Too Late (The Weeknd song)

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.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/the-weeknd-after-hours-short-film-watch-video-1203524075/|title=Watch The Weeknd's Disturbing Short Film for 'After Hours'|first1=Jem|last1=Aswad|date=March 4, 2020|accessdate=October 21, 2020}} The studio version of the song was then released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of the album.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9336720/the-weeknd-after-hours-track-list|title=The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Track List: See Here|date=March 17, 2020|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 21, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2020/03/the-weeknd-after-hours-album/|title=The Weeknd Drops After Hours Album: Listen to New Songs|first=Trent|last=Fitzgerald|website=XXL Mag|date=March 20, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethings.com/the-weeknds-too-late-lyrics-ring-true-to-life-as-he-hints-about-new-music/|title=The Weeknd's 'Too Late' Lyrics Ring True To Life, As He Hints About New Music|date=October 15, 2020|website=TheThings|accessdate=October 21, 2020}}

"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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/the-weeknd-after-hours-every-song-ranked-9339446/|title=Every Song Ranked on The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Critic's Picks|date=March 20, 2020|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 22, 2022}}

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.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-weeknd-after-hours-grammys-interview-1061041/ |title=The Weeknd's Endless Summer |first1=Brittany |last1=Spanos |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 18, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}} 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.{{cite tweet|user=TheWeeknd|number=1316101259489759232|title=more videos... 🎃|date=October 13, 2020|accessdate=October 21, 2020}}{{cite tweet|user=TheWeeknd|number=1316105121810456576|title=we're in hell it's disguised as a paradise!!! with flaaaashing lights!!! 🎃🎃🎃|date=October 13, 2020|accessdate=October 21, 2020}} Tesfaye then officially announced its release date through social media, a day prior to its release, on October 21, 2020.{{cite tweet|user=TheWeeknd|number=1318974412209618944|title=GRAB YOUR CANDY AND POPCORN CAUSE THE "TOO LATE" VIDEO DROPS TOMORROW 🎃🍿 THE SAGA CONTINUES|date=October 21, 2020|accessdate=October 21, 2020}} The visual was released on October 22, 2020, and was directed by Cliqua.{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2020/10/22/21529413/the-weeknd-too-late-video|title=The Weeknd unveils gory visual for "Too Late"|first=Jon|last=Powell|date=October 22, 2020|website=REVOLT|accessdate=January 6, 2021}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-weeknd-shares-graphic-too-late-video/|title=The Weeknd Shares New Video for "Too Late"|first=Matthew|last=Strauss|website=Pitchfork|date=October 22, 2020 |accessdate=January 6, 2021}}

The video begins with an NSFW warning due to its "explicit content" and its depiction of "graphic violence"{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2020 |title=The Weeknd releases highly disturbing graphic video for 'Too Late' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-weeknd-too-late-music-video-after-hours-b1245244.html |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en}} as well as being age-restricted on YouTube based on the apps' community guidelines.{{Citation |title=The Weeknd - Too Late (Official Video) | date=October 22, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh8DT09QCHI |access-date=November 26, 2023 |language=en}} It was named one of the best music videos of 2020 by Pitchfork.{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2020 |title=The 20 Best Music Videos of 2020 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-music-videos-2020/ |access-date=December 2, 2023 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/business/chart-beat/9346588/every-song-weeknd-after-hours-hot-100|title=Every Song From The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Is on the Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|last=Zellener|first=Xander|date=March 30, 2020|accessdate=October 21, 2020}}

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/134815153|title=After Hours / The Weeknd – Tidal|website=Tidal|accessdate=October 21, 2020}}

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

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|certyear=2024|award=Gold|access-date=June 29, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=The Weeknd|title=Too Late|award=Gold|certyear=2024|relyear=2020|access-date=April 4, 2024}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube|nl71vFvVOvw|Too Late (Audio)}}

{{The Weeknd songs}}

Category:2020 songs

Category:The Weeknd songs

Category:Songs written by the Weeknd

Category:Song recordings produced by the Weeknd

Category:Songs written by DaHeala

Category:Songs written by Illangelo

Category:Songs written by Ricky Reed