The Weeknd does not need the Grammys; the Grammys need him. 

“Save Your Tears” is the fifth music video from “After Hours.” The music video, directed by Cliqua, stars Abel Tesfaye, The Weeknd, as the main character. The Weeknd develops a storyline through the course of the five music videos. In “Heartless,” The Weeknd experiences euphoria in Las Vegas, but the high comes down in “Blinding Lights,” where he ends up bloody and bruised. In The Weeknd’s “In Your Eyes” music video, he becomes obsessed with a girl; however, she ends up playing him. The Weeknd becomes cold and hostile after being played and officially becomes someone else in “Too Late.” The viewers begin to watch The Weeknd cope in unhealthy ways to distract himself from the pain. 

“Save Your Tears” is a cinematic masterpiece. Viewers can tell The Weeknd put a lot of effort and heart into this music video. Everything was on point, from the sparkly, expensive suit he wore to the flawless camera work and acting. Through these music videos, he is telling a story of pain that anyone who watches will understand. The Weeknd effectively illustrates how hard it is to end a long-term relationship even when the two people in the relationship know that it has become toxic. The song appears fun and upbeat, but when people watch the video and read the lyrics, they realize the upbeat tempo is just one more facade. 

The Weeknd debuts a new face in the “Save Your Tears” music video. The special effect makeup helps support the storyline and emphasizes the new person that he has become. The Weeknd also does a great job connecting  the “Save Your Tears” music video to the song “Escape from La,” where he says, “LA girls all look the same / I can’t recognize / the same work done on their face / I don’t criticize.”

In the music video, The Weeknd supports the plot by having the setting be at a masquerade ball where viewers cannot see anybody’s face except for another girl. As the main character, The Weeknd expressed his emotions in a way that touches the viewers across the screen. The music video makes The Weeknd appear vulnerable and open, and it makes the viewers feel like they are in the room with him experiencing the same emotions.

The ending of “Save Your Tears” is phenomenal and is the best part of the music video. As the fifth music video from the “After Hours” album, it perfectly wraps up the storyline that has been building up from the previous music videos. Nobody realizes how important a beat drop is until it gets incorporated as a dramatic effect in a music video. When the beat drops and the cameras pan on The Weeknd holding a gun, the viewers are left shocked and wondering what will happen next. He expresses the feeling of knowing what he needs to do, yet can not bring himself to do it transpires across the screen to the viewers. The acting in the music video alone makes this music video a cinematic masterpiece. It is an excellent example to other artists on how to convey a proper storyline via music videos.