Like his ambiguous alias, The Weeknd’s tune revels in bright stories of late-night debauchery earlier than going through as much as their sobering aftermaths. Prior to now decade, the Canadian artist (born Abel Tesfaye) has risen from the underground to turn into one of the most largest stars on the planet. After shedding a string of mixtapes and becoming a member of a brand new elegance of R&B renegades, The Weeknd entered the pop fray – teaming up with Swedish super-producer Max Martin and others on methods to turning into the worldwide celebrity we all know as of late. With each incarnation, on the other hand, The Weeknd’s lyrical topics have by no means strayed: he stays a willing chronicler of intercourse, medication, and emotional extremes. His innate skill not to most effective keep forward of the curve however in reality be the curve has made him one in every of pop’s biggest disruptors, whilst his tune continues to form the pop panorama. The very best Weeknd songs, underneath, be offering a glimpse into his peculiar ascent.

Concentrate to the most efficient of The Weeknd on Apple Track and Spotify.

25: Heartless

“Heartless” was once the primary style of The Weeknd’s After Hours technology, introducing enthusiasts to that chaotic, raunchy power that may pass directly to outline his maximum a hit technology thus far. The refrain is a thesis commentary of varieties for After Hours as Abel sings, “Why? ‘Motive I’m heartless/ And I’m again to my techniques ’motive I’m heartless/ All this cash and this ache were given me heartless/ Low existence for existence ’motive I’m heartless.” – Sam Armstrong

24: Space Of Balloons/Glass Desk Women

Necessarily two songs in a single, “Space Of Balloons/Glass Desk Women” opens with a spacey synth intro earlier than construction into an electrifying 2d part, giving us two contrasting facets to the celebration scene. The Weeknd is not any stranger the usage of two-part constructions, and even songs that function a call-and-response for one any other, and “Space Of Balloons/Glass Desk Women” is the easiest instance of his innate narrative abilities, as he chronicles a celebration that turns darkish over a Siouxsie And The Banshees pattern.

23: The Fall

The Weeknd steps into fearlessness in this observe from Echoes Of Silence, letting us know he “ain’t frightened of the autumn.” The artist’s courageous statement of being unafraid of failure makes his verses about stardom and blowing thru cash hit tougher. He’s insistent on residing within the second – one of the most very best qualities of a singer who offers within the ephemerality of the current second.

22: Under the influence of alcohol In Love (Remix)

Take note when each artist was once churning out remixes of Beyoncé’s “Under the influence of alcohol In Love”? Tesfaye threw his hat within the ring in 2014, and his voice are compatible the observe like a glove. The R&B crooner makes the music uniquely his personal via leaning extra into the under the influence of alcohol side than the “love” section, appearing that he can spin a internet, even on a music that wasn’t firstly his.

21: One Proper Now (with Publish Malone)

As soon as The Weeknd and Publish Malone began teasing a collaborative observe, it was once sure to be successful. Two of the most important stars on the planet related up for an enormous anthem, set to dominate the charts from sheer wattage by myself. Thankfully for us, the music is an absolute vintage from the duo, constructed round their personalities however with sufficient methods and aptitude to be solely recent. – Sam Armstrong

20: Prime For This

“Prime For This” ushered listeners into Tesfaye’s international as the hole observe on Space Of Balloons, a wonderfully brooding, thunderous intro that readies you for a rollercoaster of feelings. In this music, he’s comforting a lady whilst she events – one thing The Weeknd is not any stranger to.

19: Wasted Occasions

“Wasted Occasions” is steadily known as one in every of The Weeknd’s very best songs. Featured on his 2018 EP, My Pricey Despair, the music presentations a distinct aspect to the R&B artist’s romantic existence, through which he laments his movements in a extra mature method. The manufacturing is closely paying homage to Space Of Balloons, however with an added layer of intensity and perception into The Weeknd’s non-public existence.

18: Depraved Video games

Many Weeknd enthusiasts credit score “Depraved Video games” as their first publicity to the artist. The music’s sentiments play right into a palpable loneliness and be offering up sexual gratification as an overly brief repair. The black-and-white tune video lends narrative to the loneliness as nicely, with The Weeknd making a song to the digital camera with a most commonly barren background. Take into account that, many may relate to his feelings, and we’ve been coming again for extra ever since.

