Only One - Kanye West (feat. Paul McCartney) Part 2

Mixed feelings on the song.

I think the track is a little over-the-top on the auto-tune and I find it a bit of a distraction. Not that I dislike auto-tune outright, but prefer if it's done lightly or for a specific purpose - but hard to digest it here (maybe that's what Kanye West had in mind). But I really liked the second half and its ending verse, once I realized the POV he was trying to show. Quite powerful actually and the organ complemented it nicely.

 

So, does anyone know how many songs are in the collaboration between Macca and Kanye?

 

tune is tops!

 

Personally, I thought the song was underwhelming. There was too much Auto-Tune on it for me to enjoy it. The lyrics are nice though.

 

I honestly don't get the amount of vitriol directed towards Kanye West. He's just not worth getting heated up about. He's an a*shole. So what? Many famous people are. Paul being a part of the song is kind of a non-factor. For some reason people are judging a 72 year old musician on how he handles his "legacy". Something that was cemented in stone around 45 years ago!

I think the song has touching lyrics and a sweet sentiment behind it, what with it being a tribute to his late mother. The autotune spoils it slightly for me, but I don't doubt Kanye's sincerity.

 

They haven't specified how many songs but in the Press Release they did say the collaboration had been "prolific" So it sounds like there will be at least a couple more songs to be released.

Press Release:

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.

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.

 

Interesting. I hand't noticed that it was exclusively on iTunes for one week. What happens afterwards?

 

Kayne West is legendary?

 

I guess once itunes exclusive ends that it will be for sale everywhere i.e amazon and maybe it will be on Spotify etc. I don't know I am a dinosaur Ben you are probably much more up with all this stuff than me

 

This is a lovely little song. Autotuned vocals aren't really my taste, but this is nice. Forgive me if this was addressed in the first part of this thread, but do I hear Paul doing some high background vocals about two thirds of the way through?

 

I'm not sure. Ty Dolla Sign is credited with the backing vocals but Paul may be in their briefly at moments idk.

Paul co-wrote the song. He and Kanye brainstormed it seems, with Paul improvising the music on the keyboard and Kanye coming up with the lyrics 'stream of consciousness' style.

Interestingly, Billboard has just posted an interview with Ty in which he says he also worked on another song which was a collaboration between Kanye West, Paul McCartney and Rihanna.

What can you tell me about the other songs you worked on with 'Ye?
Me, Rihanna, 'Ye and Paul [Mc Cartney] got a song about to drop as well...

It's featured on 'Ye's album?
Yeah. It's gonna drop soon. I heard they shot the video recently. I don't know what the final title is, but I know it's crazy so just be looking out for [it].

http://www.billboard.com/articles/c...ng-only-one-kanye-west-rihanna-paul-mccartney

 

Heard it and like others, the auto tune is off putting for me as well, and if I didn't know beforehand that Paul was playing on the track, I would have never guessed. As for Kanye, he always has interesting productions even if his persona is that of an ahole, but he's never been an ahole to me personally so I can't really muster up the hate for him. Some of the quotes I read by him make me face palm, but so what. I don't get the vitriol towards Paul for doing this either. I knew before I read any of the comments that the general response to this would be hostile and unfortunately it was, so I wasn't surprised. I'm thankful Paul is out there, making new music, taking risks, doing what he wants to do and remaining interesting. Even if this track isn't everyones cup of tea, I look forward to any more stuff they may have done together (need something to tide us over till the new archive sets!) It seems some people would rather he be like Billy Joel and just stop making new music altogether (or more likely keep making the same music over and over again) ....Wheres the fun in that?

Also I'm not cynical enough to think that the only reason Paul does these kind of things isbecause he is so desperate to remain "hip", I choose to believe instead that Paul genuinely enjoys making music so much, that if someone asks him to play that he just can't help himself.

 

These threads are becoming legendary.

 

Wow, that is an interesting development. I wonder if Paul sings on it?

I must say, the idea of Rihanna and Paul on one song does worry me, but I will try to remain hopeful. I suppose all that really matters is that the song is good.

 

The song goes straight into the Public Domain...

No, seriously, it just enters the rest of the marketplace, for sale at other digital service providers. Maybe even a physical format.

Arnie

 

He's getting there, albeit not only for his music.

 

I was assuming (probably incorrectly) that after a week, it would be pulled down, to remain unavailable until the album dropped. But I guess that would probably not make sense!

 

Very, very well said!! Thank-you.

 

I think that these covers deserve to be reposted on this thread:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na7rOb1EBLc

 

I won't knock the song. I have heard it twice and it is nice, but I honestly cannot call it a Kanye/Paul collaboration like Paul and Stevie or Paul and Michael. He does not sing on it, and I am sure he has lent his musical abilities to others in a similar way without as much fanfare. I'm curious what else is coming from these two, but I think there is too much hype on this being a true Kanye/Paul collaboration. It should say Kanye with Paul on keyboards to be clear, to say featuring Paul McCartney is not very true.

 

That's how I feel about it, and why I have no interest in voluntarily hearing it. I have seen and heard kanye west and I don't like him or his music. But as a Beatles/Solo fan and collector, I am willing to hear the other songs where McCartney likely sings lead on them or figures more prominently.

 

At least there'd be an actual singer involved!

 

Only One - Kanye West (featuring Paul McCartney) - Debuts at #35 UK Singles Chart

 

Rihanna? Kanye? Any more people not relevant since 7 years ago who Paul can team up with to prove he's still relevant, or does this pretty much exhaust it?

What are Pretty Ricky and Papa Roach doing these days? Maybe Paul can sit in.