The Weeknd is about to have a huge night. On Sunday, he'll perform at the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time, and judging by past events at the show (think of Britney Spears and her unforgettable VMA performances) this could very well be a huge deal. The Weeknd is not only singing at the awards show hosted by Miley Cyrus, he's also a nominee up for Best Male Video for his Fifty Shades of Grey hit "Earned It" and Best Collaboration for his song with Ariana Grande, "Love Me Harder." But really, most fans are just hoping to see him perform "Can't Feel My Face." The tune, which was declared "the song of the summer" by the one and only Tom Cruise during an appearance on The Tonight Show, is a massive hit. And, as is expected in today's YouTube age, "Can't Feel My Face" has inspired hundreds of aspiring musicians (and comedians) to create their own covers, and so I've compiled the 10 best performances of "Can't Feel My Face."
The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, has been around for a while, but only recently broke into the mainstream pop world, and he has dominated this summer. In the past handful of months, he's releasing two hit singles, "The Hills" and "Can't Feel My Face," in anticipation of the release of his album, Beauty Behind the Madness, on Aug. 28, but it's the latter that's really taken hold. Check out some great versions of the song below:
10. SDCC 2015 Cosplay Music Video From Nerd Reactor
This isn't a cover, but a lip sync (hence its spot at the bottom of the list), but it was too good to ignore. What's more fun than watching fans cosplaying as your favorite sci-fi/geekdom characters, singing The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face"? Nothing. Let's be honest: you want to be them.
9. "Can't Feel My Face" Cover By Bailey Pelkman
I love how singer Bailey Pelkman stripped the song to emphasize its haunting quality, and her breathy delivery is perfect. It's a great cover to play in the background when you're doing work or just enjoying a relaxing summer afternoon.
8. "Can't Feel My Face" Drum Cover by Dexter, AKA MightyMouseDex
This isn't so much a cover, as a nice addition of drumming over The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face." The drumming works effortlessly with the original track, plus it's performed by the most adorable drum player ever, and not just 'cause this little guy is seven years old.
7. "Can't Feel My Face" Cover By Alessia Cara
Alessia Cara performed this beautiful acoustic cover of The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face" for On Air With Ryan Seacrest.
6. "Can't Feel My Face" Lip Sync By Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise gave an intense performance of "Can't Feel My Face" in the first round of his lip sync battle against Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, and the world has never recovered. Plus, The Weeknd himself gave it his seal of approval.
6. "Can't Feel My Face" Cover By Before You Exit
Before You Exit, a pop-rock trio, gave "Can't Feel My Face" a slight make-under with this guitar-heavy cover. This is perfect for anybody who ever wondered what "Can't Feel My Face" would sound like without the electronic feel.
4. "Can't Feel My Face" By Taylor Swift And The Weeknd
In July, The Weeknd joined Taylor Swift on one of her 1989 Tour performances to duet on "Can't Feel My Face." As you can see in this snippet, it was AMAZEBALLS.
3. "Can't Feel My Face"/"Style" Mashup By Saya, AKA StarlightSaya
Saya, a teenage singer-songwriter and avid T.Swift fan put a twist on her cover of The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face," adding in a dash of Swift's "Style" at the end. Not only do the two songs mesh really well together, Saya has a truly unique voice and clearly isn't afraid to experiment. This cover is a must, and Saya is definitely one to watch.
2. "Can't Feel My Face" Cover By Andrew Huang
Drew Huang claims to have created this cover of "Can't Feel My Face" using dentist equipment. I'm not sure if I believe that most of the instrumentals were created by dentist tools, but to be fair to Huang, he doesn't explicitly claim that all the sounds were created in that dentist's office. Regardless, the video is incredibly entertaining, and the cover is just really damn cool.
1. "Can't Feel My Face" By The Weeknd
Obviously, if anybody deserves the top spot on this list, it's The Weeknd. I can't wait to watch him perform live at the VMAs! Here's hoping it's more "I'm A Slave 4 U" than "Gimme More."