17: Frequently

Sexual rendezvous and drug use are a ordinary theme in The Weeknd’s songs, and on “Frequently” he exudes a cavalier angle about each. The moments between evening and morning appear to be a blur, marked via ambiguous lyrics and braggadocious references. The way of life is also out of our component however, for him, that is simply any other day. One of the vital breakout hits of his sophomore studio album, Attractiveness In the back of The Insanity, “Frequently” went triple-platinum in the United States and gold in his local Canada.

16: Take My Breath

On “Take My Breath,” Abel Tesfaye enters an alternative universe the place his go-to sound is encouraged via the 70s and his power is honed in on heating up the dance flooring. After all, The Weeknd can do that together with his one-of-a-kind post-R&B, however on “Take My Breath” he breaks out the bellbottom pants and emerges from his disco nap in a position to celebration. – Sam Armstrong

15: Can’t Really feel My Face

The Weeknd has all the time cited Michael Jackson as a musical affect, and that totally comes thru in “Can’t Really feel My Face.” In all probability his maximum recognizable music, “Can’t Really feel My Face” shot instantly to No.1 due to its disco-funk-fuelled sound and infectious refrain. Within the tune video, The Weeknd is on level doing his very best Jackson strikes and getting booed all the way through karaoke – a humorous aspect you don’t incessantly see within the singer’s moody visuals.

14: The Hills

“The Hills” is but any other chart-topping hit from Attractiveness In the back of The Insanity. The music peaked at No.1 at the Billboard Sizzling 100 and held a Most sensible 10 fit in 5 different international locations. The hypnotizing lyrics, “Once I’m f__ked up/That’s the actual me,” had been at the pointers of everybody’s tongues in 2015, and the bass-boosted observe went directly to earn diamond certification, making it one of the crucial a hit Weeknd songs of his occupation.

13: Earned It

This Grammy-winning unmarried took the radio via hurricane in 2015. Any other Attractiveness In the back of The Insanity lower, the music additionally featured within the Fifty Sun shades Of Gray soundtrack, thrusting Tesfaye into the mainstream. The singer’s seductive voice took middle level at the movie’s soundtrack, and “Earned It” turned into the Canadian singer’s first Most sensible 5 unmarried, peaking at No.3 at the Billboard Sizzling 100. The accompanying NSFW visible each matched the provocative movie and extremely carnal nature of the music.

12: The Zone (that includes Drake)

The Weeknd and Drake have labored off and on with every different since 2011, when Drake put the rising singer at the map with a visitor spot on his Take Care album. Drizzy returned the desire and jumped on “The Zone,” off The Weeknd’s 2011 mixtape, Trilogy. The downtempo unmarried lays naked a story through which Tesfaye intends to sleep with a lady, however is pondering of anyone else. The message isn’t essentially new, however the singer has some way of expressing vulnerability in a startling method, retaining his enthusiasts coming again for extra.

11: Loft Track

Just about each celebration in 2011 was once soundtracked via Space Of Balloons, and the lyrics to “Loft Track” had everybody in a chokehold. The music samples “Gila” via Seaside Space, and flips right into a racy fable international through which waking existence and drug use appear to be a lucid dream. Nobody is aware of methods to sing about reckless moments of sweet sixteen like The Weeknd, and this daring observe put everybody on top alert for extra to return from the proficient singer.

10: Inform Your Buddies

This Kanye-produced addition to Attractiveness In the back of The Insanity is a surprising piano-driven observe detailing Tesfaye’s reviews with popularity. The lyrics are in particular inclined in a brand new method, serving to the album turn into The Weeknd’s best-selling report thus far. As an alternative of the standard moody synths, Tesfaye applies his silky falsetto over a vintage soul pattern, courtesy of “Can’t Forestall Loving You” via Soul Canine. The unmarried accomplished platinum certification and spent a large amount of time at the Billboard Sizzling 100 and R&B charts.

