Aside from his looks, there is something captivating to me about him. Something pretty much every other artist lacks in my opinion. As subjective as it sounds, he basically makes me want to listen to him. Allow me to explain.
Truth has a sort of claustrophobic element to it. The truth is the truth and your attitudes towards it, and your desires have no effect on it. Sure, I like a story about the protagonist going against all odds and accomplishing their goals as much as the next guy. However, a story like that always feels larger than life. Even if a story like that is based on real events, gritty details and character flaws are often left out.
"The Weeknd" does the opposite. He takes the gritty details of his life and his experience with fame, and exposes them to the world. He could have told us some rehashed story of a linear progression from poverty to fame that anyone can accomplish. He doesn’t spare the listener’s feelings about fame, and tells us what it means to be famous. This is powerful because it forces one back to reality.
The grim and nihilistic picture of fame This puts pressure on your psyche because you are free in your fantasies about the glories of fame. When you listen to an artist like Kanye West or Drake, they talk about their life as if it’s one big party. Sure, they also mention that their relationships are fake, but ultimately they wouldn’t trade anything in the world for fame. You can rest assured that they are living the good life, and your mind can wander off to your own fantasies of fame that parallel theirs.
On the other hand, "The Weeknd’s" cool, yet passionate delivery commands your attention. His words force you into the dark, cold, and claustrophobic corridors. Your conceptions of fame come crashing down, and you are left with uncertainty and anxiety that plague mankind. You’re never sure if "The Weeknd" is doing alright or if his music is a secret cry for help from the audience. It’s dark, but it feels real.
