Music icons from two different eras are celebrating massive digital milestones this week. Both The Weeknd and the legendary rock band KISS have officially joined YouTube’s prestigious Billion Views Club, with their respective hits crossing the ten-digit threshold years after their initial releases.
Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, secured his seventh entry into this elite circle with his synth-pop masterpiece, “Blinding Lights.” The track, which dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, served as the centerpiece of his 2020 album After Hours. The accompanying music video is a cinematic odyssey, capturing the artist in his signature scarlet blazer and tinted shades as he navigates the neon-drenched, chaotic streets of Las Vegas.
This latest achievement adds to an impressive tally for the Canadian superstar. He has previously surpassed the billion-view mark with other chart-topping visuals, including the Daft Punk-assisted “Starboy,” the brooding “The Hills,” and the synth-heavy “Save Your Tears.”
In contrast, the induction of “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” marks a historic first for KISS. Although the promotional video was originally filmed in 1979, it was only uploaded to the platform roughly six years ago. The visual is a quintessential display of rock showmanship, featuring the band members in their iconic monochromatic face paint and elaborate costumes, performing amidst a flurry of stage lights.
Long before it became a digital sensation, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” was a powerhouse on the traditional charts. The single climbed to No. 11 on the Hot 100, while its parent album, Dynasty, reached a peak of No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
You can revisit both milestone-shattering videos below to see why they continue to resonate with millions of fans worldwide.
