Jump to content

Trilogy (The Weeknd album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by TheAmazingPeanuts (talk | contribs) at 06:20, 5 February 2021 (Undid revision 1004940560 by Juicewayne (talk): Pointless linking). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Trilogy
Compilation album by
the Weeknd
ReleasedNovember 13, 2012 (2012-11-13)
StudioDream House, Site Sound, and Sterling Road (Toronto, Ontario)
GenreAlternative R&B[1]
Length159:35
Label
Producer
The Weeknd chronology
Echoes of Silence
(2011) 		Trilogy
(2012) 		Kiss Land
(2013)
Singles from Trilogy
  1. "Wicked Games"
    Released: October 22, 2012
  2. "Twenty Eight"
    Released: November 13, 2012
  3. "The Zone"
    Released: November 16, 2012

Trilogy is a compilation album by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on November 13, 2012 through XO and distributed by Republic Records. It is composed of re-mixed and remastered versions of his 2011 mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, and three previously-unreleased songs.

Trilogy received generally positive reviews from critics, who reinforced the previous acclaim of the mixtapes, although some found it indulgent. It was promoted with three singles and the Weeknd's concert tour during September to November 2012. The album charted at number five and number four in Canada and the United States, respectively.

Background

In 2011, the Weeknd released a series of mixtapes—House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence—[2] and garnered both critical acclaim and a growing fan base.[3] The mixtapes were principally recorded with producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo,[4] at Dream House and Site Sound Studios in Toronto; additional sessions took place at Sterling Road Studios.[5] The Weeknd released the mixtapes online as free digital downloads.[2]

In September 2012, the Weeknd signed with Republic Records in a joint venture with his own imprint label XO.[6] The mixtapes were subsequently remastered and compiled for Trilogy, along with three previously unreleased songs,[3] which were recorded at Liberty Studios in Toronto.[5] "Twenty Eight", "Valerie", and "Til Dawn (Here Comes the Sun)" were included as bonus tracks at the end of each of the compilation's discs.[7]

To re-release the mixtapes' music for retail, the Weeknd had to obtain clearance from the recording artists he had originally sampled for certain songs, including Beach House for "The Party & the After Party" and Siouxsie and the Banshees on "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"; the sample of Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" on "What You Need" was excluded from Trilogy.[6]

Promotion

A video accompanying the track "Rolling Stone" was released on October 3, 2012 to promote the album's release.[8] The Weeknd previewed the album at a listening party in New York City on October 24. It was his first major media event.[9] According to music magazine NME's website, in an open letter to his fans the Weeknd posted on his website in regards to the "Rolling Stone" video, "Because I am a man of few words, I chose to make a viral video to show you how I felt and where I stand. I usually don't like to 'spoon feed' my audience because I grew up idolising story tellers who tell stories using symbolism, so it was in my nature to do the same. The "Rolling Stone" video takes place in a dimly lit studio which represents the two worlds I have been stuck in. The gloomy side represents the mainstream world while the other side represents the underground. The girl holding on represents you."[10]

The video for his first official single from Trilogy, a revamped version of "Wicked Games", was released just weeks later on October 18, 2012, again through his website.[11] Chris Martins of Spin describes the video, "The clip is almost a sequel to the similarly shot "Rolling Stone" video, wherein a woman draped over the singer's back mysteriously disappears by the song's end. This time, the shot opens on a dancing, purse-lipped model type, but her shadow soon vamps away from her body, and torments Tesfaye until the track's end."[12]

The album's lead single "Wicked Games" was released on October 22, 2012.[13] It charted at number 43 on the Canadian Hot 100, and in the United States, it reached number 53 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[14]

His fourth video release, and third to promote Trilogy, was for "The Zone", a collaboration with fellow Toronto musician, rapper Drake. This video had been rumoured for months and was a popular track given the collaboration of OVOXO, a crew formed by Drake and the Weeknd.[15] The video was released on November 7, 2012 and is described by music blog Pretty Much Amazing's review as having "a lot of camera obscura effects, a forest of multicolored balloons, lens flare that would make J. J. Abrams jealous, a woman dancing in lace lingerie, and Drake. It's a fitting video – its film noir, Twin Peaks-y vibe perfectly matches the track's subtle sexy-creepy energy."[16]

