BET Awards 2023: 5 Quintessential Records from The Weeknd
As the BET Awards approach, we’re looking back at the extraordinary collection of songs from Grammy Award-winning singer and reigning “Best Male R&B / Pop Artist,” The Weeknd.
The Toronto-born songwriter rose to prominence thanks to a series of mixtapes, most notably House of Balloons and Thursday, featuring an alternative r&b sound unheard of. Whether seeking anthems that make your heart race or ballads that touch your soul, The Weeknd has something for every listener.
Ahead of this year’s ceremony airing live on Sunday, June 25th, and hosted by award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, indulge your senses with these quintessential records of last year’s “Best Male R&B Artist” winner.
What You Need
“What You Need” was released over a decade ago and remained one of The Weeknd’s signature records. The song features an unauthorized sample of the late Aaliyah’s smash 2001 hit “Rock the Boat.”
House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls
Some of The Weeknd’s most classic records reside on his mixtape House of Balloons, including the two-part-record” House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls,” which finds Abel singing about a drug-laced party.
“Starboy” featuring Daft Punk
There’s a distinctive change in the singer’s sound with the release of this 2016 electropop record featuring French duo Daft Punk. The song was a commercial success, with its music video directed by frequent collaborator and video director Grant Singer amassing over 2.2 billion views on YouTube.
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“Blinding Lights”
The Weeknd wrote and produced his 2019 smash hit “Blinding Lights” for his fourth studio album, After Hours. The songwriter struck gold as the track would go on to set several records, including being the first record to retain a position on the Top 10 chart for a whole year.
“Wicked Games”
Initially featured on his acclaimed 2011 mixtape House of Balloons, The Weeknd re-released the dark r&b ballad as the first single from his compilation album Trilogy a year later.
The 2023 BET Awards premieres Sunday, June 25 at 8 pm ET/PT on BET and BET Her.
