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"Stronger" is the third track from Kanye West's third studio album, Graduation (2007). It released as a single on July 31, 2007.[1] It is Kanye's second most streamed song of all time, only behind "Ni**as in Paris".[2]

In the song, Kanye speaks about the resolve that comes when one is faced with adversity, with lyrics at the song's refrain that paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche's dictum "What does not kill me makes me stronger". He also describes "Stronger" as an "emancipation", using the track to vent his frustration over mistakes he made in the past year.

On the iTunes Remixes single, two remixes of "Stronger" were released. They were made by A-Trak and Andrew Dawson.[1]

Production[]

Kanye heavily utilizes a vocal sample of "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk.[3]

Background[]

It has been rumored that around 50 to 75 versions of "Stronger" exist, but only a handful have been leaked. A snippet of the song was played on Kanye's 2007 mixtape, Can't Tell Me Nothing[4], but the final song was released on July 31, 2007. An early version of "Stronger" features only one verse with completely different lyrics[5]:

"When the fast life takes its tole

That act right makes everything slow

Them black lights make everything glow

One of those nights where everything goes

Everybody goes through something

People be talking to you like you nothing

Then you be like bitch I'm me

Then your boss be like bitch then leave

You covered up your tats too long with them sleeves

You've gotta hit the club let the real you breathe

Would you believe, you'll never shine if you're not seen

So get all in they face like Noxzema

I know you mesmerized about that ass in them jeans

Please don't hit that raw, it's not clean

Please don't forget that all when it seems"

Music video[]

Kanye_West_-_Stronger

Kanye West - Stronger

The music video for "Stronger" was mainly shot in Tokyo,and Los Angeles and was directed and produced by Hype Williams. In the video, Kanye lives in a robot world set in Tokyo. Many of the scenes in the video are inspired by scenes from the 1988 anime film, Akira.[6]

Lyrics[]

Work it, make it, do it, makes us

Harder, better, faster, stronger

N-Now th-that that don't kill me

Can only make me stronger

I need you to hurry up now

‘Cause I can't wait much longer

I know I got to be right now

‘Cause I can't get much wronger

Man, I've been waiting all night now

That's how long I been on ya

(Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger)

(I need you right now!)

(More than ever, hour after hour

Work–)

(I need you right now!)

Let's get lost tonight

You could be my black Kate Moss tonight

Play secretary, I'm the boss tonight

And you don't give a fuck what they all say, right?

Awesome, the Christian in Christian Dior

Damn, they don't make 'em like this anymore

I ask, ‘cause I'm not sure

Do anybody make real shit anymore?

Bow in the presence of greatness

‘Cause right now, thou hast forsaken us

You should be honored by my lateness

That I would even show up to this fake shit

So go ahead, go nuts, go apeshit!

'Specially in my Pastellé, on my Bape shit

Act like you can't tell who made this

New Gospel, homie, take six

And take this, haters!

N-Now th-that that don't kill me

Can only make me stronger

I need you to hurry up now

‘Cause I can't wait much longer

I know I got to be right now

‘Cause I can't get much wronger

Man, I've been waiting all night now

That's how long I been on ya

(Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger)

(I need you right now!)

(More than ever, hour after hour

Work–)

(I need you right now!) Me likey!

I don't know if you got a man or not

If you made plans or not

If God put me in your plans or not

I'm trippin', this drink got me saying a lot

But I know that God put you in front of me

So how the hell could you front on me?

There's a thousand you's, there's only one of me

I'm trippin', I'm caught up in the moment, right?

‘Cause it's Louis Vuitton Don night

So we gon' do everything that Kan like

Heard they'd do anything for a Klondike

Well, I'd do anything for a blonde dyke

And she'll do anything for the limelight

And we'll do anything when the time's right

Uh, baby, you're makin' it–

(Harder, better, faster, stronger)

N-Now th-that that don't kill me (Oh)

Can only make me stronger (Oh)

I need you to hurry up now (Oh)

‘Cause I can't wait much longer (Oh)

I know I got to be right now (Oh)

‘Cause I can't get much wronger (Oh)

Man, I've been waiting all night now

That's how long I been on ya

(Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger)

(I need you right now!)

(I need you right now!)

You know how long I've been on ya

Since Prince was on Apollonia

Since had Isotoners

Don't act like I never told ya

Don't act like I never told ya

Don't act like I never told ya

Don't act like I never told ya

Don't act like I never told ya

Baby, you're makin' it

(Harder, better, faster, stronger)

N-Now th-that that don't kill me

Can only make me stronger

I need you to hurry up now

‘Cause I can't wait much longer

I know I got to be right now

‘Cause I can't get much wronger

Man, I've been waiting all night now

That's how long I been on ya

(Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger)

(I need you right now!)

(I need you right now!)

Right now!

Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger

(I need you right now!)

(I need you right now!)

You know how long I've been on ya

Since Prince was on Apollonia

Since had Isotoners

Don't act like I never told ya

You know how long I've been on ya

Since Prince was on Apollonia

Since had Isotoners

Don't act like I never told ya

Told ya, told ya

Never told ya…told ya, told ya

Never told ya…told ya, told ya

Never told ya…told ya, told ya

Never told ya…told ya, told ya

Never over…Never over… Never over… Never over…

Never over…Never over… Never over…

(Harder, better, faster, stronger)

Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger

More than ever, hour after

Our work is never over

Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger

More than ever, hour after—

Our work is never over

Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger

More than ever, hour after hour

Work is never over

Work it harder, make it better

Do it faster, makes us stronger

More than ever, hour after hour

Work is never over

Credits[]

Adapted from Spotify[7]:

  • Performed by Kanye West
  • Written by Mike Dean, Edwin Birdsong, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Kanye West, Thomas Bangalter
  • Produced by Kanye West

References[]

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