The second single "Twenty Eight" was released on November 13.[17] The Weeknd toured in support of Trilogy during September to November 2012.[6] "The Zone" was released as the album's third and final single three days later.[18]

With Trilogy now on iTunes and in stores, the Weeknd turned to his fifth official video, one of his three new releases from his debut, "Twenty Eight". Dropped on February 13, 2013 and directed by up-and-coming visionary Nabil Elderkin (some may notice similarities to Frank Ocean's "Pyramids" video which he also directed).[19] Simren Bolaria of music blog Earmilk, describes the video, "A long way from his former faceless, anti-media Internet persona, a distracted Abel Tesfaye sits down for a grey and dreary television interview with a foreign journalist while a haunting hologram girl sits in bed watching from her own television set. He's under surveillance—the crew is watching, hologram girl is watching, and the reporter is talking at him, so he dips into mental absence. The Weeknd continues to slip back into his alternate stripper world where the lights are flashing, the strippers don't get tired, the décor is decadent, and he can do the watching himself, with a camcorder in hand, of course. The line between what's real and what's imagined is blurred, but one thing is clear—this video is definitely NSFW."[19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.1/10[20]
Metacritic79/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[22]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[23]
Fact5/5[24]
The Guardian[25]
The Irish Times[26]
Mojo[27]
The Observer[28]
Pitchfork8.5/10[29]
Rolling Stone[30]
Uncut8/10[31]

Trilogy was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 79, based on 19 reviews.[21] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[20]

John Calvert of Fact dubbed it "an r'n'b album with few equals in terms of narrational ambition".[24] Oliver Keens of Time Out wrote that the Weeknd "communicates" his character "so engagingly on Trilogy" and found him "riveting when he juxtaposes debauchery with a delivery that finds him numb and on the verge of tears".[32] Killian Fox of The Observer felt that the mixtapes' "production sounded great to start with" and that the "new material is unexceptional", but ultimately stated, "if you didn't pick up the mixtapes when they were going free, and can handle 160 minutes of beautifully crafted nihilism, this is an essential buy."[28] Although he found the new songs "arbitrary in terms of sequencing", Pitchfork's Ian Cohen cited the compilation as "some of the best music of the young decade; judging by its already pervasive influence, it's safe to say Trilogy (or at least House of Balloons) will be one of those records that will be viewed as a turning point when we look at the 2010s as a whole."[29]

In a mixed review, AllMusic's Andy Kellman felt that, despite moments when he is "distinctively gripping," the Weeknd lacks "restraint, as he is prone to repetitious whining that is more young boy than young Keith Sweat". Kellman wrote that "now that he's with a label, he'll hopefully get some kind of filter that enables him to fulfill the promise heard in these 160 minutes of one-dimensional, occasionally exhilarating overindulgence ... His potential is as obvious as his lyrics are toxic."[22] Kevin Ritchie of Now found the music "impressive", but found the "lyrical ambivalence" to be "a bit one-note" by the album's second hour.[33] Although he found its "excess oppressive" when listened to in its entirety, Drowned in Sound's Robert Leedlum deemed Trilogy to be "untouchable" as a "comprehensive document of a specific moment in time".[34] Paul MacInnes of The Guardian wrote that its three discs "offer a rough trajectory of party, after-party and hangover, through which an assertive voice gives way to one that sounds more troubled", and concluded, "Trilogy does remove some of the Weeknd's mystique – lyrical formulae become apparent, and examples of engaging melody recede as the collection advances. Whatever its limits, however, Trilogy remains a striking piece of work."[25]

Commercial performance

Trilogy charted at number five on the Canadian Albums Chart.[35] In the United States, it debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 86,000 copies.[36] On May 22, 2013, the album was certified double platinum by Music Canada.[37] By August 2015, the release has sold 558,000 copies in the United States.[38] On March 18, 2019, Trilogy was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[39]

Track listing

Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

Disc one: House of Balloons
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."High for This"
Dream Machine4:07
2."What You Need"
  • Tesfaye
  • Jeremy Rose
3:16
3."House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"
6:47
4."The Morning"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:15
5."Wicked Games"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Rainer Millar Blancheur
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:24
6."The Party & the After Party"
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
  • Rainer
7:39
7."Coming Down"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:55
8."Loft Music"
  • Tesfaye
  • Rose
  • Legrand
  • Scally
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
6:04
9."The Knowing"
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:41
10."Twenty Eight" (bonus track)
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:18
Disc two: Thursday
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Lonely Star"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:49
2."Life of the Party"
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:57
3."Thursday"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:19
4."The Zone" (featuring Drake)
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
6:58
5."The Birds, Pt. 1"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
3:34
6."The Birds, Pt. 2"
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:50
7."Gone"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
8:07
8."Rolling Stone"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
3:50
9."Heaven or Las Vegas"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:53
10."Valerie" (bonus track)
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:46
Disc three: Echoes of Silence
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."D.D."Michael JacksonIllangelo4:35
2."Montreal"
Illangelo4:10
3."Outside"
Illangelo4:20
4."XO / The Host"
  • Tesfaye
  • Montagnese
Illangelo7:23
5."Initiation"
  • DropxLife
  • Illangelo
4:20
6."Same Old Song" (featuring Juicy J)
  • Tesfaye
  • Montagnese
Illangelo5:12
7."The Fall"
5:45
8."Next"
  • Tesfaye
  • Montagnese
Illangelo6:00
9."Echoes of Silence"
  • Tesfaye
  • Montagnese
Illangelo4:02
10."Till Dawn (Here Comes the Sun)" (bonus track)
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:19
iTunes Store bonus music video
No.TitleLength
11."The Zone" (closed-captioned)5:16

Sample credits[5]

  • "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" contains a sample of "Happy House", performed by Siouxsie and the Banshees.
  • "The Party & the After Party" contains a sample of "Master of None", performed by Beach House.
  • "Loft Music" contains a sample of "Gila", performed by Beach House.
  • "The Knowing" contains a sample of "Cherry Coloured Funk", performed by Cocteau Twins.
  • "Life of the Party" contains elements of "Drugs in My Body", performed by Thieves Like Us.
  • "The Birds, Pt. 2" contains elements of "Sandpaper Kisses", performed by Martina Topley-Bird.
  • "Montreal" contains elements of "Laisse tomber les filles", performed by France Gall.
  • "Outside" contains elements of "Go Outside", performed by Cults.
  • "Initiation" contains a sample of "Patience", performed by Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Personnel

Credits for Trilogy adapted from liner notes.[5]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Trilogy
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[37] 2× Platinum 160,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[57] Platinum 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[39] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for Trilogy
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Ref.
Australia November 9, 2012 Republic CD [59]
Germany [60]
United Kingdom November 12, 2012
  • Digital Distribution Turkey
  • Island
  • CD
  • digital download
 [61][62]
Canada November 13, 2012
[63][64]
United States Republic [65]

