This tear-jerking latest release from The Weeknd is definitely worth the long awaited time fans have been waiting very patiently for. Beauty Behind The Madness, the highly anticipated release from Alternative R&B singer-songwriter and recording artist of the year, “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)“, “The Hills“, “Can’t Feel My Face“, Kanye West produced “Tell Your Friends“, “In The Night” among many others – with cameos from Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey – and even production from Kanye West. For a good reason this will surely impress all fans new and old.
Listen to “Beauty Behind The Madness”
1. Real Life
This track in itself is a fantastic opening song. Not only it is a tear jerker – it’s real issues that some of us have never heard The Weeknd talk about before. It’s in such a raw, wide open – here is what my pain is, what makes me unique and it really tugs hard at your heart. Not only are you entertained imensely soon as the song starts – but it keeps your attention and wanting more, and more.
“Mama called me destructive, oh yeah Said it’d ruin me one day, yeah Cause every woman that loved me, oh yeah I seemed to push them away”
2. Losers (ft. Labrinth)
Did you guys read that Simon Cowell signed this dude to write and compose songs for his label Syco Music, and he became Cowell’s first non-talent show signing in six years. Pretty impressive, huh? But enough about Labrinth and more about what you really want to hear – The Weeknd. With that comes a pretty badass track commenly referred to “Losers”. Repeating this over and over. So many reasons why this is a good one, really nice smooth track.
“Only losers go to school I taught myself how to move I’m not the type to count on you Because stupid’s next to “I love you”
3. Tell Your Friends
One of the biggest high lights of the album. The track “Tell Your Friends” speaks from The Weeknd’s perspective on how he is perceived by fans, critics among many others around him. Can you also relate? If you do.. this promotional single will tug at your heart. Produced by Kanye West. But, no biggie, right? 😉 Just kidding.
“How I roll, how I be off that coke Go tell your friends about it (About it) Go tell your friends about it I’m that nigga with the hair Singing ’bout popping pills, fucking bitches, living life so trill”
“Tell Your Friends” contains samples of “Can’t Stop” performed by Theophilus London featuring Kanye West from the album Vibes, “When I See It” performed by Kanye West, and “Can’t Stop Loving You” by Soul Dog from the album Movin’ On.
4. Often
Everybody remembers this one; when the ‘Often’ “NSFW” titled video was launched in Fall 2014 from The Weeknd you were only thinking “oh, what could I be getting myself into – whats NSFW about this?” Well I bet you probably weren’t expecting one of your now favorite songs or a great highlight to just album of the year! (I can tell you I wasn’t expecting that much!) ‘Often’ is by far an incredibly song, well composed and a definite fan favorite for a big reason. The video, if it isn’t enough to sell it to you, (give it uhh, let’s say one or two more listens and video plays) and I bet you your money back that you will appreciate it in all it’s Weeknd greatness!
“She asked me if I do this every day, I said “Often” Asked how many times she rode the wave, “Not so often” Bitches down to do it either way, often Baby I can make that pussy rain, often”
5. The Hills
“The Hills” without a DOUBT is the stand out track on the entire album. Not only does the video deliver an eerily but insanely addictive drive to want more, the song is simply incredible and dense. With so much quality packed into less than four minutes it’s pretty incredible how each and every time you listen and re-listen to this song you get a little bit more to the story. “The Hills” get yourself some – there’s a reason why everybody is on this track.. it’s great!!
“I only call you when it’s half past five The only time that I’ll be by your side I only love it when you touch me, not feel me When I’m fucked up, that’s the real me”
6. Acquainted
Personal favorite and the best highlight of the album. Overall this song has not lost it’s energy. Mainly a deep and interesting and convincingly long and intriguingly deep lasting track. Released as the fifth official radio single and sixth overall.
“You got me puttin’ time in, time in Nobody got me feeling this way You probably think I’m lying, lying I’m used to bitches comin’ right ‘way”
7. Can’t Feel My Face
“Can’t Feel My Face” is one of the most successful singles from The Weeknd to date. For it’s upbeat and insanely addictive and “out there” style only The Weeknd can deliver this song is a favorite of everybody’s! Currently spending yet another week at #1 there’s no place that he would rather spend than yet another consecutive week at #1 for the release of the album. Such an incredible song, the video (that’s another story) – however it is a great selection for the radio stations are simply gobbling it up and giving him a whole lot of exposure and success for the 2015 summer.
“And I know she’ll be the death of me, at least we’ll both be numb And she’ll always get the best of me, the worst is yet to come But at least we’ll both be beautiful and stay forever young This I know, yeah, this I know”
8. Shameless
“Ooh, said you wanna be good but you couldn’t keep your composure Ooh, said you wanna be good but you’re begging me to come over Ooh, come over Ooh, saying who’s gonna fuck you like me? Yeah”
9. Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)
You may (or may not) know this song from the movie Fifty Shades of Grey not only did it introduce fans to this incredible artist – but the song brung every listen on this incredible and slightly naughty journey. We hate to admit it but we love when he takes us on these fun and wildly expected adventures! The video then not only was provocative but fed into the fans desire of Lust, sex and everything else Fifty Shades of Grey offered. But it was a great cross promotion by both parties – couldn’t have asked for a better way to launch coverage for Beauty Behind The Madness to really kick the album into over drive.
“Cause girl, you’re perfect You’re always worth it And you deserve it The way you work it Cause girl you earned it Girl you earned it”
10. In The Night
Third radio friendly single, and fourth promotional single overall. Nice track in general, and I would have to agree.
“All alone she was living In a world without an end or beginning Babygirl was living life for the feeling But I don’t mind, I don’t mind”
11. As You Are
“Even though you break my heart Even through you break my heart, baby I know what we are, our love’s too young Even though you break my heart, my love I’mma need you, I’mma need you, I’mma need you”
12. Prisoner (ft. Lana Del Rey)
Yeah, that says Lana Del Rey. Yeah? Your point?! So what!! and to boot I really like the song. Give me a break. Lana Del Rey creates this very unique and dense pop sound that The Weeknd only bounces off and makes this incredible product known as “Prisoner”. Really dope track, good composition. Lovely instrumental. I am now a Lana Del Rey fan, sue me.
“You bring good to my lonely life, honestly It’s hard for me to look into your eyes When, I say that I would be nothing without your love I feel the rush and it’s amazing”
13. Dark Times (ft. Ed Sheeran)
Ok. I have got to admit that seeing a Ed Sheeran feature with The Weeknd makes me think of it’s just as incredible as say, a Taylor Swift/Ed Sheeran song.. or what kind of crazy concoction of a song did they make – well you get the idea. Ed Sheeran is pretty freaking incredible, no one is doubting that. But, YES! This song is pretty AMAZING, and YES it is just as freaking good as you really think it should be!! It might tug at your heart, and make you shed a tear or do (like I did numerous times throughout). This song is just fantastic, really great standout. This is my favorite song for a reason – so, SO good!!
“This ain’t the right time for you to fall in love with me But baby I’m just being honest And I know my lies could never make you believe Running in circles, that’s why”
14. Angel
Rumor has it there’s an uncredited female singer known as up and coming recording artist Maty Noyes that is featured on this incredible ending track to such a wonderful joy-ride. Great way to end the cd, lengthy track but ear-candy galore!!
“Angel, Knew you were special from the moment I saw you, I saw you, yeah I said angel, oh oh oh oh I feel you’re closer every time I call you, I call you”
THE HYPE FACTOR: 5 OUT OF 5
Standout tracks being (besides obvious singles): “Real Life” where The Weeknd pours a little bit about the real life with his mom around. “Acquainted“, “Tell Your Friends“, “Often“, “The Hills“, “Can’t Feel My Face“, “Losers (feat. Labrinth)”, and last but not least “Dark Times (feat. Ed Sheeran)” really throws out all the punches as a good wrap out to every single track – tears and all. Deeply in touch with music and every song shows you hot much more personal every track can take you. On this wonderful journey, you will enjoy every single sound, second, and intense roller coaster of emotions that only The Weeknd can do but so gracefully.
With each track emotionally pulling at your every will to hold back the tears – the energy never stops pumping. Definitely a fan favorite and high success for a good reason goes to possible 2015 Album of the Year candidate without a doubt.
Commercial Performance
On August 31, 2015, Billboard estimated that Beauty Behind the Madness would sell approximately 300,000 copies during the first week of its release in the United States. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 412,000 equivalent album units; it sold 326,000 copies in its first week, with the remainder of its unit total reflecting its streaming activity and track sales. Its number-one debut gave The Weeknd his first number-one album. It remained atop the chart for the next two weeks and was the first album to spend three weeks at number one consecutively since Taylor Swift’s 1989. The album also remained in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 for a total of 21 consecutive weeks so far. As of January 2016, Beauty Behind the Madness has sold about 902,000 copies in the United States.