The song that forced an artist to murder his own identity
In short: To launch 'Starboy,' The Weeknd didn't just release a single; he staged a cinematic execution of his past. In a high-budget visual narrative, the Canadian singer portrays a character literally suffocating and destroying his former self—including physical awards and trophies—to make room for a new persona.
The collaboration between The Weeknd and the French electronic duo Daft Punk was born from long-standing personal ties. During a social gathering in Los Angeles, The Weeknd initially encountered Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, prioritising friendship over professional collaboration. This rapport eventually led to a high-pressure recording session in Paris. In a striking instance of musical synchronicity, the Weeknd discovered the drum loop for 'Starboy' on Homem-Christo’s phone while they were already recording another track; the two songs were subsequently finished in just four days.
Musically, 'Starboy' is described as a sleek blend of dark R&B and nu-disco. Critics noted its lack of hi-hats, opting instead for an 80s-inspired pattern of popping drums over a heavy snare—a composition designed to mimic the sensation of a car stalking through Los Angeles at night. The track's success was historic: it became Daft Punk’s first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved 11x Platinum status, representing 11 million units sold by April 2022.
The visual identity of the song is rooted in 'pulp-horror' aesthetics. The music video features a literal assassination where the 'Starboy' persona kills the artist's previous incarnation (representing his 'Beauty Behind the Madness' era). This transformation is punctuated by the destruction of trophies and a house full of history, ending with the artist driving off on Mulholland Drive in a McLaren P1. The production was so significant that even luxury brands like McLaren confirmed the car was owned by the artist rather than being a paid product placement.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Starboy (song)
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