Filmed on location in Mong Kok and on Hong Kong Island, The Weeknd released the official music video for his song “Hong Kong” on November 12.
The 36-year-old singer stars Chinese supermodel Ming Xi in the visual project directed by Evan Larsen.
The track originally premiered during a concert at Kai Tak Stadium on October 24. Universal Music said that the artist has long been a fan of Cantopop and filmmaker Wong Kar-wai.
The single features a distinct vocal sample from Chinese music legend Faye Wong, utilizing her 1993 Cantopop song “Monsoon,” which is also known as “Seasonal Wind.” Her vocals form the chorus of the new track, comparing a romantic partner to an uncontrollable monsoon wind that leaves everything feeling empty.
The English verses written by The Weeknd describe a brief romance that ends before a lasting relationship can form. The lyrics explore the difficulty of letting go and the feeling of turning into strangers after sharing an intimate moment.
Director Evan Larsen crafted the music video to evoke the nostalgic atmosphere of Hong Kong in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The single’s cover artwork features a photograph taken by Christopher Doyle, who served as the cinematographer for Wong Kar-wai’s acclaimed 1994 film Chungking Express, which also starred Faye Wong.
The track achieved strong commercial performance in Asia following its release on October 31. Figures provided by the singer’s team indicate that the song secured the biggest debut for a Western male artist on QQ Music and set a five-year record for a non-Mandarin song on NetEase Cloud Music.