The Weeknd Double Fantasy Review | Sounds Like AI-Generated Music

The Weeknd’s HBO series "The Idol" releases June 4th and to set the stage for what's to come he has released new music from the official soundtrack. “Double Fantasy” is produced by both Metro Boomin' and Mike Dean and follows the same 80’s exercise music formula that made Dawn FM so novel in today’s era. In this piece, The Weeknd and Future reunite following 2017's Comin Out Strong” on Future’s album HNDRXX.

The Intro​

When you listen to the beginning of “Double Fantasy” it is easy to hear what they were going for…a 1980’s suspenseful sexy thriller. The synth pad presumably there to spark suspense while the sax bringing forth passion and provocativeness but neither work, in fact, they feel forced. It may be the sound patches used or the actual composition but either way the entire intro feels cheesy and uninspired.

The intro changes pace at 0:32 once the sax is traded out for a hard synth lead that is not much better. It could have rescued the song but it is much too elementary and is made even worse when Abel Tesfaye sings on top of it. From the very beginning the song feels like it was made with scraps left over from the Dawn FM sessions.

The Verses​

The Weeknd starts off the first verse with a very formulaic performance. If the synth lead wasn’t average enough it is accentuated by The Weekend's unison singing. An elementary synth lead + elementary bars = elementary verses. Here's a sample from Verse 1:

You want me inside it, beg me to slide in

Knowing we should have never met

Girl, when you ride it, see you decide it

Don't say those words that you'll regret

Verse 2 is taken over by Future but it doesn’t get any better. To be frank, Future is not really an MC you listen to for lyrics, you listen to him for the experience and vibe but he brings neither on "Double Fantasy". Future sounds bored and uninspired from start to finish and it’s hard to blame him because The Weeknd didn’t give him much to work with.

We go out shoppin' whenever we get bored

We get it poppin', leave nothin' in the store

If I go to Saturn, I know that you goin'

Yes, those are actual bars.

The Composition​

The backing track is “ok” at best but it lacks identity. It starts off as a synthy foray into the mysterious but turns into a generic Metro Boomin’ throwaway. What makes it even less impressive is that the sound samples used sound like the stock sounds from a Roland Fantom X. The depth of composition, the sound quality, and the richness of the track pales in comparison from anything from Dawn FM. If this is the quality we can expect on the soundtrack then it will be a hard pass for us.

Parting Thoughts​

“Double Fantasy” sounds like The Weeknd woke up one morning and said “Oh snap, the lead single for “The Idol” is due today and I haven’t even started, crikey!” So he runs in the studio and brings up his “Pop Music Hit” template and pastes in the elements:

• Melodramatic intro, CHECK!
• Easy to remember lyrics, CHECK!
• Simple, repeatable melody, CHECK!
• Famous Rapper, Check!

When you listen to a song as well put together as “Out of Time” it is easy to see how this is not even in the same league. If The Weeknd revealed that an AI wrote this entire piece it would not be a shocker at all.

New Video for "Double Fantasy ft. Future"​

More On "The Idol"​

The Idol is an HBO Series that stars Lily Rose Depp, Da'vine Joy Randolph, Dan Levy, Rachel Sennott, Moses Sumney, and Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd). The series focuses on an aspiring pop idol and her complex relationship with a self-help guru and cult leader.