"POWER" (stylized in all caps) is the third track from Kanye West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).[1] The song features vocals from Dwele.[2] It released on May 28, 2010, serving as the lead single from the album.[3]
In the song, Kanye pokes fun at his haters, criticizes the United States, and talks about his declining mental health at the time.
The song, along with many other songs in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was included in the film, Runaway
Production[]
The song heavily samples Continent Number 6's 1978 song, "Afromerica", along with King Crimson's 1969 song, "21st Century Schizoid Man". The song's drums sample Cold Grits' 1969 song, "It's Your Thing".[4]
Background[]
Originally, the beat for "POWER" was made for Rhymefest before Kanye took it for his album. According to Noah Callahan-Bever, "POWER" was one of the songs that Kanye played him in early 2010, during the Good Ass Job era.[5] According to Kanye, the process of making "POWER" was extremely grueling, stating that it took him "5,000 man-hours to do this one record".[2] He also revealed that the song marked a turning point for his songwriting. He revealed that he previously had never written down his lyrics. Instead, he "did it from the head straight to the booth".[6]
In 2020, Kanye stated that "POWER" was his weakest single yet because he thought it "was bowing to the expectations".[7]
Remix[]
Main article: POWER (Remix)
A remix of the song was released in August 2010 as part of the GOOD Fridays series.
Reception[]
Many critics praised "POWER", calling it Kanye's best single since "Stronger". Some applauded the song for its lyricism, and others for its "rock-leaning production".[8] The song debuted and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at position 22.[3]
Music video[]
The music video for "POWER", which was directed by Marco Brambilla, premiered on MTV on August 5, 2010. It features Irina Shayk, Jessica White, and Diandra Forrest. In the video, Kanye stands between two black collars as many female characters surround him, some wielding swords.[9] Kanye has gone on to call the music video a "moving painting".[10]
The video received lots of praise, being nominated for many awards. NME also called it one of the best music videos of 2010.[9]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
I'm living in that 21st century, doing something mean to it
Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it
Screams from the haters got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero need his theme music
[Chorus]
No one man should have all that power
The clock’s ticking, I just count the hours
Stop tripping, I'm tripping off the power
(21st-century schizoid man)
[Verse 1]
The system broken, the school's closed, the prison's open
We ain't got nothing to lose, motherfucker, we rolling
Huh? Motherfucker, we rolling
With some light-skinned girls and some Kelly Rowlands
In this white man world, we the ones chosen
So goodnight, cruel world, I'll see you in the morning
Huh? I'll see you in the morning
This is way too much, I need a moment
[Chorus]
No one man should have all that power
The clock's ticking, I just count the hours
Stop tripping, I'm tripping off the power
'Til then, fuck that, the world's ours
And they say, and they say
And they say, and they say
And they say, and they say
(21st-century schizoid man)
[Verse 2]
Fuck SNL and the whole cast
Tell them Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass
More specifically, they can kiss my asshole
I'm an asshole? You n***as got jokes
You short-minded n***as' thoughts is Napoleon
My furs is Mongolian, my ice brought the goalies in
I embody every characteristic of the egotistic
He knows he's so fuckin' gifted
I just needed time alone with my own thoughts
Got treasures in my mind, but couldn't open up my own vault
My childlike creativity, purity, and honesty
Is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts
Reality is catching up with me
Taking my inner child, I'm fighting for custody
With these responsibilities that they entrusted me
As I look down at my diamond-encrusted piece
[Chorus]
Thinking no one man should have all that power
The clock's ticking, I just count the hours
Stop tripping, I'm tripping off the powder
'Til then, fuck that, the world’s ours
And they say, and they say
And they say, and they say
And they say, and they say
(21st-century schizoid man)
[Verse 3]
Colin Powells, Austin Powers
Lost in translation with a whole fuckin' nation
They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation
Well, that's a pretty bad way to start the conversation
At the end of the day, goddamnit, I'm killing this shit
I know damn well y'all feeling this shit
I don't need your pussy, bitch, I'm on my own dick
I ain't gotta power trip, who you goin' home with?
How Ye doing? I'm survivin'
I was drinkin' earlier, now I'm drivin'
Where the bad bitches, huh? Where you hidin'?
I got the power make your life so excitin'
[Outro]
Now this will be a beautiful death
I'm jumping out the window, I'm letting everything go
I'm letting everything go
Mmm, now this will be a beautiful death
I'm jumping out the window, I'm letting everything go
I'm letting everything go
Now this will be a beautiful death
Jumping out the window, letting everything go
Letting everything go
You got the power to let power go?
(21st-century schizoid man)
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/20r762YmB5HeofjMCiPMLv
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-power-lyrics
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(Kanye_West_song)
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Power/
- ↑ https://www.complex.com/music/kanye-west-interview-2010-cover-story
- ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/08/kanye-west-didnt-write-down-his-rhymes-until-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy-video/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200415223343/https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(Kanye_West_song)#Critical_response
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(Kanye_West_song)#Music_video
- ↑ http://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/08/news-roundup-don-henley-kanye-west-beck-jerry-garcia/