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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
The Weeknd brings ‘After Hours Til Dawn' back to Soldier Field, closing a chapter on the bad boy you can dance to
Three years ago, Abel Tesfaye — better known as The Weeknd — first brought his 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' to Soldier Field. An acclaimed spectacle, the tour that started on such a high eventually brought the artist to his lowest low. In September 2022, during a show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles near the end of his tour's North American leg, The Weeknd abruptly lost his voice while performing 'Can't Feel My Face.' The incident, brought on by 'self-imposed pressure' and stress, he said, left the artist reckoning with the realities of the world he'd built since breaking out of his underground, internet anonymity into global superstardom. It inspired a complete overhaul of his latest album, 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' (released Jan. 31), as well as a companion film of the same title, with actors Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan co-starring alongside Tesfaye in what's been widely regarded as a hyper-stylized, hollow vanity project. Upon the album and film's releases, Tesfaye announced he'd be leaving his famed moniker behind. He felt he had 'said everything he could say' under the Weeknd name and was looking to explore different creative avenues musically. Despite the critical reception for his ventures outside of music, fans showed up in droves Friday night for the first of two nights of the 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' (part deux), and to say goodbye (sort of). After opening sets from Mike Dean and Playboi Carti, the lights went down and a deep, crimson haze eclipsed the stage. Brooding and slightly ominous, it was a similar production to what graced the lakefront stadium in the summer of 2022, with a mainstage rising from a city of ruins, multiple runways and a towering, chrome Stargirl replacing what had been the moon. Tesfaye wasted no time getting right into the thick of it. Flanked by nearly three dozen shrouded and masked dancers, one of R&B's most enigmatic figures appeared as a glam Darth Vader or space-age Phantom of the Opera — ready to lead his followers through a celebration of excess, contradiction and dissociation like no one else can. Lyrically, The Weeknd's signature is oscillating between yearning lover boy and the worst guy you'd meet at the afters, set to a breakbeat pace. His career, both on the mic and on film ('Uncut Gems,' 'The Idol'), is built upon various layers and dynamics of who is ultimately the same person: himself. A hedonist hustler never satisfied. The predator and the prey. Secure in his insecurities and wreaking havoc because of it. As one concertgoer shared in passing, 'His music does remind you of a bad boyfriend, but when they make you like them again.' Is it survival mode? Maybe. For over the past decade, it has worked — making Tesfaye a cultural force. Adeptly walking the ever-thinning line between sexy and sleazy, he's undeniably one of modern pop music's most influential hitmakers and collaborators. For Stephanie Escobedo, longtime fan and owner of Through the Body Dance & Fitness Studio in West Town, the artist's latest album and film project heightened the anticipation ahead of this weekend's shows. 'It's visually beautiful, like a giant music video,' Escobedo said of the movie. 'I liked the imagery and how he played himself because he can't act for (expletive). I thought it was a cool omission of how awful of a person he was and how he used the two characters of Jenna and Barry to portray sides of himself. 'From what I understand,' she continued, 'he's going to step away from The Weeknd persona and just go by Abel. I'm interested to hear how Abel sounds, as opposed to this version of him I've loved since 2011.' For just over two hours, there were no breaks in the concert. Tesfaye delivered wall-to-wall vocals, showcasing a strength, clarity, and control over an instrument you'd never think once escaped him. 'It's been a long time since I've been in Chicago,' he recounted during the show. 'Last time I was here, I said I'd play two nights — and look what you did!' Telling his audience that Soldier Field would have to drag him off the stage, he promised to go all night. With a 40-song setlist that included Playboi Carti joining him for 'Timeless' and Carti's own 'Rather Lie,' deep hits 'Wicked Games,' 'The Morning,' and the title track from his debut project 'House of Balloons' (2011), as well as now-expected classics such as 'The Hills,' 'I Feel It Coming,' 'Die For You,' and 'Save Your Tears,' Tesfaye basked in the glory of soundtracking a generation of situation-ships and manipulative love-bombing-you-can-dance-to. But really, you cannot help but dance to it. Try not to be physically moved by the pulsating rush of the synths driving 'Blinding Lights' or throbbing bass behind 'São Paulo.' And sure, the 'ballad' portions of the evening piled on the slightly indulgent vocal runs and pleas from Tesfaye to hear someone say they love him (so committed, you do genuinely believe he needs to hear it) were eye roll-inducing, but expect nothing less from a man who set up the stage visual for 'Call Out My Name' to ultimately look like a sacrificial sermon. If you're not here for a little bit of artistic narcissism from The Weeknd, what are you even doing? Alesa Vera, who was invited last minute by her cousin, said she appreciated that the artist ran straight through his set without any intermissions, costume changes, or exaggerated encore, giving everyone the most for their money. 