The Weeknd Performs "Blinding Lights" on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'
Returning to late night with his new signature red velvet jacket and broken nose.
Earlier this week, worldwide music star The Weeknd premiered his new visual for “Blinding Lights” that saw him take on a Hunter S. Thompson-esque character getting into trouble on the Las Vegas strip. The surreal, blurry, and somewhat grim music video came directly after the Metro Boomin-produced “Heartless” that first promoted The Weeknd’s new retro-inspired aesthetic complete with a red velvet dinner coat, bloody nose, and acid-propelled infatuation with the gambling capital of the world. Now he’s taking his show on the road with a new live performance of “Blinding Lights” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The Toronto singer-songwriter brought along all of the visual proponents that made the previous two Anton Tammi-directed music videos so compelling. Grainy 1980s like stormy clouds serve as the backdrop while Abel continues to show off his broken nose and fake blood from a drunken fight. The “Blinding Lights” come in sparingly, but for the most part The Weeknd shares the dimly lit stage alone.
Watch the full performance above and revisit The Weeknd’s stop on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for his first single “Heartless.”
Earlier this year, Abel Tesfaye also played a major role in A24’s critically-acclaimed Uncut Gems. Watch the Safdie Brothers’ break down the synth-heavy soundtrack with Oneohtrix Point Never.
