Too Late (The Weeknd song)

"Too Late"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album After Hours
Released	March 20, 2020 (2020-03-20)
Genre	Electro R&B[1]
Length	3:59
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Jason Quenneville Carlo Montagnese Eric Burton Frederic
Producer(s)	Illangelo Ricky Reed The Weeknd DaHeala Nate Mercereau
Music video
"Too Late" on YouTube

"Too Late" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours (2020). It was released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album. A music video for the song was released on October 22, 2020. The Weeknd co-wrote the song with its producers, Illangelo, DaHeala, and Ricky Reed, with additional production credits going to Nate Mercereau.^[2]

Background and release

The song was first teased in the Weeknd's After Hours short film, which was released on March 4, 2020, during a scene in which Tesfaye adjusts his nose bandage after leaving the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio.^[3] The studio version of the song was then released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of the album.^[4][5]

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song depict a dysfunctional and hedonistic relationship the Weeknd had with a former lover, with him apologizing for the mistakes he's made throughout their romance.^[6]

Critical reception

"Too Late" received praise upon release, with Billboard ranking the song as the second best track from After Hours, calling its chords "halloween-esque" and saying that its electro-R&B beats "bring the Weeknd' apologetic musings to another level, as he sings the lines "I let you down/I led you on," and further referred to its abrupt end as a "literal unplugging," calling it an "electric" combination.^[7]

Music video

The official music video for "Too Late" was first teased by the Weeknd as being on its way (alongside those for "Escape from LA" and "Faith") through his Rolling Stone interview with Brittany Spanos on September 18, 2020.^[8] This was then later followed up on October 13, 2020, where he further hinted on its music video being on its way through several posts on his social media platforms.^[9][10] Tesfaye then officially announced its release date through social media, a day prior to its release, on October 21, 2020.^[11] The visual was released on October 22, 2020, and was directed by Cliqua.^[12] It serves as the sequel to the music video of "In Your Eyes" and features heavily bandaged models Ashley Smith and Kenzie Harr finding the severed head of the Weeknd and transplanting onto the body of singer Ken XY in a gory and murderous manner.^[13]

The video begins with an NSFW warning due to its "explicit content" and its depiction of "graphic violence"^[14] as well as being age-restricted on YouTube based on the apps' community guidelines.^[15] It was named one of the best music videos of 2020 by Pitchfork.^[16]

Commercial performance

Following the releasing of its parent album, "Too Late" debuted at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 2020. It was the eighth-highest charting track from After Hours.^[17]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[2]

• The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Illangelo – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• DaHeala – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Ricky Reed – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18]	38
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19]	49
Denmark (Tracklisten)[20]	33
Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[21]	28
France (SNEP)[22]	59
Greece International (IFPI)[23]	23
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[24]	28
Italy (FIMI)[25]	48
Lithuania (AGATA)[26]	26
Portugal (AFP)[27]	27
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[28]	19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29]	54
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[30]	39
US Billboard Hot 100[31]	28
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32]	13
US Rolling Stone Top 100[33]	8

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34]	Gold	35,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[35]	Gold	20,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	March 20, 2020	Digital download streaming	XO Republic	[36]

References

1. Jefferson, J'na (March 20, 2020). "Every Song Ranked on The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
2. "After Hours / The Weeknd – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
3. Aswad, Jem (March 4, 2020). "Watch The Weeknd's Disturbing Short Film for 'After Hours'". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
4. "The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Track List: See Here". Billboard. March 17, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
5. Fitzgerald, Trent (March 20, 2020). "The Weeknd Drops After Hours Album: Listen to New Songs". XXL Mag. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
6. "The Weeknd's 'Too Late' Lyrics Ring True To Life, As He Hints About New Music". TheThings. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
7. "Every Song Ranked on The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Critic's Picks". Billboard. March 20, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
8. Spanos, Brittany (September 18, 2020). "The Weeknd's Endless Summer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
9. @TheWeeknd (October 13, 2020). "more videos... 🎃" (Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
10. @TheWeeknd (October 13, 2020). "we're in hell it's disguised as a paradise!!! with flaaaashing lights!!! 🎃🎃🎃" (Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
11. @TheWeeknd (October 21, 2020). "GRAB YOUR CANDY AND POPCORN CAUSE THE "TOO LATE" VIDEO DROPS TOMORROW 🎃🍿 THE SAGA CONTINUES" (Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
12. Powell, Jon (October 22, 2020). "The Weeknd unveils gory visual for "Too Late"". REVOLT. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
13. Strauss, Matthew (October 22, 2020). "The Weeknd Shares New Video for "Too Late"". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
14. "The Weeknd releases highly disturbing graphic video for 'Too Late'". The Independent. October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
15. The Weeknd - Too Late (Official Video), October 22, 2020, retrieved November 26, 2023
16. "The 20 Best Music Videos of 2020". Pitchfork. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
17. Zellener, Xander (March 30, 2020). "Every Song From The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Is on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
18. "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 13. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
20. "The Weeknd – Too Late". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
21. Nestor, Siim (March 31, 2020). "Eesti Tipp-40 Muusikas: Selle nädala kangelased on The Weeknd ja AG". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved June 8, 2020.
22. "The Weeknd – Too Late" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
23. "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 12 2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
24. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
25. "The Weeknd – Too Late". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
26. "2020 13-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
27. "The Weeknd – Too Late". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
28. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 13. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
29. "The Weeknd – Too Late". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
30. "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
31. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
32. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
33. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
34. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
35. "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Too Late" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
36. "Listen to the Weeknd's New Album After Hours". Pitchfork. March 20, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.

External links

• Too Late (Audio) on YouTube