House of Balloons | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mixtape by | ||||
Released | March 21, 2011 | |||
Recorded | Late 2010 – Early 2011[1] | |||
Genre | Alternative R&B[2] | |||
Length | 49:34 | |||
Label | XO | |||
Producer |
| |||
The Weeknd chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from House of Balloons | ||||
|
House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media discussion upon the use of its songs on television, as well as the then-anonymous identity of the individual behind the Weeknd. House of Balloons was entirely recorded in Toronto, with production handled primarily by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, Illangelo, and Cirkut; the Weeknd would later collaborate with McKinney and Illangelo on several future releases. Its title is derived from the nickname the singer gave to his former home in Parkdale, Toronto.[3]
The mixtape received widespread acclaim, with critics praising its dark aesthetic, production, and lyrical content. It is widely regarded as a major influence on contemporary R&B music, being credited for pioneering alternative R&B.[4] Musically House of Balloons was noted for mixing R&B with elements of soul, trip hop, indie rock, dream pop, and electronic music.[5] Lyrically, the mixtape explores the Weeknd's drug use and experiences with love, heartbreak, and promiscuity.[6]
House of Balloons was commercially released as part of the compilation album Trilogy (2012) and included the singles "Wicked Games" and "Twenty Eight", the latter of which is a bonus track. On its tenth anniversary, the original mixtape was released in digital formats, and included samples which failed to gain copyright clearance on Trilogy.[7] The reissue was accompanied by a limited edition line of merchandise designed by architect Daniel Arsham.[8]
Background
In August 2009, Abel Tesfaye began anonymously releasing music on YouTube.[9][10] The following year, he met Jeremy Rose, a producer who had an idea for a dark contemporary R&B project. After initially trying to pitch the idea to musician Curtis Santiago, Rose played one of his instrumentals for Tesfaye, who freestyle rapped over it. Rose produced many songs for Tesfaye. Three of these songs – "What You Need", "Loft Music" and "The Party & The After Party" – would appear on House of Balloons. Among the scrapped songs includes an early version of The Morning.[11] The two would go their separate ways after disagreements about songwriting, but Rose let Tesfaye keep the tracks he had produced under the condition that he would be credited for them.[12] In December 2010, Tesfaye uploaded "What You Need", "Loft Music" and "The Morning" to YouTube under the username "xoxxxoooxo".[13][14] His identity was initially unknown. The songs drew some attention online, and were later included in a blog post from rapper Drake.[12][15] The songs subsequently received coverage from various media outlets, including Pitchfork and The New York Times.[16]
Before adopting the stage name the Weeknd, Tesfaye released music under the aliases the Noise and Kin Kane.[17] His current stage name was chosen in tribute to when he dropped out of school, took his mattress, "left one weekend and never came home." However, Rose claims the name was his idea.[18][19] The last 'e' was excluded to avoid trademark problems with pop rock band the Weekend.[20] In the beginning of his career, Tesfaye worked at American Apparel. Due to his anonymity, his co-workers listened to his music without knowing it was him.[21][22][23]
In 2011, Tesfaye met music executives Wassim "Sal" Slaiby and Amir "Cash" Esmailian, with whom, along with Taylor, he founded the XO record label.[24] On March 21, Tesfaye released his debut mixtape House of Balloons.[25][26][27] The mixtape included production from producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney, and included the tracks produced by Rose, although he did not receive production credits.[12] House of Balloons was named as one of ten shortlisted nominees for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.[28] On August 18, Tesfaye released his second mixtape Thursday, which received generally positive reviews.[29] His third mixtape, Echoes of Silence, was released on December 21. It was a longlisted nominee for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize.[30][31]
Composition
The album's eclectic music uses samples of Beach House's "Master of None" (2006) and "Gila" (2008), and Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" (2001).[32] The title track heavily samples Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 single "Happy House".[33] Pitchfork said: "'Happy House' is worked into a softly anthemic slow-burn number full of diva-ish vocals tied to a chilly beat". The guitar 'riff remains untouched and runs throughout most of the track, giving it a filmy pop feel that periodically peaks with a generous swipe from the "Happy House" chorus".[33] The track "The Knowing" samples the 1990 track "Cherry-Coloured Funk" by Cocteau Twins.[34] Joe Colly of Pitchfork observed "weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence", complemented by "lush, downcast music" on the album, and compared its "specific nocturnal quality" to that of The xx's 2009 self-titled debut.[35] Pitchfork's Eric Grandy wrote that the title track has the Weeknd "emoting in an androgynous falsetto one minute, muttering unbelievable curses the next".[36] Paul Lewster of The Guardian viewed that, although more than half of the mixtape features samples, only the title track makes it "evident".[37]
