:Here We Go... Again
{{Short description|2022 song by the Weeknd featuring Tyler, the Creator}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Here We Go... Again
| cover =
| alt =
| type = song
| artist = the Weeknd featuring Tyler, the Creator
| album = Dawn FM
| B-side =
| released = {{Start date|2022|01|07}}
| recorded = {{Start date|2021}}
| studio =
| genre = Soft rock{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-01-07/beach-boys-bruce-johnston-the-weeknd-dawn-fm|title=How 79-year-old Beach Boy Bruce Johnston wound up on the new Weeknd album|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=February 11, 2024}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=29}}
| label = *XO
| writer = {{hlist|Abel Tesfaye|Tyler Okonma|Masamune Kudo|Bruce Johnston|Brian Kennedy|Benny Bock|Charlie Coffeen|Christian Love}}
| producer = {{hlist|The Weeknd|Rex Kudo|Bruce Johnston|Brian Kennedy|Benny Bock|Charlie Coffeen}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
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}}
"Here We Go... Again" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his fifth studio album, Dawn FM (2022). It features the American rapper Tyler, the Creator and was written by the Weeknd alongside its producers Masamune "Rex" Kudo, Bruce Johnston, Brian Kennedy, Benny Bock, and Charlie Coffeen, with Tyler, the Creator and Christian Love receiving writing credits.
Background and release
Around six to eight months before the song's release, Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys and Christian Love visited the house of the producer Rex Kudo. After Kudo sang with Johnston, the recorded vocals were played for the Weeknd, who liked it; Johnston got writing credits for the song. The harmonies sung by Johnston and Love were used in "Here We Go... Again".
The Weeknd first expressed interest in collaborating with Tyler, the Creator in an August 2021 interview with GQ, stating: "I got mad love for Tyler, the Creator, and what he's doing right now — he's somebody that I really admire, because he wears his feelings on his sleeve."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-weeknd-september-cover-interview|title=The Weeknd vs. Abel Tesfaye|magazine=GQ|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=February 10, 2024}}
The Weeknd announced his fifth studio album, Dawn FM, on January 3, 2022, with Tyler, the Creator revealed as a feature on the album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-album-release-date-1235015176/|title=The Weeknd Announces New Album 'Dawn FM,' Featuring Lil Wayne, Tyler, the Creator & More: Watch the Trailer|magazine=Billboard|date=January 3, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2024}} The tracklist, which listed the song, was revealed on January 5, and the album was released on January 7.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-weeknd-reveals-tracklist-for-new-album-dawn-fm/|title=The Weeknd Reveals Tracklist for New Album Dawn FM|website=Pitchfork|date=January 5, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2024}}
Music and lyrics
"Here We Go... Again" is a soft-rock ballad, with elements of alternative R&B.{{cite magazine|last=Sacher|first=Andrew|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-weeknd-fuses-synthpop-bliss-with-sci-fi-dread-on-new-concept-album-dawn-fm-review/|title=The Weeknd fuses synthpop bliss with sci-fi dread on new concept album 'Dawn FM' (review)|magazine=BrooklynVegan|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} It is a beatless song{{cite magazine|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/07/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-review|title=The Weeknd: Dawn FM review – a stunning display of absolute pop prowess|magazine=The Guardian|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 23, 2024}} supported by backing vocals,{{cite magazine|last=Johnston|first=Maura|url=https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/the-weeknd-dawnfm-review/|title=The Weeknd showcases his versatility on Dawn FM|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 11, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} silky synths, and harmonies described as "gorgeous" by Vulture.{{cite magazine|last=Jenkins|first=Craig|url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/01/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-album-review.html|title=The Weeknd Knows No Bounds|magazine=Vulture|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}}
Thematically, the song contrasts Dawn FM{{'}}s previous track, "Out of Time", which discusses themes of regret and trauma. In "Here We Go... Again", he decides to distract himself from these thoughts,{{cite web|last=Foley|first=Connor|url=https://www.popmatters.com/weeknd-dawn-fm-party-hauntology|title=The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Carries The Weight Of Party Hauntology|website=PopMatters|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} instead singing about the successes he achieved in 2021,{{cite magazine|last=Shorter|first=Markus|url=https://consequence.net/2022/01/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-review/|title=Tune Into Dawn FM For Some Addictive Easy Listening, Courtesy of The Weeknd|magazine=Consequence|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} such as his appearances on Billboard{{'}}s magazine covers and performance at the Super Bowl LV halftime show.{{cite magazine|last=Mamo|first=Heran|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/reviews/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-tracks-ranked-critics-picks-1235016486/|title=Every Song on The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Album, Ranked: Critic's Picks|magazine=Billboard|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} However, his thoughts of fame and sex return to him, as people use him for it, but he is interested with the possibility of a real relationship developing from what was originally a short love affair.{{cite news|last=Ruggieri|first=Melissa|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/01/07/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-album-review-jim-carrey-radio-dj-lil-wayne-tyler-the-creator-quincy-jones-feature/9108843002/|title=On 'Dawn FM,' The Weeknd and Jim Carrey host a dance party in purgatory. Somehow, it works|work=USA Today|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} He also talks about an ex-lover, stating that although her friends attempt to pair her with somebody famous, she instead ends up with someone basic and faceless.{{cite magazine|last=McNeal|first=Bria|url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/the-weeknd-here-we-go-again-lyrics-about-angelina-jolie-dating|title=The Weeknd's "Here We Go...Again" Lyrics Are Fueling Angelina Jolie Dating Rumors|magazine=Nylon|date=January 12, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} He later claims that his new girlfriend is a movie star{{cite magazine|last=Harvilla|first=Rob|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2022/1/10/22876266/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-review|title=The Weeknd Makes Purgatory Sound Good on 'Dawn FM.' But It's Still Purgatory.|magazine=The Ringer|date=January 10, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} and that not only did he love her, he also made her 'scream like Neve Campbell'.{{cite magazine|last=Richards|first=Will|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/neve-campbell-reacts-to-the-weeknd-name-dropping-her-on-new-album-3144346|title=Neve Campbell reacts to The Weeknd name-dropping her on new album|magazine=NME|date=January 23, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} In Tyler, the Creator's verse, he raps about how love may not be unconditional,{{cite news|last=Serrano|first=Athena|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/0m06ut/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-mood-music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930053511/https://www.mtv.com/news/0m06ut/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-mood-music|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2022|title=The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Has A Song For Every Mood|work=MTV|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2024}} warning his lover to sign a prenuptial agreement.
