Blinded by Fame? Take This The Weeknd Quiz and Prove It

Abel Tesfaye is The Weeknd’s real name. Born to Ethiopian immigrants in Toronto, he chose to drop out of high school and pursue music, eventually adopting “The Weeknd” moniker after leaving home for a weekend and never returning. Abel’s stage name reflects his mysterious, moody aesthetic and helped build a cult-like fanbase before he hit mainstream fame.

The Weeknd is originally from Toronto, Canada, a city that has played a major role in shaping his identity and sound. Often referencing Toronto in lyrics, visuals, and interviews, he’s part of a wave of Toronto-based artists who’ve brought the city’s music scene global attention, including Drake, PartyNextDoor, and NAV.

The House of Balloons mixtape dropped in 2011 and instantly established The Weeknd as a new voice in alternative R&B. With haunting production and emotionally raw lyrics, it laid the foundation for his Trilogy project and modern dark-pop genre blending. Critics praised its innovation, and fans still consider it a defining body of work in his career.

The Weeknd collaborated with Ariana Grande on the hit song “Love Me Harder” in 2014, marking one of his earliest mainstream pop crossovers. The song allowed him to break into the Top 10 charts while introducing his vocal style to a wider audience. Their chemistry continued with other tracks like “Off the Table” and “Save Your Tears (Remix).”

The Weeknd headlined the Super Bowl LV halftime show in 2021, delivering a cinematic performance that featured “Blinding Lights,” a hall of mirrors, and red-suited dancers. It was one of the most unique halftime shows ever, creatively adapting to COVID-19 protocols while still going full throttle on visual storytelling and brand continuity.

“Can’t Feel My Face” was part of the 2015 album Beauty Behind the Madness, the album that launched The Weeknd into superstardom. The song, with its upbeat Michael Jackson-inspired sound, was a shift from his earlier brooding vibe and showed his ability to blend pop appeal with dark undertones—a duality that defines his artistry.

The “XO” in The Weeknd’s branding refers to ecstasy and oxycodone, reflecting themes of drug use and emotional numbness often present in his early music. While fans also interpret it as “hugs and kisses,” its original context aligns more with the raw, confessional style that defined his mixtape-era content and lyrical aesthetic.

While The Weeknd released mixtapes earlier, Kiss Land (2013) is considered his first full-length studio album. It marked his transition into major-label territory with Republic Records and featured darker themes about fame and isolation. It bridged the gritty underground vibe of his earlier work with more experimental, cinematic soundscapes.

In the After Hours era, The Weeknd created a fictional character often referred to as The Character—a bloodied, red-suited figure representing fame, self-destruction, and emotional decay. This character appeared in music videos, performances, and public appearances, creating a storyline arc that blurred the lines between artist and persona in a uniquely cinematic rollout.

The music video for “Blinding Lights” was directed by Grant Singer, a frequent collaborator who helped shape The Weeknd’s After Hours visual universe. The video’s neon-noir aesthetic, chaotic energy, and storyline continuity helped make it a cultural phenomenon, amplifying the song’s massive chart success and viral TikTok dominance.