The Weeknd, or Abel Makkoner Tesfaye, is a thirty-three years old Canadian singer-songwriter. His dark lyricism has completely revolutionized pop and hip-hop; his music is all about romance, heartbreak, and escapism.
The Weeknd’s music is a fresh breath of air in the increasingly mundane wave that has taken over pop music. His originality shines through even in the songs about topics as saturated as exes, success, or enemies.
Today, we’ll discuss eight of the top the Weeknd’s songs, in no particular order. Read on for a fresh perspective on Abel’s music!
Save Your Tears (Remix) (feat. Ariana Grande)
Album: After Hours (2020)
The Weeknd and Ariana Grande have previously collaborated on songs like Love Me Harder and Off The Table but Save Your Tears takes the cake. An already hit song by the Starboy singer, this remix features Ariana’s melodious voice and iconic whistle notes.
In typical The Weeknd fashion, the lyrics point to a romance gone wrong; there’s the regret, apologies, the dreaded encounter, denial, and acceptance. Ariana’s verse also sings about heartbreak, but their stories seem similar, as if they were parallel to each other.
The chorus delivery is as amazing as one would expect it to be; it hits all the right spots.
Take me back ’cause I wanna stay
Save your tears for another
Save your tears for another day (ohh)
Save your tears for another day
Check out these two friends’ most loved live performance at the iHeart Music Studio here:
Blinding Lights
Album: After Hours (2020)
Blinding Lights is one of The Weeknd’s biggest hits. Not only did it spend four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, but it’s the first song to spend a year in the top 10 on the charts.
The Weeknd’s look for this album was a mockery of LA girls whose surgeries make them all look the same, but this song has a different theme. The lyrics are romantic, soulful, and filled with longing. However, it’s the music composition that wins over the listener’s heart.
The first verse is about him asking someone to return, but it doesn’t look like they will. Fans claim this song is about his on-again, off-again, now ex-girlfriend and supermodel, Bella Hadid.
I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights
No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust
The chorus is him asking for his lady friend since he can’t sleep without her presence and reassurance.
Starboy
Album: Starboy (2016)
Starboy is the song that showed the Weeknd what true fame was; it’s the song that was the beginning of it all. Quite ironically, Starboy is also a song about how he’s a literal, motherfu*cking starboy now.
In the first verse, he talks about his wealth and riches.
P1 cleaner than your church shoes, ah
Milli point two just to hurt you, ah
All red Lamb’ just to tease you, ah
None of these toys on lease too, ah
One of the top Weeknd songs, the track might feel all braggy and shallow without the lonely undertones. While he sounds happy, he’s lonely, as can be said by the line, “house so empty need a centerpiece.”
The chorus is supposed to be The Weeknd singing to himself about what he’s done to himself. No matter how much money he has, he’s lost that one part of himself.
Look what you’ve done
I’m a motherfuckin’ starboy
I Was Never There (The Weeknd and Gessafelstein)
EP: My Dear Melancholy (2018)
My Dear Melancholy – one of the top Weeknd songs – has been thought to be focused on his break up with Disney star and famous singer Selena Gomez. The song’s lyrics point towards a meaningful and precious relationship gone wrong, one that left The Weeknd devastated.
He dealt with it in all ways unhealthy, including drugs, depression, suicidal thoughts, drinking, and meaningless sex. The title could be about the singer leaving that part of him behind, as the person he is today was never there.
What makes a grown man wanna cry? (Cry, cry, cry, cry)
What makes him wanna take his life? Ah, oh (ah)
His happiness is never real (Real, real, real, real)
And mindless sex is how he feels, ooh, he feels
This is a nod to his superhit song Starboy, where he asks himself to “look what you’ve done,” since he’s not the same person anymore.
Or, it could also mean that her (apparently Selena Gomez’s) situation after the breakup made it seem like he wasn’t there at all. If you don’t know, the singer returned to her off-again, on-again, now ex-boyfriend and married singer Justin Bieber.
The Hills
Album: Beauty Behind The Madness (2015)
As one can imagine, the life of a star is glamorous, but not all rainbows and sunshine.
In The Hills, he sings about an affair with a celebrity or socialite) with a husband who’s always gone for work. At first, it seems like all he wants is a physical relationship with her and absolutely nothing more.
