welcome to watch mojo
and today we're counting down our picks
for the top 10 songs by the weekend
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for this list we're looking at the best
tracks ever cut by able test faye
better known as the weeknd these can be
everything from radio topping hits to
obscure early cuts
we will however be excluding songs where
the weeknd is simply a featured artist
what's your favorite track by the
weekend let us know in the comments
number 10 kissland as the title track
from his debut full-length kissland
introduces listeners to a world where
debauchery
is the standard
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the track has a surreal sound that feels
cloudy while also eliciting a feeling of
bright lights
the offbeat rhythm complements test
phase partying lyrics
with the beats themselves carrying a
tipsy energy
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the weeknd's storytelling is both sultry
and regretful
as he brings a depth to party songs
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i think i've seen it twice kissland's
more aggressive second half gets louder
ramping up his bragging and commentary
in equal parts
the song is an experimental two-part
odyssey that stands out in the weekend's
early discography
number nine can't feel my face from its
opening cords
can't feel my face has an instantly
memorable sound
and crisp vocals
it's in its amazing beat drop that the
song really takes off
and transforms into a tune that everyone
can dance to
it's the most infectious bass groove
from any weekend song
enough to make anyone
but i go it but i love it
whether you relate to its romantic
narrative allusions to addiction
or a mix of the two the song subtly
forces you to think about dependency in
a new light
it can't feel my face pulls the best
parts of disco
and the music of michael jackson and
wonderfully injects tesfay's own dark
themes
as many people's intro to the weekend
this track distilled his stellar voice
and artistic chops into an accessible
package
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number eight king of the fall few songs
show off the weekend's voice
quite like the slow-moving king of the
fall
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between a lot of sparse keyboards and
booming bass notes
the song is a dreamlike reflection of
his life
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recalls his mixtapes to highlight how
impressive his move to stadiums and
labels really is
the filtered sounds enhance the surreal
tone of the lyrics leaving it sounding
as demented as his stories
despite some of the less glamorous
lyrics in the mix test fey's silky
vocals give it all a seductive feeling
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king of the fall paints the weekend as
both a villain and a hero
and it does it with a sound that we
still can't get out of our heads
number seven house of balloons glass
table girls
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between the opening woes and its catchy
guitar line
house of balloons glass table girls
leans into the artsy side of pop
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as a snapshot of the weekend's own
eccentric get-togethers the track
celebrates these times and seemingly
gives you a peek at his personal
playlist
the dazzling susie and the banshee
sample gets a nod in the lyrics and its
riff is arguably highlighted better than
in its original song
the distorted back half of the track is
a startling change of pace
and shows off more punk influence that
you might not expect from the weekend
together
one of tespay's earliest two-parters
house of balloons explores how dramatic
a perspective change can be
number six starboy
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to mark the major next step in his
career the weeknd crafted a simple but
sinister anthem for himself i'm trying
to put you in the worst mood
the song's quiet pianos let testfae
dominate the track
as he touts his rise from quirky indie
hero to chart-topping superstar
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daft punk's stellar production expands
the sound to match abel's themes
up until the chorus explodes with
mind-blowing synths
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while daft punk brought more fun vintage
energy to i feel it coming
star boy was tesfae's futuristic theme
song
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the weeknd also highlighted his range of
passions with
inventive wordplay that crossed
rolls-royces with star trek
all this blended into a multi-platinum
hit with so much depth that we got more
out of it with each listen
number five the party and the after
party with a sample of beach house's
master of none leading the charge the
party sees the weekend twisting more
modern work into his own music
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tesfay adds a lot of blown out bass and
his own heavenly vocals to complement
the soothing tones of the sample
this mood is reflected in the weekend's
loving words
that he quickly subverts with a more
angry and violent reality in the second
half
[Applause]
the minimalist production in the later
after party both highlights these words
and sheds the happy vibe the track leads
with loft music taps another great beach
house sample
but the party enhances its original song
more
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by creating a narrative twist tesfay
took his two-part trademark to the next
level
number four the morning there's an
immediate
hazy neon quality to the synths of the
morning that shows an upbeat side the
weekend rarely explores
to contrast that able reflects on
another night of debauchery
and the feelings we're left with when
the sun rises
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the romantic sounding chorus itself
alludes to him paying for women
only to interestingly suggest his own
work is no different
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the song is nevertheless catchy and
sonically satisfying due in no small
part to its chipper hooks
this balancing act shows test phase
ingenuity back in his early days
which feels more relevant than ever
given his success
number three the hills illicit affairs
drive the story of the hills
where the weekend drops another career
defining chorus
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through ringing bells and solemn verses
test faye argues for his casual love
and shockingly reveals he's his most
natural under the influence
the screeching heavily distorted chorus
is a jarring wake-up call
that contrasts the quiet verses and
matches the actual emotional content of
the track
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additional remixes highlight the natural
pop power of his vocals
while the original maintains an ugliness
that feels distinct from much top 40 of
the time
test phase nod to wes craven also serves
as a poetic comparison of the high life
to a horror film
an iconic track is it any wonder it
bumped off abel's can't feel my face as
the number one song on the billboard top
100
number two wicked
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for games debut single the weeknd stuck
to a rock riff sound
to illuminate music fans about doomed
relationships
the deceptively simple guitars colored
wicked games as an equally sensual and
disturbed
tale
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[Applause]
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described a romance largely informed by
pain and escape
which nevertheless felt good
the relatable story and straightforward
sound grabbed listeners on
all sides as the weekend asserted he
could bring heavy topics to radio-ready
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music
and as firmly stripped down as wicked
games was
it allowed test fae's great harmonies
and subject matter to shine through
the track laid out many concepts the
weeknd would become famous for
and it started him on a road to success
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[Applause]
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before we unveil our number one pick
here are some honorable mentions
heartless for chilling like the ultimate
villain
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call out my name because he goes all out
on that final chorus
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tell your friends it's weekend style
vocals with kanye style production
28 because it's so emotionally raw
the birds part one for those banging
drums
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[Music]
brave artists world
number one blinding lights a retro
melody and futuristic electronica
combine
into the modern gem that is blinding
lights
in a summation of his self-destructive
themes of pleasure seeking and fame
the track sees him utterly transfixed by
his
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i've vices on my own for long enough a
surprising lover appears as his only way
out
which gives the song the hope that most
of testface songs
the lack beats and a punchy hook are
impossible to keep still to
and the larger-than-life synths easily
capture the entire aesthetic of after
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hours
lyrically the song also leaves fans to
decide whether the lights represent his
vices
romantic partners or well the lights
themselves
with enough fun energy to spawn a
tick-tock trend blinding lights is test
phase argument that the latest
can be the greatest
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