synth-pop in the current pop landscape, the biggest question is if people want this sound from him. Fortunately from what he previewed at his Sao Paulo show, it sounds like there's several different sounds on this next album and not just straight up 80's pop like Dawn FM, if people don't like this single he can just move on to something else unlike Dawn FM where he was stuck with that sound.

Agreed! At the same time, I feel like Dawn FM is more versatile than its given credit for. Songs like "Best Friend" and "I Heard You're Married Now" are not 80's pop but tbh I feel like, sadly, so many listened to that album only once and never went back to it. (Not me! It was my second favorite album of 2022!)

[shakemaki]

Synth pop can pretty much always work in the last decade, so that’s not a problem. I just don’t know if this will grab people. I can see a bit of an As It Was comp though, where that wasn’t in your face either, and we know how that turned out.

[BlueSwan]

IDK. I like it, but usually Max Martin and Oscar Holter NAILS the production and I don't think they quite get it right. The beat doesn't really sit right with me.

[#brayden]

It kind of reminds me of "Take My Breath" in that I want to like it more than I do. It's not bad by any means but it doesn't pack enough of a punch to really excite me.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

Sept 13, 2024 11:45:17 GMT -5 clsvltn said:

it's fine, I'll probably enjoy it for a week or 2 and then be burned out on it. Its funny how some members will praise The weeknd for doing literally the same sound over and over but yet criticize Drake for what they claim to be doing the same thing.

well, in my case, I don't think Drake's 2020s music is samey, it's just not good. Abel is maybe stuck in this 80s sound, but at least the songs are good, and they don't sound like they were made in 5 minutes.

[eyeofthestorm]

I like it, but its giving teenage romance movie vibes.