Why Listen to The Weeknd?

Simply put: for the atmosphere. Truthfully, Abel Tesfaye–soon to be formerly known as The Weeknd–is an artistic rarity even by today’s standards. He’s relentlessly reinvented himself throughout the years, shifting from alternative r&b, to pop, to 80s synth pop and beyond, while still retaining much of the mystique and intrigue that garnered him attention early in his career. The draw? Ballads about drugs, sex, and the enticing problems of fame. Abel emerged out of nowhere as “The Weeknd” in 2011 with his now classic mixtape series, Trilogy, depicting a dark world of excessive debauchery all his own. He was unapologetically self-destructive, reveling in an endless hangover-filled lifestyle—and it worked. He was shameless and brazenly honest about what he got up to, cultivating a mesmerizing soundscape for listeners glued to his persona. Hazy and eerie beats were the backdrop to an immensely powerful voice that could be both haunting and delicate whenever he pleased. Couple that with the mystery of no one knowing what he looked like at the time, or if he was even a solo artist for that matter, and the success practically wrote itself. 

Fast forward fourteen years, and he’s one of the biggest musicians in the world sounding nothing like how he used to. Creating a new “trilogy” with a new 80s inspired sound, Abel has showcased an immense change in his approach to music–both in style and subject matter. His singing has grown more refined, more controlled. He sounds…subdued; appearing pensive and nihilistic about the fame he’s earned. Replacing his brash darkness is a greater sense of vulnerability and transparency, showing more of the artist behind “The Weeknd” persona. The catalyst for his growth seems to be a desire to retire his iconic stage name altogether, moving toward something beyond what “The Weeknd” has achieved. With that in mind, there is no better time to look back on the legacy he’s created using that name than at its twilight.

An Introduction to The Weeknd–Playlist:

1. “High For This” (House of Balloons)

2. “Starboy” (Starboy)

3. “The Hills” (Beauty Behind the Madness)

4. “D.D” (Echoes of Silence)

5. “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls” (House of Balloons)

6. “Adaptation” (Kiss Land)

7. “Wicked Games” (House of Balloons)

8. “Rolling Stone” (Thursday)

9. “Wake Me Up” (Hurry Up Tomorrow)

10. “Take My Breath” (Dawn FM)

11. “Die For You” (Starboy)

12. “Call Out My Name” (My Dear Melancholy,)

13. “Escape From LA” (After Hours)

14. “Snowchild” (After Hours)

15. “Without Warning” (Hurry Up Tomorrow)

Honorable Mentions: “The Birds Pt.1,” “After Hours,” “Love in the Sky,” “The Morning,” & “Sacrifice.”

This playlist is my best attempt at summarizing The Weeknd’s career, showcasing his: singing ability, subject matter, and musical evolution throughout the years. The list came from a pool of forty-eight songs from across his entire discography, including at least one song from each of his ten projects. Songs included are meant to showcase his range and song making ability, more than anything. The Weeknd’s catalog is one of the most diverse out there, loaded with chart topping hits and incredibly rich deep cuts that cover a wide range of musical styles. He’s an artist who constantly has taken himself to task to push his creativity as far as it can go, whether successful or not. Overall, my goal with this playlist is highlight his commitment to consistency, while also making an entertaining fifteen track playlist for anyone interested in his music.

Album I’d Recommend to New Listeners: Hurry Up Tomorrow

Though I’d consider either House of Balloons or After Hours as his best work, Hurry Up Tomorrow may be his most significant. It’s a twenty-two song cinematic assortment of everything The Weeknd’s music has offered his entire career. Each song exhibits a different facet of his evolution–the sounds and styles he’s cultivated–reshaped into something more illustrious than before. It has the massive radio pull of records like Starboy & Dawn FM, while producing the same gnawing sentimentality found on his most iconic records from Trilogy. The album’s a collection of the best The Weeknd’s had to offer, packaged as a grandiose farewell to who he’s been, and manifesting the kind of artist he wants to be moving forward. It’s approachable, diverse, and quite possibly the best he’s ever sounded. 

Notable Songs: “Wake Me Up,” “Cry For Me,” “Baptized In Fear,” & “Take Me Back To LA”

Abel’s time as “The Weeknd” has come to an end, but he’s far from done. He’s an artist who's never satisfied, always obsessed with seeing how far he can grow. He’s fearlessly switched genres, and excelled at making them his own. Greater still is his ability to produce massive singles without sacrificing the prioritization of his albums, the backbone of his career. Regardless of what Abel does next, he’s sure to astound as he always has.