The Weeknd Premieres Surprise New Song 'Tokyo' Featuring Yoko Takahashi
Abel Tesfaye kicked off his Asian tour with a surprise track premiere, proving his famous stage name isn't going anywhere just yet.
By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 1 min read
Abel Tesfaye is back with fresh music, and he brought a massive guest along for the live unveiling. The Canadian pop icon officially launched his latest Asian tour with a bang, shocking concertgoers by premiering an unreleased track titled "Tokyo." The unexpected live performance gave fans their very first listen to the new material. Adding even more star power to the tour kickoff, Tesfaye shared the stage with acclaimed Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi to debut the collaborative track, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
What is The Weeknd new song Tokyo The arrival of "Tokyo" continues a pattern of high-profile live debuts for the global superstar. Earlier this year in April, Tesfaye pulled off a similar surprise by unveiling another fresh track titled "Rio" during a live show. With two new tracks now premiered directly on stage in recent months, fan excitement is reaching a fever pitch. The fresh music also provides a clear update on the singer's ongoing debate over his professional moniker. Over the past few years, Tesfaye sparked widespread conversation after publicly teasing plans to retire his famous stage name, leaving followers wondering if his musical output as The Weeknd was drawing to a close.
Is Abel Tesfaye retiring The Weeknd name Despite hinting at a potential shift toward releasing projects under his birth name, his recent stage actions show that the iconic persona remains very much active. Reports highlight that Tesfaye is still fully leaning into his established brand, delivering major performance moments under the stage name that made him a global powerhouse. With the Asian leg of his tour now officially underway, fans around the world are keeping a close watch on Tesfaye’s upcoming setlists. Between the April debut of "Rio" and this latest showcase of "Tokyo" alongside Yoko Takahashi, the superstar proves he still knows how to dominate headline news whenever he takes the microphone.
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The backstory
Verified moments, in order.
The Weeknd: The Career Behind the Exit Talk
Abel Tesfaye builds a career on reinvention. From anonymous mixtapes to the Super Bowl, these are the milestones—and flashpoints—behind his push to close a chapter without necessarily closing his career.
Three mixtapes build the mystery
The Toronto singer releases House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence for free under the name The Weeknd. His initially concealed identity and songs about sex, drugs and emotional fallout establish the persona that carries him into the mainstream.
- 2015-08-28
The outsider becomes a chart fixture
Beauty Behind the Madness arrives and becomes his first US No. 1 album. Its singles Can't Feel My Face and The Hills both top the US singles chart, turning his troubled-nightlife narratives into mass-market pop.
- 2020-11-24Flashpoint
A Grammy shutout triggers a public fight
Despite the success of After Hours and Blinding Lights, The Weeknd receives no nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards. He publicly accuses the organization of corruption. In March 2021, he says he will stop allowing his label to submit his music for consideration.
- 2021-02-07
The Super Bowl makes the spectacle national
He headlines the Super Bowl LV halftime show in Tampa, performing in the red jacket associated with After Hours alongside dancers wearing face bandages. The performance takes that album's carefully constructed character onto one of television's biggest stages.
- 2023-05
He questions the future of The Weeknd—not music
Tesfaye publicly discusses ending The Weeknd persona and says the album he is working on will probably be his last under that name. He also makes clear that he still intends to make music, drawing the distinction at the heart of later retirement speculation.
- 2023-06-04Flashpoint
The Idol puts him at the center of a backlash
The Idol premieres on HBO, with Tesfaye co-creating the series and playing nightclub owner Tedros opposite Lily-Rose Depp. Its sexual content and treatment of its female lead draw criticism. HBO confirms in August that the show will not return for a second season.
- 2025-01-31
Hurry Up Tomorrow completes the trilogy
He releases Hurry Up Tomorrow, the final installment of the album trilogy that begins with After Hours in 2020 and continues with Dawn FM in 2022. It supplies a documented endpoint to a multi-year creative arc—not, by itself, proof that Tesfaye is retiring.
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People also ask
- What new song did The Weeknd debut during his tour kickoff?
- The Weeknd debuted an unreleased track called 'Tokyo' featuring Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi during the opening night of his Asian tour.
- Is Abel Tesfaye retiring his stage name The Weeknd?
- Although Abel Tesfaye previously teased retiring his stage name over the past few years, he continues to perform and release new tracks under The Weeknd moniker.
- What other new track has The Weeknd premiered recently?
- In addition to 'Tokyo,' the singer premiered another new track titled 'Rio' during a live performance in April.
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