American Boy by Estelle (featuring Kanye West)
Ahh, we finally reach the point where I think we have the songs that will go down as the best of the decade...
This starts with some of the best production you'll ever hear drawing you with these just cool and smooth—and I'm not even sure what it is... but you're hooked before the song even really gets started. Then Kanye starts up and whatever beat is being laid down is pretty slick. Enter Estelle singing the chorus in that flirty voice she's got... and it is OV-AR.
This might be the best constructed song of the year and Estelle never let's you forget that she's the star of this—not the great production, not the addictive beat, not Kanye amazing performance just over half in, and not those interesting 'what instrument is that' parts that kick in between every verse and chorus. Estelle steals the show during every chorus (and the bridge) where her voice is so gosh darn flirty, you can hear the smile every time she sings "American Boy". Every time she sings it, you want to take her to Brooklyn, L.A. Chicago, and San Fran.
I don't want to over shadow Kanye's performance and Will.i.am's work, but somehow, someway, Estelle steals the show. But Kanye is great and the sounds and music going on behind her voice are great. But it's Estelle's easy, playful vocals that put this song over the top. In a year where nearly everything that happened had a hint of playfulness, no matter how bad the news was, this song sums up that fun, flirty side of 2008.
Showing posts with label Kanye West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kanye West. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
#22 -- Best Songs of 2008
RoboCop by Kanye West
First things first, I don't care if Kanye used AutoTune or whatever.
Now that's out of the way, why RoboCop over nearly everything else on this album? For me? The stings. I'm a sucker for strings and this song has 'em. And I love how the song wraps up with Kanye singing "L.A. girl... you need to stop it now... you're first good one in a while" as only the strings play.
Yeah, yeah, this is a heartfelt album and Kanye pours out his heart and all that good (or sad) stuff... and I know Kanye went though a lot breaking up with his girl and his mother passing away... but it's interesting that as the U.S. attempts to move past Bush and onto the more optimistic Obama, things are looking up (even if they're looking down). And here is Kanye feeling down.
The genius of Kanye is that he puts songs together so damn well—some may even say perfectly. This song is a fantastic example of how he can construct a song better than nearly anyone else out there. All the sounds, the lyrics, the strings, the beat... it all works. And it sounds so good.
First things first, I don't care if Kanye used AutoTune or whatever.
Now that's out of the way, why RoboCop over nearly everything else on this album? For me? The stings. I'm a sucker for strings and this song has 'em. And I love how the song wraps up with Kanye singing "L.A. girl... you need to stop it now... you're first good one in a while" as only the strings play.
Yeah, yeah, this is a heartfelt album and Kanye pours out his heart and all that good (or sad) stuff... and I know Kanye went though a lot breaking up with his girl and his mother passing away... but it's interesting that as the U.S. attempts to move past Bush and onto the more optimistic Obama, things are looking up (even if they're looking down). And here is Kanye feeling down.
The genius of Kanye is that he puts songs together so damn well—some may even say perfectly. This song is a fantastic example of how he can construct a song better than nearly anyone else out there. All the sounds, the lyrics, the strings, the beat... it all works. And it sounds so good.
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