Promotion
The song "High for This" was featured in the promo for the final season of the HBO show Entourage in July 2011.[38] On November 24, 2011, the Weeknd's first official music video, for his song "The Knowing," hit the Internet on his Vimeo page.[39] The song was first released on House of Balloons and the video was directed by French filmmaker Mikael Colombu, who has also worked with American singer CeeLo Green.[40] The nearly eight-minute clip is described by authors Carrie Battan and Amy Phillips of Pitchfork as, "a time traveling, Afrofuturist, science fiction battle of the sexes that demands to be watched in HD."[41]
On July 24, 2011, Tesfaye held his first live performance at the Mod Club Theatre in Toronto.[42][43] After the performance, Drake met with Tesfaye to discuss collaborations, which led to Tesfaye earning an appearance at his OVO Festival.[44] He also participated in concerts hosted by the Black Student Association at the University of Toronto.[23]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10[45] |
Metacritic | 87/100[46] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [47] |
The A.V. Club | B+[48] |
The Boston Phoenix | [49] |
Consequence of Sound | [50] |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[51] |
Fact | 4/5[52] |
Now | 4/5[53] |
Pitchfork | 8.5/10[54] |
PopMatters | 9/10[55] |
House of Balloons received widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, House of Balloons received a weighted average score of 87 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[46] Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice was impressed by the mixtape, calling it "patient, often gorgeous, and consistently louche... with the sort of blown-out underbelly and echo-laden crooning that has already made Drake's less-than-a-year-old Thank Me Later such an influential guidepost."[56] Maegan McGregor of Exclaim! stated that House of Balloons "easily stands as one of the year's best debuts so far, hipster, top 40 or otherwise."[57] Sputnikmusic's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free album, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love."[58] Tom Ewing of The Guardian felt that while the Weeknd's vocals and lyrics on House of Balloons "aren't especially strong by R&B standards," much of the album's attention was attracted by its strong command of mood.[59]
In December 2011, Metacritic determined that House of Balloons was the third best-reviewed project of the year.[60] AnyDecentMusic? ranked it at number 10 on its list of compilation of the rankings of the best 2011 albums from 30 magazines, newspapers and websites.[61] Additionally, the mixtape was featured on several music critics' and publications' end-of-year albums lists. Complex called it the "best album of 2011;"[62] Stereogum ranked it number 5;[63] The Guardian ranked it number 8;[64] The A.V. Club ranked it number 6;[65] SPIN ranked it (as well as Thursday) number 13;[66] while Pitchfork ranked it number 10.[67] As a whole, House of Balloons was the seventh most frequently mentioned album in music publications' year-end top ten lists.[68] The mixtape was named as one of the longlisted of nominees for the 2011's Polaris Music Prize.[69] The mixtape's title track was placed on Pitchfork's list of top 100 songs of 2011 at number 57, while "The Morning" was number 15.[70] In 2021, it was listed at No. 488 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".[71]
Legacy and influence
House of Balloons is considered by many to be one of the most influential R&B releases in recent years, specifically the 2010s. It is credited for paving the way for other R&B artists to release music without showing their faces, shifting the content of mainstream R&B music and bringing alternative R&B into the mainstream.[72]
Julian Kimble of Complex wrote, "House of Balloons, in tandem with Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia, Ultra, was responsible for a sharp pivot within R&B. The project invaded this stale area, soldering genres together to bring much-needed originality to a template mired by stagnancy at the decade’s turn. Neither his songwriting nor subject matter were cavalier, but his overall aesthetic was enticing." He later describes how, "Its channeling of temptation’s distinct gleam is a significant part of its legacy."[74] Pitchfork wrote, "Of course, a significant part of House of Balloons' appeal was that it was unexpected, and that it tapped into our subconscious. It satisfied an unrealized need."