he sound so out of breath half the time? Finally, I’ll be damned if I can figure out why he’s decided to "sing" for an entire track instead of gracing us with a single line of rap — or giving this track to an actual singer. Look, far be it from me to criticize a musician for going outside of his or her lane. The Love Below is a really cool record; I’ve got no problem with rappers turning singers, if they can actually craft a listenable song that way. But Kanye’s no André 3000 in that department. It’s just not working for me, to the point where I still feel like there’s something I’m not "getting" about this song.
Right now I’m holding out hope that this is just a demo of some sort. Maybe Kanye will sound less sleepy on the real thing. And maybe I’ll see the light on "Love Lockdown" after a few more days of listening. But it’s certainly isn’t grabbing me anywhere near the way the first teaser singles from Kanye’s last three albums did. You tell me: Am I wrong here? Is there something I’m missing about "Love Lockdown"? (Also, on a semi-sorta-related note: Whoa, Kanye was apparently just arrested at an L.A. airport on vandalism charges after allegedly smashing a paparazzo’s camera? I got no comment on that right now, except for an emphatic "Wha’happen?!" and my well-wishes to Kanye.)
Love Lockdown is awesome. I love it.
I love the song…the beat is so simple, its a really good contrast to the complex feelings of the songs lyrics
Simon, you’re better than me. After a couple minutes listening to the song at the end of the VMA’s I changed the channel. It was unspectacular end to an unspectacular show.
yup, when the song started on the VMAs, I thought “what is Kanye doing?”, but by the time the chorus hit, I was totally into it, and I freakin love it.
It’s bold, risky…and pure awesomeness. Way to go Kanye.
I like this. I did love his performance at the VMAs. It’s a different experimental path for KanYe and I’m sure it will be great for him.
This song is great. Got hooked the second I heard it. I just wish an actual singer was singing it instead of Kanye like the lead from Linkin Park, Keyshia Cole, or Estelle.
Wherever Ye takes us on his journey I’m willing to go. I think we will need to hear it in the context of the whole album before passing judgment. He could have put out another generic song like oh……every other rapper out there. Just appreciate his willingness to try new things.
I was surprised and captivated at the VMA performance… and on 2nd, 3rd and 4th listen I kind of love it. It is great when artists try to do something different and heartfelt. Kudos to kanye regardless of whether or not radio embraces it.
I was into this song the second he started performing it on the VMA’s. I kept playing it on my iphone through youtube so I could listen to it in my car. But this version is just lame. Any emotion the song had in it is totally gone. It seems like he’s trying to not sound like he’s trying. If this is the end product, he should just release the live version.
Didn’t listen to the song yet, but Diddy’s “Last Night” song with Keisha Cole comes to mind. Diddy was wayyy off key with that singing, but after a couple, no, a lot of listens it grew on me. Maybe this song will go the same way.
Not feeling this either, as soon as he started performing it at the VMA’s I said, “Kanye, what are you doing!?” You are hardly a good rapper, why sing? Stick to making those sick beats. I waited and listened to the studio version, but it is just a boring song. It starts out strong but goes nowhere, no progression.
I really liked the VMA performance and the song, but this definitely sounds like a studio demo. I would be surprised if this version found its way onto the album.
It has a sort of kitschy-ness to it. I definitely like the track, though. It is hypnotic and harkens to a ubiquitously familiar state of inebriation. I think once the album is out it will all make sense, because as you said, Kanye definitely deserves the benefit of the doubt. I’ve seen him live, and he loves to sing. You can tell. The off-key nature of it actually adds to it in my opinion. He’s not trying to be Justin Timberlake. He’s being Kanye West, innovative, different, leaving people wondering, “wha?” I have faith. It’ll all make sense.
Only Andre Benjamin can rap and sing, Okay? the rest of the rappers need to rap, that’s why they use that synthesizer to help them — they cannot sing.
It’s awesome but it needs a real “singer” to sing it.