'He really has so many hits. He sounded fantastic,' she shared after the show. 'That's hard to do. You forget how much you love certain songs. I was engaged the entire time.' As flames, fireworks, and synchronized, light-up bracelets decorated Soldier Field, The Weeknd wrapped his triumphant return by introducing himself as Abel Tesfaye. Whether a death or a rebirth, his performance was proof that no matter the perceived 'failures' he's endured — the music, the talent speaks for itself. For attendees Dre Holland and Amari White, however, The Weeknd will always be The Weeknd. 'The songs, he can't separate himself from those. People will always want to hear The Weeknd' Holland said while leaving Museum Campus. 'How much of his style can really change? I don't think he'll do it, but we'll see.' 'The fans are with him no matter what,' White added. 'He's captured something with his music and lyrics that only he does. I mean, look at all these people here.'
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Seth Rogen's The Studio and its ambitious usage of the ‘oner'
In a promotional behind-the-scenes interview conducted on the sets of the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio (co-developed by and starring Seth Rogen), actress Kathryn Hahn says, 'Seth (Rogen) and Evan (Goldberg) had this really ambitious plan to shoot most of the show as 'oners', y'know, one-shots, long uninterrupted takes with no cuts. As an actor, it makes everything more challenging but also more beautiful because with every scene you feel like you're in a play.' Rogen plays the lead character Matt Remick, a perpetually hassled studio head. He is genuinely in love with the movies but tries to balance that impulse with the bottom line-driven demands of his corporate paymasters. The show has been universally acclaimed not only for its satire but also, as Hahn points out, the ambitious usage of 'oners'. Essentially, Rogen and Co. have expanded the scope of the Aaron Sorkin-esque 'walk-and-talk' sequences popularised by 2000s TV mainstays such as The West Wing, Scrubs and Boston Legal (all 'workplace stories' like The Studio). The walk-and-talk typically takes place in a narrow corridor (at the hospital, law firm, etc.) and focuses on the lead characters. As they walk towards the camera, other characters flit in and out of the frame. The Studio executes the same idea, only the camera isn't right in the leads' faces, like it would be in a classic 'walk-and-talk' 20 years ago. The camera is equally interested in showing us the world around Matt and whoever he is talking to in a scene, weaving and bobbing in and out of the characters' immediate vicinity. After all, a movie set is a more colourful workplace than a hospital or a law firm or, well, the White House. The Studio's oners utilise this rather well, all the way through the show's 10 episodes. The second episode, in fact, is called 'The Oner', and follows Matt as he attempts to help Sarah Polley (playing herself) shoot a oner for her (fictional) film in the show. In the here and now The oner has, historically speaking, been a point of prestige for filmmakers and actors, a show of strength that underlines the technical skills of everybody involved. Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948) is considered one of the first major films to deploy the oner. In those days, a single reel of film was only capable of carrying around 20 minutes of footage. Four reels, four oners — Hitchcock used lighting and editing tricks to make it look like the film consisted of four long takes. The story follows two friends who kill a mutual acquaintance and then host a dinner party with the corpse hidden in the house. The oners elevate the sense of tension the audience feels, watching two murderers trying to get away with it, while the corpse rests right under their noses. Orson Welles' A Touch of Evil (1958) famously begins with a oner, where we see an unidentified man placing a bomb inside a car. Martin Scorsese takes the audience on a oner-trip through the Copacabana nightclub in his mob classic Goodfellas (1990) (Scorsese, incidentally, plays a tragicomic version of himself in the first episode of The Studio). Robert Altman, John Woo, Alfonso Cuaron et al — in every era, major filmmakers have used the oner to emphasise the 'here and now' nature of specific scenes, or just as a showcase for technical virtuosity. The last