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Kanye West ft. Dwele - 'Flashing Lights'

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Fraser McAlpine | 10:13 UK time, Thursday, 10 April 2008

Kanye WestGolly, what's this all about then? A spooky hip hop track, with a woozy, dreamlike backing (well, nightmarelike, really), in which Kanye gets caught out by the paparazzi while cheating on his girlfriend, and then all hell breaks loose. It's accompanied by a twilight video in which someone gets stabbed with a spade by a hot girl in her pants, and for some reason, the lighter fluid she has sprayed all over her fur coat has been pixillated out. Killing people with garden impliments is fine, you see, but setting fire to your clothes? That's irresponsible!

Here's the . It's not embedded here because of the violence, and the lady walking around in her pants, and because the official version has swearing in, so consider yourselves warned...

Now, I don't claim to particularly LOVE this song, it's a bit dark and a bit bleak for me. But I admire it a lot. You can tell there's some artistic expression behind it, rather than naked ambition or a drive to prove yourself to be The Best, which has occasionally tripped up Kanye's work in the past.

And the video compliments the song beautifully, as it's all dreamy and threatening at the same time.

The only odd aspect is the fact that the hot girl has clearly stripped off more for the benefit of the camera than to illustrate the story properly. I mean, no matter how upset you are at your cheating boyfriend, and how much you would want to destroy the precious gifts he gave you, why would you take your SKIRT off and burn it? Or at least, why take the skirt off and leave the expensive shoes and lingerie on, unless it was just for the titillation of the viewing public?

And if you're going to go to the trouble of tying your fella up in a car and killing him, would it not make more sense to stab him BEFORE you take your clothes off, so the blood doesn't go on your tights?

There's enigmatic, you see, and then there's just plain silly.

Four starsDownload: Out now
CD Released: April 14th

(Fraser McAlpine)

Comments

  1. At 02:05 AM on 11 Apr 2008, Josh wrote:

    The video makes this song worthy of my attention :)

  2. At 10:22 AM on 14 Apr 2008, .:Ben:. wrote:

    This is a great song. It has a good rythem and a very catchy tune.

    Unlike "Good life", like the review guy mentioned its quite a dark video.

    I understand the message it is trying to give, but i think a few people will have something to say about the "Violence" and the "Hot Girl Stunt"
    (I Personally Dont care"!!!)

    It also comments on how the origional has swearing. Newsflash, every one of Kanye's albums (excluding unrealeased ones and the "French adjustment", oh, and clean ones) has a parental advisory certificate.Im not sure what people would expect form a hip-hop album.

    Also, at the beginning of the song, it has a Disclaimer saying "The folloeing content is of a graphic nature." I think this was nessercery but Kanye has not done himself any favours as he has never had a warning like that on any other of his great Music Videos.

    Overall, i give this song 4 stars. simply beacause the R-Kelly remix of "Flahing lights" is better

    Overall for the Video, i would give it 3 stars. when you compare it to the inventive "good life" where he is writing on the wall etc, it is a rubbish video.........Wake up Mr West...........

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