House of Balloons | ||||
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Mixtape by | ||||
Released | March 21, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2010–2011 | |||
Genre | Alternative R&B [1] | |||
Length | 49:34 | |||
Label | XO | |||
Producer |
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The Weeknd chronology | ||||
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Singles from House of Balloons | ||||
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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, and Illangelo, alongside additional contributions from Cirkut, Jeremy Rose and Rainer. 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.
Before work on House of Balloons began, the Weeknd first released music through YouTube in 2009, [2] working as part of a hip-hop duo called 'Bulletz n Nerdz', under the stage name Kin Kane. [3] During this time, he was also a part of a songwriting and production team called 'the Noise', who wrote demos intended for artists such as Drake, [4] Justin Timberlake, and Chris Brown. [3]
In 2010, 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". After the Weeknd freestyled over it, Rose asked him if he wanted to work together as a "dark R&B project". [5] Their sessions together led to the creation of three other tracks from House of Balloons, the first part of "The Party & the After Party", "Loft Music", and an early version of "The Morning". [5] Under the condition that he would receive production credits, Rose allowed the Weeknd to use the songs they made together. [6]
In December 2010, the Weeknd met the producer Illangelo through multiple studio sessions together, which led to the creation of an early version of "Glass Table Girls" and songs that later appeared on the Weeknd's second mixtape, Thursday . [7] For the mixtape's opener, "High for This", the Weeknd met the producer Cirkut through a mutual friend, which led to its creation after a session at Cirkut's home studio. [8] Cirkut later introduced him to Doc McKinney in January 2011. McKinney played the Weeknd multiple instrumentals, including the mixtape's title track, made sometime in 2009. [8] While working on the title track, the Weeknd's desire to rap led to McKinney improvising another beat, a reworked version of "Glass Table Girls". [9] McKinney and the Weeknd began further work that same month, 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]
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 cover photo since the mixtape was set for release, Taylor brought his ex-girlfriend to his house, where he shot the cover. [11]
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] Alongside the release of Trilogy, a new song, "Twenty Eight", was included as a bonus track for the House of Balloons disc. [13] The mixtape's remastered version was later released as an LP record on August 14, 2015, which included "Twenty Eight". [14]
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". [15] In May 2011, "High for This" was used in promotional material for the HBO original series Entourage . [16] After multiple unofficial music videos, the Weeknd released his first official music video on November 24, 2011, for "The Knowing", directed by Mikael Columbu. [17] The mixtape's first single, "Wicked Games", was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio on September 25, 2012. [18] It became the Weeknd's first single to chart, peaking at number 53. [19] Its music video was released on October 18, 2012, and was self-directed. [20] "Twenty Eight" was released as the second single for both House of Balloons and Trilogy on November 13, 2012. [21]
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. [22] Alongside the release, the artist Daniel Arsham created special artwork for a limited-edition LP record, alongside merchandise for the mixtape. [23]
House of Balloons is primarily categorized as an alternative R&B record by critics. [1] [24] It further incorporates elements of dream pop, [25] electro, [26] and rock. [26]
The mixtape's opening track, "High for This", is described as a "darkwave and bedroom R&B" song. [27]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10 [28] |
Metacritic | 87/100 [29] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [30] |
The A.V. Club | B+ [31] |
The Boston Phoenix | [32] |
Consequence of Sound | [33] |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10 [34] |
Fact | 4/5 [35] |
Now | 4/5 [36] |
Pitchfork | 8.5/10 [37] |
PopMatters | 9/10 [38] |
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". [29] 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." [39] 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." [40] Sputnikmusic's Tyler Fisher said that "despite being a free album, House of Balloons feels like a true album, a true labor of love." [41] 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. [42]
In December 2011, Metacritic determined that House of Balloons was the third best-reviewed project of the year. [43] 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. [44] Additionally, the mixtape was featured on several music critics' and publications' end-of-year albums lists. Complex called it the "best album of 2011;" [45] Stereogum ranked it number 5; [46] The Guardian ranked it number 8; [47] The A.V. Club ranked it number 6; [48] SPIN ranked it (as well as Thursday ) number 13; [49] while Pitchfork ranked it number 10. [50] As a whole, House of Balloons was the seventh most frequently mentioned album in music publications' year-end top ten lists. [51] The mixtape was named as one of the longlisted of nominees for the 2011's Polaris Music Prize. [52] 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. [53] In 2021, it was listed at No. 488 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time". [54]
