Canadian singer-songwriter “The Weeknd” released “Dancing in the Flames” earlier this month to tease his upcoming album “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” A live version of the song was released the following day.
Most critic reviews have been positive overall, calling the song catchy and enjoying its meaning and how well the music video accompanies the song. While “Dancing in the Flames” is catchy, it seems like its flaws are being overlooked by most people.
The song itself is a synth-pop and electric pop song with an upbeat vibe and a catchy tune. While Catchy ,it is also heavily reliant on its production.
In many previous songs by “The Weeknd,” the artist and the production have come together perfectly and released an entirely unique sound. In the case of “Dancing in the Flames,” there is, unfortunately, an overbearing amount of production to the point where it is almost distracting from the talent of the artist. “The weeknd” could be one of the most vocally talented artists in modern music. This talent should be supported by production, not overshadowed.
The meaning behind “Dancing in the Flames,” is up to individual interpretation but conveys a somewhat linear message. As the title implies, the song is about loving somebody while there is a degree of danger or risk that might accompany that feeling. This sort of dynamic in a relationship is relatable to many people.
Despite its relatability, because of the overall instrumental feeling of the song, the emotion from that sort of relationship is not conveyed strongly.
The music video for “Dancing in the Flames,” is a literal visualization of the lyrics of the song. It starts with the artist driving in a classic car down a foggy road while singing. Shot entirely on an iPhone 16 Pro and directed by Anton Tammi, the lighting and cinematography are high quality and impressive.
At the bridge of the song, the artist gets into a crash and is left singing, roaming through what is assumed to be an afterlife. The music video at this point gets a bit cheesy in its appearance and just looks unnatural.
At the end of the music video, an ambulance is shown recovering “The Weekend” after the accident. With a to-the-point ending, there is a good visual representation of finality and the consequences that come with “Dancing in the Flames.”
While “Dancing in the Flames” is very catchy, it is apparent that the song was made more so to get broadcasted on the radio and streamed on the internet. “The Weeknd” is incredibly talented and has made fantastic songs in the past where everything comes together well. However, the production of this song outshines the raw talent the artist could have used to better convey the meaning behind the song. I give“Dancing in the Flames” a 2 out of 5 Lopers.
