The Weeknd still shines, but no longer burns

We were not facing the same The Weeknd that occupied the same Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys 2023. Although the tour and the space were the same, and the musical proposal had only incorporated a recent album —Affrettati domani (2025), which completes the trilogy with which it seemed to want to close an entire era, and even say goodbye to thealter ego of Abel Tesfaye—, it was hard to recognize the man who a few years ago enchanted with such forcefulness.

Perhaps it was the dates that had burned him out, perhaps fame too, or perhaps the life of this megalomaniac artist and the dark personality that seemed to have taken over him. It was hard to know what had overshadowed the Canadian's musical performance. Because, let's be honest: it had been a majestic visual performance, worthy of the brightest stars on the current music scene, but lacking the necessary soul to achieve perfection. The Weeknd still had it all: the voice, the songs, the effects, and an audience ready to surrender to him. But he seemed to have lost that ability to make us feel that, behind the character, there was someone about to break.

The Weeknd meticulously reviewed his repertoire, to the delight of the thousands of attendees who had filled the floor and stands of the Olympic venue. Barcelona was the penultimate European stop before continuing to Portugal and bringing an end, in Southeast Asia, to more than four years of touring and over 150 concerts.

And everything was calculated. An army of dancers, dressed in impeccable crimson capes, recalled the darkest references of the film Eyes wide shut, while he appeared with his face covered by a mask. On stage, a ruined city landscape was crowned by a giant screen that turned the concert into a cinematic superproduction. Fire, smoke, and lights completed an architecture thought out to the last detail.

The problem is that, sometimes, excess can also alienate. The music began with a scarce forcefulness, to the rhythm of Baptized in fear and Open hearts, before Wake me up awakened the audience, not so much for the song as for a stage design worthy of a satanic ritual, in a new wink to Eyes wide shut. It wasn't until they chained together After hours, Starboy and Heartless that the audience gained momentum and dared to sing in unison.

Then yes: the bass made the insides tremble and the light shows turned the Olympic Stadium into a neon cathedral. With São Paulo and Sacrifice, pyrotechnics took center stage and filled the stadium with smoke, amplifying the mysticism in the atmosphere. It was then that the first chords of Can’t feel my face took the audience by surprise.

There was enough for everyone: for the newcomers, with Given up on me; for veterans, with Often; and for the most intense, with Lost in the fire. All before The hills opened the gates of hell wide open and made everyone from the first to the last row sweat with a colossal fire display. It was hard to ask for more spectacle. And yet, something was still missing.

After a transition period, the Canadian artist faced the final stretch with a precise succession of hits. I feel it coming, Save your tears, Die for you and a spectacular interpretation of Call out my name raised the concert to a crescendo calculated to the millimeter.

The audience was already in the artist's pocket from The hills. But The Weeknd didn't seem willing to leave anything to chance. Every gesture, every light, every explosion arrived at the exact moment. It was the concert of a star who knows her power perfectly and knows how to wield it. But also that of an artist who seemed increasingly distant from the audience at his feet.

And perhaps that's why the most emotional moments came when the character hinted at the man behind him. Although during the last European dates the artist had denied an immediate retirement from his alter ego or of the scenarios, The abyss and Less than zero arrived laden with farewell gestures. Bows, silences, glances, and a visibly moved Abel Tesfaye, with the satisfaction of someone who leaves having done their job —and done it well— and earned the respect of an audience that always wants more.

After Blinding lights, the lights went out. The Olympic Stadium was plunged into darkness and thousands of voices demanded one more song from the artist, the character, Abel himself. One last dance before a possible departure.

And the Canadian did not disappoint. House of balloons for the most loyal. Moth to a flame for the new. Together, united in a final burst of fire and pyrotechnics. A last spark before it goes out.

The Weeknd still shines. Perhaps more than ever. But that night, amidst so much light, it was hard to find the flame.