Die For You

The song 'Die For You' is the sixth single from the 2016 album Starboy. The music video for the song was released as a surprise in November 2021 to celebrate the album's fifth anniversary. In February 2023, The Weeknd released another version of the song, a remix featuring Ariana Grande, and later, in March, he also released the deluxe version of Starboy.

The lyrics explore the depth of unconditional love and the sacrifices one is willing to make for another person. Right from the start, the artist expresses the difficulty of articulating his feelings, but makes it clear that the love he feels is undeniable, as in the verses 'It's hard for me to communicate the thoughts that I hold / But tonight I'm gon' let you know / Let me tell the truth'.

Throughout the song, we see the real internal struggle to communicate thoughts and emotions, highlighting the complexity of love relationships and the vulnerability they bring ('Even though we're going through it / And it makes you feel alone / Just know that I would die for you / Baby, I would die for you, yeah'). Fans speculate that the song was made at the end of The Weeknd's relationship with model Bella Hadid. The speculation is that the two broke up due to conflicting schedules, i.e. they still liked each other, but because of their work, they were no longer able to be together.

This would explain why the chorus of the song emphasizes the narrator's willingness to sacrifice everything, even his own life, for the well-being of his loved one. Even facing difficulties and a sense of loneliness, he reaffirms his commitment and unwavering love ('The distance and the time between us / It'll never change my mind, 'cause baby / I would die for you').

This means that even if they are far apart, space and time are not enough obstacles to change their feelings, reinforcing the idea of eternal and unchanging love. This devotion is expressed intensely and dramatically, characteristic of The Weeknd's style, who often addresses themes of love, pain and sacrifice in his songs.

In addition, the narrator admits to trying to manipulate the other person's feelings, but also asks not to be blamed for it, recognizing the pain they are both facing with the prospect of an imminent end ('I'm finding ways to manipulate the feelin' you're goin' through / But, baby girl, I'm not blamin' you / Just don't blame me too, yeah'. The repetition that the other person is 'perfect' and 'worth it' suggests an idealization of the partner, which can be both a strength and a weakness in the relationship.

Overall, 'Die For You' is a powerful declaration of love and sacrifice, which sums up the complexity and intensity of human emotions in a relationship. The song became a real hit and the remix even made history by reaching the highest number of plays on its debut day (8.9 million) on Spotify.