[75] Bianca Gracie of Uproxx stated, "House Of Balloons is frightening in its relatability. It forced listeners to confront the loneliness they feel after realizing partying is the only thing that sustains them." Continuing to add, "Being only a year younger than Tesfaye, we had parallel coming-of-age experiences: dabbling in similar substances, using all-night college parties as escapism from depression, and ultimately sought comfort in a mixtape that targeted a shared despondency." She later stated, "The mixtape reflected a doomed generation who grew up with films like Kids, Trainspotting, Requiem For A Dream, and A Clockwork Orange. We didn’t want to be seen. Like Tesfaye, we hid our faces behind Tumblr photos that showed both a brilliant, snarky sense of humor and a not-so-subtle cry for help."[76] Patrick Lyons of Stereogum wrote, "Perhaps inviting listeners to use their imaginations added something. You could envision the scenarios described in all four of those early tracks unfolding in the same location, a seedy-but-well-furnished apartment that housed no permanent residents — a party pad with dim, reddish lighting and Himalayan piles of cocaine on every horizontal surface, all of which are made of glass. It's a loft where the walls kick like they're six months pregnant, where women call cabs at dawn and forget their high-heeled shoes. Leave your girl back home."[77] Sam Hockley-Smith of The Fader said, "Balloons ' legacy is massive. It looms large over everything we've heard. It made happy songs passe. It made the very concept of contentment seem lame. It spawned a vast legion of imitators, all tracing song lyrics in mounds of cocaine on mirrors at 6 a.m. It was a fashionable version of depression, done very well. That sounds disparaging, but I don't want it to be. House of Balloons got everything right, which is why it caused such a seismic shift in music."[78]
Gabby Sgherri of BeatRoute said, "Let's go back to 2011; an era when R&B was dominated by pretty boys by the likes of Usher and Jeremiah who exuded confidence, making fans swoon with their dance moves and romantic lyrics. The Weeknd was different. His elusive mixtape titled House of Balloons, a drug-drenched and emotionally chilling collection of songs, showed up deep in forums and niche music blogs. It was faceless, nameless—an antithesis to the genre."[80] Micah Wimmer of Medium stated, "It has cast a shadow over contemporary music, inviting others to join him in those shadows, creating a murkier, darker, more depraved style that is now omnipresent. Yet in spite of this style's prevalence today, no one has bettered what Tesfaye does here. Many R&B singers and rappers sing of lives that the average listener will never be able to relate to or fully understand — songs of glamor, wealth, and extravagance — but there may be no other instance where the listener will be more grateful for that than on House of Balloons. The album's title evokes thoughts of a party, certainly, yet the title seems bitterly ironic, as the parties detailed here are nihilistic, rather than joyful. Many albums create a world that draws one in for the record's duration, becoming a place of comfort and certainty. This record certainly achieves this goal of luring in the listener, yet by becoming one of its many fans, one becomes complicit rather than comfortable. It is a record that awes and overwhelms — a record I love wholeheartedly and revisit regularly — yet it is also one that discomfits, both rewarding and haunting the listener long after the party's over."[81] Rose Lilah of HotNewHipHop wrote, "The Toronto native remodeled what it meant to be a fan by creating music that coincided or identified with a specific lifestyle and time's in one life, thus sparking the cult-like XO fanbase, and creating a blueprint for artists when it comes to the importance of branding identity and having a "movement." However, beyond a savvy business strategy, Abel also refurbished an existing genre, spawned a new sub-genre, and encouraged experimentation and evolution in the generation of artists that have followed his lead."[82] A. Harmony of Exclaim! said that "the ripple effect that House of Balloons had on R&B cannot be understated. The change was so pervasive that it birthed a new subgenre — alternative R&B — where more rebels and rule-breakers could usher in a new guard. The mixtape's influence endures in artists like Bryson Tiller and 6LACK. The Weeknd's early days of mystery and elusiveness were replicated by H.E.R. and SAULT. The legion of R&B fans, who would have otherwise never embraced the genre, continues to grow. Nothing about House of Balloons was supposed to succeed, but therein lies its magic. An album that bold could only either fail spectacularly — or change everything."[83] In 2015, Rolling Stone made a list of "12 Great Songs That Wouldn't Exist Without the Weeknd", citing the mixtape as their inspiration. The songs listed were: Miguel's "Adorn", Usher's "Climax", Dawn Richard's "Pretty Wicked Things", Justin Bieber's "PYD", Jhené Aiko's "The Vapors", Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home", Tove Lo's "Habits (Stay High)", FKA Twigs' "Two Weeks", Kelela's "The High", SZA's "Babylon", Tinashe's "2 On" and PartyNextDoor's "Recognize".[84]
I’m not gonna say any names, but just listen to the radio. Every song is House of Balloons 2.0.