Critical reception
Billboard placed the song as the third best from Dawn FM, describing its keyboards as "organ-like", and stating that it "exudes the spot of kitschiness" of 1980s songs. The Ringer{{'}}s Rob Harvilla called the track "boorish", stating he did not like the song, but he "respected it". The Los Angeles Times{{'}} Mikael Wood called it one of the album's highlights, stating that it could be Dawn FM{{'}}s most "idealistic cut", and calling the Weeknd's vocals "tender".{{cite magazine|last=Wood|first=Mikael|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-01-06/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-new-album|title=A kinder, gentler (but still freaky) Weeknd delivers 2022's first great album, 'Dawn FM'|magazine=The New York Times|date=January 6, 2022|access-date=April 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107050936/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-01-06/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-new-album|archive-date=January 7, 2022}}
Commercial performance
Following the release of Dawn FM, "Here We Go... Again" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 52 on the chart dated January 21, 2022, the seventh highest charting track.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/the-weeknd-returns-to-number-1-billboard-artist-100-chart-dawn-fm-1235020360/|title=The Weeknd Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Artist 100 Chart Thanks to 'Dawn FM' Debut|magazine=Billboard|date=January 19, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2024}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Pitchfork.{{cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-weeknd-releases-new-album-dawn-fm-listen-and-read-the-full-credits/|title=The Weeknd Releases New Album Dawn FM: Listen and Read the Full Credits|website=Pitchfork|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=March 9, 2024}}
- Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) - lead vocals, production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
- Tyler Okonma (Tyler, the Creator) - featured vocals, composition, lyricist
- Benny Bock - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
- Brian Kennedy - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
- Bruce Johnston - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, vocal arrangement, vocals
- Charlie Coffeen - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
- Christian Love - composition, lyricist, background vocals
- Masamune "Rex" Kudo - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
=Studio personnel=
- Dave Kutch - mastering engineer
- John Hanes - mixing engineer
- Kevin Peterson - assistant mastering engineer
- Matt Cohn - engineering
- Michael Ilbert - engineering
- Serban Ghenea - mixing
- Shin Kamiyama - engineering
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Here We Go... Again" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|46|artist=The Weeknd|song=Here We Go... Again|rowheader=true|access-date=February 10, 2024}} |
| scope="row"| Australia Hip-Hop/R&B Singles (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-singles-chart/2022-01-17|title=ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=January 17, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2024}}
| 17 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|21|artist=The Weeknd|rowheader=true|access-date=February 10, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|France|83|artist=The Weeknd feat. Tyler, the Creator|song=Here We Go... Again|rowheader=true|access-date=February 10, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|26|artist=The Weeknd|rowheader=true|access-date=February 10, 2024}} |
| scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web |title=Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 02/2022 |url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=ifpi.gr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125115838/http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html |url-status=live |archive-date=January 25, 2022}}
| 29 |
| {{single chart|Portugal|32|artist=The Weeknd feat. Tyler, the Creator|song=Here We Go... Again|rowheader=true|access-date=September 8, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100){{cite web|url=https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/43/the-weeknd/here-we-go-again-feat-tyler-the-creator/168211|title=ČNS IFPI|access-date=January 17, 2022}}
| 64 |
| {{single chart|South Africa2|42|year=2022|week=02|rowheader=true|access-date=June 1, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|72|artist=The Weeknd feat. Tyler, the Creator|song=Here We Go... Again|rowheader=true|access-date=September 8, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|UKstreaming|59|date=20220114|rowheader=true|access-date=February 10, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|52|artist=The Weeknd|rowheader=true|access-date=February 10, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|19|artist=The Weeknd|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2023}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Weeknd songs}}
{{Tyler, the Creator}}
Category:American soft rock songs
Category:Canadian soft rock songs
Category:Tyler, the Creator songs
Category:Song recordings produced by the Weeknd
Category:Songs written by Brian Kennedy (record producer)
Category:Songs written by Bruce Johnston