Only One- new song by Kanye West, featuring Paul
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I posted this in the "Paul Collaborating with Kanye West" thread, but I figured I'd create its own dedicated thread as well...
iTunes link here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/only-one-feat.-paul-mccartney/id955056368 -
Goodie, goodie. Just McCartney how he should complement Kanye West. Poignant link with 'Let It Be'. Still, I would have hoped for a little more Yeezus-worthy experiments, but on the other hand it's a positive surprise that they actually wrote a song-song together.
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Sgt._Pepper:
I posted this in the "Paul Collaborating with Kanye West" thread, but I figured I'd create its own dedicated thread as well...
iTunes link here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/only-one-feat.-paul-mccartney/id955056368Great song, but do I hear Paul somewhere?
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Just on electric piano?
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So, Sir McCartney composed the melody or only accompanied on the organ? 'Throughout "Only One," Kanye sings from the perspective of his late mother, Donda West. The record serves as his vision of her feelings towards his marriage and newfound fatherhood'. I liked this New Year surprise quite a lot! Interesting lyrics story, sometimes very touching phrases. The melody is good and pleasant, gets the listener into the right mood. A handwritten version of the lyrics http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/kanye-west-only-one
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bland...auto tuned.
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Not sure what McCartney had to do with this. If he co-wrote it, why does it say "featuring Paul McCartney?" Is he doing background vocals? Good song, though. Better than I expected.
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RMartinez:
Not sure what McCartney had to do with this. If he co-wrote it, why does it say "featuring Paul McCartney?" Is he doing background vocals? Good song, though. Better than I expected.
I think he plays piano on the track.
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Exceeded my expectations. It's a good track, despite the auto-tuned vocals -- but that's not a new thing with Kanye West (i.e., "Stronger, Faster..."). The song strikes me like Donny Hathaway or early-'70s Stevie.
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Sgt._Pepper:
RMartinez:
Not sure what McCartney had to do with this. If he co-wrote it, why does it say "featuring Paul McCartney?" Is he doing background vocals? Good song, though. Better than I expected.
I think he plays piano on the track.
That must be it, since there is no other indication of Paul. I thought he would have sung a verse, or a counter melody or something. Cool.
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Full press release:
Kanye West Releases "Only One," First Single From Forthcoming Solo Album & First Reveal Of Several Musical Collaborations With Paul McCartney To Come NEW YORK, Jan. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today - New Years Day, 2015 - one of the most powerful and unexpected music collaborations in modern history has been released exclusively on the iTunes music store: "Only One." The single features the undeniable talent of two musical and cultural icons: Kanye West and Paul McCartney (http://smarturl.it/Only1)..) It will be the first publicly available recording from what has become a prolific musical collaboration between these two legendary artists. In early 2014, Paul McCartney and Kanye West first began working together in a small bungalow in Los Angeles. The process that would result in "Only One" began with a simple brainstorming session between the two: With McCartney improvising on the keyboards and Kanye vocally sketching and shaping ideas in a stream-of-consciousness riff. When they played back the recording afterward, something remarkable happened. Kanye sat there with his family, holding his daughter North on his lap, and listened to his vocals, singing, "Hello, my only one . . . " And in that moment, not only could he not recall having sung those words, but he realized that perhaps the words had never really come from him. The process of artistic creation is one that does not involve thinking, but often channeling. And he understood in that moment that his late mother, Dr. Donda West, who was also his mentor, confidante, and best friend, had spoken through him that day. "My mom was singing to me, and through me to my daughter," he said, astonished. The small group in the room kept listening: "Hello my Only One?just like the morning sun?you'll keep on rising till the sky knows your name." To some, Kanye's insight didn't immediately register. But then he explained: The name Kanye, which his mother had chosen, means "only one." And then it dawned on everyone there: Something powerful and undeniable had occurred through the power of music and of letting go. A message had been passed down through generations. And so it is that there was only one song that could be released first from this groundbreaking collaboration: "Only One," an anthem of positive reflection, hopefulness and joyous celebration to usher in a New Year. There is only one you. There is only one life. And there is only one 2015. "Only One" is available exclusively on the iTunes music store in 119 countries exclusively for one week. Enjoy. And Happy New Year.
Also, the song is credited to Kanye West/Paul McCartney/Kirby Lauryen, produced by Kanye West and Mike Dean.
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RMartinez:
Not sure what McCartney had to do with this. If he co-wrote it, why does it say "featuring Paul McCartney?"
Because its a good marketing ploy.......or at least it would have been forty years ago.
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It's better then I feared. Not a masterpiece but a nice uplifting ditty that might come in useful on dark days Is that Paul in the Background? Can't exactly tell
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I found out about it here: http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/5481/20150101/kanye-west-paul-mccartney.htm as a writer and a witch, I understand about the channelling thing....Alice Walker in The Color Purple said at the end of the novel, "I'd like to thank everybody in this book for coming."
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can not get this in the usa. sound cloud does not work and itunes in the usa does not have this song ! thanks paul , great way to start the new year ?
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thehud:
can not get this in the usa. sound cloud does not work and itunes in the usa does not have this song ! thanks paul , great way to start the new year ?
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Wow. Great song. It's a shame they didnt do a whole album together. The 'Let it Be' influence is very evident. A gospel for the decade. Paul has a shot to get back to #1 on the Hot 100 singles chart with this song!
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JoeySmith:
Wow. Great song. It's a shame they didnt do a whole album together.
Apparently they did..."It will be the first publicly available recording from what has become a prolific musical collaboration between these two legendary artists." Looks like there may be more to come.
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JoeySmith:
Wow. Great song. It's a shame they didnt do a whole album together. The 'Let it Be' influence is very evident. A gospel for the decade. Paul has a shot to get back to #1 on the Hot 100 singles chart with this song!
From the press release, posted here ( http://maccaboard.paulmccartney.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2827624#2827624):
"It will be the first publicly available recording from what has become a prolific musical collaboration between these two legendary artists." -
I am wondering a little about the motivation of this for both of them. They would seem to have nothing in common musically or otherwise. It looks a little like Kanye is trying to get some cred with Paul's fans, and Paul is trying to get some cred with Kanye's. Though I can't see why it would matter to either of them. I can't see how they hooked up in the first place, other than celebrity. I can see a lot of people going Hmmm?
