On the 9th edition of Controversial Tunes, we explore the controversy behind the song, โCanโt Feel My Faceโ by The Weeknd.ย ย
Bring on the controversy, wonโt you? Controversial Tunes ๐๐ถ is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot.ย The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.ย On the 9th edition of Controversial Tunes, we explore the controversy behind the song, ๐ต โCanโt Feel My Faceโ by ๐ The Weeknd.ย
The Lyrics / Theme โ
To be fair, there was little controversy behind โCanโt Feel My Face,โ a former no. 1 hit. Perhaps, there shouldโve been more controversy or skepticism (?). โI canโt feel my face when Iโm with you / But I love it, but I love it.โย Why is it that The Weeknd canโt feel his face exactly? Itโs not actually love โ or merely love โ as many mistook the song be referencing. Instead, the ๐ Grammy-winner is referencing a different sort of relationship โ one where the significant other is drugs.
๐ฟ Beauty Behind the Madness, where โCanโt Feel My Faceโ hails from, dabbles in drugs multiple times.ย Furthermore, The Weeknd has been singing about drugs throughout his career โ it was part of what made him so distinct, in addition to those sublime pipes. So, how was it that โCanโt Feel My Faceโ became incredibly beloved despite its addiction?
โAnd I know sheโll be the death of me At least weโll both be numb And sheโll always get the best of me The worst is yet to come.โ
Honestly, The Weeknd seemed to be surprised himself by the success sans controversy regarding โCanโt Feel My Face.โ After all, he addresses it on ๐ต โReminderโ from his 2016 album, ๐ฟ Starboy (2016):
โI just won a new award for a kids show Talking โbout a face numbing off a bag a blow Iโm like goddamn bitch I am not a Teen choice Goddamn bitch I am not a bleach boy.โ
Basically, he asks himself, how did he become a pop star from a drug-infused record like โCanโt Feel My Face.โ ย Of course, beyond the drugs, there is inferable pain, evidenced by lyrics such as, โAll the misery was necessary when weโre deep in love / This I know (This I know), girl, I know.โ
Final Thoughts ๐ญย
โCanโt Feel My Faceโ has long been a favorite The Weeknd song for both myself and fans worldwide.ย Did we all look past the drugs and opt for the killer vibe and those sick vocals by Abel Tesfaye? Perhaps, or maybe, as a society, our view of what is controversial is changing or evolving.ย Regardless, The Weeknd got a pass.ย Maybe itโs those heightened Michael Jackson vibes!
Also appears on ๐ฝ:
๐ ๐ง 13 Songs that Focus on the Face
๐ ๐ง Emotional Songs Where Itโs All About the Feel, Vol. 1
๐ ๐ง 15 C Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason
๐ The Weeknd โข ๐ฟ Beauty Behind the Madness โข ๐ท Republic โข ๐ 2015
The Weeknd, โCanโt Feel My Faceโ: Controversial Tunes ๐๐ถ No. 9 [๐ท: Aidan Feddersen on Unsplash, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Republic]