Maps of Music

Starboy (2016)

Where the lyrics of Starboy take you, and where it was really made.

The title comes from David Bowie's 1972 song "Starman", and the Weeknd said all tracks are inspired by Bowie and Prince.

Key places

Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles (2016)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — Conway Recording Studios is listed among the studios used for Starboy in Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles (2016)

Recording site A&M Recording Studios — Henson Recording Studios is listed among the studios used for Starboy in Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles (2016)

Recording site Westlake Recording Studios — Westlake Recording Studios is listed among the studios used for Starboy in Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Downtown Music Studios, New York City (2016)

Recording site Downtown Music Studios — Downtown is listed among the studios used for Starboy and is placed in New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Matza Ball, New York City (2016)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — Matza Ball is listed among the studios used for Starboy, placed at the center of New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Gang, Paris (2016)

Recording site Pathé Marconi studios — Gang is listed among the studios used for Starboy, placed at the center of Paris. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Treehouse X, Suffolk (2016)

Recording site The Treehouse X — The Treehouse X is listed among the studios used for Starboy, placed at the center of Suffolk. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Starboy: third studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd
• Released November 25, 2016 through XO and Republic Records
• Guest appearances from Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and Future
• Executive producers: the Weeknd and Doc McKinney
• Producers include Diplo, Cashmere Cat, Metro Boomin, Frank Dukes, and Labrinth
• Primarily an R&B and pop album with new wave, disco, and trap elements

Background

• Followed the commercial success of Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)
• Release hinted on March 12, 2016 by an Instagram post calling it the next chapter
• Worked with the team that helped produce the debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011)
• Collaboration with Daft Punk confirmed on July 15 by Republic Records executive Wendy Goldstein
• Influences named by the Weeknd include Prince, the Smiths, Talking Heads and Bad Brains
• Title and November 25 release date formally announced on September 21

Recording

• Executive producers enlisted a range of producers for the album
• Studios used include Conway, Henson, Westlake Beverly in Los Angeles, Downtown, and Matza Ball in New York City
• Other studios listed include Gang in Paris and The Treehouse X in Suffolk

Cover

• Photographed and designed by Nabil Elderkin
• CD booklet features eleven portraits of the Weeknd shot by Elderkin
• In a 2020 Variety interview, the Weeknd said the cross imagery on the cover symbolizes being reborn

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Abel Tesfaye, born February 16, 1990, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; Ethiopian immigrant parents
• Began releasing music anonymously on YouTube in 2009; stage name derived from a weekend moved to Parkdale
• Co-founded the XO record label in 2011 with Wassim Slaiby, Amir Esmailian and La Mar Taylor

Members

• Solo artist; collaborators include producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney, and creative director La Mar Taylor

Career

• Debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011), followed by Thursday and Echoes of Silence; compiled into Trilogy (2012) after signing with Republic Records
• Studio albums Kiss Land (2013), Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), Starboy (2016), After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
• Blinding Lights named the best-performing song in Billboard Hot 100 history; first artist to surpass 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify
• Headlined the Super Bowl LV halftime show (2021); After Hours til Dawn Tour set a record for highest-grossing tour by a male soloist
• Co-created and starred in HBO series The Idol (2023) and the film Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
• Named UN World Food Programme goodwill ambassador in 2021

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Generally favorable reviews from critics at release
• Metacritic average of 67 out of 100 from 25 reviews
• The A.V. Club's Annie Zaleski praised the album as one of the most confident releases of its year despite its length
• Consequence's Michael Madden said the album shows Tesfaye knowing he can be a major pop figure for a long time
• The Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick gave a positive review, highlighting the seamless and integrated sound
• Entertainment Weekly's Nolan Feeney said the Weeknd avoids the usual clichés of writing about newfound celebrity
• Exclaim!'s Ryan B. Patrick said the Weeknd proves he is ready for primetime but still feels out new parameters
• AllMusic's Andy Kellman gave a mixed review, calling the productions as variable in style as in quality
• The Guardian's Alexis Petridis gave a mixed review, calling the album curiously uneven
• Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves gave a mixed review, citing an overlong runtime and surplus of filler
• Pitchfork's Mehan Jayasuriya described it as an opportunistic compilation of B-sides rather than an album

Records

• Debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 348,000 album-equivalent units, including 209,000 pure sales
• Second consecutive number-one album for the Weeknd
• Debuted at number one on Billboard's Canadian Albums Chart
• Won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018
• Certified four-times platinum by the RIAA as of April 2022
• Certified six-times platinum by the RIAA on December 5, 2024
• Ranked third most successful album of 2017 on the Billboard 200

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The short film Mania was released on November 23, 2016, runs 12 minutes, and was directed by Grant Singer, who also directed the Starboy music video.
• The short film stars French model Anais Mali as the female protagonist.
• The Weeknd and Daft Punk performed together at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
• The tracklist was formally revealed on November 17, 2016, alongside the singles I Feel It Coming and Party Monster.
• Die for You topped the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2023 after a remix with Ariana Grande.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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