The Weeknd: 3 surprising things you may not have known (and how to listen to his songs on Spotify Premium for less)

The Weeknd, aka Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is a Canadian singer who has revolutionized pop and R&B with such global hits as Blinding Lights, Save Your Tears and Starboy.

Think you know everything about him? Here are three incredible anecdotes taken directly from our Spliiit Screen video... and a great deal to listen to all his music on Spotify Premium for less.

3️⃣ He left school at 17... on a Friday

In 2007, aged just 17, The Weeknd left high school... on a Friday. This moment inspired his stage name: The Weeknd (without the "E" at the end, as "The Weekend" was already taken from the Internet). It marked the start of a meteoric rise to the top of the Spotify and Billboard charts.

2️⃣ He's boycotting the Grammy Awards for life

In 2021, despite the worldwide success of Blinding Lights (now one of the most listened-to songs of all time on Spotify), The Weeknd received no Grammy Award nominations.

Furious, he publicly denounced an opaque and corrupt system, then announced that he would never again present his music at this ceremony.

This boycott, widely reported on Spotify and social networks, provoked a worldwide scandal and prompted the organization to review its nomination criteria.

1️⃣ His clips are packed with film and literary references.

The Weeknd's music videos are more than just music videos. They're packed with references to Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch and George Orwell's 1984.

These inspirations, combined with his songs available on Spotify in Premium quality, create a unique artistic universe that captivates fans.

🎧 Listen to The Weeknd on Spotify Premium for less with Spliiit

If you're a fan of The Weeknd, you can enjoy all his albums (Kiss Land, Beauty Behind the Madness, After Hours, Dawn FM...), singles (Blinding Lights, The Hills, Save Your Tears...) and collaborations in top quality on Spotify Premium... and pay less.

With Spliiit, you can :

• Join a shared Spotify Premium subscription to listen to The Weeknd at a reduced price
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👉 Bonus: with promo code SpliiitScreen, receive €2 free on your first co-subscription.