House of Balloons

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

This article is about the album. For its title track, see House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls.
House of Balloons
A black-and-white image of a topless woman sitting in a tiled room surrounded and partially obscured by balloons
Mixtape by
the Weeknd
ReleasedMarch 21, 2011
Recorded2010–2011
GenreAlternative R&B[1]
Length49:34
LabelXO
Producer
The Weeknd chronology
House of Balloons
(2011) 		Thursday
(2011)
Singles from House of Balloons
  1. "Wicked Games"
    Released: September 25, 2012
  2. "Twenty Eight"
    Released: November 13, 2012

House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter 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 all three on several future releases. Its title is derived from the nickname the singer gave to his former home in Parkdale, Toronto.

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. Musically, House of Balloons mixes R&B with elements of rock, electro, and hip-hop. Lyrically, the mixtape explores the Weeknd's drug use and experiences with love, heartbreak, and promiscuity.

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. The reissue was accompanied by a limited edition line of merchandise designed by architect Daniel Arsham.

Background[edit]

Before work on House of Balloons began, the Weeknd had first released music on YouTube in 2009,[2] and had worked as part of a hip-hop duo called 'Bulletz n Nerdz', under the stage name Kin Kane.[3] Later that year, he became a part of the songwriting and production team 'the Noise', where he would write demos intended for artists such as Drake,[4] Justin Timberlake, and Chris Brown.[3]

Recording and production[edit]

The recording of House of Balloons first began in 2010, when the Weeknd met the producer Jeremy Rose through mutual friends in Toronto. Rose began playing multiple songs he made in Ableton, including the instrumental for "What You Need", which he had years ago. The Weeknd eventually started to freestyle over it, leading to Rose asking him if he wanted to work together as a "dark R&B project".[5] Rose and the Weeknd's sessions together led to the creation of three other tracks included on House of Balloons, the first part of "The Party & the After Party", "Loft Music", and a different version of "The Morning".[5] Rose allowed the Weeknd to use the four songs they made together, under the condition that he would be credited for his production.[6]

Around December 2010, the Weeknd had met another producer, Illangelo through multiple studio sessions together, leading to the creation of the original version of "Glass Table Girls" and other songs that would appear on the Weeknd's second mixtape, Thursday.[7] For "High for This" the Weeknd met the producer Cirkut through a mutual friend, which led to the song's creation after a session at Cirkut's home studio.[8] For the mixtape's title track, Doc McKinney, who the Weeknd met through Cirkut in January 2011, played him the instrumental, which had been in existence since 2009.[8] The Weeknd's desire to rap led to McKinney making another beat, which became the current version of "Glass Table Girls".[9] McKinney and the Weeknd began further work that same month, alongside Illangelo returning to the studio with them. As weeks progressed, they realized that the songs connected together, leading to their decision to release the mixtape free of charge.[7]

Promotion[edit]

Title and artwork[edit]

The mixtape's title was derived from a house the Weeknd and his friends used to live in at 65 Spencer Street in Parkdale, Toronto. The Weeknd further explained that him and his friends would throw parties, and to make it more "celebratory", they would add balloons.[3] Its cover art depicts a woman with her face obscured by balloons, and her left breast exposed.[10] The cover art was photographed by the Weeknd's high school friend, La Mar Taylor. After the Weeknd asked him for a photo since the mixtape was set to release soon, Taylor brought his ex-girlfriend to his house, where he shot the cover.[11]

Release and marketing[edit]

House of Balloons was initially released free of charge via a zip folder on March 21, 2011.[8] After signing with Republic Records in September 2012, the Weeknd worked to clear samples present in the mixtape, in order to re-release it as part of his compilation album, Trilogy (2012). The only sample excluded from the compilation was Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat", which was present in "What You Need".[12] The mixtape's remastered version was later released as an LP record on August 14, 2015, which included the bonus track from Trilogy, "Twenty Eight".[13]

House of Balloons was preceded by three promotional singles, released via YouTube in December 2010, being "What You Need", the original version of "The Morning", and "Loft Music".[14] In May 2011, "High for This" was used in promotional material for the HBO original series Entourage.[15] Following the mixtape's release, the Weeknd released his first official music video on November 24, 2011, for "The Knowing", directed by Mikael Columbu.[16] The mixtape's first single, "Wicked Games", was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio on September 25, 2012.[17] It became the Weeknd's first single to chart, peaking at number 53.[18] Its music video was released on October 18, 2012, and was self-directed.[19]

