The Weeknd has gone from being an underground R&B artist to Super Bowl halftime show performer in the span of a decade. The Canadian singer has won Grammy Awards and released several singles and albums that have hit number 1 on the charts, including his most recent project.
The Weeknd has become 1 of the biggest names in music
Only a handful of artists ever learn what it’s like to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, and The Weeknd just joined that pantheon. It was a performance that was years in the making and was a medley of some of his greatest hits.
The Weeknd had his mainstream breakout in 2015 with his sophomore album Beauty Behind the Madness. To this day, it remains his best-selling album, with over 1 million copies sold in the US and RIAA-certified Platinum status.
Almost all of The Weeknd’s albums have gone number 1
Unsurprisingly, Beauty Behind the Madness debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as well as charts around the world. It went on to become the tenth best-selling album of 2015 with over 1.5 million copies sold and earned a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
The Weeknd followed up Beauty Behind the Madness with his smash Starboy album the following year. Just like the previous LP, it debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to win the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
His 2020 album After Hours also debuted at number 1, with over 400,000 copies sold in the first week. However, the album was infamously snubbed by the Recording Academy for the 2021 Grammys.
The Weeknd has racked up quite a few number 1 singles over the years
Many of the singles that were released throughout each album’s life cycle went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Billboard dubbed his hit single “Blinding Lights” as the best-selling song of 2019, and it set the record for most weeks spent in the top 5 and top 10 of the Hot 100 chart of all time. “Heartless,” the first single from his After Hours album released just two days before “Blinding Lights,” also went number 1.
The Weeknd’s breakout album Beauty Behind the Madness spawned the number 1 singles “The Hills” and “Can’t Feel My Face,” both of which were central parts of his Super Bowl halftime performance. “Starboy,” the lead single from his 2016 album of the same name, also topped the Hot 100 chart.
In addition to his five number 1 hits, The Weeknd has also had several other songs chart within the top 5 of the Hot 100. “Earned It,” his hit song from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, peaked at number 3. His singles “I Feel It Coming” and “Call Out My Name” both reached number 4.
Other top 10 hits by The Weekend include “Pray For Me” and Ariana Grande’s “Love Me Harder,” both of which peaked at number 7, as well as both “Smile” and “Save Your Tears” reaching the number 8 spot.
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