Come to Life (song)

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"Come to Life"
Song by Kanye West
from the album Donda
ReleasedAugust 29, 2021 (2021-08-29)
RecordedJune 16, 2021 – August 2021
GenreGospel[1]
Length5:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Come to Life" on YouTube

"Come to Life" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features overlapping pianos and guitar chords, as well as a sample of David Paul Moten's sermon. The lyrics allude to the emotional fallout from West's divorce, while showcasing themes of liberation and God.

An accompanying music video was released on September 2, 2021. The video sees West being set on fire during the album's Soldier Field listening party, before he reunites with Kim Kardashian once he has been extinguished. In October 2021, West performed the song at a wedding reception in Venice.

Composition and lyrics[edit]

"Come to Life" is a gospel song.[1] The instrumental features cascading, overlapping pianos and guitar chords.[2] A sample of David Paul Moten's sermon is heard at the beginning, with it being used throughout the song. Moten later claimed that West and his team did not seek permission to use the sample prior to the song's release.[3][4] At the midpoint, a piano solo is introduced, reportedly performed by sixth-grader Zen Micheline Hung.[5][6][7] However, the credits for the song list Mark Williams as the performer.[8]

Lyrically, "Come to Life" features themes of liberation and God, while alluding to the emotional fallout from West's divorce from Kim Kardashian.[9][10] Rolling Stone's Paul Thompson writes, "it makes you want to send a concerned party to his mansion".[11] West's vocals on the song are strained and high-pitched, with Rhian Daly from NME describing them as "full of regret and desperation".[10]

The version of the song featured on the deluxe version of Donda includes backing vocals from fellow American rapper Tyler, the Creator.[12][13]

Critical reception[edit]

Variety named "Come to Life" the 11th best song of 2021.[14]

Release and promotion[edit]

On August 29, 2021, "Come to Life" was included as the 22nd track on West's 10th studio album Donda.[15]

A music video for the song was released on September 2, 2021.[16] The video features footage from the album's third public listening event at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 26, capturing West getting set on fire while sitting in a replica of his childhood home and wearing protective gear.[16][17][18] The home is also set alight, accompanied by onlookers watching the scene.[18] West then stands up and walks out, though remains covered in flames, before he is extinguished.[16][17] The rapper's wife Kim Kardashian slowly approaches the center of the stadium as she wears a Balenciaga wedding dress, reuniting with him for the video's conclusion.[16][17][18] Variety's Jem Aswad named West setting on fire and reuniting with Kardashian as "two of the more remarkable scenes" of the event,[19] while Laura Harding of the Irish Independent depicted the rapper as being "engulfed" by fire.[17] At Vulture, Bethy Squires compared West setting alight to the house in the film Badlands (1973) and the main character of the essays When You Are Engulfed in Flames (2008).[10]

On October 16, 2021, West performed "Come to Life" as part of his four-song set at the wedding reception for Tiffany & Co. executive Alexandre Arnault and D'estree founder Geralde Guyot in Venice, Italy. During the performance, he wore a Halloween mask and a large suit jacket.[11]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]

  • Jeff Bhasker – producer, composer, lyricist
  • Kanye West – producer, composer, lyricist
  • Mike Dean – producer, co-producer
  • Ojivolta – producer
  • Warryn Campbell – producer, composer, lyricist
  • Mark Williams – composer, lyricist, associated performer, piano
  • Raul Cubina – composer, lyricist
  • Stef Moro – assistant mixer
  • Irko – mastering engineer, mix engineer
  • Alejandro Rodriguez-Dawsøn – recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Cirkut – recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Josh Berg – recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Mikalai Skrobat – recording engineer, studio personnel
  • Louis Bell – vocal editing

Charts[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  2. ^ Willman, Chris (2021-08-30). "Kanye West Obsesses About Jesus, Kim, His Mother, Himself and Drake in Overstuffed, Fascinating 'Donda': Album Review". Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  3. ^ Kreps, Daniel (2022-05-04). "Kanye West Faces Lawsuit After Sampling Sermon in 'Come to Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  4. ^ Brittain, Blake (2022-05-04). "Pastor sues Kanye West, saying 'Donda' track ripped off sermon". CTVNews. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  5. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2021-09-15). "Kanye West's 'Donda' Features Piano Interlude From New York Sixth Grader Named Zen". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  6. ^ Findlay, Mitch (2021-09-14). "Kanye West's "Come To Life" Featured A 6th-Grader On Piano". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  7. ^ "Kanye West Enlisted This 6th Grader to Play Piano on "Come to Life"". www.complex.com. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  8. ^ a b "Donda / Kanye West – Credits". Tidal. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18.
  9. ^ Loose, Aaron (2021-09-08). "Kanye West is rapping about Jesus again. But don't get too excited. Donda is a flawed project". Premier Christianity. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  10. ^ a b c Squires, Bethy (September 2, 2021). "Watch the Video for Kanye West's 'Come to Life'". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Furdyk, Brent (October 17, 2021). "Kanye West Performs 'Donda' Tracks During Rare Live Performance At Venice Wedding". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Hudson, Alex (2021-11-15). "Kanye West Releases 'Donda (Deluxe)' with André 3000, Tyler, the Creator". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  13. ^ Young, Alex (2021-11-14). "Kanye West Drops Donda Deluxe with Six New Songs - Consequence". Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  14. ^ Chris Willman (31 December 2021). "The 50 Best Songs of 2021". Variety.
  15. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Donda – Kanye West". AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d Peters, Daniel (September 2, 2021). "Kanye West is set aflame in new music video for 'Donda' song 'Come To Life'". NME. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d Harding, Laura (September 2, 2021). "Kanye West set on fire in Come To Life music video featuring Kim Kardashian". Irish Independent. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Kelly, Dylan (September 2, 2021). "Kanye West Drops Scorching 'Come To Life' Music Video". Hypebeast. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Aswad, Jem (September 2, 2021). "Kanye West Drops Video for 'Come to Life,' Featuring Kim Kardashian Wedding Scene". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  20. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 September 2021". No. 1644. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 6, 2021. p. 4. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  21. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  22. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  23. ^ "Kanye West – Come to Life". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  24. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 27/08/2021 to 02/09/2021". Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  26. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  27. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  28. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  29. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  30. ^ "Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
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