Ghost Town (song)

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Ghost town
Kanye West feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR , Kid Cudi & 070 Shake
publication June 1, 2018
length 4:31
Genre (s) Blues rock , soul
Author (s) Kanye West, Mike Dean , Trade Martin
Producer (s) Kanye West
Label GOOD Music
album ye

Ghost Town is a song by the US-American producer , rapper and singer Kanye West from 2018, which he recorded together with PARTYNEXTDOOR , Kid Cudi and 070 Shake . It was released on the album ye and written by Kanye West, Mike Dean and Trade Martin , and produced by Kanye West himself. On the tracklist of the physical edition of the album only PARTYNEXTDOOR is given as a guest singer. In the same year the duo Kids See Ghosts , consisting of Kanye West and Kid Cudi, released a sequel to the song under the title Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2) on their album of the same name.

Music and lyrics

In Ghost Town is a blues rock - and Soul -Titel which conspicuously the only track on ye not Hip Hop is included elements and deliberately, of course. The composition mainly relies on traditional instruments such as drums , electric guitar and Hammond organ , while electronic elements are only used sporadically (for example, a few individual laser sound effects are used at the dramatic climax). The auto-tune , which is typical for all interpreters , is dispensed with, unclean notes sung in were retained in the finished version.

The song has an unconventional musical structure. It begins with a 12-second, slightly faster recorded sample of the song Someday by Shirley Ann Lee, before the actual music accompanying the song kicks in and PARTYNEXTDOOR sings an intro. This is followed by the entry of Kid Cudi, who recites the chorus of the song Take Me for a Little While by Vanilla Fudge , as well as a sung verse by Kanye West that ends again in Kid Cudi's chorus. Then 070 Shake begins to sing her 2-minute part, which is the dramatic climax of the song. They begin to use very heavy electric guitar riffs, which are broken up now and then by minimalist passages in which, in addition to the voice, only the drums or even only acapella vocals can be heard. Then the song ends.

In terms of content, Ghost Town revolves around the feeling of finally being free after long, difficult times. The song is about the fact that one day everything will be better and the negative feelings will come to an end. In his verse, Kanye West sings that one should not rely on the pain reliever fentanyl or other drugs to know that the (presumably emotional) pain is alleviated, but should trust that better times are ahead. In the last passage sung by 070 Shake, the feeling of freedom is associated with childhood. There is also a narrative break here: while previously in the future tense it was said that everything will only turn for the better, the singer already feels liberated and happy here.

success

Ghost Town was a moderate commercial success that was in the charts in many countries, but not in the top 10 in any country. The title was most successful in this regard in New Zealand , where it climbed to 14th place. In the US, the song reached number 16 and was awarded gold. In Germany , Ghost Town could not prove itself in the charts, in Austria the song landed at number 67 and in Switzerland at number 73.

criticism

While the album ye received mixed reviews internationally and was perceived by many as a disappointment, Ghost Town in particular received almost unanimous acclaim. The final segment presented by 070 Shake received universal praise. The US website Genius.com , as well as the German music magazine laut.de , which was also positive for the entire album, named Ghost Town the best song of the year. The news site The Daily Beast also ranked the song 7th among their 20 best songs from 2018.

swell

  1. ↑ ye. Retrieved March 14, 2019 .
  2. ↑ ye CD tracklist. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Kids See Ghosts. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Ghost Town on YouTube. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  5. ↑ List of samples. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Lyrics. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  7. ↑ US charts. Retrieved March 15, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Charts. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Rolling Stone Article. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  10. ↑ DJBooth article. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Highsnobiety Article. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Genius: Best Songs of 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
  13. ↑ laut.de: Best Songs of 2018. Retrieved on March 13, 2019 .
  14. ↑ The Daily Beast: Best Songs of 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .