beauty behind the madness

What Is The Weeknd’s Best-Selling Album?

by

In 2015, The Weeknd’s album Beauty Behind the Madness emerged as a transformative work in contemporary R&B and pop music landscape. This album marked a significant evolution for The Weeknd. It transitioned from his earlier work’s shadowy, enigmatic style to a more accessible yet still deeply nuanced sound. Beauty Behind the Madness was not just a commercial breakthrough but an artistic statement. It highlighted The Weeknd’s unique ability to fuse moody, introspective themes with mass appeal.

With its mix of haunting melodies and raw emotion, Beauty Behind the Madness resonated with a wide audience. It earned The Weeknd newfound levels of fame and recognition. The album was a cohesive collection of tracks that highlighted his evolving artistry. It broadened the brooding sensibilities of his earlier music with a polished, contemporary production.

Beauty Behind The Madness: A Tapestry Of Dark Melodies
& Pop Sensibilities

The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness represents a masterful blend of his signature dark, atmospheric sound with broader pop sensibilities. The album’s production, marked by its cinematic scope and meticulous craftsmanship, created a lush and emotionally resonant soundscape. Each track served as a piece in a larger narrative, exploring themes of love, excess, and vulnerability.

The album’s lead single, “Can’t Feel My Face,” departed from The Weeknd’s typically somber tone. It offered a more upbeat, infectious rhythm that became a chart-topping hit. This track, along with others like “The Hills,” showcased The Weeknd’s ability to craft commercially appealing songs rich in complex, introspective lyricism.

Beauty Behind the Madness also demonstrated The Weeknd’s talent for storytelling through music. Tracks like “Earned It” and “In The Night” wove intricate narratives of romance and turmoil set against the backdrop of his distinctive sound. The album’s cohesive blend of moody R&B and accessible pop elements marked a significant moment in The Weeknd’s career. His appeal widened while maintaining the depth that characterized his earlier work.

Chart Dominance & Critical Acclaim

Beauty Behind the Madness marked a high point in The Weeknd’s career. It wasn’t just artistically but in its sweeping commercial success. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, clearly indicating its widespread appeal. It became one of the best-selling albums of 2015. The project cemented The Weeknd’s transition from a niche R&B artist to a global pop phenomenon. The album’s commercial performance was bolstered by its singles, with “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills” both reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The success of Beauty Behind the Madness extended beyond its chart positions. It was certified multi-platinum, indicating significant sales transcending The Weeknd’s previous records. The album’s critical reception parallelled this commercial achievement. Critics praised the album for its cohesive production, The Weeknd’s evocative songwriting, and the seamless blending of genres.

Enduring Significance: The Legacy Of Beauty Behind The Madness

The legacy of The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness extends far beyond its initial release, resonating profoundly in the landscape of modern music. The album also represents a pivotal chapter in The Weeknd’s career, marking his metamorphosis from a cult favorite to a mainstream star. Its influence on the industry is evident in how it redefined the boundaries between R&B and pop, blending emotive storytelling with broad appeal.

Beauty Behind the Madness is more than a collection of hit songs; it’s a cohesive artistic statement that captures the complexities of The Weeknd’s persona and musicality. Tracks like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills” continue to be staples in his repertoire, signifying the enduring popularity of the album. The Weeknd’s exploration of darker themes within a pop framework opened new avenues for artistic expression, influencing subsequent artists and albums.

Moreover, the album’s success played a crucial role in shaping contemporary R&B and pop music narrative. It showcased the potential for introspective, alternative R&B to achieve widespread commercial success without compromising artistic integrity. The Weeknd’s groundbreaking approach on Beauty Behind the Madness inspires a new generation of artists, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the music world.

The post What Is The Weeknd’s Best-Selling Album? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Weeknd Breaks New Record With “Beauty Behind The Madness”

by

The Weeknd has been at it for a long time now. Overall, Abel has been in the game since the early 2010s when he dropped his Trilogy series of mixtapes. At first, many thought he was a band. However, people eventually clued to the fact that he is actually just one talented individual. Once his mixtape era ended, he got signed and immediately started making some albums. He started off with Kissland which had mixed reception at the time. When Beauty Behind The Madness came out, he truly came into his own.

There were a ton of amazing hits on this album. To this day, these tracks are the biggest of his career. Although he has some major hits from his other albums, a lot of fans look at the commercial success of BBTM as his true jumping-off point. In fact, the album is still breaking records. For instance, according to DJ Akademiks, the album became the first in music history to boast three diamond singles. The tracks in question are “Earned It,” “The Hills,” and “Can’t Feel My Face.”

Read More: The Weeknd Posts Studio Pics With Metro Boomin & Mike Dean, Fuels Release Rumors

The Weeknd Is A Sales Beast

These are all songs that were inescapable when they came out back in 2015. Almost a decade later, they are still getting a ton of plays on not just streaming services, but the radio as well. The Weeknd is one of those artists who always seems to be one-upping himself. He is about to embark on a whole new era of his career, and fans are very excited about it. As it turns out, he may just be ditching The Weeknd as a name, altogether.

No matter what he does next, there is no doubt that fans are going to follow him. He is one of the most listened-to artists in the entire world, and we do not foresee that changing. Let us know your favorite Weeknd songs and albums, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world.

Read More: Selena Gomez Clarifies If New Song Is About The Weeknd

The post The Weeknd Breaks New Record With “Beauty Behind The Madness” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Weeknd’s Biggest Hits: From “Losers” To “Blinding Lights”

by

The Weeknd has a lot of hits, but his career may be ending soon. His real name is Abel Tesfaye, but his moniker, The Weeknd, which he’s operated under for about a decade, will reportedly die after his next album. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close The Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd,” Tesfaye said to W Magazine. “But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”

The Idol Vol. 1, set to go with his upcoming HBO show, will be his final project under his current name. If that is true, Tesfaye has made a ton of The Weeknd hits in his incredible career. From his mixtape days to the commercial albums, many of his genre-bending tracks have become staples for listeners. Here are the best of what he’s released so far.