To commemorate its ten-year anniversary, the Weeknd released House of Balloons to streaming services with all of its original samples present on March 21, 2021.[20] Alongside the release, the artist Daniel Arsham created special artwork for a limited-edition LP record, alongside merchandise for the mixtape.[21]

Music and themes[edit]

House of Balloons is primarily categorized as an alternative R&B record by critics.[1][22] It further incorporates elements of dream pop,[23] electro,[24] and rock.[24]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.0/10[25]
Metacritic87/100[26]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[27]
The A.V. ClubB+[28]
The Boston Phoenix[29]
Consequence of Sound[30]
Drowned in Sound8/10[31]
Fact4/5[32]
Now4/5[33]
Pitchfork8.5/10[34]
PopMatters9/10[35]

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".[26] 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."[36] 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."[37] Sputnikmusic's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free album, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love."[38] 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.[39]

In December 2011, Metacritic determined that House of Balloons was the third best-reviewed project of the year.[40] 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.[41] Additionally, the mixtape was featured on several music critics' and publications' end-of-year albums lists. Complex called it the "best album of 2011;"[42] Stereogum ranked it number 5;[43] The Guardian ranked it number 8;[44] The A.V. Club ranked it number 6;[45] SPIN ranked it (as well as Thursday) number 13;[46] while Pitchfork ranked it number 10.[47] As a whole, House of Balloons was the seventh most frequently mentioned album in music publications' year-end top ten lists.[48] The mixtape was named as one of the longlisted of nominees for the 2011's Polaris Music Prize.[49] 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.[50] In 2021, it was listed at No. 488 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".[51]

Legacy and influence[edit]

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 inspiring 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.[22]

For a time after House of Balloons, many artists — from Usher (left) to Rihanna (right) — found inspiration in the Weeknd.[52]

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."[53] 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."[54] 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."[55] 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."[56] 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."[57]

Singers such as Bryson Tiller (left) or 6LACK's (right) ballads about lost love can be attributed to the Weeknd's own style.[58]

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."[59] 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."[60] 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."[61] 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".[62]

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[63]

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."[64] 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."[65] 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."[66] 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."[67]

Track listing[edit]

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.[68]

House of Balloons standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."High for This"
4:07
2."What You Need"
  • Tesfaye
  • Jeremy Rose
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
3:26
3."House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"
6:47
4."The Morning"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:15
5."Wicked Games"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Rainer Millar Blanchaer
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:25
6."The Party & The After Party"
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
  • Blanchaer
7:39
7."Coming Down"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:55
8."Loft Music"
  • Tesfaye
  • Rose
  • Legrand
  • Scally
  • Rose
  • The Weeknd
6:04
9."The Knowing"
  • Doc McKinney
  • Illangelo
5:41
Total length:49:19
2012 reissue bonus track[69][70]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
10."Twenty Eight"
  • Tesfaye
  • McKinney
  • Montagnese
  • McKinney
  • Illangelo
4:18
Total length:53:37

Sample credits

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal, which are in turn adapted from the liner notes of Trilogy.[71]

  • 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[edit]

Chart performance for House of Balloons
Chart (2015–2024) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[72] 40
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[73] 139
US Billboard 200[74] 113
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[75] 10
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[76] 37
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[77] 4

