The 10 Best The Weeknd Songs of All Time, Ranked
Trying to choose the ten best The Weeknd songs of all time is harder than it first appears because Abel Tesfaye has spent more than a decade constantly changing the scale of his music. He began as a mysterious Toronto singer releasing dark mixtapes online, then became one of the biggest pop stars in the world without completely abandoning the loneliness, obsession, temptation and emotional damage that defined those early recordings.
If you discovered The Weeknd through “Blinding Lights,” you could easily assume his catalogue is dominated by enormous synth-pop anthems. Go back to House of Balloons, though, and you enter a much darker world filled with hazy production, damaged relationships, after-hours paranoia and characters who seem incapable of recognising a healthy decision even when it is standing directly in front of them.
💡 YOU MAY ALSO LOVE
That contrast is what makes his discography so interesting. Trilogy introduced the atmospheric R&B sound that made him one of the most influential singers of his generation, while Beauty Behind the Madness transformed him into a global pop star. Starboy expanded the scale further, My Dear Melancholy, returned to heartbreak, After Hours became arguably his most complete album, and Dawn FM pushed his fascination with 1980s synth-pop into something more conceptual.
Then came the later chapters of his career, which continued to blur the line between The Weeknd as a character and Abel Tesfaye as the person behind it. Few mainstream artists have spent this long building an interconnected musical world around loneliness, fame, sex, addiction, guilt, regret and the strange emptiness that can arrive after getting everything you thought you wanted.
For this ranking, I am not simply choosing the ten biggest streaming hits. Commercial success matters, but so do songwriting, production, vocals, influence, emotional impact, replay value and the role each track played in The Weeknd’s evolution.
That creates some painful omissions.
“House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls” almost made it. So did “Often,” “Out of Time,” “Less Than Zero,” “Earned It,” “I Feel It Coming,” “Sacrifice,” “Reminder” and “Heartless.”
Yes, I know somebody has already stopped reading because “House of Balloons” is missing.
I understand.
Let’s get into it 👇
SUPPORT THAT LOVE PODCAST
Enjoying the recommendations? You can help support That Love Podcast and keep independent music and entertainment content like this coming.
If you love this, check out: The 25 Best Michael Jackson Songs of All Time, Ranked.
ADVERTISE WITH THAT LOVE PODCAST
Want to Reach Entertainment Fans?
If you're a brand, artist, author, publisher, record label, streaming company, entertainment business or creator looking to reach an engaged audience, That Love Podcast offers advertising opportunities across the website, podcast and newsletter.
💡 YOU MAY ALSO LOVE
10. In Your Eyes
“In Your Eyes” is one of those Weeknd songs that initially sounds far too cheerful for what he is actually singing about. The saxophone is bright, the rhythm is glossy and the whole thing feels ready for an expensive 1980s nightclub, while Abel is quietly describing two people pretending not to notice that their relationship is falling apart.
Released on After Hours in 2020, the song arrives during an album filled with regret, self-destruction and emotional consequences. Here, the narrator can see pain in somebody’s eyes even though both people are attempting to hide what has gone wrong.
That contrast between sad lyrics and upbeat production is classic Weeknd. Instead of giving heartbreak the obvious slow-ballad treatment, he makes it danceable, allowing the music to become part of the denial.
Then there is the saxophone.
It should probably feel excessive, yet somehow it fits perfectly. The instrument gives “In Your Eyes” a dramatic retro quality without turning the song into parody, helping connect After Hours to the synth-heavy pop that became one of the defining sounds of The Weeknd’s biggest era.
What keeps the track at No. 10 is simply the strength of everything above it. “In Your Eyes” may not be the deepest song in his catalogue, but it demonstrates how well he learned to disguise emotional misery inside immaculate pop production.
That ability became one of his greatest strengths.
You can dance.
You can cry.
Apparently you can do both at the same time.
Where to listen: Stream “In Your Eyes” on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other major platforms.
🎧 Need something to listen to after your music binge? Discover original romantic audio dramas, comedies and stories from That Love Podcast.
