Abel Tesfaye wasn’t always the guy playing the Super Bowl or starring in HBO dramas that get everyone on Twitter riled up. Before the red suits and the prosthetic face gags, there was a specific moment where the underground "King of the Fall" had to prove he could actually play ball with the big leagues of pop. We’re talking about 2014. That was the year The Weeknd Earned It became a global phenomenon, and honestly, the music industry hasn't really looked back since.
It’s weird to think about now. Back then, Abel was mostly known for shadowy mixtapes and songs about things that definitely wouldn’t get played at a wedding. Then came Fifty Shades of Grey.
The Gamble Behind the Fifty Shades Soundtrack
Most people forget how risky this was for his brand. At the time, The Weeknd was the poster child for PBR&B—dark, moody, and deeply alternative. Joining a mainstream, high-budget film soundtrack like Fifty Shades of Grey felt like a sell-out move to some of his hardcore "Trilogy" fans. But the track didn't just move units; it fundamentally shifted how R&B functioned in the mid-2010s.
Republic Records and the film's producers needed a lead single that captured the "sensual yet dangerous" vibe of the movie without being too cheesy. They tapped Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville, Stephan Moccio, and Ahmad Balshe (Belly) to work with Abel. The result was a chamber pop masterpiece.
It’s a slow burn. The song relies on a 6/8 time signature, which gives it that waltz-like, swaying rhythm. It’s elegant. It’s also incredibly stripped back compared to the over-produced EDM-pop that was clogging the charts in 2014.
Why The Weeknd Earned It Was a Turning Point
Look at the charts from that era. You had Taylor Swift’s 1989 dominating with bright, synth-heavy hooks. Then you had this moody, orchestral R&B track climbing the Billboard Hot 100. It eventually peaked at number three. It proved that Abel could keep his "dark" persona while singing a melody that your mom wouldn't turn off in the car.
It was a bridge. Without the success of this track, we probably don't get the massive pop pivot of Beauty Behind the Madness.
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The Vocal Performance
Abel’s falsetto on this track is, frankly, ridiculous. He channels Michael Jackson, but with a grit that’s entirely his own. When he hits those high notes in the chorus—"Girl, you're perfect / You're always worth it"—it isn't just a pop hook. It’s a vocal flex.
The Production Secrets
Stephan Moccio, a classically trained pianist, brought a certain level of sophistication to the arrangement. He’s the same guy who co-wrote "Wrecking Ball" for Miley Cyrus. You can hear the cinematic influence in the swelling strings. It doesn't sound like a beat made in a bedroom; it sounds like a score.
The Awards and the "Almost" Oscar
The song was an absolute juggernaut during the 2015-2016 awards season. It won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance. It was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
I remember the performance at the 88th Academy Awards. Abel stood there, surrounded by dancers and a literal orchestra, looking like he belonged on that stage. He didn't win—the Oscar went to Sam Smith for "Writing’s on the Wall"—but the performance solidified his status as a "prestige" artist.
Breaking Down the Lyrics: Is it Actually a Love Song?
People play this at weddings all the time. Is it a love song? Sorta.
If you look at the lyrics, it’s very much in line with the Fifty Shades theme of transactional or intense, complicated desire. "You know our love would be tragic / So you don't pay it, don't pay it no mind." That’s not exactly "happily ever after." But the beauty of The Weeknd Earned It is that it feels romantic because of the arrangement. The strings lie to you. They make you think it’s a standard ballad, while Abel is singing about a relationship that’s likely going to end in flames.
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That’s his whole brand, though. He’s the guy who makes the dark stuff sound like a dream.
The Cultural Ripple Effect
After this song blew up, we saw a massive influx of "cinematic R&B" hitting the mainstream. Artists started realizing they didn't need a heavy 4/4 dance beat to get radio play. You could use strings. You could use silence. You could use a waltz tempo.
It also changed how movies used soundtracks. Before this, soundtracks were often just a collection of existing hits. After the success of "Earned It" and Ellie Goulding’s "Love Me Like You Do" (from the same film), studios started commissioning original, high-concept songs specifically designed to break the Top 10.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
There’s this narrative that Abel "cleaned up his act" for this song. Not really.
If you watch the music video—directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, who also directed the film—it’s still very much a Weeknd production. It features BDSM-inspired choreography and a very moody, dimly lit stage. He didn't change who he was; he just scaled it up. He took the aesthetic of a Toronto basement and put it in a grand theater.
The Technical Brilliance of the Mix
If you’re a music nerd, listen to the mix on a good pair of headphones. The way the percussion sits "behind" the vocals is intentional. The snare has this snap that cuts through the thick layers of strings without being distracting. It’s one of those rare tracks where the mixing is just as responsible for the "vibe" as the lyrics.
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Why We’re Still Talking About It
Consistency.
A lot of movie songs disappear the moment the DVD (or digital download) leaves the cultural zeitgeist. Nobody is humming songs from The Lucky One or Dear John. But The Weeknd Earned It has over 1.5 billion streams on Spotify as of late 2025. It’s a staple. It’s become a modern standard.
It also marked the start of the Abel-Belly-DaHeala powerhouse trio that would go on to create some of the biggest hits of the decade. They found a formula: high-end production, emotional vulnerability, and a hook that stays in your head for three days straight.
Actionable Takeaways for the Modern Listener
If you’re looking to dive deeper into why this song works or how to appreciate this era of music, here’s how to do it:
- Listen to the Instrumentals: Find the instrumental version of "Earned It" on YouTube. Without the vocals, you can truly hear the complexity of the string arrangements and the subtle bass movements.
- Compare to "Trilogy": Listen to "Wicked Games" and then "Earned It." Notice the vocal evolution. He went from a raw, almost desperate sound to a controlled, operatic delivery.
- Check Out the Producers: Look up Stephan Moccio’s other work. Understanding his classical background explains why "Earned It" feels so much more "expensive" than other R&B tracks from 2014.
- Watch the Oscars Performance: It’s a masterclass in stage presence. It shows the exact moment a subculture icon became a global superstar.
The song wasn't just a hit. It was an audition for the world stage. And looking at where Abel is today—selling out stadiums and headlining festivals—it’s pretty clear he passed. He earned it.