The Weeknd, on House of Balloons with Rolling Stone, October 2015[85]
During an interview with Rolling Stone in 2015, the Weeknd said of the mixtape, "It definitely changed the culture. No one can do a trilogy again without thanking the Weeknd. A lot of artists started doing things faster and quicker after that: Justin Timberlake dropped two albums in a year, Beyoncé dropped a surprise album."[86] In an interview with Variety in 2020, he said, "House of Balloons' literally changed the sound of pop music before my eyes. I heard 'Climax,' that [2012] Usher song, and was like, 'Holy f—, that’s a Weeknd song.' It was very flattering, and I knew I was doing something right, but I also got angry. But the older I got, I realized it's a good thing." Wassim Slaiby, the Weeknd's manager, in the same interview said, "People saw the rise but have no idea how hard Abel and our small team worked for years before we got the recognition. Abel created this whole new R&B wave everyone is on now."[87] Nate Albert, an A&R executive at Republic Records told Vulture in 2015, "I knew Abel was going to be big after he put out House of Balloons. It sounded like he was merging goth, dark-wave, and R&B with a punk-rock sensibility. It sounded like something completely new."[88] Regarding his anonymity at the time of the mixtape's release, the Weeknd told GQ in 2021, "I felt like it was the most unbiased reaction you can get to the music, because you couldn’t put a face to it. Especially R&B, which is a genre that is heavily influenced by how the artist looks."[89]
Track listing
House of Balloons was originally set to come out with 14 tracks. The Weeknd told Complex in 2013 that "Crew Love", "Shot for Me" and "The Ride" from Canadian rapper Drake's second studio album were supposed to be on the mixtape.[90]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "High for This" |
| 4:07 | |
2. | "What You Need" |
|
| 3:26 |
3. | "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" | 6:47 | ||
4. | "The Morning" |
|
| 5:15 |
5. | "Wicked Games" |
|
| 5:25 |
6. | "The Party & The After Party" |
|
| 7:39 |
7. | "Coming Down" |
|
| 4:55 |
8. | "Loft Music" |
|
| 6:04 |
9. | "The Knowing" |
|
| 5:41 |
Total length: | 49:19 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
10. | "Twenty Eight" |
|
| 4:18 |
Total length: | 53:37 |
Sample credits
- "What You Need" contains a sample of "Rock the Boat" performed by Aaliyah that is not present on the Trilogy release.
- "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" contains a sample of "Happy House" performed by Siouxsie and the Banshees.
- "The Party & The After Party" contains a sample of "Master of None" performed by Beach House.
- "Coming Down" contains a voice sample from the anime Fate/stay night that is not present on the Trilogy release.
- "Loft Music" contains a sample of "Gila" performed by Beach House.
- "The Knowing" contains a sample of "Cherry-Coloured Funk" performed by Cocteau Twins.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal, which are in turn adapted from the liner notes of Trilogy.[93]
- Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) – lead vocals, songwriting/composition, additional production (all tracks)
- Carlo Montagnese (Illangelo) – mixing (all tracks), production (tracks 3–5, 7, 9 & 10), songwriting/composition (tracks 3–5, 7, 9 & 10), recording engineer (tracks 3–10),
- Martin McKinney (Doc McKinney) – production (tracks 3–5, 7, 9 & 10), songwriting/composition (tracks 3–5, 7 9 & 10) recording engineer (tracks 3–10)
- Henry Walter (Cirkut) − production, songwriting, recording engineer (track 1)
- Jeremy Rose (Zodiac) − production (tracks 2, 6 & 8), songwriting (tracks 2, 4, 6 & 8), recording engineer (track 2)
- Matthew Acton − assistant recording engineer (tracks 3, 4, 6–9)
- William Brock − guitar (track 4)
- Rainer Millar Blanchaer − songwriting (tracks 5 & 6), production (track 6)
- Adrian Eccleston – guitar (track 9)
- Shin Kamiyama – assistant recording engineer (track 10)
Charts
Chart (2015–2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[94] | 40 |
US Billboard 200[95] | 113 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[96] | 10 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[97] | 37 |
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[98] | 4 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[99] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[100] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Edition | Label |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | March 21, 2011 | 9-track free of charge | XO | |
August 14, 2015 | 10-track remastered and remixed |
| ||
February 1, 2016 | Cassette | |||
March 21, 2021 |
|
Original 9-track | ||
February 11, 2022 | LP | Original 9-track with alternative cover | ||
Original 9-track |
References
- ↑ "IamA the Weeknd Ask Me Anything!". September 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ↑ Abebe, Nitsuh (August 14, 2011). "R&B Records With an Indie Affect". New York. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Reveals Origin Of Name, "House Of Balloon" Whereabouts & More On Reddit". HotNewHipHop. September 14, 2013. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
- ↑ "'House of Balloons' Turns 10: How the Weeknd Beat the Odds and Turned R&B on Its Head". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ↑ Matt Carney, "New Music Tuesday: 'House of Balloons' by The Weeknd," Archived November 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine The Oklahoma Daily, April 19, 2011.