9. The Hills
“The Hills” is where The Weeknd’s darker origins collided directly with mainstream pop success. Instead of softening his sound after becoming famous, Abel released something sinister, distorted and emotionally unpleasant, then somehow turned it into one of the biggest songs of his career.
Released in 2015 during the Beauty Behind the Madness era, the track follows a secret relationship defined by lust, emotional distance and deeply questionable decision-making. The narrator is only interested in appearing when circumstances suit him, which makes this considerably closer to confession than conventional romance.
The production is enormous.
The opening feels unstable before the bass arrives with enough force to rearrange furniture. Everything around Abel’s voice sounds dark and damaged, creating an atmosphere closer to a thriller soundtrack than a polished radio single.
That atmosphere matters because “The Hills” preserved the identity The Weeknd had established on his early mixtapes. He was becoming a global star, but he was not suddenly pretending his musical universe had become healthy.
Quite the opposite.
If “Can’t Feel My Face” showed he could compete directly with mainstream pop stars, “The Hills” proved mainstream audiences were willing to enter his world on his terms.
That is why the song remains so important.
It is not comfortable.
It is not romantic.
It is not especially interested in being likeable.
And somehow millions of people loved it anyway.
Where to listen: Stream “The Hills” through all major music services as part of Beauty Behind the Madness.
💡 YOU MAY ALSO LOVE
8. Die for You
“Die for You” is a fascinating example of a song becoming bigger long after its original release. It appeared on Starboy in 2016, but years later a new generation of listeners helped transform it into one of The Weeknd’s most recognisable romantic songs.
The premise is simple compared with much of his darker work. Abel sings about loving somebody despite separation, difficulty and emotional distance, admitting that he would still sacrifice almost anything for the relationship even when the relationship itself appears impossible.
That straightforward emotional vulnerability makes the song stand out.
The Weeknd often writes from the perspective of somebody avoiding intimacy, destroying relationships or realising far too late that his actions have consequences. “Die for You” strips away some of that armour and allows him to sound sincerely devoted.
The production helps enormously. Smooth synths and restrained percussion create space around the vocal, giving Abel room to stretch the melody without turning the song into an oversized power ballad.
Its eventual revival also says something important about streaming-era music. Songs no longer necessarily have one release window and then disappear; listeners can discover an album track years later and effectively give it a second life.
A later remix featuring Aria
na Grande pushed that resurgence even further.
I still prefer the original.
There is something more intimate about hearing Abel carry the song alone.
Where to listen: Stream “Die for You” from Starboy on Spotify, Apple Music and other major services.
7. Save Your Tears
“Save Your Tears” sounds like the song playing at the end of a party after everybody has gone home and somebody suddenly realises they behaved terribly. The beat remains upbeat, the synths still sparkle, but the emotional consequences have finally arrived.
Released on After Hours, the track finds The Weeknd recognising the damage he caused in a past relationship. He encounters somebody he hurt and understands that his presence still carries emotional weight, creating one of the album’s clearest moments of regret.
The production is pure pop elegance.
Bright synthesizers, a beautifully simple melody and a steady rhythm make the song instantly accessible, yet the lyrics remain full of guilt and avoidance. That mixture is exactly what After Hours did so effectively.
Abel had spent years perfecting songs about behaving badly.
Here, he seems genuinely disturbed by the evidence.
The later Ariana Grande remix became another major version of the track, and their voices work beautifully together. Even so, the original remains the version I return to most because its isolation feels appropriate to the song’s emotional perspective.
“Save Your Tears” also demonstrates how sophisticated The Weeknd’s pop songwriting had become by this stage. Nothing sounds accidental; every melodic shift seems designed to stay in your head.
There are darker and more ambitious songs higher on this ranking.
Few are easier to replay.
Where to listen: Stream “Save Your Tears” on all major music platforms as part of After Hours.
You’ll also love: The 10 Best Britney Spears Songs of All Time, Ranked.
6. Wicked Games
This is where we return to the beginning.
“Wicked Games” captures the original Weeknd sound before stadium tours, Super Bowl performances and gigantic synth-pop singles transformed Abel Tesfaye into one of the most famous musicians in the world.
