The Modern Funk Masterclass
Released on The Weeknd's 2015 album Beauty Behind the Madness, "Can’t Feel My Face" channels the energy of Michael Jackson and the production slickness of Max Martin. It’s an upbeat, disco-pop track that requires more than just hitting the notes—it demands attitude.
The song sits in A Minor and revolves around a driving bassline. As a singer, your main challenges are rhythmic phrasing (the "pocket") and the seamless switching between a chesty mix and a light, airy falsetto. Let’s break it down.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Diction
The Weeknd uses very specific, crisp pronunciation on words like "touch" and "love." Our analysis shows that users who slur their words score significantly lower on rhythm accuracy. Keep your consonants sharp.
Phase 1: The Verses (0:00 - 0:40)
The verses ("And I know she'll be the death of me...") sit in a comfortable mid-range for most male voices (around A3-C4). However, the delivery must be staccato (short and detached).
The Trap: Don't drag the notes. The vocals act as a percussive instrument here. If you sing too legally or "operatically," you will kill the groove.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus (0:40 - 0:58)
The tension builds here ("She told me, 'Don't worry about it'"). You need to raise the volume slightly and introduce a bit more chest resonance. This section bridges the gap between the cool, detached verse and the explosive chorus.
- Breath Control: The phrases are relatively short, but you need enough air to punch the end of each line.
- Placement: Keep the sound forward in the "mask" (nasal area) to cut through the bass.
Phase 3: The Chorus & Falsetto (0:58 - End)
The chorus is high energy. The line "I can't feel my face when I'm with you" is iconic. Depending on your voice type, you might sing this in a strong upper chest mix or a reinforced falsetto.
Throughout the song, The Weeknd adds his signature "oohs" and high-pitched ad-libs (reaching up to E5). These must be sung in a head voice or falsetto. Avoid pushing your chest voice this high, or you will strain and sound flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted notes sit around G4/A4, but the ad-libs and falsetto runs reach up to an E5.
Yes. To capture The Weeknd's style, you need to use falsetto for the background vocals and ad-libs. If you struggle with this, try the "yawning" technique to open up your head voice.
Practice tapping your foot on the 2 and 4 (the snare hits). The vocals often syncopate against the beat. Use the Singing Coach AI visualizer to see exactly where your vocals land relative to the beat.
