2023-10-23 16:44:12
A huge inflatable Moon is taking shape on the field of the San Marcos stadium. It’s the sign that The Weeknd – or Abel Tesfaye – is regarding to hit the scene. Waiting for him on the catwalk is a sculpture, also large, of a robotic woman. It is a work by the Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, but it is clearly reminiscent of “Metropolis”, the classic 1927 film by Fritz Lang.
The allusion is not gratuitous. In the background of the stage we see images of a futuristic city, but half-finished; and a group of women dressed in white also wander around, in orderly and astonishing choreography, as if they were members of a strange sect. There is a lot of dystopianism in the concept of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour, the tour that brought The Weeknd to Lima for the first time.
The scenic display of The Weeknd’s concert, at the San Marcos stadium. (Photos: Giancarlo Ávila/GEC)
Until the star finally appears in front of his audience. He wears a striking helmet – a mix of Iron Man and Daft Punk – and starts his setlist with some usual songs like “False Alarm” or “Party Monster”. The popular “Can’t Feel My Face” is the first high moment of the night, shaking the audience. The tongues of fire and the luminous bracelets given to the public begin to do their job, although it must be said that they do not contribute to the show nor do they look as spectacular as those that characterize Coldplay concerts, to give an example known to the people of Lima. .
The recital continues with some covers –Kanye West, Drake, Future–, hints of remixes, and cut versions of several songs. It is an accelerated format that the Canadian presents, very in tune with the music of our time: lovers of ‘shuffle’ and random Spotify playlists know that, sometimes, there is not much time or concentration to even listen to complete songs. It itches here and there, and the ears become distracted. A concert like this proves it.
The Canadian The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye, offered his first concert in Lima. (Photos: Giancarlo Ávila/GEC)
Follow the show
We cannot fail to mention that, at least extra-musically, this has not been the best year for The Weeknd. The series that he produced and starred in for HBO Max, “The Idol,” was a resounding failure that received terrible reviews and was canceled as soon as the first season was over. But not even that prevented the trailer of the downcast fiction from being shown while waiting for the concert on Sunday. It seems that the singer still has faith in him.
As he also has faith in the world of cryptocurrencies and NFTs, in addition to the Binance that bombarded the public from the giant screens. The controversial Chinese digital currency company is the promoter of The Weeknd’s tour, and we might add it to the list of dystopian elements of the show. Will it really be the future of the world economy or just a false test driven by a ‘hype’ marketer?
Let’s better return to the music, which remained high with other hits that were quite danced and sung. There were “Starboy”, “I Feel It Coming”, “Save Your Tears”, “Blinding Lights”, which moved a connected and animated audience, despite the unusual nature of a concert on a Sunday night. Among the fans there were plenty of red jackets, post-operative bandages, dark glasses and even the very popular kawaii ducks in the style of The Weeknd.
The Weeknd’s Peruvian fans showed their ingenuity during the concert at the San Marcos stadium. (Photos: Giancarlo Ávila/GEC)
Meanwhile, the good Abel Tesfaye decides to take off his helmet only in the last part of the show. The audience responds enthusiastically to her smile and his harangues. At one point he even comes down from the catwalk and approaches some fans. It is already perceived that the concert is approaching its end, with songs like “Popular” and “In Your Eyes”. There is no encore here, it is not his style. The moment of farewell arrives and the procession home begins.
An urban landscape with a dystopian air is what The Weeknd presented on the stage of the San Marcos stadium. (Photos: Giancarlo Ávila/GEC)
Anything else to highlight? The same as always, although it sounds like a worn-out complaint: the tide of cell phones in hand will continue to be a problem for any viewer under five feet tall. On the other hand, the entrance and exit accesses in San Marcos continue to be uncomfortable. After almost two months of closure (a sanction that the Municipality of Lima decided to lift ahead of schedule), the venue is still not ideal for shows of this type, which confirms that the National Stadium may be the only suitable venue that has the capital.
Aside from that, it was a show that lived up to expectations. The Weeknd delivered and the question remains as to how many more shows of this type our city can host. Now that the concert boom seems to be fading, perhaps we can be talking regarding one of the last international megastars in these parts. All the more reason to enjoy it as much as possible.
1698082482
#Weeknd #Lima #effective #show #megastar #sing #country #CHRONICLE #Hours #Til #Dawn #Tour #Presentation #San #Marcos #Stadium #Music #LIGHTS