First appearing on House of Balloons in 2011, the track lives inside the dark alternative R&B atmosphere that made the mixtape feel so different from mainstream music at the time. The narrator is emotionally damaged, intoxicated and desperately searching for affection while fully understanding that what he is asking for may not be real.
That contradiction is uncomfortable.
He wants somebody to tell him they love him, but he does not necessarily believe the words.
This is The Weeknd’s early character in miniature: craving intimacy while behaving in ways that make genuine intimacy almost impossible.
The production is sparse and hypnotic. Guitar, percussion and atmospheric textures create a huge amount of emotional space around Abel’s voice, allowing his falsetto to carry both seduction and desperation.
That vocal performance remains extraordinary.
You can hear why listeners became obsessed before they knew much about the person singing. There is mystery in the production, but the emotion itself is painfully direct.
“Wicked Games” sits at No. 6 because later songs became bigger cultural moments.
As an introduction to the original Weeknd, however, this may still be unbeatable.
Where to listen: Stream “Wicked Games” on Trilogy and through all major music platforms.
🎧 Taking a break from the music? Listen to original romance and drama stories from That Love Podcast.
Advertise With That Love Podcast
Want to put your music, book, entertainment brand, streaming service, product or business in front of readers who love music, movies, television, books and pop culture?
That Love Podcast offers sponsorship and advertising opportunities across the website, podcast and newsletter.
💡 YOU MAY ALSO LOVE
5. Starboy
By the time “Starboy” arrived in 2016, The Weeknd was no longer the anonymous voice emerging from Toronto mixtapes. He was a global celebrity, and instead of pretending fame had not changed him, he wrote a song about killing off the previous version of himself.
That makes “Starboy” more interesting than a straightforward success anthem.
Working with Daft Punk, Abel creates a character surrounded by expensive cars, enormous houses, awards and luxury, but the confidence feels intentionally excessive. The song plays with celebrity identity, materialism and reinvention while acknowledging the absurd scale his life had reached.
The production is immaculate.
Daft Punk’s electronic precision fits The Weeknd perfectly, creating a dark, repetitive groove that feels futuristic without overwhelming the vocal. Abel responds with one of his coolest performances, sounding almost bored by achievements most people would mention in every conversation for the rest of their lives.
The music video pushed the reinvention even further by symbolically destroying elements associated with the previous era.
Subtle?
Absolutely not.
Effective?
Completely.
“Starboy” became another enormous global hit and helped confirm that The Weeknd’s success was not confined to one album cycle. He had moved from alternative R&B mystery to mainstream pop superstardom and still managed to sound recognisable.
That is much harder than it looks.
Where to listen: Stream “Starboy” featuring Daft Punk through all major music platforms.
You’ll also love: Top 10 Eminem Songs of All Time, Ranked.
4. Call Out My Name
If Starboy sounds like The Weeknd enjoying fame, “Call Out My Name” sounds like what happens when fame cannot protect you from heartbreak.
Released on My Dear Melancholy, in 2018, the song strips away much of the swagger that defines other parts of his catalogue. Abel sounds wounded, resentful and painfully aware that he invested more emotionally in a relationship than he received in return.
This is not dignified heartbreak.
That is why it works.
The narrator wants somebody back while simultaneously accusing them of using him, and the tension between love and anger gives the performance its power.
The production is appropriately restrained. Slow electronic textures, deep bass and spacious percussion allow Abel’s voice to dominate, and when he reaches the chorus, the vocal sounds less like performance than emotional release.
“Call Out My Name” also returned The Weeknd closer to the darkness of his early work after the polished scale of Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy. It reminded listeners that beneath the enormous pop machinery remained a singer whose greatest weapon was still his ability to sound completely destroyed.
The song is dramatic.
Perhaps slightly too dramatic.
But heartbreak rarely arrives with tasteful restraint.
Sometimes you want the song that understands why staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m. feels like a legitimate activity.
This is that song.
Where to listen: Stream “Call Out My Name” from My Dear Melancholy, on all major music services.
