The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye if you’re all about government names, has legit dominated the pop scene like nobody’s business. A modern-day Mozart, his reign in pop music is comparable to the Madonnas and Michael Jacksons of yesteryears. His lyrics? Straight-up vulnerable. Guy lays his soul bare in every track, no fear. From “Starboy” to “Can’t Feel My Face,” he’s got that knack for penning words that hit the feels and top Billboard charts.
The Weeknd’s got the Midas touch when it comes to songwriting, no kidding. The guy outdid himself with his album “After Hours” – a cinematic masterpiece that had fans and critics drooling. But that’s just the icing. Now, here’s where the plot thickens. Our hero ain’t without a scrape or two in his career. Remember the Grammy snub? Dude was left in the cold, yet bounced back harder, dropping the critically acclaimed “Save Your Tears” – a massive two fingers up to the haters.
And let’s not forget the rollercoaster heartbreaks. Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez, anyone? The Weeknd put his heartache into words, wrapped it with sick beats, and served it up for us to groove to.
14. Heartless
Ah, “Heartless,” one helluva sonic scribbling from The Weeknd’s pen. Here, we find an unmasked Abel Tesfaye – stripped free from his “Starboy” persona, choosing instead to peel back the layers of celebrity skin and lay his tormented soul bare to his fans. A track from the smash 2020 album, “After Hours,” it’s an icy, synth-heavy, 808-laden jam that explores a life tainted by decadence, fame, and heartbreak. The ‘Diamond Life’ ain’t all glitz and glam, folks. The lyrics are roguish and unapologetic, the beat infectious – this track is pure Weeknd, and it’s raw. His take-no-prisoners attitude to love is out in full swing, with the emotional weight of the song twisting the knife just that bit deeper in your feels. An audacious confession – refreshingly honest and relentlessly catchy – that’s “Heartless”.
13. Can’t Feel My Face
Just like popping candy, “Can’t Feel My Face” crackles with electrifying energy from the moment it hits your eardrums. An unabashed departure from The Weeknd’s usual broody, introspective vibes, this banger is a full-throttle nod to MJ-style pop. He’s weaving a narrative about love, addiction and the unavoidable emotional numbness. That infectious beat? Iconic. Those catchy tunes? Earworm material. It’s an intoxicating mix of soul, pop, and R&B, cloaked in the guise of a club-banger. However, don’t let the upbeat veneer fool ya. Underneath, it’s still the same old Abel, exploring darker themes. The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”, an award-winning, multi-platinum monster, seamlessly captures the essence of modern pop while staying true to his signature tormented style. Let’s just say, this track won’t be leaving our playlists anytime soon.
12. Die For You
Slaps right in the feels, doesn’t it? Featured on The Weeknd’s multi-platinum, Starboy, this emotional rollercoaster delves into sacrificing it all for love. The beauty of the melody belies the deep dive into passionate yet painful love, a signature move for The Weeknd. Abel Tesfaye, the man behind the persona, pours out his heart in raw, heartfelt lyrics peppered with his unmistakable falsetto. The track is an earworm, edgy, and packs a punch, the kind that leaves your heart aching for more. If you’re a sucker for love anthems with a dark twist, let “Die For You” lure you into The Weeknd’s alluring world of heartache and yearning.
11. Stargirl Interlude
An impassioned piece from “Starboy,” the album that shot The Weeknd to mega-stardom. Seductive and short, it’s like a shooting star, leaving you craving more. Lana Del Rey, the queen of melancholic pop, lends her sultry voice, making it one sick collab. Recall those fairytale moments when you plunge into this cosmic romance. Draped in sensuality, the lyrics ooze extreme passion that brings you into an emotional whirlwind. The Weeknd, in his usual form, paints heartbreaking love tales with outstanding flair. Yet, it’s that hauntingly beautiful Lana Del Rey bridge that hits you right in the feels, man. They say they’re just living life, but if this is “life,” sign us up! No doubt, “Stargirl Interlude” isn’t just a song, it’s an experience – a tantalizing snippet that leaves you yearning for more. It’s that intimate whispering of poetic desires in the silent night. Pure magic!
10. Die For You – Remix
Listen to The Weeknd at his genre-blending best. From the get-go, the track kicks in with a pulsing rhythm and melodic hooks that have marked Abel Tesfaye as a bonafide hitmaker. The emotional undercurrent is palpable as The Weeknd bares his soul, doubling down on the sentiments of the original hit. This remix, however, is not just a rehash but brings a fresh perspective with amplified intimacy which is signature of The Weeknd’s artistry. The refrain, where he proclaims he’d “die for” his lover, echoes with a poignant desperation that will hit you right in the feels. The true magic lies in the relatability of his raw emotion, making this remix a must-add to your playlist. No need for conclusions here, this track’s replay value speaks volumes. Next one, please!
9. The Hills
You can almost hear the wolves howling in the distance. He’s a charismatic Casanova, but his tales of love are wrung through the melodic blender of his icy, spectral R&B. This song is quintessential Abel Tesfaye, numbing the pain with lust and excess against a backdrop of haunting beats and murky, late-night vibes. “The Hills,” off his second studio album, “Beauty Behind the Madness,” delves into his psyche – a battleground of sex, drugs, and melancholy. Though the lyrics paint a romantic villain, The Weeknd spotlights his emotional turmoil with an almost brutal honesty. He’s at his most vulnerable, showing that beneath his party-hard exterior, he’s just as lost as those he sings to. It’s life’s wild, beautiful mess, wrapped in one hook-drenched track.
