“I heard ‘Climax,’ that Usher song, and was like, ‘Holy f**k, that’s a Weeknd song.’ It was very flattering” – words delivered by The Weeknd in a recent interview with Variety (click here to read).
Adding to the quote above, the Grammy winner (born Abel Tesfaye) asserted hearing the similarities to his music (namely his 2011 song ‘House of Balloons’) made him ‘angry’ – a sentiment echoed by his fans once he came under attack for implying the R&B veteran would copy him.
His suggestion was given credence Thursday (April 8) when Diplo, the producer of ‘Climax,’ pinpointed Tesfaye’s early work as one of his sources of inspiration when creating the tune (click here to read that).
With his Twitter mentions blowing up, the ‘Blinding Lights’ hitmaker took to social media to clear the air by declaring his comments were taken out of context.
See what he said inside:
After re-tweeting Diplo’s admission (as seen above), The Weeknd asserted his comment was taken out of context while maintaining the quote’s overarching message: his work inspired ‘Climax.’
Did Usher respond with a cryptic tweet? Fans say “yes.” See it below:
If y’all still interested in a REAL rivalry, look up Prince vs Rick James ?
No Abel. Don’t backtrack now that people are dragging you. You came for a vet and you’re still pretty new to the game. I blame him still being on drugs…and not finishing high school
Ain’t nobody dragging him now! Abel’s music speaks for itself *Lil Mama voice* ?
The weekend sounds like a low budget screaming cat version of Michael Jackson and you going post to post acting like this fool is the second coming. He’s basically a autotune studio singer that sounds horrible live.
Tino, what contemporary artist do you really like? Asking for a friend lol ? I said his music speaks for itself…damn, I must’ve hit a main nerve ?
http://www.mediatraffic.de/tracks.htm
??
Anyone who’ve listened to the weekend sing live already knows its laughable and ridiculous to even imaging the weekend trying to sing Climax lol
I asked you a question…who do you like now? ?
Lol couldn’t have said it better myself Tino. This offkey non singing clown needs to have several.
Usher has his good moments and vocal performances…but when he lets loose, he sounds like a bish in pure heat ? Usher ain’t the best singer in the world, let’s get that all the way straight! He can be sharp and pitchy got dammit ? ? ? #FACTS
He still doesn’t sound half as bad as this cat screetcher does ALL the time.
If you call Usher and Bruno pitchy then what tf is the weekend?? LMAO
LMAO precisely. Nails on a chalkboard come to mind personally lol.
I want y’all to keep this same energy tomorrow ? KEEP ITDD. ?
I’m a day 1 diehard Usher fan, don’t care for anyone after him. Although when you combine vocal ability, live vocals, live all around performance, album sales and Hot 100 success the only artist on Usher level is Bruno Mars.
Took you long enough to say it, Tino ? Shout out to hollering Bruno who can sound right pitchy too ?
Go listen to Usher sing Climax live and then name me 2 or more current male entertainers that can sing that song live.
Lol you’ll be waiting forever lol.
Triggered ? Hollering Bruno who sounds like he’s mad at somebody when he gets too high ? Usher who can sound like a fruity mess when he goes too ambitious on a vocal…lol, yeah I said ITDD. ?
Facts.
@tino, Mario could sing climax. Don’t know if you’d call him “current” but he’s always on pitch and has a great falsetto. He’s an underrated vocalist. Oh and Luke James too. No disrespect to usher, I’m just adding great male vocalists to the mix. I bet they could sing that song live.
Actually Bruno is slightly above Usher,as he is a solid A list singer whereas Usher is B/B+ vocalist and Abel is more of a B lister circa 2018 onwards
I love both. Usher is the king of vocals and the male vocal bible for my generation. The Weeknd’s music is genius work and one of my current favs. But come on… you can’t be flattered and angry at the same time. Abel sounds full of himself and this backtracking makes it clear
He didn’t backtrack tho ? He STILL thinks Climax sounds like House Of Balloons..that was THEN that he felt angry…NOW, it’s flattering
If he was sooooo great and bold he would’ve uploaded a video of him singing Climax and hitting all the notes but we know that’s not possible lol
@ Tino exactly, he knows better. He’ll get dragged even harder for his offkey goat vocals.
