The Weeknd - "Take My Breath"

The Weeknd returns with his first new single of the year.

Typically, the song of the summer needs to be released before Memorial Day Weekend so it can capture the feeling of the season from start to finish. Well, it's the first week of August so it's too late for The Weeknd to claim the crown this year, but I still expect to hear the latest single from one of the biggest pop stars in the world to dominate for the remainder of the season. There is a slinky, funky beat that kicks things off before twinkling, '80s style synths come in and Abel blesses us with his forever silky smooth voice. This doesn't have the feeling of a massive bop in the same way as "I Can't Feel My Face" or "Blinding Lights," however it's hard to imagine anything released by this guy not becoming gold. He's got the Midas Touch of modern pop, hip-hop, and R&B and the chorus here is catchy enough for it to ring out across clubs for the forseeable future. Or at least until he drops his next single.