The Weeknd
Abel Tesfay | |
|---|---|
| File:WeekndOVOFest.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Scarborough, ON Canada |
| Origin | Toronto, ON Canada |
| Genres | Contemporary R&B, Downtempo, Post-dubstep, Progressive soul |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | XO |
| Website | the-weeknd.com |
Abel Tesfay (born April 14, 1990), better known by his stage name The Weeknd is a Canadian 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, released on 18 August 2011, and Echoes of Silence, to be released in the autumn.[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, House of Balloons 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
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.
Thursday
On August 17, 2011, The Weeknd released the promotional poster for the mixtape & On August 18, 2011, The Weeknd released the mixtape. The Mixtape has 9 tracks, & features Drake in one of the tracks. Thursday had over 180,000+ downloads in the first day.
Discography
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| House of Balloons |
|
| Thursday |
|
| Echoes of Silence |
|
References
- ^ 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) - ^ 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) - ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-03-04). "The Playlist - The Weeknd - What You Need". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ 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) - ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (2011-05-19). "The Weeknd Ready Two More Mixtapes for 2011". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ a b "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced". aux.tv, June 16, 2011.
- ^ 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) - ^ a b Ramirez, Erika (2011-03-21). "Say Hello To The Weeknd, Drake Co-Signs". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (2011-03-23). "Love and Other Drugs: The Weeknd's Altered-State R&B". WNET. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ Colly, Joe (2011-03-29). "Album Reviews - The Weeknd - House of Balloons". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ Lopez, L. V. (2011-03-28). "Wicked Games – A Review of The Weeknd's House Of Balloons". Frontier Psychiatrist. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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) - ^ 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) - ^ Fisher, Tyler (2011-03-25). "Staff Review - The Weeknd - House Of Balloons". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ 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."