The Weeknd Essay Example
The Weeknd Essay Example

The Weeknd Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (709 words)
  • Published: January 23, 2017
  • Type: Research Paper
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Abel Tesfaye (born February 16, 1990), better known by his stage name The Weeknd, is an R&B Canadian recording artist and record producer of Ethiopian descent. Songs recorded under The Weeknd uploading them to YouTube in late 2010, though the identity of the individual behind the project was initially unknown.  In March 2011, The Weeknd released a nine-song free album, House of Balloons which was critically acclaimed. The title track is based on a sample of Siouxsie and the Banshees' hit single "Happy House.

The first album is a part of a trilogy which includes Thursday released in August of the same year and Echoes of Silence issued in December. In June, House of Balloons was named as one of ten shortlisted nominees of 2011 Polaris Music Prize but eventually lost to Arcade Fire's The Subu

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rbs. On December 21, 2011 at 11:07 p. m. EST Tesfaye released his highly anticipated third mixtape Echoes of Silence. The Weeknd's site crashed shortly after due to the large number of downloads. The Weeknd quickly provided a Hulkshare link to keep the album available while the official site was down.

Since hitting the scene, The Weeknd has received praise from a number of musical publications, including those of Pitchfork,MTV,BET, Rolling Stone, XXL, The Source and 2DopeBoyz, who have all dubbed him the "Songbird of his Generation", as well as the "best musical talent since Michael Jackson" (John Norris, MTV). In late 2010, Abel Tesfaye uploaded three songs: "What You Need," "Loft Music," and "The Morning" to YouTube. A nine-track free album titled House of Balloons was digitally released on 21 March 2011 through the artist'

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The title track is based on the sample of Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 hit single "Happy House" with Tesfaye covering the chorus. Tesfaye’s eclectic music also blends other samples ranging from Beach House to Aaliyah. 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. House of Ballons was met with universal critical acclaim.

Pitchfork'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. "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. 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. "

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. Maegan McGregor of Exclaim! also 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. "Sputnik Music's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free album, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love. "In July, The Weeknd then went on tour and gave his first performance at the Mod Club on College Street in Toronto.

The hour-and-a-half long performance created a lot of buzz about the young R&B singer. Tesfaye’s next performance took place at Toronto’s Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. He collaborated with rapper Drake and appeared as one of the special guests to Drake’s 2nd Annual OVO Fest on July 31, 2011 That same month, the song "High for This" was featured in the promo for the final season of the HBO show Entourage. During the summer, the press noted that Tesfaye refused to give interviews and choose to only communicate via Twitter.

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