The Weeknd

[JimboK]

My son turns me on to tons of new music and most of it doesn't impress me much but I loved this homage to 80's synth work. You may think it's old news, but if you haven't heard The Weeknd, enjoy this:

 

 

Sucks that there are youngsters SOOOO much better at sound design than me! lol

[jeffincltnc]

I cover this song and "Can't Feel My Face" with my band.

[Mighty Motif Max]

I Can't Feel My Face was my introduction to him as well. Definitely a lot of synth influence in his music. He also is able to get away with a lot of reverb usage in his songs, which I personally love. Lyrics etc are usually fairly dark, but it's great music for the most part. He also did some songs with Daft Punk.

 

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[Bill H.]

This Weeknd track popped up in my DJ pool earlier this summer, and I absolutely love it! It just drips in 80s vibe.

 

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The official video has a long prologue so didn't post it directly, but here it is:

 

[elsongs]

The Weeknd performed on 'Saturday Night Live' back in March; his band plays not one but TWO Roland Juno-106 synths onstage.

[ABECK]

Blinding lights is a fantastic song. He taps into synthwave/synth romance nicely. I liked it instantly.

[MAJUSCULE]

He's got vibes, and yes, he is one of the biggest R'n'B artists of the last ten years.

[Joe Muscara]

Isn't it cool what's happening in R&B? For years, much of it was what an old bandleader of mine called "Rubbish and Bullllllshit" (that's the way he said it). Lately there are a bunch of artists who clearly appreciate the classics and the classic sounds and are bringing something fresh to it as well. I'm mostly thinking of Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, and The Weeknd for starters.

[CEB]

I like covering The Weeknd. I"m a 80s power synth child at heart. His synth sounds have nominal power synth balls. He often sounds 80s.

 

Too much of the Pop I play uses pads that work in a studio mix but are harder than hell to work out of FOH. I often say F*** it and use some bigger saws. I"m an 80s boy and like doing that more anyway. Drunk girls don"t care what I"m doing from rear stage left.

[David R]

I didn't really like the early House of Ballons-era Weeknd. The lyrics were too explicitly dark for my tastes (not a prude, but I prefer some attempts at poetry in my lyrics rather than matter-of-factness about one's sexual and chemical exploits). The new, poppier stuff is fine â he's a good singer for the style and the tunes go over well with crowds. Subbing back in the function band this weekend and we're adding "Blinding Lights."