9: Save Your Tears

The Weeknd has an inimitable skill to conjure catharsis from the subtlest accents. In “Save Your Tears,” it’s the descending synth line within the refrain that emphasizes his laments, as he sings, “It’s essential to’ve requested me why I broke your center/ It’s essential to’ve advised me that you just fell aside/ However you walked previous me like I wasn’t there/ And simply pretended such as you didn’t care.” Like all the very best Weeknd songs, Tesfaye manages to make himself the hero and villain on the identical time. – Sam Armstrong

8: The Morning

“The Morning” nonetheless ranks as one of the most very best Weeknd songs, and its affect on his occupation is unprecedented. The subject material of this one is lovely transparent: intercourse, medication, touring and the rock megastar way of life set to hazy synths and woozy blues riffs. With “The Morning,” Tesfaye created a brand new subset of R&B: hangover jams. The music additionally were given play within the 2019 movie Uncut Gemstones, when The Weeknd (enjoying himself) plays it a darkened nightclub.

7: Rolling Stone

Taken from his trilogy of mixtapes, “Rolling Stone” noticed the enigmatic singer drop his guard ever so reasonably, dedicating the tune video to his enthusiasts and accompanying it with an open letter. “As a result of I’m a person of few phrases, I selected to make a video to turn you the way I felt and the place I stand. I generally don’t love to ‘spoon feed’ my target audience as a result of I grew up idolizing storytellers who inform tales the usage of symbolism, so it was once in my nature to do the similar.” The singer will get reflective, as he addresses the digital camera over a easy guitar melody.

6: The Birds Pt.2

Smartly, she didn’t heed his caution, and now she’s taking pictures a gun. The mixture of crying, gunshots and crows cawing at first of “The Birds Pt.2” paints an eerie image. This darkish observe illustrates Tesfaye’s craftsmanship with regards to storytelling, making it one in every of The Weeknd’s very best songs in a roster of hits.

5: The Birds Pt.1

The Weeknd incessantly muses about his issue with relationships and right here provides a literal caution to not fall in love with him. On “The Birds Pt.1,” Tesfaye is going so far as to explain falling in love with him as “falling to the purpose of no go back”; via the top of the observe, you’re almost praying that each lady who listens takes heed. However then what would occur to the tune?

4: Starboy (that includes Daft Punk)

“Starboy” reveals The Weeknd entering into his popularity and revelling in his personal ability. The accompanying video presentations him strolling thru an immaculate mansion and smashing his personal report plaques. The unmarried and platinum-selling album of the similar title additionally represented The Weeknd star-walking over the brink of popularity and into a brand new bankruptcy of his tune. A collaboration with French digital tune duo Daft Punk, the synth-laden observe went seven-times platinum in the United States and peaked at No.1 on each Billboard’s Sizzling 100 and Sizzling R&B/Hip-Hop charts.

3: King Of The Fall

Tesfaye drops a little bit well-earned braggadocio on a lot of his tracks, however “King Of The Fall” has a few of his maximum potent verses. As soon as once more, the singer stocks his point of view because the protagonist of his personal hedonistic debauchery and accelerates his same old languid supply. It was once launched as a standalone observe forward of his King Of The Fall Excursion in 2014 and served as a precursor to Attractiveness In the back of The Insanity, which dropped the next 12 months.

2: Coming Down

The Space Of Balloons mixtape was once a grand creation to The Weeknd’s push-and-pull narrative about relationships. On “Coming Down,” the artist sings about his emotions surrounding a dating whilst beneath the affect, apologising (however now not in point of fact) for issues he did when he was once top. The observe creates the hazy setting of coming down from an intense top and coming face-to-face with the tough truth.

1: Blinding Lighting fixtures

“Blinding Lighting fixtures” isn’t most effective one of the most Weeknd’s very best songs, it’s one of the most nice pop moments of the twenty first century. The synth line sounds love it was once taken from an 80s online game and the drums thump on your chest like that sensation after one too many cups of espresso. It’s a thrilling efficiency, and Abel Tesfaye manages to construct and strip again pressure with the snap of a finger. “Blinding Lighting fixtures” is a masterclass in pop songwriting and showcases The Weeknd on the absolute most sensible of his recreation. – Sam Armstrong

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