3. Can’t Feel My Face
“Can’t Feel My Face” was the moment The Weeknd proved he could make an enormous mainstream pop song without abandoning the darker themes underneath his music. On the surface, it sounds joyous; underneath, the relationship being described is significantly less healthy.
Released in 2015 on Beauty Behind the Madness, the track uses romantic language that can also be read as a metaphor for addiction. That ambiguity is central to The Weeknd’s songwriting because pleasure and self-destruction are rarely far apart in his world.
Musically, the Michael Jackson influence is impossible to miss.
The bassline moves beautifully, the rhythm is tight and Abel’s vocal performance combines his distinctive falsetto with a more direct pop style than much of his earlier work. The chorus arrives with the precision of somebody who understands exactly how a massive radio hook functions.
That could have gone badly.
Artists moving from underground credibility toward mainstream success are often accused of sanding away whatever made them interesting. “Can’t Feel My Face” avoids that problem because the polished production makes the darkness more effective rather than removing it.
The song became one of his defining early global hits and helped turn Beauty Behind the Madness into the album that pushed The Weeknd permanently into pop’s highest tier.
I have two songs above it because they represent an even more complete version of his artistry.
Still, without “Can’t Feel My Face,” the scale of everything that followed might have looked very different.
Where to listen: Stream “Can’t Feel My Face” through all major music services as part of Beauty Behind the Madness.
2. After Hours
“After Hours” might be the best song The Weeknd has ever made.
I am putting it at No. 2 only because the song above it became such an overwhelming cultural phenomenon, but if your priority is atmosphere, songwriting and emotional complexity rather than pure impact, this could easily take the top position.
Released as the title track of After Hours in 2020, the song feels like the entire album compressed into six minutes. Abel is alone, regretful and desperate to repair a relationship after finally recognising how badly he has behaved.
Unlike many earlier Weeknd songs, there is very little defensive swagger left.
He knows he caused the damage.
He knows what he lost.
And knowing does not fix anything.
The production is extraordinary because it keeps changing shape. The opening feels almost weightless before electronic rhythms gradually enter, building tension until the track becomes hypnotic and urgent.
It is dance music for somebody having an emotional collapse.
Which, admittedly, could describe a surprising percentage of The Weeknd’s catalogue.
The vocals are equally impressive. Abel moves between fragility and desperation without oversinging, allowing the production to carry part of the emotional weight.
“After Hours” is also one of those songs that rewards headphones. Small production details emerge with repeated listens, and the long structure gives the track room to develop rather than rushing toward the chorus.
This is The Weeknd at his most complete.
Dark.
Romantic.
Self-destructive.
Beautiful.
Where to listen: Stream “After Hours” on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other major platforms.
🎧 Before we reveal our No. 1 The Weeknd song, you can also discover original romantic audio dramas, comedies and character-driven stories from That Love Podcast.
1. Blinding Lights
Sometimes the obvious No. 1 is obvious for a reason.
“Blinding Lights” takes almost everything The Weeknd had learned about atmosphere, melody, heartbreak and pop songwriting and compresses it into one of the most instantly recognisable records of the modern era.
Released during the After Hours campaign, the song is built around longing. Abel is travelling through the night, desperate to reach somebody whose presence seems capable of pulling him out of the loneliness surrounding him.
The lyrics are relatively simple compared with some of his darker early work.
The production is where the magic happens.
Bright synthesizers, a relentless drum pattern and a melody clearly influenced by 1980s pop create something that feels nostalgic without sounding like a museum piece. The track borrows the emotional language of an earlier musical era and then makes it completely contemporary.
That is much harder than simply recreating old sounds.
The Weeknd had already experimented with retro influences before “Blinding Lights,” but here everything aligned perfectly.
The song became a global phenomenon, crossed generations, dominated radio, became unavoidable on streaming platforms and helped define the sound of mainstream pop at the beginning of the 2020s.
Yet popularity alone would not earn it No. 1.
The important thing is that the song still works after enormous overexposure.
You have probably heard it hundreds of times.
That synth line arrives.
Your brain still recognises it immediately.
The chorus still lifts.
The production still feels huge.
That durability separates a massive hit from a genuine pop standard.
