It’s been almost 12 years since the week played in Orlando, but he seemed to be back. So did his fans.
The Canadian superstar, who is touring in support of his sixth studio album, “Hurny Up Tomorrow,” has won a crowd of over 50,000 people, a venue that is much larger than his 2013 Hard Rock Live performance, in order to win over 50,000 people on a two-hour set at Camp World Stadium.
“I could never leave you again, Orlando,” he said. “It’s officially a sin to skip Orlando on any tour.”
The performers came on stage just before 9pm, dressed in black and gold robes. He resembles a dark magician who wears a mask and black gloves in his hands, directing a spell-bound audience.
As the best part of Weeknd’s Orlando Stadium set, it’s difficult to choose one thing. Perhaps it was the background that resembles the corrupt city in front of the towering LED video screen. The stage was thrust into four directions of the audience, carrying a giant “sexy robot” statue in the middle. The dancers added red robes and headdresses that added to the mystique and charm of the visual presentation.
This is these same kind of visual worlds that Weekend has built through his music videos and cinematic works that made the artist-inspired Halloween Horror Nighthouse in 2022.
The stadium concert spectacle spread across the audience with wristbands pulsating with music. Each song had a different shade that suited the tone of the song, whether red, green or blue.
The huge production added a lot to the performance, but the most impressive part of the evening was hearing the order that Abertesfey from Weekend had outperformed his voice. His tenor range and falsetto never wavered as he delivered his lyrics touching desire, love and heartbreak.
The theme is universal, but it is conveyed in a darker, more cynical artistic light than traditional pop music. With genre-bending sounds that combine R&B, dance pop, new wave and hip hop, the Weekend carves a prominent place for yourself in the world of music.
According to Setlist.fm, his setlist tallyed over 40 songs and touched on his entire discography, from the 2011 mixtape “House of Balloons” to “After Hours” in the 2020s and his latest release.
Some songs included “Can’t Feel My Face” and the modern power ballad “Die for You.” With the booming bass, synthesizers filling the arena, and danceable drum beats, the concert felt like a two-hour party with a diverse soulful entanglement where fans have a greater feel.
The height of the hype came with the chart-top hit “Blinding Lights.”
The energy from the stage attracted attention and attention from every corner of the stadium.
“Is this a more crazy crowd than Miami?” the performer asked at one point, eliciting a lot of cheers. “Do you think they can hear us in Miami now?”
If it’s not Miami, then at least the surrounding area is certainly possible. The Weeknd helped many Central Floridians raise their caps at the weekend’s high energy shows, but performers revealed the impact the state had left on him.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Florida over the last few weeks, and this state has impacted me,” he said. “I haven’t felt this kind of music inspiration for a very long time.”
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Original issue: August 25th, 2025, 1pm
