Just in time for Halloween, The Weeknd and Anitta have unleashed their eerie collaborative single, “São Paulo,” accompanied by a dark, surreal music video that’s perfect for the season. The track first made its debut at The Weeknd’s one-off São Paulo show last month, where Anitta surprised fans by joining him on stage.
Originally, Anitta’s contribution was meant to be a live addition to the performance, but her recorded vocals “were so awesome” that The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, decided to turn it into a full track. The finished result, now officially released, combines The Weeknd’s signature haunting vibes with Brazilian funk beats, bringing a unique twist to his usual sound.
The music video, directed by Freeka Tet, amplifies the track's spooky energy. In the visuals, Anitta plays a pregnant woman wandering the city at night. As her face mask slips away, she vomits in the streets before approaching a water fountain, where a sinister face appears on her stomach and mouths the lyrics to The Weeknd’s verse. With every shot more surreal than the last, the video is a Halloween gift that fans didn’t know they needed.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Anitta shared her excitement: “I wrote some verses as a joke and never imagined they would become serious. Suddenly, I received the finished song. I loved it! I felt very honoured and flattered. I’ve always been a big fan of [The Weeknd] and his work. I never imagined this would happen, and now it’s a dream come true. It’s a little more Brazilian funk, as promised, around the world”
This track is the latest teaser from The Weeknd’s upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, set to complete the trilogy that began with After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022). As he wraps up this era, Tesfaye has been steadily previewing new music, hinting at what might be his most diverse project yet.