There are Weeknd songs that are darker.
There are songs that reveal more about his character.
“After Hours” may be the more artistically ambitious composition, and “Wicked Games” might better represent the mysterious artist people first discovered.
But “Blinding Lights” is where The Weeknd became completely undeniable.
It is the song that connected the alternative R&B beginnings, the Michael Jackson-inspired pop instincts, the fascination with 1980s production and the emotional loneliness running through his entire catalogue.
That is why it takes No. 1.
Where to listen: Stream “Blinding Lights” through all major music platforms as part of After Hours.
Work With That Love Podcast
If you're a brand, artist, author, publisher, record label, entertainment company or business looking to connect with an audience that loves music, movies, television, romance, books and pop culture, we'd love to hear from you.
💡 YOU MAY ALSO LOVE
Conclusion
The best The Weeknd songs tell the story of an artist who somehow became more famous without becoming less strange. That is probably his greatest achievement.
The early recordings such as “Wicked Games” created a dark alternative R&B world built around desire, addiction, emotional distance and loneliness. Then “Can’t Feel My Face” demonstrated that Abel Tesfaye could turn those same ideas into enormous pop music without completely cleaning them up for mainstream audiences.
“Starboy” embraced celebrity.
“Call Out My Name” stripped away the confidence.
“Die for You” showed how effective he could be when writing something emotionally direct, while “Save Your Tears” and “In Your Eyes” perfected the strange pleasure of dancing to somebody else’s regret.
Then After Hours pulled everything together.
The title track may be the purest Weeknd song on this ranking because it contains almost every contradiction that makes his music compelling. It is seductive and miserable, electronic and emotional, polished and deeply unstable.
But “Blinding Lights” earns No. 1 because it achieved something even rarer.
It became one of those songs that escapes the artist who made it.
You no longer need to be a Weeknd fan to recognise those opening synthesizers. The song became part of the broader language of pop music, and years after its release, it still sounds immediate.
That is the difference between a hit and a classic.
Would I argue with somebody who puts “After Hours” at No. 1?
Absolutely not.
“Wicked Games”?
Now we are having an interesting conversation.
Tell us which The Weeknd song you would rank first.
SUPPORT THAT LOVE PODCAST
If you enjoyed this article and want to support more independent entertainment coverage and original audio storytelling:
And if you're looking for something new to listen to:
10 FAQs About the Best The Weeknd Songs
1. What is The Weeknd’s best song of all time?
My choice is “Blinding Lights.” It combines The Weeknd’s emotional songwriting, retro synth-pop production and ability to create enormous melodies better than almost any other track in his catalogue.
“After Hours” is arguably the stronger choice if you prioritise artistry and atmosphere, while longtime fans may prefer “Wicked Games” or “House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls.” There is no shortage of reasonable answers.
2. What is The Weeknd’s biggest song?
“Blinding Lights” is The Weeknd’s defining global hit and one of the most successful pop songs of the streaming era. Its combination of 1980s-inspired synths, an instantly recognisable melody and emotional urgency helped it become far larger than a normal album single.
Other enormous Weeknd songs include “Starboy,” “The Hills,” “Save Your Tears,” “Die for You” and “Can’t Feel My Face.”
3. What The Weeknd song should I listen to first?
Start with “Blinding Lights” if you want the easiest introduction to his pop sound, then listen to “The Hills” and “Wicked Games” to understand the darker side of his catalogue. After that, play “After Hours.”
Those four songs provide a surprisingly complete introduction. You get the pop superstar, the alternative R&B artist, the romantic obsessive and the emotionally damaged character that connects much of his music.
4. What is The Weeknd’s best album?
After Hours is my choice because it balances mainstream pop with the darkness of The Weeknd’s earlier work better than any other album. It contains “Blinding Lights,” “Save Your Tears,” “In Your Eyes,” “Heartless” and the extraordinary title track.
Fans of his earliest sound may prefer House of Balloons, while Dawn FM is an excellent choice for listeners who enjoy the synth-pop and conceptual side of his music.
