In the entertainment industry, names are extremely essential. The name a person chooses for themselves can have a significant impact on their profession, and some names simply have a nicer ring to them than others.
When R&B musician The Weeknd initially appeared on the scene in 2011, his identity was just as mysterious as his music. Is The Weeknd a band? Were they from the United States? We’ve learned that The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is a Canadian solo musician.
But whence did the stage name come from? Let’s have a discussion about it. Continue reading to learn why The Weeknd decided to change his name.
Why Did The Weeknd Choose A Stage Name?
While stage names are widespread in the entertainment world, it’s also typical to see people utilize their legal names — or a variation of them. Some may be perplexed as to why The Weeknd chose to forego his own name in favor of something new. The solution is actually quite simple: he dislikes his given name.
How He Decided On The Weeknd
The purpose for choosing a stage name is quite obvious, but what about how he came up with the name? That, too, is a fairly straightforward explanation. He was enamored with the way it sounded.
In a 2014 Reddit thread, The Weeknd described how he came up with his stage name: “I left home when I was approximately 17 and convinced Lamar to do the same lmao.” We took our mattresses from our parents, loaded them in our friend’s rickety van, and drove away one weekend, never to return.
It was going to be HOB’s title. I despised my given name at the time, so I used it as a stage name. It sounded interesting. Because there was already a Canadian band called the weekend (copyright difficulties), I removed the “e.”
Although some musicians choose to officially change their names to their stage names, it does not appear that The Weeknd has done so. His name is still technically Abel, as far as we know.
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How The Weeknd Has Changed Over Time
Only half of the battle is won when it comes to breaking into the music industry. For some artists, simply staying alive has proven to be an overwhelming challenge. The Weeknd, on the other hand, has been able to make a name for himself in the industry.
Although most people first heard of him when his debut mixtape was published, he began creating songs in 2010. He was, however, anonymously posting music to YouTube at the time.
The Weeknd immediately became one of the most talked-about new musicians of the year after releasing his first mixtape, House of Balloons, the following year.
His distinct voice and intriguing substance made for a winning combo. It didn’t take long for him to be compared to musical luminaries such as Michael Jackson and Prince.
He attracted Drake’s attention not long after. For a time, the two seemed to be a match made in heaven, and all signs pointed to Abel signing with Drake’s OVO record company.
In 2012, The Weeknd decided to pursue a different route and signed with Republic Records. He has since released two more mixtapes and four albums since the release of his initial project. His music has touched people all around the world, and his fan base numbers are in the millions.
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The Weeknd’s Prospects
Even though he’s done a lot already, The Weeknd still has a lot to offer the world. After Hours, his 2020 album, has received numerous plaudits, including a 2x platinum certification.
Even though the project has only been out for a little over a year, people are already anticipating what he will do next. He has been concentrating on several economic ventures in addition to music.
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There’s also a chance he’ll decide to pursue a career in acting. He has had a few modest voices acting parts, despite the fact that he has yet to accomplish any substantial live-action work. Given how closely the worlds of music and acting overlap, it wouldn’t be shocking if he decided to give it a shot.
If there’s one thing we know about The Weekend based on his track record, it’s that whatever he does will almost certainly be a success.
