The Weeknd’s New First Person Point Of View Video Is Beyond Alarming

The Weeknd is one of popular music’s most ambitious video creators. To market his albums (and previously, his mixtapes), the Canadian singer knows how to draw attention to the music through other mediums. Two weeks ago, Abel unleashed the “Starboy” music video, belonging to the Daft Punk-assisted title track to his Universal Republic Records LP of the same name.

While that visual featured neon crosses and a lot of luxury apartment demolition, “False Alarm” is an all out robbery and chase. This not-safe-for-work (NSFW) point-of-view video (directed by Ilya Naishuller) that traces a bank heist and subsequent escape attempt in real-time. Some lives are spared; others are violently taken. People are handcuffed. One woman is handcuffed, kidnapped, and taken for the ride of her life.

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There are car crashes, drones, bombs, motorcycles, and true machine gun massacre. There are also more than a few reveals at the end, adding to The Weeknd’s penchant for symbolism and over-the-top visuals.

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Like M.I.A. or Kanye West, The Weeknd keeps the music video medium alive in the stream era. Fans of Point Break, Reservoir Dogs, or any first-person-shooter video game will be drawn to this even before they get to the music.

This is the second confirmed song on Starboy, which will release November 25. Interestingly, Roc Nation MC Belly (another Canadian native) is credited as a co-writer on this lush song.

Evident in the verses below, this is trademark Weeknd—from the drug references, the strong imagery, and the double-entendre.

Bathroom stalls for the powder nose (she loves)
High heel shoes with the open toes (she loves)
She’s got a good time wrapped in gold (she loves)
For you, for you
All red dress with the devil eyes (she loves)
So obsessed with the camera lights (she loves)
You love her, but you can’t deny (she loves)
The truth, the truth

and:

Six inch long, ’bout three inch wide (she loves)
Dolla, dolla bill is her only type (she loves)
You love her but you’ll never be (she loves)
The one, the one
Diamonds and the rings are her fantasy (she loves)
She chase hearts with the Hennessy (she loves)
You love her, but you’ll never be (she loves)
Enough, enough