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. [24]
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." [56] 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." [57] 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." [58] 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." [59] 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." [60]
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." [62] 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." [63] 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." [64] 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". [65]
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 [66]
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." [67] 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." [68] 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." [69] 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." [70]
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. [71]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "High for This" |
| 4:07 | |
2. | "What You Need" |
|
| 3:26 |
3. | "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" | 6:47 | ||
4. | "The Morning" |
|
| 5:15 |
5. | "Wicked Games" |
|
| 5:25 |
6. | "The Party & The After Party" |
|
| 7:39 |
7. | "Coming Down" |
|
| 4:55 |
8. | "Loft Music" |
|
| 6:04 |
9. | "The Knowing" |
|
| 5:41 |
Total length: | 49:19 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
10. | "Twenty Eight" |
|
| 4:18 |
Total length: | 53:37 |
Sample credits
Credits adapted from Tidal, which are in turn adapted from the liner notes of Trilogy . [74]
Chart (2015–2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [75] | 40 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [76] | 139 |
US Billboard 200 [77] | 113 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard) [78] | 10 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [79] | 37 |
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard) [80] | 4 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [81] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [82] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [83] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | March 21, 2011 | XO | 9-track free of charge | [84] | |
August 14, 2015 |
| LP | 10-track remastered | [14] | |
March 21, 2021 |
| Original 9-track | [22] |
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He is known for his unconventional music production, artistic reinventions, and signature use of the falsetto register.
Thursday is the second mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on August 18, 2011, by XO. Like his debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011), the Weeknd collaborated with producers and songwriters Doc McKinney and Illangelo; the duo produced Thursday in its entirety, and it contains fewer samples than its predecessor. Recorded in Toronto, the mixtape features a guest appearance from the Canadian rapper Drake.
Echoes of Silence is the third mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, released on December 21, 2011, by XO. Like his debut mixtape House of Balloons and his second mixtape Thursday, the Weeknd collaborated with musician Illangelo; who produced the majority of the project. The project also featured first-time collaborations with producers Clams Casino and DropXLife and a spoken-word interlude from rapper Juicy J. Lyrically, Echoes of Silence contains similar themes to the Weeknd's previous projects, exploring his drug use and experiences with love. The project was preceded by the release of the promotional single "Initiation" on October 10, 2011.
The discography of Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd consists of five studio albums, nine extended plays, three mixtapes, three compilation albums, one soundtrack album, one live album, 75 single releases, and 13 promotional singles. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Weeknd has accumulated 18.5 million certified album units and 113 million certified digital single units in the US, based on sales and on-demand streaming, as of January 2024.
"Climax" is a song by American singer-songwriter Usher. It was released on February 22, 2012, by RCA Records as the lead single from his 2012 studio album Looking 4 Myself. The song was written by Usher, Ariel Rechtshaid, Redd Stylez, and Diplo, who also produced the song. Usher and Diplo worked on the song for two months as part of their collaboration for the former's album. The song is a quiet storm slow jam with electronic influences, and lyrics about the turning point of a relationship. According to Usher, the song is primarily about the complications of a relationship, despite the lyrics' sexual overtones.
"Wicked Games" is the debut single by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, and serves as the fifth track from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo with the latter two producing. The song was remastered and released as the lead single from his 2012 compilation album, Trilogy, on October 22, 2012, through XO and Republic Records.
