In the predominantly digital and streaming world, the humble greatest hits album is scarce for even the biggest artists. Most need either a lot of hits or a newsworthy reason to put one out. For Canadian pop/R&B singer The Weeknd, whose new collection The Highlights hits stores Friday, February 5, both of those conditions handily apply.
For one, the man born Abel Tesfaye has notched 35 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including chart-toppers "The Hills," "Can't Feel My Face," "Starboy," "Heartless" and "Blinding Lights." The latter is, as of this writing, in its record-shattering 47th week in the Top 10, placed at No. 3. (It arguably justifies his judgments over last year's After Hours not receiving a single nomination at this year's Grammy Awards, despite his cultural omnipresence.)
For another, The Weeknd is making his biggest public appearance ever on February 7, when he'll play the halftime show at Super Bowl LV. The Highlights is curated expressly for the big game, and offers a murderer's row of 18 hit tracks, including four from After Hours; collaborations with Ariana Grande ("Love Me Harder") and Daft Punk ("Starboy," "I Feel It Coming"); and soundtrack songs like "Earned It" (from Fifty Shades of Grey) and "Pray for Me" (from the Kendrick Lamar-curated companion album to Marvel's Black Panther).
With a distinct visual style (from his Basquiat braids to his current botched-plastic-surgery accouterments) and a sleek sound that calls to mind a more electronic Michael Jackson, The Highlights offers, on CD and digital, the best of an artist that many have already fallen in love with - and maybe one that you might be discovering if you tune into the big game.
Pre-order the disc below and check out the full track list.
The Highlights (XO/Republic B0033490-02, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Save Your Tears
- Blinding Lights
- In Your Eyes
- Can't Feel My Face
- I Feel It Coming (feat. Daft Punk)
- Starboy (feat. Daft Punk)
- Pray for Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
- Heartless
- Often
- The Hills
- Call Out My Name
- Die for You
- Earned It
- Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd
- Acquainted
- Wicked Games
- The Morning
- After Hours
Tracks 1-3, 8 and 18 from After Hours - XO/Republic B0031890-02, 2020
Tracks 4, 9-10 and 15 from Beauty Behind the Madness - XO/Republic B0023767-02, 2015
Tracks 5-6 and 12 from Starboy - XO/Republic B0025919-02, 2016
Track 7 from Black Panther: The Album (Music from and Inspired By) - Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope B0027972-02, 2018
Track 11 from My Dear Melancholy, - XO/Republic B0028412-02, 2018
Track 13 from Fifty Shades of Grey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Republic B0022595-02, 2015
Track 14 from My Everything - Republic B0021395-02, 2014
Tracks 16-17 from House of Balloons - XO, 2011
Stefano says
What a great artist, absolutely top of the bill. And look how marvelous that cover has been designed. Wonderful piece of art direction, such a nice tribute to the 60s LP covers.
Looking forwatd to seeing the halftime show upcoming Sunday.