Usher can be hella sharp and pitchy dog *Randy voice* ?
Fancy, come on sis. If he’s not backtracking and thinks the EXACT same thing that he said in his interview, then how can he say his comments were taken out of context?? If he still thinks usher “copied” him, what was taken out of context? He’s clearly trying to cover himself. Because you can’t claim someone Made a “Weeknd song” and at the same time LITERALLY not be able to sing that song yourself. Abel KNOWS he couldn’t sing Climax on his best day.
Thats called backpedaling sis.
Agreed
Lmao. Somebody tell this backpedaling fool to sit down please. Its like when reality stars talk ish on TV, then blame it on “editing” when they get called out and dragged. Boy bye.
Sisqo from Dru Hill tried this same sh1t 20 years ago, coming for Usher because he just happened to have a hot record out at the moment. And we all know how that movie ended lmao. Don’t f*ck with the King until you can match his level. PERIODT.
Abel is PAST the hot record at the moment phase! ??
Where’s his Diamond album at? I’ll wait until you find it…….
Ok, 4th album just came out..Confessions was Usher’s fourth so your point is valid lol…but Thriller was Michael’s sixth studio album and first #1 tho…so there’s still room to grow! ??
Fancy c’mon now all jokes aside when it comes to classic R&B albums and number one hits with great and classic vocals you know this dude is not on Michael Jackson and Usher level.
So let me be REAL…I bought Usher’s debut album at THE STORE…The Many Ways is still my JAM…bought his second album at the STORE…it blew up during my high school days..bought Usher’s third at the STORE…blew up my college days…bought Usher’s fourth album at the STORE…went to the tour! I haven’t bought an Usher album since…Usher represents a twenty something kind of R&B…it can be a little young for my tastes! But what Abel just did with Blinding Lights and In Your Eyes and Hardest To Love is something ELSE…there’s a maturity there…cause a bish like me does NOT want to make love in a club! Earned It is SO grown and sexxxy ? Abel appeals to me in a mature, adult way…just like Michael Jackson has always done ✅
Fancy do me a HUGE favor and go listen to Usher Tell Me song from the Hard 2 love album.
Ok, I will do that…thanks Spotify! ? ?
Tino, yaaaas this is ? ? ? Usher sounding real sexxxy here, vocals on fleek and it’s on some Sade vibes! I’m with it ?
All he’s doing is reaffirming what he originally said with Diplo’s tweet to give it more credence.
Thank you, eric… ✅ ?
No, first he said he was “angry”, now he’s “flattered”. That’s called backpedaling.
TGJ took my comment out in general. I’ve seen way worse on this old ass website.
say what he want about usher..but he paved the way for all the chris browns, weekends, 6lacks. Never come for someone who was doing it before yiu. Humble yourself.. that slick comment he slid in about Climax proves it was not taking out of context. He actually believes climax is his song lol
He sure did, paved the way…left some grass intact tho! ? The Weeknd has some textures and vibes that Usher just doesn’t have the taste and ambition to do!
Sounding like Bone Thugs N Harmony in your verse melodies used to appeal to me…now, I’d rather you sound more like an adult ? Usher doing songs with Summer Walker, The Weeknd has NO FEATURES ?? Usher still thinking Ludacris, Abel is thinking Elton John…see, there’s a LEVEL…get on it ?
Usher has already sold more albums and have more number one songs than any male singer of his generation lol. He’s in his fourth decade in the industry with nothing to prove.The weekend is still trying to reach Usher’s level lol SMDH
Abel just turned 30, take your FEETZ off his neck ? I’m well aware of Usher’s accomplishments and I’m sure he thanks me for my purchases ? My Way is my favorite album from him and the title track is still a certified BOP ? And please let it be known…we’re arguing over Usher, Bruno and Abel…NOT Ray J, Elijah and Jacquees ?