I only call you when it’s half-past five
The only time that I’ll be by your side
I only love it when you touch me, not feel me
When I’m fucked up, that’s the real me
However, the song’s main theme is those who are watching and judging him. He’s tired of the Hollywood tabloid life and wants to do whatever he wants because who’s everyone to judge? And we have to agree with the I Can’t Feel My Face singer here.
At the song’s end, he admits that she’s different because he also claims to only trust her, forming an emotional dependency on her. He wants her to be true to herself and enter a deeper relationship with him.
Pray For Me (with Kendrick Lamar)
Album: Black Panther (2018)
The Black Panther soundtrack is one of the best in its field, and of course, The Weeknd had to contribute to it.
Pray For Me is a song signifying redemption, loyalty, love, and sacrifice. One of the top Weeknd songs, it expresses how he’s well-adjusted to a life of war, sacrifice, and murder. However, in a moment of weakness, he admits he’s scared and doesn’t know who’ll save him from himself, from the self-destructive person he’s become.
Tell me who’s gon’ save me from myself
When this life is all I know
Tell me who’s gon’ save me from this hell
Without you, I’m all alone
Lamar also raps in a similar theme about how fighting is all he knows, and it’s prophesied that mass destruction is coming. His hero/destructor complex is visible; he’ll give it all up for the greater good of the ones he loves, but his loneliness is something he could do without.
Who gon’ pray for me? (Who gon’ pray for me?)
Take my pain for me? (Take my pain for me?)
Save my soul for me? (Save my soul for me?)
‘Cause I’m alone, you see (I’m alone, you see)
Lost in the Fire (The Weeknd and Gesaffelstein)
Album: Hyperion by Gesaffelstein (2019)
The most deserving of top Weeknd songs – Lost in the Fire – was written when Bella Hadid and the singer were happily dating. Naturally, fans assumed that the song was based on their relationship, and in their defense, it does make sense.
The song typically describes the guy losing a girl and somehow getting her back after a year.
He’s understood his mistakes and now is more sure than ever that “you’re the only one I’ve got my sights on.” He mentions “taking it off” for her since she’s the only one he’ll roll a die on, too.
Well, isn’t he such a romantic?
A few lines also go deeply into the couple’s sexual life, and there isn’t much to discuss there. The chorus is a repetition of a line that can accurately sum up what anyone in his situation might feel.
Creepin’ (with Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage)
Album: Heros and Villains by Metro Boomin (2022)
Creepin’ is the last song on this list and is also The Weeknd’s most streamed song on Spotify as of now.
You might be aware that in the hip-hop and pop community, “creeping” describes someone cheating on their significant other. So, as you can guess, this song is about infidelity. However, it still not what you’d expect.
The vocalists’ girlfriends cheated on them, but they aren’t mad. The Weeknd and 21 are instead tired and confused, respectively. The Weeknd doesn’t want to know if his girlfriend is cheating; she can keep it on the down low without outright declarations.
On the other hand, Savage 21 is more confused and disappointed. His girlfriend was riding in Benz and Rovers, walking runways, and sporting top luxury brands’ designer bags on his money. So, what could’ve made her do this?
If she’s really off to someone else, his home won’t feel like a home no more; he’s so distracted and depressed that he can’t even record anymore.
In the end
There’s not much that needs to be said about this pop star; The Weeknd’s art says it all. From heartbreak and despair to falling in love, sacrificing oneself, success, sacrifice, and redemption, he’s seen it all.
His music has a special touch to it due to its originality; we’ve all either been there or want to be there someday in our lives.
He’s one of the top artists in the industry and is only going onward, so we’ll be updating this list according to the new releases. Don’t forget to come back when his new albums drop!
If we’ve missed any top the Weeknd songs that you think deserve a place here, let us know! And if you’re into hiphop music, keep returning to our Music & Entertainment section!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which album has the Weeknd recorded most recently?
The Weeknd’s most recent album is Dawn FM, which was released on January 7th, 2022. The concept behind Dawn FM is a follow-up from his last album – After Hours – in which one journeys towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
The album is the Weeknd’s fifth studio album and has 16 tracks, out of which his single – Take My Breath – was the first to be released. It continues to be one of the top Weeknd songs even today.
When did the Weeknd make his first entrance into the music industry?
The Weeknd started his career in the music industry back in 2009, when he anonymously released his music on YouTube. After roughly a year, he met producer Jeremy Rose, who was in the midst of a contemporary R&B project and found just the perfect singer for it in the Weeknd.