The Weeknd Samples Evangelion Theme in New Song Debut

The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, debuted an unreleased song that samples the iconic theme song from the anime 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' during the opening night of the Asian leg of his After Hours Til Dawn tour. The performance took place at the Belluna Dome in Saitama, Japan, on September 19, 2026. The new track, tentatively titled "Tokyo," integrates elements of Yoko Takahashi's 1995 J-pop hit "A Cruel Angel’s Thesis," which is famously the opening theme for 'Neon Genesis Evangelion.' During the live rendition, Yoko Takahashi, the original vocalist of "A Cruel Angel’s Thesis," performed the song in its entirety alongside Tesfaye. The multimedia visuals accompanying the performance were directed by Yoko Taro, the creative director known for the 'NieR' video game series. These visuals incorporated imagery from both 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' and the 2017 video game 'NieR: Automata,' creating a fusion of distinct cultural and artistic references. Tesfaye acknowledged the collaborators on social media, crediting the production as "Presented by YOKO TARO ft. YOKO TAKAHASHI." This debut marks the second instance on the current tour where Tesfaye has unveiled an unreleased song inspired by a specific tour location. Previously, he premiered a track titled "Rio," which featured Brazilian singer Anitta, during a performance in Rio de Janeiro. The 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' anime series, which premiered in 1995, is a seminal work in the mecha genre and has garnered a significant global following for its complex narrative and philosophical themes. Yoko Takahashi's "A Cruel Angel’s Thesis" remains one of the most recognizable anime theme songs worldwide. Yoko Taro's involvement highlights a connection to the 'NieR' franchise, a series of action role-playing games developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix, known for their unique storytelling and artistic direction. Despite previous suggestions from Tesfaye about potentially retiring the 'The Weeknd' moniker after his 2025 album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow,' he has recently confirmed his intention to continue creating music and touring indefinitely. The After Hours Til Dawn tour is scheduled to continue with performances in Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, and Hong Kong, before concluding its global run in Kuala Lumpur on November 4, 2026. The tour's focus on location-specific premieres and collaborations underscores Tesfaye's evolving artistic approach to live performances and music creation.