"Here We Go... Again" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriterthe Weeknd featuring American rapperTyler, the Creator. A track from the former's fifth studio album,Dawn FM (2022). It was written by the artists alongside Christian Love, Masamune "Rex" Kudo,Bruce Johnston,Brian Kennedy, Benny Bock, and Charlie Coffeen, the latter five producing it with The Weeknd.
Around six to eight months before the song's release,Bruce Johnston ofthe Beach Boys and Christian Love visited the house of the producer Rex Kudo. After Kudo sang with Johnston, the recorded vocals were played forthe Weeknd, who liked it; Johnston got writing credits for the song. The harmonies sung by Johnston and Love were used in "Here We Go... Again".[1]
The Weeknd first expressed interest in collaborating withTyler, the Creator in an August 2021 interview withGQ, stating: "I got mad love for Tyler, the Creator, and what he's doing right now — he's somebody that I really admire, because he wears his feelings on his sleeve."[2]
The Weeknd announced his fifth studio album,Dawn FM, on January 3, 2022, with Tyler, the Creator revealed as a feature on the album.[3] The tracklist, which listed the song, was revealed on January 5, and the album was released on January 7.[4]
Thematically, the song contrastsDawn FM's previous track, "Out of Time", which discusses themes of regret and trauma.[9] In "Here We Go... Again", he decides to distract himself from these thoughts,[9] instead singing about the successes he achieved in 2021,[10] such as his appearances onBillboard's magazine covers and performance at theSuper Bowl LV halftime show.[11] However, his thoughts of fame and sex return to him,[11] as people use him for it, but he is interested with the possibility of a real relationship developing from what was originally a short love affair.[12] He also talks about an ex-lover, stating that although her friends attempt to pair her with somebody famous, she instead ends up with someone basic and faceless.[13] He later claims that his new girlfriend is a movie star[14] and that not only did he love her, he also made her 'scream likeNeve Campbell'.[15] In Tyler, the Creator's verse, he raps about how love may not be unconditional,[16] warning his lover to sign aprenuptial agreement.[12]
Billboard placed the song as the third best fromDawn FM, describing its keyboards as "organ-like", and stating that it "exudes the spot of kitschiness" of 1980s songs.[11]The Ringer's Rob Harvilla called the track "boorish", stating he did not like the song, but he "respected it".[14]The Los Angeles Times' Mikael Wood called it one of the album's highlights, stating that it could beDawn FM's most "idealistic cut", and calling the Weeknd's vocals "tender".[17]
Following the release ofDawn FM, "Here We Go... Again" entered theBillboard Hot 100 at number 52 on the chart dated January 21, 2022, the seventh highest charting track.[18]
