"Flashing Lights" is the ninth track from Kanye West's third studio album, Graduation (2007).[1] The song features vocals from Dwele and backing vocals from Connie Mitchell.[2] It was released as a single on November 12, 2007. It is currently Kanye's seventh most streamed song of all time and is generally considered to be one of Kanye's best songs.[3]
A sequel to the song, titled "Flashing Lights 2", was planned to release on Good Ass Job, but neither the song nor the album released.
Background[]
Dwele first met Kanye when he appeared on a remix of Dwele's song, "Hold On", in 2004. On August 28, 2007, Kanye held a listening party for Graduation in Manhattan, New York, playing many of the album's songs for the first time in public. This included "Flashing Lights".[4]
Music videos[]
Three different music videos were created for "Flashing Lights", with only one version being released to the public.[5]
The first version was unveiled at the Entertainment Weekly Grammy Award after-party on February 10, 2008. It was set to officially release three days later on BET, but it was pulled from the schedule. Kanye then decided to upload it to his blog on that day. The music video was directed by Spike Jonze and Kanye and features Playboy model Rita G. driving a Ford Mustang. She then exits the vehicle and takes off all of her clothes except her lingerie. It is then revealed that Kanye is tied up in the trunk of the car, and Rita begins to repeatedly hit him as the music video ends.
The second version was leaked on May 23, 2008. In it, U.K. model Charlotte Carter-Allen plays a young woman who is excited to live life in New York, but soon grows tired of it.
The third version was leaked a week later on May 30, 2008. This version was directed by Martin de Thurah and filmed in a haunted house in Germany.[6] In the music video, Kanye pursues a woman (played by American model Sessilee Lopez) wearing a couture gown.
Lyrics[]
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
She don't believe in shootin' stars
But she believe in shoes and cars
Wood floors in the new apartment
Couture from the store's department
You more like "love to start shit"
I'm more of the trips to Florida
Order the hors d'oeuvres, views of the water
Straight from a page of your favorite author
And the weather so breezy
Man, why can't life always be this easy?
She in the mirror dancing so sleazy
I get a call like, "Where are you Yeezy?"
And try to hit you with the ol-wu-wopte
'Til I got flashed by the paparazzi ('razzi)
Damn, these n***as got me
I hate these n***as more than the Nazi
As I recall, I know you love to show off (off)
But I never thought that you would take it this far (far)
What do I know? Flashing lights (lights, lights)
What do I know? Flashing (know) lights (lights, lights)
I know it's been a while, sweetheart
We hardly talk, I was doing my thing
I know I was foul, baby
Ay, babe lately you been all on my brain (brain)
And if somebody would've told me a month ago
Fronting, though, yo, I wouldn't wanna know
If somebody would've told me a year ago
It'll go, get this difficult (difficult)
Feeling like Katrina with no FEMA
Like Martin with no Gina
Like a flight with no Visa
First class with the seat back I still see ya
In my past, you on the other side of the glass
Of my memory's museum
I'm just saying, hey, Mona Lisa
Come home you know you can't Rome without Caesar
As I recall, I know you love to show off (off)
But I never thought that you would take it this far (far)
What do I know? Flashing lights (lights, lights)
What do I know? Flashing (know) lights (lights, lights)
As you recall, you know I love to show off (off)
But you never thought that I would take it this far (far)
What do you know? Flashing lights (lights, lights)
What do you know? Flashing (know) lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights)
Flashing lights (lights, lights, lights)
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Lights, lights, lights, lights
Credits[]
Adapted from Spotify[7]:
- Performed by Kanye West, Dwele
- Written by Eric Hudson, Kanye West
- Produced by Kanye West, Eric Hudson
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/4SZko61aMnmgvNhfhgTuD3
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashing_Lights_(Kanye_West_song)
- ↑ https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x_songs.html
- ↑ https://www.mtv.com/news/ct0c64/kanyes-graduation-inside-the-nyc-listening-party-for-wests-so-called-comeback
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashing_Lights_(Kanye_West_song)#Music_video
- ↑ https://imvdb.com/video/kanye-west/flashing-lights/2
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/5TRPicyLGbAF2LGBFbHGvO