8. Call Out My Name
Dropped a truth bomb with “Call Out My Name”. Part of the 2018 “My Dear Melancholy,” EP, this ballad captures the messy end of a fiery affair. The dark synths and Abel’s emotive delivery echo the heartache. Believed to be about his ex Selena Gomez, The Weeknd spills his guts in gut-wrenching lyrics. He sings about being willing to have given it all, even trading his health, magnifying the depth of his feelings. So, folks, if you’re out there nursing a broken heart, here’s a track that’ll resonate. As the beat fades, you can’t help but appreciate The Weeknd’s brutal honesty for laying bare his raw emotion.
7. I Was Never There
Released by The Weeknd on his ‘My Dear Melancholy’ EP, the song serves a dank cocktail of melancholy and self-reflection. Its dream-inducing synth-heavy beats scream of his iconic collab with genius producer Gesaffelstein, echoing a fresh but familiar vibe. The Weeknd pulls an emotional drive-by, spotlighting his struggles with relationship turmoils and substance abuse. His vocals, a psychotropic blend of pain and yearning, begs the question, ‘What makes a grown man cry?’. The lyrics, chilling and raw, create a vibe so personal, you’ll feel like you’re crashing his therapy session. This hit’s an emotional roller coaster, folks, strap in. The Weeknd hits his signature sweet spot with “I Was Never There,” giving us another addictive dose of his emotional musical therapy.
6. Save Your Tears
One of the standout tracks from The Weeknd’s fourth studio album, “After Hours”. Abel Tesfaye, famed globally as The Weeknd, once again, woos us with his melancholic melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics, you know, the stuff that emotional pop anthems are made of. The Weeknd’s gritty vocals, fueled with regret, and the upbeat synth-pop beats contrast like sweet and sour candy for your ears, creating a nostalgic ’80s vibe. The lyrics speak to the pain of unrequited love and breakup remorse, a theme Abel’s no stranger to. The bittersweet symphony wrapped up in The Weeknd’s signature falsetto kicks right in the feels, a testament to his raw songwriting skills. “Save Your Tears” takes you on a wild emotional rollercoaster but ends without an exit, leaving you to loop in its infectious rhythm, long after the beat drops.
5. Reminder
Keeping it emo for the masses. It’s a brooding, edgy track from his 2016 album, “Starboy.” Think shiny pop vibes with a gloomy undertone. Tesfaye’s vulnerable lyrics hit deep, creating a raw connection with his fans. Dude’s been flipping the script since his mixtape days, mixing his dark, intimate lyrics with sleek pop beats for a perfect radio banger. “Reminder” strikes a balance between his hedonistic side and a Genesis tale moment of sorts, like realizing his own fame. Lyrically, he’s cutting corners through Hollywood Hills while embracing his devil-may-care lifestyle. Flexing his three Grammy’s and Forbes’ list recognition, it’s the Weeknd on the prowl, dropping truth bombs ’bout his persona. You listen, you vibe and you wish the track lasted a second longer. Tell me that ain’t the truth, fam!
4. Die For You
Not just a bop, it’s a raw, bleeding heart out in the open, its aural embodiment of The Weeknd’s unparalleled ability to paint grandeur with melancholy. Found on his chart-crushing 2016 album “Starboy”, the song encapsulates the dark underbelly of his electric image. It’s not just about love but obsessive desire – the kind that says he’d “die for” his girl and “cry for” his girl. It’s that kind of heady devotion that vibes with his legions of fans. The Weeknd’s bread and butter have always been the electric, synth-soaked, visceral imagery, but on this one, he cuts through the icy moody sonics to give us raw emotion. Be it the lyrics or the melody, he hit the jackpot on this one, folks. “Die For You” is peak Weeknd at his emotional tract, laid bare for all to see.
3. Blinding Lights
Another banger off The Weeknd’s prolific fourth studio album “After Hours”, is a synth-drenched trip down memory lane. A relentlessly catchy throwback to the flashy ’80s era, Abel Tesfaye infuses undeniable energy, with lyrics dripping in the lustful yearning that’s become his signature move. This track isn’t all glitz and glam, though. Below the beat lies a deeper narrative of one man’s struggle with loneliness; an uncanny ability to balance dance-pop aesthetics with the melancholy of isolation, making it a tune that hits as hard on the dancefloor as it does in your feels. Overall, “Blinding Lights” is a mesmeric ride through The Weeknd’s dark-pop universe – emotional, infectious, and undeniably unforgettable.
2. Starboy
A collab with Daft Punk? Talk about star power! This diamond-certified anthem had us all humming “Look what you’ve made me do”. The emotional charge hit hard as he bemoaned the pitfalls of fame, losing himself in the glitz and glamour. Mama warned him about the cash and the Prada, but Abel was too caught up rocking his own world. Pretty deep for a dude who just wanted to stunt in a McLaren P1, huh? Capturing that rags-to-riches spirit with a moody edge, The Weeknd absolutely delivered. So, next time you’re rocking out to “Starboy,” remember it’s not just a catchy tune; it’s a cautionary tale coated in gold. A taste of the brilliant and haunting universe within The Weeknd’s albums. Buckle up, baby, because it’s a wild ride.
1. Popular
An epic collaboration with Playboi Carti and the queens of yesteryear pop Madonna, this track made for an HBO Original Series “The Idol” has simply dominated.
So there you have it, folks. From belting out tunes in Toronto strip clubs to headlining Super Bowl half-time, The Weeknd is a testament to the idea that talent, resilience, and a whole lot of heart can make you a pop icon. Can’t wait to see what this Starboy does next!
