The Weeknd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Weeknd
|
|
|---|---|
Tesfaye at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival
|
|
| Born |
Abel Tesfaye
February 16, 1990 |
| Other names | Kin Kane |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2009–present |
|
Works
|
|
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels |
|
| Signature | |
 |
|
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (born February 16, 1990), who is known by his stage name the Weeknd, is a famous Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He is known for his unique singing voice and his style of music, which is often called alternative R&B. His music mixes pop, R&B, and electronic sounds.
The Weeknd has won many major awards, including four Grammy Awards and twenty Billboard Music Awards. He first became famous by releasing music online for free. Since then, he has created some of the most popular songs in the world. He has sold over 75 million records, which makes him one of the world's best-selling music artists. He is also the first artist to have more than 100 million monthly listeners on the music streaming service Spotify.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Beginnings
Abel Tesfaye was born on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Canada. His parents moved to Canada from Ethiopia. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. Because of his Ethiopian background, he learned to speak Amharic, an Ethiopian language. He also went to a French-immersion school, so he speaks French as well.
When he was 17, Tesfaye decided to leave high school to focus on music. He moved into an apartment with his friends. During this time, he came up with his stage name, "the Weeknd." He said he chose the name because he left home "one weekend and never came back." He dropped the last "e" to avoid problems with another Canadian band already named "the Weekend." This was a challenging period in his life, but it pushed him to focus on his music career.
Starting His Music Career
In 2010, Tesfaye started putting his music on YouTube without revealing his real name. His songs quickly got attention online, especially after the famous rapper Drake shared them on his blog. This helped people all over the world discover his music.
In 2011, he released three free digital albums called mixtapes: House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence. These mixtapes were praised by critics for their dark and unique R&B sound. The next year, he signed with Republic Records. The label released the three mixtapes together as one album called Trilogy (2012).
In 2013, he released his first official studio album, Kiss Land. The album was a success and reached number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. He then toured with artists like Justin Timberlake and contributed songs to the movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Rise to Superstardom
The Weeknd's career reached a new level in 2015. He released the song "Earned It" for the movie Fifty Shades of Grey. The song was a huge hit and earned him an Academy Award nomination.
His second album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), made him a global superstar. It included the number-one hit singles "The Hills" and "Can't Feel My Face". The album went to number one in many countries and won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. He became the first artist ever to have three songs at the top of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at the same time.
Starboy and New Sounds
In 2016, The Weeknd released his third album, Starboy. For this album, he worked with the famous French electronic duo Daft Punk on two songs: the title track "Starboy" and "I Feel It Coming". Both songs became massive international hits. The album Starboy also went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart and won another Grammy Award.
After the success of Starboy, he went on a worldwide tour called the Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour. In 2018, he released a shorter album called an EP, titled My Dear Melancholy. This project had a darker sound that was similar to his early mixtapes.
After Hours and the Super Bowl
.jpeg)
In 2020, The Weeknd released his fourth album, After Hours. The album was a huge success and featured some of his biggest songs ever. The lead single, "Blinding Lights", became a global phenomenon. It spent a record-breaking 90 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was named the greatest Hot 100 song of all time by Billboard.
On February 7, 2021, The Weeknd performed at the Super Bowl LV halftime show. He was the first Canadian solo artist to headline the famous event. His performance was watched by millions and was highly praised.
Exploring New Music with Dawn FM
The Weeknd's fifth album, Dawn FM, was released in 2022. He described it as a new chapter in his music. The album has a sound inspired by 1980s dance-pop and synth-pop. It features the hit single "Take My Breath".
In 2023, he had another number-one hit with a remix of his 2016 song "Die for You", featuring Ariana Grande. The song became popular again thanks to social media. Following its success, The Weeknd became the first artist to reach over 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Acting and a New Album Trilogy
In 2023, he co-created and starred in the HBO drama series The Idol. The show received mostly negative reviews from critics, and his acting was also criticized. The series ended after one season.
The Weeknd has said that he is working on a new trilogy of albums. Dawn FM was the first part. His sixth album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, was released on January 31, 2025. It was the third and final album in this new trilogy. He also starred in a movie that went with the album, but it was not well-received by critics.
Artistry
Influences
.jpg)
The Weeknd has said that his biggest musical inspirations are Michael Jackson and Prince. He was also influenced by many Ethiopian singers he listened to growing up, like Aster Aweke.
He loves the music of the 1980s and has been inspired by bands from that era, such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and Cocteau Twins. He has also named artists like David Bowie, Lana Del Rey, and Daft Punk as major influences on his sound.
Voice and Musical Style
The Weeknd is famous for his unique singing voice. He often sings in a high register called falsetto. His vocal style has a special quality that is influenced by traditional Ethiopian music. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number 110 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
His music covers many genres, including R&B, pop, hip hop, and electronic. He is considered a key figure in alternative R&B because he mixed the genre with different styles like indie and rock. His lyrics are often emotional and tell stories about love, sadness, and life experiences.
Helping Others
The Weeknd is known for his charity work. He has donated millions of dollars to many different causes.
- He has given money to the University of Toronto to support courses on Ethiopian language and history.
- He has supported the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups that fight for racial equality.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated money to help musicians and frontline workers.
- In 2021, he was named a Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). He started the XO Humanitarian Fund, which has raised millions of dollars to provide food for people in need in places like Ethiopia and Gaza.
Personal Life
Tesfaye is a very private person and does not share much about his personal life. In the past, he was in relationships with model Bella Hadid and singer Selena Gomez. He has said that he has ADHD. He currently lives in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Discography
Studio albums
- Kiss Land (2013)
- Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)
- Starboy (2016)
- After Hours (2020)
- Dawn FM (2022)
- Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
Filmography
- Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016)
- Uncut Gems (2019)
- The Show (2021)
- Live at SoFi Stadium (2023)
- The Idol (2023)
- Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
- Rolling Loud (2026)
Tours
Headlining
- The Fall Tour (2012)
- The Kiss Land Fall Tour (2013)
- King of the Fall Tour (2014)
- The Madness Fall Tour (2015)
- Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour (2017)
- The Weeknd Asia Tour (2018)
- After Hours til Dawn Tour (2022–2025)
Supporting
- Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials Tour (2012)
- Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience World Tour (2013)
- Drake – Would You Like a Tour? (2014)
See also
In Spanish: The Weeknd para niños