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for House of Balloons
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[78] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[79] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for House of Balloons
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Edition Ref.
Various March 21, 2011 XO
9-track free of charge [81]
August 14, 2015
LP 10-track remastered [13]
March 21, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
  • LP
 Original 9-track [20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ High, Kemet (December 27, 2019). "10-Year High: The Weeknd's Game-Changing Decade". Paper. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Eells, Josh (October 21, 2015). "Sex, Drugs and R&B: Inside the Weeknd's Dark Twisted Fantasy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Osei, Anthony (May 23, 2011). "Listen to a Song The Weeknd Recorded for Drake in 2009". Complex Networks. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  5. ^ a b McGuire, Patrick (March 22, 2012). "How the Producer of the Weeknd's Breakout Tracks Got Majorly Screwed". Vice. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Hudson, Alex (March 22, 2012). "Beefs 2012: Toronto Producer Zodiac Dishes on His Nasty Fallout with the Weeknd". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Nelson Jr, Keith (April 29, 2021). "Studio Sessions | Illangelo talks The Weeknd's 'House of Balloons,' Drake, and 'After Hours'". Revolt. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Gonzalez, Alex (March 19, 2021). "The Weeknd's 'House Of Balloons' Launched A Pop Career Shrouded In Mystery". MTV. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Scarano, Ross (November 21, 2019). "Songs That Defined the Decade: The Weeknd's 'House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls'". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Gracie, Bianca (March 21, 2021). "The Weeknd's 'House Of Balloons' Soundtracked The Doom Generation". Uproxx. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Williams, Ryan (March 24, 2017). "Meet La Mar Taylor, The Weeknd's High School Friend Turned Creative Director". Complex Networks. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Hampp, Andrew (November 12, 2012). "The Weeknd & Reps Talk Clearing Samples, Touring For 'Trilogy' Release". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Wynne-Morgan, William (August 26, 2015). "The Weeknd's breakthrough mixtape House of Balloons gets official vinyl release". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  14. ^ Caramanica, Jon (December 31, 2010). "Screams That Charmed, and Other Overlooked Highlights". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Osei, Anthony (May 22, 2011). "Video: The Weeknd's "High For This" is Entourage's Season 8 Promo Song". Complex Networks. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Lapatine, Scott (November 24, 2011). "The Weeknd – "The Knowing" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Rhythm – Available For Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  18. ^ "The Weeknd | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Young, Alex (October 18, 2012). "Video: The Weeknd – "Wicked Games"". Consequence. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "The Weeknd to re-release 'House of Balloons' for 10-year anniversary". Revolt. March 18, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Osei, Sarah (March 21, 2021). "The Weeknd Enlists Daniel Arsham For A 10th Anniversary Reissue of 'House of Balloons'". Highsnobiety. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "How The Weeknd's "House Of Balloons" Changed Mainstream Music". Odyssey. March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  23. ^ Adofo, Christian (March 29, 2011). "The Weeknd "House of Balloons"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Review: The Weeknd 'House of Balloons'". Vibe. March 31, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  25. ^ "House of Balloons by The Weeknd reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Reviews for House of Balloons by The Weeknd". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  27. ^ Kellman, Andy. "House of Balloons – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ Lea, Tom (April 1, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Fact. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  33. ^ Ritchie, Kevin (March 31, 2011). "The Weeknd – House Of Balloons". Now. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  34. ^ Colly, Joe (March 29, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  35. ^ Beasley, Corey (May 9, 2011). "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". PopMatters. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ Fisher, Tyler (March 25, 2011). "The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ "The Best Albums of 2011". Metacritic. December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  41. ^ "The ADM Poll Of Polls 2011". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  42. ^ "The 25 Best Albums of 2011". Complex. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  43. ^ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 5, 2011. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  44. ^ "Best albums of 2011". The Guardian. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  45. ^ "The best music of 2011". The A.V. Club. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  46. ^ "SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2011". Spin. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  47. ^ "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  48. ^ "2011 Music Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. January 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  49. ^ "2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced" Archived October 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. aux.tv, June 16, 2011.
  50. ^ "The Top 100 Tracks of 2011". Pitchfork. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  51. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  52. ^ "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.
  53. ^ "'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.
  54. ^ "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.
  55. ^ "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.
  56. ^ "House Of Balloons Turns 10". Stereogum. March 19, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  57. ^ "How House of Balloons Changed R&B". The Fader. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  58. ^ "House of Balloons, 10 Years Later". Medium. February 18, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  59. ^ "This Is Why The Weeknd's Re-Release of House of Balloons Is So Major". BeatRoute. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  60. ^ "The Weeknd's "House Of Balloons" Changed RnB & Pop Culture". HotNewHipHop. March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  61. ^ "'House of Balloons' Turns 10: How the Weeknd Beat the Odds and Turned R&B on Its Head". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  62. ^ "12 Great Songs That Wouldn't Exist Without the Weeknd". Rolling Stone. October 21, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  63. ^ 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.
  64. ^ 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.
  65. ^ "The Weeknd Opens Up About His Past, Turning 30 and Getting Vulnerable on 'After Hours'". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  66. ^ "How the Weeknd Went From Underground Anonymity to Superstar in 5 Years, According to His Collaborators". Vulture. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  67. ^ "The Weeknd vs. Abel Tesfaye". GQ. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  68. ^ "The Weeknd: Kiss And Tell (2013 Cover Story)". Complex. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  69. ^ "House of Balloons – The Weeknd". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  70. ^ "House of Balloons by The Weeknd". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  71. ^ "Credits / Trilogy / The Weeknd". Tidal. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  72. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Weeknd – House of Balloons" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  73. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  74. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  75. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  76. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  77. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  78. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  79. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". Music Canada. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  80. ^ "British album certifications – The Weeknd – House of Balloons". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  81. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (March 21, 2011). "Grab the Weeknd's Debut Mixtape". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=House_of_Balloons&oldid=1219011970"