← Back | Musician | 6 Music Videos
The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, has left an indelible mark on the music industry with his unique collision of moody R&B and gritty pop influences. Notably, The Weeknd’s music videos draw from his distinct sonic palette, shaping a visual identity that’s as haunting and surreal as his soundscape. Directors such as Grant Singer and BRTHR have helped to etch this uncanny The Weeknd universe. Take "Starboy", a Singer-directed affair, which presents the demise of The Weeknd's former persona, strikingly symbolized by his self-strangulation. Then there’s the manic energy of BRTHR's "Party Monster", replete with kaleidoscopic neon visuals, that furthers The Weeknd's narrative by painting him as a hedonistic, troubled star.
The Weeknd’s videos don’t shy away from pushing boundaries or delving into darker themes, and this audacious approach has been pivotal in his meteoric rise. A neat example lies in "The Hills", another Singer piece, where he emerges unscathed from a horrifying car crash, eerily wandering into a haunted mansion. Or consider the continuous take aesthetic of "False Alarm", shot in first-person-shooter perspective, blurring the lines between music video and video gaming. However, amidst this somber tonality, sporadic cracks of levity appear. Watch his "I Feel It Coming" video. The Weeknd pitches in with his inimitable groove against a starry backdrop only to be turned to stone by a cosmic event, a campy nod to sci-fi melodrama.
Deploying his music videos as integral narrative devices, The Weeknd has contributed to the revival of the music video format while redefining the possibilities of visual storytelling in music. The gloom-dipped allure of his videos, the bold creative risks they take, and those occasional, campy self-deprecations, all give testament to the dynamic journey of an artist who isn't afraid to redefine his boundaries.
Disclaimer: Text might contain bits of A.I. imagination. Report mistakes
LIVE