But it did rob the mini-set of perhaps a welcome midway jolt to not have any of the artists who have played supporting roles of various sizes in his journey - a list that ranges from Drake to Lana Del Rey to Daft Punk to Kenny G - make an appearance a different energy from Tesfaye’s trademark monomania could’ve gone a long way. Tesfaye said he didn’t invite any guests for his halftime show because there “wasn’t any room to fit it in the narrative” given that whatever narrative there was primarily focused on his own evolution to solo superstardom, it’s not a surprising conclusion for him to reach. If there was one fault to be found with the performance - outside of occasional sound issues that even Tesfaye’s wail couldn’t pierce through - it might be a lack of truly stunning moments. Considering all three of those Weeknd songs were also Billboard Hot 100 No. But no matter how strange the song or staging, The Weeknd’s showman energy never wavered, always acting as if there was no real difference between him and shirtless Adam Levine performing “Sugar” two years ago. Even “Can’t Feel My Face,” the wedding-ready pop-funk banger that finally earned Tesfaye the MJ comparisons he so desperately sought, sounded more claustrophobic than ever when performed in a a backstage light maze, with the performer ultimately overwhelmed by a gang of bandaged doppelgangers.
With his first two full songs - after a “Call out My Name” intro welcomed him to the stage via robot demon choir - he played “Starboy,” whose pre-chorus includes Tesfaye admiring his girlfriend for her ability to snort large amounts of cocaine, and “The Hills,” a straight up sexual horror movie with the singer gleefully playing the slasher. Still, you never forgot exactly who you were watching. Running around Raymond James Stadium in his now-signature red sequin jacket, with the million-watt lights of his After Hours era’s music videos guiding his way at every turn, it probably was a pretty good preview of Abel’s eventual Vegas Years: one of the era’s premier entertainers playing the hits, smiling and shuffling and determined to have more even fun performing than anyone watching. 7), though, as he ran through many of those smashes in a 14-minute set that presented a pretty convincing argument for him having one of the strongest catalogs of any modern pop hitmaker. It’s one that Tesfaye was more than willing to relive for the folks at home on Sunday night (Feb.