5. Why is Blinding Lights so popular?
“Blinding Lights” combines an immediately memorable synthesizer melody with simple emotional lyrics and a rhythm that works equally well on radio, playlists, in clubs or during a late-night drive. The production feels nostalgic without becoming trapped in the past.
The song also arrived at exactly the right moment for the retro synth-pop revival. Most importantly, though, it survives repeated listening, which is why its popularity lasted beyond the original release campaign.
6. What is The Weeknd’s saddest song?
“Call Out My Name” is one of the strongest candidates because Abel sounds genuinely devastated rather than merely detached. “After Hours,” “Die for You,” “Privilege” and “Tears in the Rain” are also excellent choices if you want emotionally heavy Weeknd songs.
The interesting thing about his catalogue is that some of the saddest lyrics appear inside upbeat production. “Save Your Tears” may sound bright, but emotionally it is far less cheerful.
7. What are the best Weeknd songs for a night drive?
“Blinding Lights,” “After Hours,” “The Hills,” “Starboy,” “In Your Eyes” and “Out of Time” are excellent choices. Much of The Weeknd’s music feels designed for neon lights, empty roads and the moment when going home would clearly be the sensible decision.
His production often creates a cinematic nighttime atmosphere. That quality runs from the earliest mixtapes through After Hours and Dawn FM.
8. What is The Weeknd’s most romantic song?
“Die for You” is probably the clearest answer because its emotional focus is devotion rather than the manipulation and instability found in many earlier Weeknd relationships. The song became especially beloved because Abel sounds unusually sincere and exposed.
“Earned It” is more sensual, while “Out of Time” and “Save Your Tears” approach romance through regret. The Weeknd rarely gives listeners uncomplicated love songs.
9. Which Weeknd album should beginners start with?
Start with After Hours. It contains enough pop hits to feel immediately accessible while still preserving the darkness, loneliness and emotional instability associated with The Weeknd’s earlier work.
Then go back to House of Balloons to hear where the entire musical identity began. Follow that with Beauty Behind the Madness, Starboy and Dawn FM to hear how dramatically the scale of his music expanded.
10. What songs sound like Blinding Lights?
Within The Weeknd’s catalogue, start with “Save Your Tears,” “In Your Eyes,” “Less Than Zero,” “Take My Breath” and “Sacrifice.” These songs share elements of his retro pop production, strong synthesizer melodies and danceable rhythms.
You can also explore Dawn FM if the 1980s-inspired side of “Blinding Lights” is what you enjoy most. That album pushes those influences much further while maintaining The Weeknd’s darker lyrical personality.
External The Weeknd Resource
For official music, videos, tour information and releases, visit The Weeknd’s official website.
More Places to Find Great Music, Movies and TV Shows
If you're looking for your next favourite artist, album, movie or television series, there are plenty of useful places to keep exploring. For music fans, these sites can also help with documentaries, soundtrack appearances, award histories, concert films and the wider entertainment world surrounding artists such as The Weeknd.
Visit IMDb — A major database for movies, television, performers and entertainment information.
Visit Rotten Tomatoes — Aggregates movie and television reviews from critics and audiences.
Visit Metacritic — Compiles reviews and scores covering music, movies, television and games.
Visit Wikipedia — Useful for discographies, album histories, career timelines and production information.
Visit TV Guide — Television listings, entertainment coverage and recommendations.
Visit Entertainment Weekly — Music, movie and television news, reviews, interviews and features.
Visit Deadline — Industry news covering film, television, streaming and entertainment.
Visit The Hollywood Reporter — Entertainment news, analysis, interviews and reviews across music, movies and television.
Enjoyed What You Read?
Subscribe to That Love Podcast’s newsletter for the latest blogs, music rankings, entertainment recommendations, updates and exclusive giveaways. It is an easy way to discover classic artists, new albums, movies, television and original storytelling without relying entirely on whatever the algorithm decides you should hear next.
And if you know somebody who thinks “After Hours,” “Wicked Games” or “The Hills” should have beaten “Blinding Lights,” share this article with them. Music rankings are significantly more enjoyable once somebody starts arguing with them.
Let’s spread the love together!
.jpg)
.jpg)
