West's music needs to be more original
I’ve figured out Kanye West’s songwriting formula: Ego + catchy, well-mixed beats + someone else’s material + more ego/over-the-top showboating.
In his latest single, “Homecoming,” featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay fame, West calls back to his hometown of Chicago.
I can’t say I don’t admire some parts of what West does. For example the girl Wendy, that he mentions in “Homecoming,” represents the Windy City — they met when he was 3 years old (the same time he moved to the city with his mother).
West’s lyrics lean bawdy in the sense that they appear to be about a girl; they only reveal their true intentions on close inspection.
See, subtlety is something I appreciate in music and West does it better than a good many hip-hop artists whose lyrics I do my best to ignore because they’re generally empty and self-congratulatory. Artists across all genres do that, of course, but it seems like rappers, in my mind at least, are a bit more in love with their own baller-ness than their guitar-strumming counterparts are.
In “Homecoming,” West sounds a little bit guilty about his constant absence from ‘Chi-town,’ but, sorry, baby, he’s gotta go “reach for the stars so if (he falls, he’ll) land on a cloud.”
Oh, the tribulations of selling millions of albums, touring the world. Woe is West: “I can’t come back home,” he lyricizes, “and guess when I heard that — when I was back home.”
Martin’s vocals stand out melodically in their sung style, even in dismantled-and-reassembled-sounding samples used in the song, against West’s trademark clipped chirps.
I guess I’m just sick of West’s attitude. Yeah, on his blog he rants about things that at least have something to do with his performances or personal efforts, and I’m sure he tries to deliver good shows and all that. But. He just comes off as a whiny brat that learned a trick or two in sound editing.
I’d suggest West try making music that wasn’t comprised of other musicians’ sound bits, but, since that is his forte — well, that and catering to the basest of human sexy pomp-and-flash interests, like a great ad campaign-turned-philosophy — I’d encourage him to go deeper into things like the light symbolism he draws in “Homecoming;” maybe expand his vocabulary.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the wistful nature of the track. It’s at least minimally introspective, which scores it some points in my book. I respect the unlikely collaboration with Martin, which is on par with West’s appearance at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, where I unfortunately saw him botch an opportunity to melt into diverse listeners’ hearts and music libraries.
I’d still check out his next album. Hey, in West’s own words, “maybe we can start again.”The opinions expressed above are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the State News.
Discussion on "West's music needs to be more original"
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filmdude2
12:38pm, Jul 24, 2008
It’s a little hard to understand exactly what you don’t like about Mr. West’s music. It seems like for the most part you have a problem with the heavy sampling and lack of original instrumentation in his songs. I would argue that sampling is a foundation of hip-hop music. Other than “The Roots”, who also sample lightly, I can’t think of one major hip hop group or individual artist that doesnt use sampling as a base for many of there songs -but I’m not sure you are that familiar with hip-hop (and that’s ok). As you mentioned, Kanye’s unusual and diverse choices for sampling (Daft Punk) set him apart from today’s conventional rap stars and in my opinion raises sampling to somewhat a higher level. As for his attitude, yeah…it sucks sometimes but so what…he’s not a simple dude. If you listen to his explanations for some of his outburst you will find that some of them warranted his responce though maybe not some of his antics. And if you want to her him at his best check out “Crack Music” from the late registration CD.
coolpat
3:49pm, Jul 24, 2008
I’m eagerly anticipating the next “blog” entry that will shift its focus while pontificating on songs that are already the better part of a year old.
And “botch an opportunity to melt into the diverse listeners’ hearts and music libraries?” Really?
He said it himself: the only music that white and black people both listen to is him, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. Bonnaroo needed Kanye, not the other way around.
Kanyefantatic
4:58pm, Jul 25, 2008
Are you deliberately trying to upset Kanye fans lol? Start listening to lyrics please… and as for the comment of suggestion: “I’d encourage him to go deeper into things like the light symbolism he draws in “Homecoming;” maybe expand his vocabulary. Well what vocabulary would you like him to use remember he’s also appealing to youth under the age of 15 not solely alone towards Harvard grad students, check his record sales they say enough about his talent(s) and depth! Also don’t fall back on argument that his sampling is redundant only to deject his foundation as an artist; remember he’s a lyricist and I don’t know of any other artist that could create nearly such collaborative album as College Droput, and yes it’s true many great artists sample i’ll bet the majority of those that you’d pull up on your ipod. Note: Stand firm with your opinions don’t ride the fence, if you support him then say so, not both: Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the wistful nature of the track. It’s at least minimally introspective, which scores it some points in my book….”.