- ↑ "The Weeknd's House Of Balloons Launched A Pop Career Shrouded In Mystery". MTV News. 2021. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ↑ "The Weeknd reissuing debut mixtape House of Balloons for 10th Anniversary". Consequence of Sound. March 17, 2021. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Reissues 'House of Balloons' for its 10th Anniversary". Highsnobiety. March 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ↑ "10-Year High: The Weeknd's Game-Changing Decade". PAPER. December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Everything We Know About The Weeknd Before He Blew Up". Complex. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ↑ Ahmed, Aymen (November 23, 2011). "The Weeknd – The Morning (Original Version)". Hype Beast. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
- 1 2 3 McGuire, Patrick (March 22, 2012). "How the Producer of The Weeknd's Breakout Tracks Got Majorly Screwed". Vice. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012.
- ↑ Caramanica, Jon (December 31, 2010). "Screams That Charmed, and Other Overlooked Highlights". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015.
- ↑ Stewart, Allison (March 14, 2011). "Singles File: Da Phuture, The Weeknd, Fever Ray". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013.
- ↑ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (March 23, 2011). "Love and Other Drugs: The Weeknd's Altered-State R&B". WNET. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.
- ↑ Fitzmaurice, Larry (March 4, 2011). "The Weeknd – What You Need". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011.
- ↑ Eells, Josh (October 21, 2015). "Sex, Drugs and R&B: Inside The Weeknd's Dark Twisted Fantasy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Reveals How He Got His Name... And Where The 'E' Went – MTV". MTV. July 14, 2021. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ↑ "How the Producer of the Weeknd's Breakout Tracks Got Majorly Screwed". www.vice.com. March 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Can the Weeknd Turn Himself Into the Biggest Pop Star in the World? – The New York Times". The New York Times. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ↑ Leight, Elias (July 27, 2015). "9 Things We Learned From The New York Time'' [sic] Story On The Weeknd". The Fader.
- ↑ COX, CAILYN (December 5, 2016). "The Weeknd is hugely successful now but that wasn't always the case". SHE Media.
- 1 2 MARSH, CALUM (February 16, 2021). "Everything We Know About The Weeknd Before He Blew Up". Complex Networks.
- ↑ "The Weeknd on the Crew That Boosted Him From 'Basically Homeless' to the Super Bowl". Billboard (published 2021). January 28, 2021.
- ↑ Kameir, Rawiya; Hockley-Smith, Sam; Mistry, Anupa (March 21, 2016). "How House of Balloons Changed R&B". The Fader. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021.
Five years since its veiled release, a conversation about The Weeknd's debut and its influence on contemporary pop music...The album was documenting a nascent scene that has gone on to shift the cultural paradigm of Toronto, and it did so through a sound that has had a lasting effect on contemporary pop music.
- ↑ Ramirez, Erika (March 21, 2011). "Say Hello to The Weeknd, Drake Co-Signs". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "25 best Canadian debut albums ever". CBC Music. June 16, 2017. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017.
- ↑ "Polaris Music Prize". Polaris Music Prize. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014.
- ↑ Diver, Mike. "BBC – Music – Review of The Weeknd – Thursday". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ↑ Dunlevy, T'Cha (March 23, 2012). "365 days of Weeknd: We chart Abel Tesfaye's rise to fame a year after House of Balloons". National Post. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012.
- ↑ Mudhar, Raju (June 14, 2012). "Polaris Prize long list includes lots of Toronto bands". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ↑ "The 25 Best Albums of 2011". complex.com. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
- 1 2 Neyland, Nick."The Weeknd’s House Of Balloons" Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork. March 28, 2011.