decade of oners, however, has been inspired by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman (2014) — the film has been shot and edited in such a way that all of it looks like one big oner, a 110-minute shot if you will. Leading up to 'Adolescence' Other than The Studio, there have been two TV shows this decade that have used the oner in inventive, formally ambitious ways. The first is the Marvel TV show Daredevil (2015), where the first season features several hand-to-hand combat scenes shot as oners. The pick of the lot is a hallway fight scene where Daredevil/ Matt Murdoch rescues a kidnapped child after fighting his way through a corridor jampacked with goons — the lighting is inspired from a famous scene in Park Chan-wook's Oldboy (2003), where the protagonist beats up a corridor full of goons with a hammer. The second TV innovator in this context is the recent, excellent British miniseries Adolescence, about a 13-year-old boy arrested following the murder of a girl from his school. Each of the four episodes of Adolescence is shot like a oner — no editing tricks this time, just a single uninterrupted take. There's a 12 Angry Men-like unreliable narrator edge to the drama in Adolescence, and at their best, the long takes amplify the audience's unease. I love the first and second episodes' usage of the one-shot but also feel that by the time the fourth episode winds down, the novelty value of the device wanes. Oners are great when done expertly, but because of the technical task at hand, creators run the risk of focusing too much on shot-mechanics and too little on the narrative. Thankfully, The Studio understands this only too well and takes care not to use its signature device indiscriminately, or without a clear purpose. The writer and journalist is working on his first book of non-fiction.
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
‘We love it' Brits are raving about a rattan garden sofa that's on sale for huge £370 cheaper – but there are 2 catches
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. Plus, eight garden features that add the most value to a property GARDEN BARGAIN 'We love it' Brits are raving about a rattan garden sofa that's on sale for huge £370 cheaper – but there are 2 catches Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUMMER is right around the corner which means millions of Brits are racing to get their gardens ready for the sunny season. And if you're yet to find a fabulous rattan sofa on the cheap, you've come to the right place - as thrifty shoppers have found the ultimate bargain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Still on the lookout for an affordable garden sofa? Shoppers have spotted one going for just £130 Credit: Getty 2 Brits have been loving this rattan sofa by Studio - but there are two catches Credit: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK According to money-smart Facebook users, the home goods store Studio currently has a mega sale going on - and you can pick up a gorgeous garden sofa with an epic discount. Originally setting you back an eye-watering £499.99, the Bali Rattan Corner Sofa Set is now going for just £129.99, saving you a fortune. The sofa, which comes in black, has an L shape that gives you the option to spread out and relax in the summer weather. The set also comes with an ottoman that can be used as extra seating if you have any unexpected guests - it really doesn't get much better than this. Studio's version comes in hundreds of pounds cheaper than similar sets at B&Q and The Range, which retail for up to £500. Meanwhile, Aldi's brand new sofa is currently going for £199.99. With such an epic price, it comes as no wonder that Brits have been raving about this gorgeous sofa and the quality on the popular Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group. One person said: ''I had this last year it's and comfortable.'' Someone else was also singing praises, writing: ''I got around 8 years out of mine. Fantastic value for the money.'' ''I got one delivered last Tuesday & we love it!'' a third chimed in. The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD However, whilst the cut-price sofa is sure to be a hit amongst your guests this summer, there seem to be two catches - a hefty £49.99 delivery fee, as well as unclear instructions how to assemble it. Many horrified shoppers noted that it took them ages to finally be able to enjoy the sofa, with one woman allegedly spending three hours with her pal. ''I bought this and it took me and my friend 3 hours to build,'' the Facebook user warned. Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% Another was just as baffled, writing: ''How on earth did you put this together, the instructions are ridiculous.'' ''I bought this last year for £99 had to get someone to put it together was so confusing,'' a third customer wrote. Whatever you're buying, it's always a good idea to shop around to find the best deal. You can compare prices on websites like Google shopping, which is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one.
