Abel Tesfaye has a reputation for being the "king of toxic," right? We’re talking about the guy who made a career out of singing about late-night regrets and glass tables. But if you actually listen to true colours the weeknd lyrics, you’re hearing something that almost never happens in his discography.
He’s being... mature.
It’s weird. It’s unsettling for long-time fans who wanted the Trilogy era chaos to last forever. But "True Colors," tucked away as the seventh track on the 2016 powerhouse Starboy, is basically a three-minute masterclass in emotional transparency. While the rest of that album is busy with Daft Punk-assisted synth-pop and flexing about P1s, this song slows everything down to ask a simple, terrifying question: who are you when the lights come up?
The "Confessions" Nobody Expected
Most people hear the hook and assume it’s just another R&B slow jam. It’s got that lush, velvet production by Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat. It feels expensive. But the true colours the weeknd lyrics aren't just about romance; they’re an interrogation.
He starts off blunt. "Tell me the truth, baby girl / Who else been with you?"
Now, in a standard Weeknd song, this would be the setup for a jealous meltdown or a retaliatory hookup. Instead, Abel pivots. He tells her he knows the rumors are coming. He knows the internet exists. He basically says, "Look, people are talking, and I’d rather hear the 'messy' stuff from you than from some guy at a club."
It’s remarkably grounded.
He even admits, "I understand... we all had a past." That is a huge leap for a character who usually treats his own past like a weapon and his partner's past like a betrayal. In "True Colors," he’s offering a truce. He’s saying that the "inconsistency" he’s hearing from the grapevine is what’s killing the vibe, not the actual actions she took before him.
Why the Production Feels Like a "Vibe Shift"
You can’t talk about the lyrics without talking about how they sound. Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat are masters of that "sparkling" sound, and here they strip away the aggressive bass of "Party Monster" for something that feels like a 90s throwback.
It’s soulful. It’s clean.
The song uses this "paint me a picture" metaphor throughout the chorus. He wants her to show her "true colors." It’s an interesting choice of words because Abel usually hides in the shadows—literally. His brand is built on low-light photography and mysterious personas. By asking her to "paint a picture," he’s asking for a level of high-definition honesty that he rarely grants himself.
The Breakdown of the Verse Structure
- Verse 1: The confrontation. He addresses the rumors head-on. No games.
- Pre-Chorus: The "Why." He explains that if he’s going to love her, he needs to know it’s her, not a curated version of her.
- Chorus: The Plea. The "True Colors" hook.
- Verse 2: The Acceptance. He promises that what’s done is done. He’s the only one now.
It’s a linear progression. Most of his songs are circular—falling into the same traps, taking the same drugs, making the same mistakes. "True Colors" moves forward. It’s a transition song.
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Is It About Bella Hadid or Selena Gomez?
The timeline is always the fun part. Starboy dropped in November 2016. At that point, the world was obsessed with his relationship with Bella Hadid. They had just broken up (the first time) right around the album’s release.
Fans have dissected the true colours the weeknd lyrics for years, trying to find "gotcha" moments. Was he hearing rumors about Bella? Or was he already looking toward his brief, high-profile stint with Selena Gomez?
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter who it’s specifically about. The "who" is less important than the "how." The song represents a shift in Abel’s psyche. He’s trying to be a "keeper." He’s looking for something sustainable. In the context of the Starboy lore, this is the moment where the "Starboy" persona cracks and the real Abel asks for something human.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? That this song is "boring" compared to the rest of the album.
People skip this to get to "Sidewalks" or "Six Feet Under." But "True Colors" is the emotional glue. Without it, the album is just a collection of cool sounds. With it, you get a glimpse of a guy who is tired of the "inconsistency."
He says, "I don't believe all this inconsistency / I've been hearing different stories about you." That’s the most relatable line he’s ever written. We’ve all been there—liking someone but hearing "things" from friends-of-friends that don't match up with the person sitting in front of us.
He’s not being a detective; he’s being a partner.
How to Actually "Listen" to True Colors
If you want to get the most out of this track, stop treating it like background music. Look at the way he handles the bridge. He’s practically begging: "Show me you’re a keeper / Show me that you’re mine."
It’s vulnerable.
For anyone trying to understand the evolution of The Weeknd, this is the bridge between the "homeless kid in Toronto" and the "Global Superstar" who eventually gave us After Hours. He had to learn how to ask for the truth before he could learn how to tell his own.
Your Next Steps
To really appreciate the nuance here, try these two things:
- Listen to "Secrets" right before "True Colors." On the album, they sit next to each other. "Secrets" is about him knowing she's lying. "True Colors" is him giving her the chance to stop. It’s a two-part story about the death of a lie.
- Compare it to "Dirty Diana." Abel covered Michael Jackson early in his career. While MJ was running from the "groupie" narrative, Abel in "True Colors" is leaning into the complexity of a woman with a past. It’s a total flip of the classic R&B trope.
Go back and give it another spin. You might find that the "toxic" king was actually trying to be the "honest" one all along.