Book Review: “The Weeknd - R&B Megastar” by Erin Nicks
How did I get this book?
Well, one of the activities that my second born child enjoys is to go to the library. It gives mom a quiet house for over an hour, and it’s entertaining to watch the faces of the library staff when she checks out in excess of 30 books wedging them in her backpack.
One particular day when she was out of school, and we were looking for things to do, we decided to check out the public library in downtown Saint Petersburg. While we were there, this book was in the children’s section and caught my eye. I was interested in The Weeknd because we saw his performance at the Super Bowl and I wanted to know the story behind his bandaged face.
What’s the book about?
It’s the story of Abel Tesfaye and his music career. He was born in Scarborough, Ontario to immigrant parents from Ethiopia. He was immersed in African music, language and culture even though he was in Canada. He later learned English, and was enrolled in French Immersion school and learned French. Sadly, he grew up with out his father presence.
He got in a lot of trouble at school and home because he sang constantly. He dropped out of school at 12. From there, friends, drugs, homelessness, parties, nightlife, romantic relationships in order to have a place to sleep, all the while being immersed in the Toronto music scene.
He started making music when he met producer, Jeremy Rose. The partied and wrote music and performed as a duo called “The Weekend.” They later split, and Abel dropped the “e” becoming “The Weeknd.”
Thus started a long story of collaboration with various artists, mix tapes, performances, hard work and a relentless obsession with his recordings and live appearances. He was an overnight sensation, 15 years in the making.
What did I think about it?
I almost didn’t do a book review about this book because it was just a curiosity and was a book written for kids. But, then, I decided to write a post about it, because I have something to say about it.
First, this guy is a cultural phenomenon. His music is the soundtrack for a generation of youth. For some of them, one of his songs will mark relationships, whether the start or the end. Beyond that, his thing with the bandage will undoubtedly be built upon and developed in the coming decades. He’s been able to tap into the “spirit of the age.”
And, that’s something for us that are Christians to consider. His music has a spiritual source, it’s the expression of feelings, moods, whims, the reading of the tea leaves of what appeals to the masses sonically. When you read his backstory, it’s drenched in drugs and licentiousness and this undoubtedly is his inspiration and wellspring of ideas.
I remember reading an article about Neil Young years ago in Macleans. He was lamenting the fact that he could no longer write songs as he had given up marijuana.
Which leads me to the inevitable conclusion, which is how imperative it is for us as Christians to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to walk in the Spirit, to stay in step with the Spirit, to live in the Spirit. This is our source of inspiration, of wisdom, of power, and it’s fruit isn’t debauchery, or licentiousness, or hedonism. The fruit of the Holy Spirit in a human being is love.
We aren’t offering an alternative.
We are manifesting the real thing.
