"Heard 'Em Say" is a song by American hip-hop recording artist and record producer Kanye West.[1] It was included as the opening song on the track-listing of his second studio album Late Registration (2005).[2] The song features a guest appearance from Adam Levine, lead vocalist of the American pop rock band Maroon 5.[3]
Background[]
West and Levine met for the first time and forged a friendship during a flight to Rome set for the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards. West introduced himself to Levine and played tracks from his forthcoming sophomore album on his iPod. When they came across a demo for "Heard 'Em Say," the singer had ready an unused chorus he'd written for his band that he felt was perfect for it. The two artists decided to collaborate, working together to write the song on the same plane. Lyrically, "Heard 'Em Say" imparts contemplative moral soliloquies touching on social issues. The melancholic song is written from the perspective of an afflicted, impoverished American lamenting societal fallacies and questioning the ways of the world. West reflects on socioeconomical issues assailing black communities as he encourages listeners to remain optimistic.[4]
Reception[]
"Heard Em Say" managed to debut at number one-hundred and peak at twenty-six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single was a significant crossover success for both West and Levine. By having "Heard 'Em Say" enter at this position the same time his previous single "Gold Digger" ranked number-one on the chart, West became the sixth and penultimate artist to make the rare, coincidental achievement of securing both the top and bottom spots on the Billboard Hot 100. The single also marked Adam Levine's first Hot 100 chart appearance separate from Maroon 5. "Heard 'Em Say" has since been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[5]
Music Video[]
As was the case with "Jesus Walks", more than one accompanying music video was produced for the single. West released two separate videos for "Heard 'Em Say," one live-action while the other was mostly animated and both feature Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. Filmed in Macy's flagship department store on 34th Street in New York City, West enlisted director Michel Gondry to helm the first music video for "Heard 'Em Say." Because the single was originally planned to be released for Christmas, Gondry directed the promotional music video inside a Macy's over the festive season in New York. Not satisfied with the results, West commissioned cartoonist Bill Plympton to create a new music video in one week. The animated music video expresses the use of grayscale, pencil-sketch animation. West had watched and loved Plympton's work since his youth, saying that his images were important to him as a child. West and Plympton later collaborated to create Through the Wire: Lyrics and Illuminations, a graphic book filled with illustrations based on West's song lyrics. The first version of the music video for "Heard 'Em Say" was filmed live-action and harbors a distinct Christmas theme. In the video, Kanye West played a homeless man watching over three fictional children who sneak into Macy's and stay overnight sometime near the Christmas season. The second version of the music video for "Heard 'Em Say" features extensive use of hand-drawn animation. In contrast to the colorful live-action version, the visuals of the black-and-white animated video illustrate the song's lyrics with drawings in a raw, smudgy style.[6]
Lyrics[]
[Skit]
Mr. West - Mr. West...
Uh, yeah
Uh, yeah
Uh, yeah
[Verse 1]
And I heard 'em say, nothing's ever promised tomorrow today
From the Chi, like Tim it's a harder way
So this is in the name of love like Robert say
Before you ask me to go get a job today
Can I at least get a raise of the minimum wage?
And I know that the government administer AIDS
So I guess we just pray like the minister say
Allāhu Akbar and throw in some hot cars
Things we see on the screen that's not ours
But these n****s from the hood so these dreams not far
Where I'm from the dope boys is the rock stars
But they can't cop cars without seeing cop cars
I guess they want us all behind bars - I know it
[Chorus]
Uh, and I heard 'em say (Ooh), nothing's ever promised tomorrow today
And I heard 'em say
Nothing's ever promised tomorrow today (Nothing's ever promised tomorrow today)
But we'll a find a way
And nothing last forever but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way
[Verse 2]
They say people in your life are seasons
And anything that happen is for a reason
And n****s gun clapping and keep to squeezing
And Gran keep praying and keep believing
In Jesus, and one day that you see him
'Til then walk in his footsteps and try to be him
The devil is alive I feel him breathin
Claiming money is the key, so keep on dreamin
And put them lottery tickets just to tease us
My Aunt Pam can't put them cigarettes down
So now my little cousin smokin' them cigarettes now
His job try to claim that he too n****r-ish now
Is it 'cause his skin blacker than licorice now?
I can't figure it out, I'm sick of it now
[Chorus]
Uh, and I heard 'em say (Ooh), nothing's ever promised tomorrow today
And I heard 'em say
Nothing's ever promised tomorrow today (Nothing's ever promised tomorrow today)
But we'll a find a way
And nothing last forever but be honest babe
It hurts, but it may be the only way
With every worthless word we get more far away
And nothing's ever promised tomorrow today
And nothing lasts forever but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way
Oohh, Oohh, Oohh, Oohh
Uh, yea, uh, yea, uh, yea
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/6yIjtVtnOBeC8SwdVHzAuF?si=9e36aa4ba5ec4920
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/5ll74bqtkcXlKE7wwkMq4g?si=HT5AsUnNRPuYTV1SHCIpwQ
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Levine
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heard_%27Em_Say
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heard_%27Em_Say#Critical_reception
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heard_%27Em_Say#Music_videos
| Late Orchestration |
|---|
| "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" • "Touch The Sky" • "Crack Music" • "Drive Slow" • "Through The Wire" • "Workout Plan" • "Heard 'Em Say" • "All Falls Down" • "Bring Me Down" • "Gone" • "Late" • "Jesus Walks" • "Gold Digger" |