Hi! My name is Stella and I'm currently doing an intership at RTL, the production team asked me to write an article about my favourite singer and that is The Weeknd.
His real name is Abel Tesfaye, he grew up in the Scarborough neighborhood in Toronto, Canada, raised by his single mother and grandmother. He was Ethiopian and grew up speaking Amharic as his first language. At age 17, he dropped out of high school and left home. He moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto's Parkdale neighborhood with friends, an era that inspired his stage name.
From a high-school dropout and periods of early homelessness to become one of the most streamed artists in the world. He gained rapid fame in 2010 after uploading mystery R&B tracks to YouTube that were championed by Drake.
Did you already know all of this about him?
Below, I selected 5 songs that I believe would help you get to know The Weeknd a little more.
1. Blinding lights
The undeniable 2020 mega-hit from the After Hours album is his most-streamed track of all time. It's celebrated for its driving 80s-inspired synth-pop sound and earworm chorus. "Blinding Lights" music video has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube. As the biggest global hit of the streaming era, it has broken records across platforms, also becoming the first track in history to exceed 5 billion streams on Spotify.
2. The Hills
This 2015 track from Beauty Behind the Madness leans heavily into his early, alternative R&B roots. It is beloved by fans for its haunting atmosphere and heavy bass. The song is a dark, raw exploration of the toxic sides of fame, secret affairs, and emotional detachment. The song captures Abel Tesfaye's struggle to maintain genuine connections.
3. Starboy feat. Daft Punk
The title track from his 2016 album is a collaboration with the French electronic duo. It became an instant radio staple and is defining for his discography. The video has been described as the singer's attempt to kill his old persona, perhaps signaling he is reinventing himself with this new album, by suffocating himself, clipping his old hairstyle, and crushing his glass-framed platinum records.
4. Wicked Games
From his groundbreaking 2011 mixtape House of Balloons, this is the song that started it all. It remains a fan-favorite, praised for its raw, moody, and intoxicating exploration of toxic romance. "Wicked Games" explores emotional detachment, loneliness, and the desperate search for temporary affection
5. After Hours
The title track of his 2020 album is widely considered a masterpiece by dedicated fans. "After Hours" represents the dark, vulnerable, and intoxicated thoughts he experiences late at night. Much of the After Hours is widely believed to be about his on-and-off relationship with supermodel Bella Hadid.
The Weeknd is an incredible artist and in this article I was just recommending my personal top 5 mainstream songs but his whole discography is truly fantastic and really worth discovering.
