The Weeknd climbed to the top of the U.S. charts for the first time with “Can’t Feel My Face," then promptly losing his lead to the summer behemoth that is “Cheerleader." But the dude's poised to reclaim his lead in the near future, and his MTV Video Music Awards performance will do nothing but help his cause.

The R&B crooner, currently in the midst of release week for sophomore full-length Beauty Behind the Madness, descended upon the VMAs for the first—and probably not last—time, bringing his silky-smooth dance-pop track to adoring audiences, injecting a little soul into the proceedings. Get a Vine taste above.

After the VMAs' share of choreography- and props-filled performances, "Can't Feel My Face" was a refreshingly simple showing, Abel Tesfaye relying on vocals and vocals alone while Taylor Swift and her #squad rocked and swayed in the front row—hell, he even got Kanye moving. By its end, there was fire. Lots of fire. A ring of fire, we'll say.

Beauty Behind the Madness, the Weeknd’s second studio album behind 2013’s Kiss Land and the 2012 mixtape compilation Trilogy, dropped this week to general acclaim. (We know we dug the hell out of it.) Abel brought along Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Labrinth and newcomer Maty Noyes for guest spots while including production from Max Martin, Mr. Yeezus West, Illangelo and more. The record is expected to debut at No. 1 in the U.S. next week.

MTV VMAs 2015: The Best Onstage & Backstage Photos

See all the crazy and awesome moments from the show!

August 31, 2015
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artists A$AP Rocky, Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots perform onstage dur

A$AP Rocky & Twenty One Pilots

A$AP Rocky and Twenty One Pilots perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording Artist ASAP Rocky perfom onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft T

A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky perfoms onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artists Taylor Swift (L) and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Mus

Taylor Swift & Nicki Minaj

Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Larry Busacca/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Model Gigi Hadid, actress Serayah, recording artist Taylor Swift, director Joseph Kahn, model Li

Taylor Swift

Gigi Hadid, Serayah, Taylor Swift, Joseph Kahn, Lily Aldridge accept the Video of the Year award for 'Bad Blood' onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on A

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2015 MTV Video M

Kanye West

Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus (L) and Jared Leto attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater

Miley Cyrus & Jared Leto

Host Miley Cyrus and Jared Leto attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: (L-R) Recording artists Kanye West, Big Sean and John Legend accept the Video with a Social Mess

Kanye West, Big Sean & John Legend

Kanye West, Big Sean and John Legend accept the Video with a Social Message award for "One Man Can Change The World" onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Tori Kelly performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft

Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Pharrell Williams (center) performs on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MTV Vid

Pharrell

Pharrell Williams performs on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Kanye West (L) accepts the Video Vanguard Award from recording artist Taylor Sw

Kanye West & Taylor Swift

Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award from Taylor Swift onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Justin Bieber performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Micros

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Taylor Swift (L)and actress/singer Selena Gomez attend the 2015 MTV Video Music

Taylor Swift & Selena Gomez

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2015 MTV Video M

Kanye West

Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Taylor Swift (L) and actor Jared Leto attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at

Taylor Swift & Jared Leto

Taylor Swift and Jared Leto attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: (L-R) Recording artists Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots, A$AP Rocky and Josh Dun of Twenty One

Twenty One Pilots & A$AP Rocky

Twenty One Pilots and A$AP Rocky perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus attends the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus attends the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Tori Kelly performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft

Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Nick Jonas and Big Sean speak onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theate

Nick Jonas & Big Sean

Nick Jonas and Big Sean speak onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Justin Bieber performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Micros

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artists Demi Lovato (L) and Iggy Azalea perform on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MT

Demi Lovato & Iggy Azalea

Demi Lovato and Iggy Azalea perform on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Demi Lovato performs on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato performs on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: (L-R) Recording artists Kool Moe Dee, Macklemore and Grandmaster Caz perform on the Pepsi Stage,

Kool Moe Dee, Macklemore & Grandmaster Caz

Kool Moe Dee, Macklemore and Grandmaster Caz perform on the Pepsi Stage, during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Nicki Minaj (L) accepts the Best Hip Hop Video award for "Anaconda" from actres

Nicki Minaj & Rebel Wilson

Nicki Minaj accepts the Best Hip Hop Video award for "Anaconda" from actress Rebel Wilson onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Singer Justin Bieber in the audience during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber in the audience during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

John Shearer/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artists Taylor Swift (L) and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Mus

Taylor Swift & Nicki Minaj

Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist The Weeknd performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft

The Weeknd

The Weeknd performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist The Weeknd performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft

The Weeknd

The Weeknd performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Musician Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips (L) and host Miley Cyrus perform onstage during the 201

Wayne Coyne & Miley Cyrus

Wayne Coyne and Miley Cyrus perform onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

John Shearer/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Rapper Nicki Minaj (L) and tv personality Kim Kardashian in the audience during the 2015 MTV Vid

Nicki Minaj & Kim Kardashian

Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian in the audience during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

John Shearer/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Singer-songwriters Bruno Mars (L) and Britney Spears pose backstage during the 2015 MTV Video Mu

Bruno Mars & Britney Spears

Bruno Mars and Britney Spears pose backstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

John Shearer/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artists Bruno Mars (C) and Mark Ronson (R) accept the Best Male Video award for "Uptow

Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson

Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson accept the Best Male Video award for "Uptown Funk" onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Director Joseph Kahn (L) and recording artist Taylor Swift accept the Best Female Video award fo

Joseph Kahn & Taylor Swift

Director Joseph Kahn and Taylor Swift accept the Best Female Video award for "Blank Space" onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images for MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Britney Spears speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Micros

Britney Spears

Britney Spears speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: (L-R) Singer Kanye West, TV personalities Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner and K

Kanye West, The Kardashians & The Jenners

Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Larry Busacca/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Violinist Lindsey Stirling (L) and recording artist Miguel attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Award

Lindsey Stirling & Miguel

Lindsey Stirling and Miguel attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Host Miley Cyrus speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on A

Miley Cyrus

Host Miley Cyrus speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Kevin Winter/MTV1415/Getty Images For MTV

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Recording artist Nicki Minaj performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsof

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. more »

Larry Busacca/MTV1415/Getty Images

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