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
‘We love it' Brits are raving about a rattan garden sofa that's on sale for huge £370 cheaper – but there are 2 catches
SUMMER is right around the corner which means millions of Brits are racing to get their gardens ready for the sunny season. And if you're yet to find a fabulous Advertisement 2 Still on the lookout for an affordable garden sofa? Shoppers have spotted one going for just £130 Credit: Getty 2 Brits have been loving this rattan sofa by Studio - but there are two catches Credit: Facebook/Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK According to money-smart Facebook users, the home goods store Studio currently has a mega sale going on - and you can pick up a gorgeous garden sofa with an epic discount. Originally setting you back an eye-watering £499.99, the The sofa, which comes in black, has an L shape that gives you the option to spread out and relax in the The set also comes with an ottoman that can be used as extra seating if you have any unexpected guests - it really doesn't get much better than this. Advertisement read more on gardening Studio's version comes in hundreds of pounds cheaper than similar sets at B&Q and The Range, which retail for up to £500. Meanwhile, Aldi's brand new sofa is currently going for £199.99. With such an epic price, it comes as no wonder that Brits have been raving about this gorgeous sofa and the quality on the popular One person said: ''I had this last year it's and comfortable.'' Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Someone else was also singing praises, writing: ''I got around 8 years out of mine. Fantastic value for the money.'' ''I got one delivered last Tuesday & we love it!'' a third chimed in. The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD However, whilst the cut-price sofa is sure to be a hit amongst your guests this summer, there seem to be two catches - a hefty £49.99 delivery fee, as well as unclear instructions how to assemble it. Many horrified shoppers noted that it took them ages to finally be able to enjoy the sofa, with one woman allegedly spending three hours with her pal. Advertisement ''I bought this and it took me and my friend 3 hours to build,'' the Facebook user warned. Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% Another was just as baffled, writing: ''How on earth did you put this together, the instructions are ridiculous.'' ''I bought this last year for £99 had to get someone to put it together was so confusing,'' a third customer wrote. Whatever you're buying, it's always a good idea to shop around to find the best deal. Advertisement You can compare prices on websites like Google shopping, which is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
‘We love it' Brits are raving about a rattan garden sofa that's on sale for huge £370 cheaper – but there are 2 catches
SUMMER is right around the corner which means millions of Brits are racing to get their gardens ready for the sunny season. And if you're yet to find a fabulous rattan sofa on the cheap, you've come to the right place - as thrifty shoppers have found the ultimate bargain. 2 According to money-smart Facebook users, the home goods store Studio currently has a mega sale going on - and you can pick up a gorgeous garden sofa with an epic discount. Originally setting you back an eye-watering £499.99, the Bali Rattan Corner Sofa Set is now going for just £129.99, saving you a fortune. The sofa, which comes in black, has an L shape that gives you the option to spread out and relax in the summer weather. The set also comes with an ottoman that can be used as extra seating if you have any unexpected guests - it really doesn't get much better than this. Studio's version comes in hundreds of pounds cheaper than similar sets at B&Q and The Range, which retail for up to £500. Meanwhile, Aldi's brand new sofa is currently going for £199.99. With such an epic price, it comes as no wonder that Brits have been raving about this gorgeous sofa and the quality on the popular Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group. Someone else was also singing praises, writing: ''I got around 8 years out of mine. Fantastic value for the money.'' ''I got one delivered last Tuesday & we love it!'' a third chimed in. The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD However, whilst the cut-price sofa is sure to be a hit amongst your guests this summer, there seem to be two catches - a hefty £49.99 delivery fee, as well as unclear instructions how to assemble it. Many horrified shoppers noted that it took them ages to finally be able to enjoy the sofa, with one woman allegedly spending three hours with her pal. ''I bought this and it took me and my friend 3 hours to build,'' the Facebook user warned. Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% Another was just as baffled, writing: ''How on earth did you put this together, the instructions are ridiculous.'' ''I bought this last year for £99 had to get someone to put it together was so confusing,'' a third customer wrote. Whatever you're buying, it's always a good idea to shop around to find the best deal. You can compare prices on websites like Google shopping, which is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Idealo is another website that lets you compare prices between retailers. All shoppers need to do is search for the item they need and the website will rank them from the cheapest to the most expensive one.
