Here We Go... Again

"Here We Go... Again" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his fifth studio album, Dawn FM (2022). It features the American rapper Tyler, the Creator and was written by the Weeknd alongside its producers Masamune "Rex" Kudo, Bruce Johnston, Brian Kennedy, Benny Bock, and Charlie Coffeen, with Tyler, the Creator and Christian Love receiving writing credits.

Background and release
Around six to eight months before the song's release, Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys and Christian Love visited the house of the producer Rex Kudo. After Kudo sung with Johnston, the recorded vocals were played for the 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".

The Weeknd first expressed interest in collaborating with Tyler, the Creator in an August 2021 interview with GQ, 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."

The Weeknd announced his fifth studio album, Dawn FM, on January 3, 2022, with Tyler, the Creator revealed as a feature on the album. The tracklist, which listed the song, was revealed on January 5, and the album was released on January 7.

Music and lyrics
"Here We Go... Again" is a soft-rock ballad, with elements of alternative R&B. It is a beatless song supported by backing vocals, silky synths, and harmonies described as "gorgeous" by Vulture.

Thematically, the song contrasts Dawn FM's previous track, "Out of Time", which discusses themes of regret and trauma. In "Here We Go... Again", he decides to distract himself from these thoughts, instead singing about the successes he achieved in 2021, such as his appearances on Billboard's magazine covers and performance at the Super Bowl LV halftime show. However, his thoughts of fame and sex return to him, 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. 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. He later claims that his new girlfriend is a movie star and that not only did he love her, he also made her 'scream like Neve Campbell'. In Tyler, the Creator's verse, he raps about how love may not be unconditional, warning his lover to sign a prenuptial agreement.

Critical reception
Billboard placed the song as the third best from Dawn FM, describing its keyboards as "organ-like", and stating that it "exudes the spot of kitschiness" of 1980s songs. The Ringer's Rob Harvilla called the track "boorish", stating he did not like the song, but he "respected it". The Los Angeles Times Mikael Wood called it one of the album's highlights, stating that it could be Dawn FMs most "idealistic cut", and calling the Weeknd's vocals "tender".

Commercial performance
Following the release of Dawn FM, "Here We Go... Again" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 52 on the chart dated January 21, 2022, the seventh highest charting track.

Personnel
Credits adapted from Pitchfork.


 * Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) - lead vocals, production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
 * Tyler Okonma (Tyler, the Creator) - featured vocals, composition, lyricist
 * Benny Bock - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
 * Brian Kennedy - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
 * Bruce Johnston - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, vocal arrangement, vocals
 * Charlie Coffeen - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming
 * Christian Love - composition, lyricist, background vocals
 * Masamune "Rex" Kudo - production, composition, lyricist, keyboards, programming

Studio personnel

 * Dave Kutch - mastering engineer
 * John Hanes - mixing engineer
 * Kevin Peterson - assisant mastering engineer
 * Matt Cohn - engineering
 * Michael Ilbert - engineering
 * Serban Ghenea - mixing
 * Shin Kamiyama - engineering