Anitta and The Weeknd Drop Surreal Music Video to New Single “Sao Paulo”

Anitta and The Weeknd have combined forces to release a bold and surreal music video for their newest single, entitled “Sao Paulo.” Helmed by experimental artist Freeka Tet, the visuals dive deep into body horror and psychological torture, casting Anitta in a haunting, surreal light just in time for Halloween.

The music video opens with Anitta, who walks around darkened New York in lingerie, her lights bursting in flashes, which certainly raises a bar on the level of unease. Her character is shown lost and anguished, heightened by her pregnant belly, which automatically becomes the focal point. As the video progresses, things start to take a dark turn for the stomach: it grows a pair of lips and begins to sing-in a manner of speaking-along to The Weeknd’s haunting lyrics, adding an layer of grit to the song. Such innovative, creative, provoking imagery is further enhanced in the FX by a visual effects artist named Manny Lemus.

Anitta is known for her breaking of artistic molds, and she thought of the video’s main idea herself, introducing elements that challenged the traditional way of portraying pregnancy and femininity. “I wanted to do something that would be unforgettable, something that made people uncomfortable but still intrigued,” Anitta said in a recent statement. “I wanted it to be a mix of emotions.”

The collaboration between Anitta and The Weeknd was first introduced to the fans in September during The Weeknd’s “One Night Only” concert in Brazil, where they performed “Sao Paulo” live. The song fuses R&B with Brazilian influences and is tipped for The Weeknd’s album release next, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Speaking with Billboard Brasil about the collaboration, Anitta said, “I wrote some verses jokingly and never imagined they would become serious. Suddenly, I received the finished song. I loved it! I felt very honored and flattered. I’ve always been a big fan of his and his work. I never imagined this would happen, and now it’s a dream come true.”

This has split opinions among fans, with some hailing the video for originality in exploring themes not commonly seen, while others have found it disturbing, including some mentions of an animated pregnant belly. The aesthetic is surely jarring, fittingly so for the Halloween season, while the combined body horror and surrealist imagery seemed to reverberate with audiences looking for something unconventional and truly spine-chilling.

Anitta had hinted at portions of the video’s concept on social media earlier in the month, wearing the same costume and sporting the same pregnant belly prosthetic featured in the clip. The tease had set off speculation among fans about a possible narrative surprise, but the finished product has swung well past expectation, actually redefining what is achievable with a music video.

For both Anitta and The Weeknd, “Sao Paulo” is, more simply put, a bold step into experimental artistry within the blend of music, visual storytelling, and horror. Quite fittingly for Halloween, the piece lingers within the brain well after it has ended, begging questions about the nature of creativity and how far the artist will go to make a statement.