Trilogy is the first compilation album and major label debut by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on November 13, 2012, through XO and Republic Records. It is composed of remixed and remastered versions of the songs contained in his 2011 mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence, and three previously unreleased songs, "Twenty Eight", "Valerie", and "Till Dawn " were included as bonus tracks.
Carlo Montagnese, known professionally as Illangelo, is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, and mixing engineer from Calgary, Alberta, who came to attention as long-time collaborator of the Weeknd. Having executive produced his 2011 mixtapes compiled in his Trilogy (2012) album, he's often served as a contributor for much of his subsequent releases. Apart from the his work with the Toronto native, his other notable credits include Post Malone's "I Fall Apart", Fall Out Boy's "The Last of the Real Ones", Wiz Khalifa's "Remember You", Drake's "Crew Love", Ricky Hil's "Nomads", and remixes such as Lady Gaga's "Marry the Night " and Florence and the Machine's "Shake It Out". He was one half of the duo Somewhere Else with collaborator Billy Walsh, and signed with Skrillex's OWSLA label and Brodinski's Bromance Records to release his debut concept album, History of Man (2013).
Kiss Land is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on September 10, 2013, through XO and Republic Records. The album was supported by the lead single of the same name, as well as "Belong to the World", "Love in the Sky", "Live For", "Pretty", and "Wanderlust". The album's production was primarily handled by DannyBoyStyles, the Weeknd himself and DaHeala, among others.
"Kiss Land" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his debut studio album of the same name. It was released on May 17, 2013, by XO and Republic Records, as the lead single from the album. The song was written by the Weeknd, Danny Schofield, Jason Quenneville, all three producing the song with Silkky Johnson, with Jack Holkeboer receiving writing credits.
"Twenty Eight" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, featured as a bonus track on the version of his debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011). It was released as the album's second single on November 13, 2012 by XO and Republic Records. The song only appears on the reissue of the mixtape that is included with his 2012 compilation album, Trilogy. The song was recorded at Site Sound Studios and mixed at Liberty Studios in Toronto. Producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo co-wrote the song and performed all instrumentation.
"The Zone" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring the Canadian rapper Drake, and serves as the fourth track from the Weeknd's second mixtape Thursday (2011). In 2012, the song was remastered and released as the third single from his compilation album Trilogy on November 16, 2012, through XO and Republic Records. The song was the first collaboration between the two artists.
"The Hills" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on May 27, 2015, as the second single from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The song was written by the Weeknd alongside producers Emmanuel "Mano" Nickerson and Illangelo, with Belly receiving additional writing credits.
"Acquainted" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). It was sent to urban contemporary stations on November 17, 2015, by XO and Republic Records, serving as the album's fifth single. He wrote and produced the song with DaHeala, DannyBoyStyles, Illangelo, and Ben Billions.
"The Morning" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd which serves as the fourth track from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd alongside its producers, Doc McKinney and Illangelo. In 2012, the song was remastered and released on the Weeknd's compilation album, Trilogy (2012).
"High for This" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, and serves as the opening track of his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd with producers Adrien Gough and Cirkut. The track was later remastered and commercially released on the Weeknd's compilation album, Trilogy (2012).
"House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). The Weeknd wrote the song with its producers, Doc McKinney and Illangelo. It was included on his compilation album, Trilogy (2012). The song is a two-part track. Its first part, "House of Balloons", was built around a sample of the British band Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1980 single, "Happy House", and lyrically attempts to convince someone that everything is fine in his "happy house". Its second part, "Glass Table Girls", replaces the sample with a more darker beat, and discusses lyrical themes of drugs and sex.
"After Hours" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album of the same name. It was released through XO and Republic Records as the album's promotional single on February 19, 2020. The Weeknd wrote and produced the song with Illangelo, DaHeala and Mario Winans, with Belly receiving additional writing credits.
"Rolling Stone" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second mixtape, Thursday (2011). It was released on May 25, 2011, as the mixtape's first promotional single. In 2012, the song was remastered and released commercially on the Weeknd's compilation album, Trilogy (2012). It was written by the Weeknd alongside producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo.