Jump to content

The Weeknd

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Shubvirk (talk | contribs) at 17:34, 18 August 2011 (→Mixtapes). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the Canadian pop-rock band, see The Weekend (Canadian band).
Abel Tesfaye
File:TheWeeknd.png
Background information
BornScarborough, ON Canada
OriginToronto, ON Canada
GenresR&B, Soul, & Rock
Years active2008–present
LabelsXO
Websitethe-weeknd.com

Abel Tesfaye (born April 14, 1990), better known by his stage name The Weeknd is a Toronto-based R&B singer.[1][2] Songs recorded under The Weeknd name first leaked in late 2010, though the identity of the individual behind the project was initially unknown.[3][4] The Weeknd released a nine-song mixtape, House of Balloons, on 21 March 2011. The mixtape is a part of a trilogy which includes Thursday and Echoes of Silence, to be released in the summer and autumn respectively.[5] The song "High for This" is currently featured in the promo for the final season of the HBO show "Entourage." On June 16, 2011, the album was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.[6] On July 6, the album was named as a short listed (one of ten) nominee for the 2011 award.

House of Balloons (2011-present)

In late 2010, The Weeknd uploaded three songs, "What You Need," "Loft Music," and "The Morning" to YouTube.[7] A nine-track album titled House of Balloons was digitally released on 21 March 2011 through the artist's official website.[8] Hip-hop artist Drake has been partly credited for generating public awareness for The Weeknd, after he quoted a line from the track "Wicked Games" via Twitter and linked to the singer's music on his website.[8][9]

In a review of the House of Balloons album, Pitchfork Media's Joe Colly wrote that "all the thematic and sonic pieces fit together - these weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence ... are matched by this incredibly lush, downcast music. It's hard to think of a record since probably the xx's debut ... that so fully embodies such a specific nocturnal quality."[10] Frontier Psychiatrist's L.V. Lopez claimed the album was "brilliant, disturbing, and not safe for work," calling the song "Loft Music" a song that is "so unsafe it should come with a child-proof cap, so dirty that you’ll feel guilty the next time you see your wife."[11] Tom Ewing of The Guardian said that although the singing and songwriting on House of Balloons "aren't especially strong by R&B standards," the Weeknd is receiving "so much attention" as a result of its "command of mood."[12] Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice called the album "impressive" and added, "It's patient, often gorgeous, and consistently louche ... with the sort of blown-out underbelly and echo-laden crooning that has already made Drake's less-than-a-year-old Thank Me Later such an influential guidepost."[13] Maegan McGregor of Exclaim! praised the album: "Packed full of sex, drugs and some downright killer production, this easily stands as one of the year's best debuts so far, hipster, Top 40 or otherwise."[14] Sputnik Music's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free mixtape, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love."[15] The title track samples Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 single "Happy House."[16] On June 16, the album was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.[6] On July 6, the album was named as a short listed (one of ten) nominee for the 2011 award.

He has recently released three new songs: a remix of Drake's "Trust Issues," "Rolling Stone," and "The Birds: Part 1," which received a "Song of the Week" designation from The Tune.[17]

"Thursday" (2011-present)

On Thursday, August 18, 2011, The Weeknd release the cover of their 2nd Mix-tape, "Thursday".

Discography

Mixtapes

List of albums, with selected details
Title Album details
House of Balloons
Title Album details
Thursday

References

  1. ^ Ramirez, Erika (2011-03-29). "Artist to Watch: The Weeknd". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Brannigan Lynch, Joseph (2011-03-29). "Drake-approved R&B upstart The Weeknd: Why all the blog frenzy over an unknown?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-03-04). "The Playlist - The Weeknd - What You Need". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  4. ^ Stewart, Allison (2011-03-14). "Singles File: Da Phuture, The Weeknd, Fever Ray". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-05-19). "The Weeknd Ready Two More Mixtapes for 2011". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  6. ^ a b "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced". aux.tv, June 16, 2011.
  7. ^ Caramanica, Jon (2010-12-31). "Screams That Charmed, and Other Overlooked Highlights". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b Ramirez, Erika (2011-03-21). "Say Hello To The Weeknd, Drake Co-Signs". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  9. ^ Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (2011-03-23). "Love and Other Drugs: The Weeknd's Altered-State R&B". WNET. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  10. ^ Colly, Joe (2011-03-29). "Album Reviews - The Weeknd - House of Balloons". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  11. ^ Lopez, L. V. (2011-03-28). "Wicked Games – A Review of The Weeknd's House Of Balloons". Frontier Psychiatrist. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  12. ^ Ewing, Tom (2011-03-24). "The Weeknd's VIP Area Exposé Was Made for the Indie Crowd". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Fennessey, Sean (2011-03-23). "Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R&B's Future Shock". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ McGregor, Maegan (2011-03-28). "Get the Latest from the Weeknd, Teenage Kicks, TV on the Radio and More in This Week's Click Hear Roundup". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2011-03-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Fisher, Tyler (2011-03-25). "Staff Review - The Weeknd - House Of Balloons". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  16. ^ Neyland, Nick."The Weeknd’s House Of Balloons". Pitchfork. 2011-03-28. "So here on the title track from that mixtape, we get a more-than-generous portion of Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 single "Happy House." which is worked into a softly anthemic slow-burn number full of diva-ish vocals tied to a chilly beat. John McGeoch's riff remains untouched and runs throughout most of the track, giving it a filmy pop feel that periodically peaks with a generous swipe from the "Happy House" chorus."
  17. ^ "Song of the Week: The Weeknd - "The Birds (Part One)"".

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Weeknd&oldid=445532057"