Power

Kanye West

About Power

"Power" (often stylized as "POWER") is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released as the lead single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song features additional vocals by soul singer Dwele and is co-produced by West and Symbolyc One. It is built around samples of "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson, "Afromerica" by Continent Number 6, and "It's Your Thing" by Cold Grits. After having recorded it in Hawaii, West reported that he spent 5,000 hours writing "Power". In its lyrics, West comments about the United States, his mental health and his critics. Its chorus features an abrasive vocal-riff. "Power" was West's comeback single following his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak and his controversial incident with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. The song received acclaim from music critics and was listed among the best tracks of 2010 by several publications, including Time, Pitchfork Media, Spin, and Rolling Stone. Critics described it as a return to form for West, praising its intricate production, lyrical merit, and scope. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 53rd Grammy Awards. 


Year:
2010
43 

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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

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)

The system broken, the school's closed, the prisons open
We ain't got nothing' to lose, ma' fucka', we rolling
Huh? Ma'fucka', we rollin'
With some light-skinned girls and some Kelly Rowlands
In this white man's world, we the ones chosen
So goodnight, cruel world, I see you in the mornin'
Huh? I'll see you in the mornin'
This is way too much, I need a moment

No one man should have all that power
The clock's tickin', I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm trippin' off the power
'Til then, f*ck that, the world's ours

And then they say (hey) and then they say
And then they say (hey) and then they say
And then they say (hey) and then they say (21st century schizoid man)

F*ck SNL and the whole cast
Tell 'em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass
More specifically, they can kiss my asshole
I'm an asshole? You niggas got jokes
You short-minded niggas thoughts is Napoleon
My furs is Mongolian, my ice brought the goldies in
Now I embody every characteristic of the egotistic
He knows, he 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 catchin' up with me
Takin' my inner child, I'm fighting for custody
With these responsibilities that they entrusted me
As I look down at my diamond encrusted piece

Thinkin', no one man should have all that power
The clock's tickin', I just count the hours
Stop trippin', I'm trippin' off the powder
'Til then, f*ck that, the world's ours

And then they say (hey) and then they say
And then they say (hey) and then they say
And then they say (hey) and then they say (21st century schizoid man)

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 day, goddammit I'm killin' this shit
I know damn well y'all feelin' 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 doin? I'm survivin'
I was drinkin' earlier, now I'm drivin'
Where the bad bitches, huh? Where ya hidin'?
I got the power, make yo' life so exciting (so exciting)

Now this will be a beautiful death
Jumping out the window
Letting everything go
Letting everything go

Now this will be a beautiful death
Jumping out the window
Letting everything go
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)

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Kanye West

Kanye Omari West ( /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/; born June 8, 1977) is an American musician, film director and fashion designer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent productions saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences encompassing '70s R&B, baroque pop, trip hop, arena rock, folk, alternative, electronica, synthpop, and classical music. more »

6 fans

Written by: Jeff Bhasker, Kanye West, Robert Fripp, Ian Mcdonald, Greg Lake, Nathan Perez, Michael Giles, Peter Sinfield, Malik Yusef Jones, Larry Griffin, Francois Bernheim, Gerard Bergman, Mike Dean, Jean Pierre Lang

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Music Production
"Power" was a track on Kanye West's fifth album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", released in 2010.
Significant Collaborations
The song was co-produced by Symbolyc One (S1) and critically-acclaimed musician and producer Mike Dean. Kanye West and several others participated in the writing of the lyrics.
International Chart Success
"Power" reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, number 36 in the United Kingdom, and appeared on multiple other international charts.
Music Sampling
The song's central sample, "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson, meets with its distinctive African chant sample, "Afromerica" by Continent Number 6.
Lyrical Content
Kanye West touches on topics such as the hardships of fame, internal struggles with narcissism, and the dichotomous nature of power in society.
Entry of International Recognition
"Power" was nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 53rd Grammy Awards. The song was also ranked as the best track of 2010 by several publications such as Time and Pitchfork.
Music Video Innovation
The promotional music video for "Power", directed by Marco Brambilla, is a highly stylized, single-shot tableau, which received an innovation award from UK Music Video Awards.
Impact beyond Music
The song was often used in audio-visual media like movie trailers, sporting events, and commercials due to its empowering beats and lyrics - creating a large cultural footprint.
Cover Versions
"Power" has been covered by multiple artists, including indie rock band Arctic Monkeys during their BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance.
Reinterpretation
A reinterpreted version of the song, named "Power (Remix)", featuring Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz was also released, garnering favourable responses from critics and fans alike.

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