From 65 Spencer Ave. to streaming services, The Weeknd’s House of Balloons is making a major move this weekend.
He announced Wednesday (March 17) that he’ll release his 2011 debut mixtape in its original condition with the original mixes and samples on streaming services for the first time on Sunday to commemorate the project’s 10th anniversary.
“On Sunday for its 10 year anniversary I’m releasing House of Balloons on all streaming platforms for the first time in it’s original incarnation. With the original mixes and samples,” the Canadian-Ethiopian superstar wrote.
On Sunday for its 10 year anniversary I’m releasing House of Balloons on all streaming platforms for the first time in it’s original incarnation. With the original mixes and samples. 🎈 pic.twitter.com/Wi3joxt1fq
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) March 17, 2021
House of Balloons was released as a free download from The Weeknd’s official website on March 21, 2011, before the alternative R&B singer combined it with his other 2011 mixtapes Thursday and Echoes of Silence for his first compilation album Trilogy, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2012.
Some of the most notable samples featured in the mixtape include Beach House’s “Master of None” (heard in “The Party & The After Party”) and “Gila” (heard in “Loft Music”), Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat” (heard in “What You Need”), Cocteau Twins’ “Cherry-Coloured Funk” (heard in “The Knowing”), and, of course, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Happy House” heard in the titular track. The Weeknd performed “House of Balloons” during his nothing-short-of-stunning Super Bowl LV halftime show.