- ↑ whosampled (March 2, 2013). "The Weeknd's The Knowing sample of Cocteau Twins's Cherry-Coloured Funk". Who Sampled. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ↑ Colly, Joe (March 29, 2011). "Album Reviews – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "The Top 100 Tracks of 2011 – Our list of the best songs of the year". Pitchfork. December 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Best albums of 2011, No 8: The Weeknd – House of Balloons". The Guardian. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ↑ Osei, Anthony (May 22, 2011). "The Weeknd Entourage". complex.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
- ↑ xoxxxoooxo (November 24, 2011). "The Weeknd – The Knowing (Official Video) on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Video: The Weeknd "The Knowing"". Complex. November 24, 2011. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Video: The Weeknd: "The Knowing" | News". Pitchfork. November 25, 2011. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ "The Weeknd – Live At The Mod Club (July 24th, 2011)". December 4, 2022 [video recorded July 24, 2011]. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Ritchie, Kevin (July 25, 2011). "The Weeknd's perfect premiere". NOW Toronto. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011.
- ↑ Fitzmaurice, Larry (July 3, 2011). "The Weeknd to Play Drake's OVO Festival". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021.
- ↑ "House of Balloons by The Weeknd reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- 1 2 "Reviews for House of Balloons by The Weeknd". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ Kellman, Andy. "House of Balloons – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ↑ Rytlewski, Evan (April 5, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ↑ Battan, Carrie (April 27, 2011). "The Weeknd | House of Balloons". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ↑ Koren, Daniel (April 13, 2011). "Album Review: The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ↑ Pott-Negrine, David (August 3, 2011). "Album Review: The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ↑ Lea, Tom (April 1, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Fact. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ↑ Ritchie, Kevin (March 31, 2011). "The Weeknd – House Of Balloons". Now. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ↑ Colly, Joe (March 29, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ↑ Beasley, Corey (May 9, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". PopMatters. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ↑ Fennessey, Sean (March 23, 2011). "Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R&B's Future Shock". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ McGregor, Maegan (March 28, 2011). "Get the Latest from the Weeknd, Teenage Kicks, TV on the Radio and More in This Week's Click Hear Roundup". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ Fisher, Tyler (March 25, 2011). "The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ Ewing, Tom (March 24, 2011). "The Weeknd's VIP Area Exposé Was Made for the Indie Crowd". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ↑ "The Best Albums of 2011". Metacritic. December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ↑ "The ADM Poll Of Polls 2011". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ↑ "The 25 Best Albums of 2011". Complex. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 5, 2011. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
- ↑ "Best albums of 2011". The Guardian. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ "The best music of 2011". The A.V. Club. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ "SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2011". Spin. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ↑ "2011 Music Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. January 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ↑ "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced" Archived October 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. aux.tv, June 16, 2011.
- ↑ "The Top 100 Tracks of 2011". Pitchfork. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ↑ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ↑ "How The Weeknd's "House Of Balloons" Changed Mainstream Music". Odyssey. March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "The Weeknd's 'The Party & the After Party' Paved the Way for our Genre-less Future". Rolling Stone. March 22, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "'Caine & Abel: Why 'House of Balloons' Was the Weeknd at His Purest". Complex. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ↑ "The Weeknd's House of Balloons Remains Pop's Great Mysterious Entrance". Pitchfork. March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ↑ "The Weeknd's 'House Of Balloons' Soundtracked The Doom Generation". UPROXX. March 21, 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ↑ "House Of Balloons Turns 10". Stereogum. March 19, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "How House of Balloons Changed R&B". The Fader. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ↑ "House of Balloons, 10 Years Later". Medium. February 18, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "This Is Why The Weeknd's Re-Release of House of Balloons Is So Major". BeatRoute. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "On the Weeknd, House of Balloons, and Its Massive Influence". Medium. March 21, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "The Weeknd's "House Of Balloons" Changed RnB & Pop Culture". HotNewHipHop. March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "'House of Balloons' Turns 10: How the Weeknd Beat the Odds and Turned R&B on Its Head". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "12 Great Songs That Wouldn't Exist Without the Weeknd". Rolling Stone. October 21, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ Eells, Josh (October 21, 2015). "Sex, Drugs and R&B: Inside The Weeknd's Dark Twisted Fantasy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ↑ Eells, Josh (October 21, 2015). "Sex, Drugs and R&B: Inside The Weeknd's Dark Twisted Fantasy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Opens Up About His Past, Turning 30 and Getting Vulnerable on 'After Hours'". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "How the Weeknd Went From Underground Anonymity to Superstar in 5 Years, According to His Collaborators". Vulture. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ "The Weeknd vs. Abel Tesfaye". GQ. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ↑ "The Weeknd: Kiss And Tell (2013 Cover Story)". Complex. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ↑ "House of Balloons – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ↑ "House of Balloons by The Weeknd". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ↑ "Credits / Trilogy / The Weeknd". Tidal. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Weeknd – House of Balloons" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Music Canada. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ↑ "British album certifications – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2022.