Another more obvious aspect of the Weeknd that resembles Michael Jackson is his high tenor voice. The Weeknd is most known for his “sultry falsetto” as well as his self-loathing attitude, (Lester 1). The Weeknd sings in falsetto frequently which shows that sense of, “barely holding on,” since it is harder for males to hit this range. Although his higher register is present throughout the song, it is most prominent in “the after party.” The Weeknd’s high register voice is one of his most attractive qualities as he moves through ranges with ease and avoids voice cracks. Similarly, In Mat Johansson’s article, “Michael Jackson and the Expressive Power of Voice-produced Sound,” he mentions that Jackson’s falsetto was a stylistic choice. It was not just “…aimed at reaching high notes,” because he already does that so effortlessly and often has “seamless transitions between registers,” (Johansson 268). Both The Weeknd and Michael Jackson move through the upper register smoothly which makes it so satisfying to listeners as they do it nonchalantly but also with ease and finesse.
The song, “Wanderlust,” was released in his 2013 album, Kiss Land. The Weeknd’s vocals sound similar to Michael Jackson and also show off his ability to hit powerful falsetto notes.