“Losers” ft. Labrinth (2014)

Hailing from Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd’s first studio album, “Losers” is a dynamic mashup. The songwriting is among Tesfaye’s best here, with lines such as, “Cause stupid’s next to ‘I love you.’” The Labrinth feature works perfectly and the instrumentals are both some of his most creative and best. Two excellent verses and a stunning bridge combined with the excellent production make this one of The Weeknd’s hits to remember.

“Alone Again” (2020)

While it’s not quite the best song on After Hours, his best project to date, “Alone Again,” is a near-perfect intro track. It’s a harrowing beginning that melts into an absolute blast. This is his most cohesive album to date, and it all starts with this track. “Oh baby, won’t you remind me what I am? And break, break my little cold heart” is one of his best lyrics. It sets the tone for the album and shows that he’s not here to mess around.

“Starboy” ft. Daft Punk (2016)

It’s not the only Daft Punk collaboration, but it is the best. “Starboy” is one of The Weeknd’s hits that has stayed in his listeners’ minds since 2016. The opening verse features some incredible bars like “P1 cleaner than your church shoes” and a ton of flexes over his counterparts like “Side b**** out of your league, too.” Starboy is often considered a mixed bag by his most ardent listeners, but no one can deny this excellent track.

“Wicked Games” (2012)

From House of Balloons, “Wicked Games” is one of The Weeknd’s hits from the mixtape era that infiltrated the mainstream. Many listeners weren’t really around until he burst onto the scene with Beauty Behind the Madness, but this song has retroactively permeated everyone’s playlists. The production, lyricism, and a few brutally honest lyrics about his own behavior make “Wicked Games” a great listen.

“How Do I Make You Love Me?” (2022)

Dawn FM is definitely The Weeknd’s most experimental album. Tesfaye decided to make an album as if listeners were listening to a radio station—complete with DJ Jim Carrey working the microphone. There are a lot of great hits on this album, but “How Do I Make You Love Me?” is the best. Utilizing a slight accent, The Weeknd made this song stand out and feel like it came from another artist over the radio. It also has excellent production and an incredible chorus to top it all off.

“Dark Times” ft. Ed Sheeran (2014)

Most of the time, when Ed Sheeran dabbles in hip-hop, it doesn’t work all that well (looking at his attempted rap verse on the Taylor Swift, Future hit “End Game”). However, the decision to put the British singer in “Dark Times” was good. The verses of both singers crooning about the bloody consequences of their poor decisions make for some of the best storytelling in any The Weeknd’s hits. Both of their vocals are great, and the production is less hip-hop and leans more towards some alternative country, which makes Sheeran fit in exceptionally well.

“After Hours” (2020)

After Hours is a nearly perfect album. “After Hours” is one of the best songs from The Weeknd’s entire discography. The entire album features a brutally honest look at himself, but this song takes it to another level. He’s open and honest about his fears and struggles in a way that’s rarely seen by artists. It all works together in a song and music video akin to the Martin Scorcese film of the same name. The fact that The Weeknd could pull all that off in a song and album is an impressive feat.

“Blinding Lights” (2019)

The Weeknd’s best song is “Blinding Lights.” It was inescapable after it debuted in late November. Little did fans know that it was a great omen for his upcoming album. Even when the album dropped and tons of incredible songs were released, “Blinding Lights” is the best and most recognizable track. With it, Tesfaye blended his underground song-making abilities with the mainstream to make a song that is quite literally for everyone. Which The Weeknd hits are your favorite?

[via]

The Weeknd Scores First Album In History With 3 Diamond Singles

by

The Weeknd’s 2015 album Beauty Behind The Madness just became the first album to have three Diamond-certified singles. Furthermore, the Recording Industry Association of America gave Diamond plaques to his tracks “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Earned It,” and “The Hills.” All these songs sold over 10 million album-equivalent units, likely pushed by their huge streaming numbers. Also, it somewhat solidifies Beauty as The Weeknd’s commercial breakthrough and his flag-planting moment in pop culture. Overall, this is quite the milestone for the Canadian singer, who’s incredibly familiar with success at this point.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 27: In this image released on December 7, The Weeknd performs during his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour at SoFi Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Live Nation)

For example, Abel Tesfaye ranks as one of the most streamed artists of all time. Of course, such a feat is unsurprising considering that his 2020 hit “Blinding Lights” is the most-streamed song on Spotify. While much of his profile and career discussion center around the numbers, he’s arguably one of the most influential artists of his generation, as well. From his first mixtapes, he established a cult underground following that influenced a moodier R&B sound. In addition, he evolved from dark R&B to sultrier ballads, from trap beats to ’80s synth drums, and so on.

Also, the singer’s talents and creativity usually extend far beyond the musical world, as he contributed to multiple film soundtracks. Not only that, but he has some starring roles under his belt, as well. Still, his most recent soundtrack work landed on the Avatar: The Way of Water soundtrack. Furthermore, he spoke earnestly about how its predecessor helped him. “That was probably the darkest time of my life,” he expressed to The Hollywood Reporter about Avatar‘s release in 2009.

“I didn’t know if I was going to succeed as a musician,” he continued. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to live to see tomorrow. And I remember I somehow got to see the film in theaters. I don’t know how I got in. It was such an escape from my real life that the film is tattooed in my brain.” It’s been a treat to see his trajectory, so stay tuned to HNHH for whatever The Weeknd brings us next. Also, happy belated birthday to The Weeknd, who’s celebrating big with his album and its Diamond singles.