See also

References

  1. ^ Martins, Chris (September 12, 2012). "The Weeknd's PBR&B Archive 'Trilogy' Gets Official Release". Spin. New York. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Wood, Mikael (November 7, 2012). "First listen: The Weeknd's deceptively lovely new songs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "The Weeknd – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  4. ^ Gill, Andy (November 10, 2012). "Album: The Weeknd, Trilogy (Universal Republic)". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e Trilogy (CD liner). The Weeknd. Republic Records. 2012. 19793-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b c Hampp, Andrew (November 12, 2012). "The Weeknd & Reps Talk Clearing Samples, Touring For 'Trilogy' Release". Billboard. New York. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  7. ^ Aspray, Benjamin (November 19, 2012). "The Weeknd: Trilogy". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  8. ^ Alexis, Nadeska. "The Weeknd Releases 'Rolling Stone' Video, Trilogy Cover Art". MTV. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  9. ^ Krishnamurthy, Sowmya (October 25, 2012). "The Weeknd Previews Three-Disc Trilogy". Rolling Stone. New York. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  10. ^ "The Weeknd unveils 'Rolling Stone' video and writes open letter to fans – watch | News". NME. October 4, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  11. ^ "Watch the Weeknd's Shadowy "Wicked Games" Video | News". Pitchfork. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "The Weeknd Shares Haunted 'Wicked Games' Video, 'Trilogy' Track List | SPIN | Videos". Spin. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  13. ^ "Wicked Games [Explicit]". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  14. ^ "Wicked Games – The Weeknd". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  15. ^ Lewis, Brittany (January 25, 2012). "The Weeknd & Drake Shooting A Video For "The Zone" (DETAILS)". Global Grind. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  16. ^ Oliver, Genevieve (November 8, 2012). "Video: The Weeknd + Drake – "The Zone" « PMA". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  17. ^ "Twenty Eight – Single". iTunes. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  18. ^ "The Zone (feat. Drake) – Single by The Weeknd". iTunes Store. Apple. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ a b Bolaria, Simren (February 15, 2013). "The Weeknd – "Twenty-Eight" [Video] (NSFW)". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "The Trilogy by The Weeknd reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Reviews for Trilogy by The Weeknd". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  22. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Trilogy – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  23. ^ Anderson, Kyle; Rahman, Ray (November 16, 2012). "Albums: Nov. 23, 2012". Entertainment Weekly. New York. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  24. ^ a b Calvert, John (November 27, 2012). "Trilogy". Fact. London. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  25. ^ a b MacInnes, Paul (November 15, 2012). "The Weeknd: Trilogy – review". The Guardian. London. section G2, p. 23. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  26. ^ Carroll, Jim (November 30, 2012). "The Weeknd". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  27. ^ "The Weeknd: Trilogy". Mojo (230). London: 108. January 2013.
  28. ^ a b Fox, Killian (November 10, 2012). "The Weeknd: Trilogy – review". The Observer. London. The New Review section, p. 29. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  29. ^ a b Cohen, Ian (November 13, 2012). "The Weeknd: The Trilogy". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  30. ^ Johnston, Maura (November 19, 2012). "The Trilogy". Rolling Stone. New York. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  31. ^ "The Weeknd: Trilogy". Uncut (188). London. January 2013.
  32. ^ Keens, Oliver (November 2012). "The Weeknd – 'Trilogy' album review". Time Out. London. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  33. ^ Ritchie, Kevin (November 13, 2012). "The Weeknd – Trilogy". Now. Toronto. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  34. ^ Leedlum, Robert (November 14, 2012). "The Weeknd – Trilogy". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on November 18, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  35. ^ "Trilogy – The Weeknd". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  36. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 10, 2012). "One Direction Tops Billboard 200 Chart, 'Twilight' Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  37. ^ a b "Canadian album certifications – The Weeknd – Trilogy". Music Canada.
  38. ^ Wilson, Carl (August 27, 2015). "Billboard Cover: The Weeknd on Why 'Nobody Can Stop Me But Myself'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  39. ^ a b "American album certifications – The Weeknd – Trilogy". Recording Industry Association of America.
  40. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 November 2012" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (1186). Pandora Archive. November 19, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  41. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Weeknd – Trilogy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  42. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  43. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – The Weeknd – Trilogy". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  44. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Weeknd – Trilogy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  45. ^ "Lescharts.com – The Weeknd – Trilogy". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  46. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Weeknd – Trilogy" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  47. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Weeknd – Trilogy". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  48. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  49. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  50. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  51. ^ "2013 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  52. ^ "2013 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  53. ^ "2013 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  54. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  55. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  56. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  57. ^ "Danish album certifications – The Weeknd – Trilogy". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  58. ^ "British album certifications – The Weeknd – Trilogy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2017. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Trilogy in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  59. ^ "Buy Trilogy Weeknd, Alternative, CD". Sanity. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  60. ^ "Weeknd,The – Trilogy – CD". Musicline.de (in German). PHONONET GmbH. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  61. ^ "Weeknd: Trilogy: 3cd (2012): CD". HMV. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  62. ^ "Trilogy (Explicit Version) (2012)". 7digital. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  63. ^ "Trilogy : 3cd by Weeknd". Hmv.ca. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  64. ^ "Trilogy (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd". iTunes. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  65. ^ "Trilogy (Explicit): The Weeknd". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trilogy_(The_Weeknd_album)&oldid=1004952006"