Come to Life (song) explained

Come to Life
Type:song
Artist:Kanye West
Album:Donda
Recorded:June 16, 2021 – August 2021
Genre:Gospel[1]
Length:5:10
Label:
Producer:

"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

"Come to Life" is a gospel song.[2] The instrumental features cascading, overlapping pianos and guitar chords.[3] 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.[4] [5] At the midpoint, a piano solo is introduced, reportedly performed by sixth-grader Zen Micheline Hung.[6] [7] [8] However, the credits for the song list Mark Williams as the performer.[9]

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

The version of the song featured on the deluxe version of Donda includes backing vocals from fellow American rapper Tyler, the Creator.[11] [12]

Critical reception

Variety named "Come to Life" the 11th best song of 2021.[13]

Release and promotion

On August 29, 2021, "Come to Life" was included as the 22nd track on West's 10th studio album Donda.[14]

A music video for the song was released on September 2, 2021.[15] 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] The home is also set alight, accompanied by onlookers watching the scene. West then stands up and walks out, though remains covered in flames, before he is extinguished. 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. Varietys Jem Aswad named West setting on fire and reuniting with Kardashian as "two of the more remarkable scenes" of the event,[18] while Laura Harding of the Irish Independent depicted the rapper as being "engulfed" by fire. 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).[19]

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.[20]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 60
South Africa (TOSAC)[22] 36
US Gospel Songs (Billboard)[23] 20

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)!scope="col"
Position
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[24] 69
US Gospel Songs (Billboard)[25] 30

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hot Gospel Songs . subscription . 2024-01-14 . Billboard . en-US.
  2. Web site: Hot Gospel Songs . subscription . 2024-01-14 . Billboard . en-US.
  3. Web site: Willman . Chris . 2021-08-30 . Kanye West Obsesses About Jesus, Kim, His Mother, Himself and Drake in Overstuffed, Fascinating 'Donda': Album Review . 2024-01-14.
  4. Web site: Kreps . Daniel . 2022-05-04 . Kanye West Faces Lawsuit After Sampling Sermon in 'Come to Life' . 2024-01-14 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  5. Web site: Brittain . Blake . 2022-05-04 . Pastor sues Kanye West, saying 'Donda' track ripped off sermon . 2024-01-14 . CTVNews . en.
  6. Web site: Kaufman . Gil . 2021-09-15 . Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ Features Piano Interlude From New York Sixth Grader Named Zen . 2024-01-14 . Billboard . en-US.
  7. Web site: Findlay . Mitch . 2021-09-14 . Kanye West's "Come To Life" Featured A 6th-Grader On Piano . 2024-01-14 . HotNewHipHop . en.
  8. Web site: 2021-09-14 . Kanye West Enlisted This 6th Grader to Play Piano on "Come to Life" . 2024-01-14 . www.complex.com . en-US.
  9. Web site: Donda / Kanye West – Credits . dead . https://archive.today/20210918080058/https://listen.tidal.com/album/195728118/credits . 2021-09-18 . Tidal.
  10. Web site: Loose . Aaron . 2021-09-08 . Kanye West is rapping about Jesus again. But don’t get too excited. Donda is a flawed project . 2024-01-14 . Premier Christianity . en.
  11. Web site: Hudson . Alex . 2021-11-15 . Kanye West Releases 'Donda (Deluxe)' with André 3000, Tyler, the Creator . 2024-01-14 . Exclaim!.
  12. Web site: Young . Alex . 2021-11-14 . Kanye West Drops Donda Deluxe with Six New Songs - Consequence . 2024-01-14 . en-US.
  13. Web site: Chris Willman . 31 December 2021 . The 50 Best Songs of 2021 . Variety.
  14. Web site: Thomas. Fred. Donda – Kanye West. AllMusic. October 29, 2021.
  15. News: Peters. Daniel. Kanye West is set aflame in new music video for 'Donda' song 'Come To Life'. NME. September 2, 2021. October 29, 2021. September 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902061607/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-is-set-aflame-in-new-music-video-for-donda-song-come-to-life-3035492. live.
  16. Web site: Harding. Laura. Kanye West set on fire in Come To Life music video featuring Kim Kardashian. Irish Independent. September 2, 2021. October 29, 2021.
  17. Web site: Kelly. Dylan. Kanye West Drops Scorching 'Come To Life' Music Video. Hypebeast. September 2, 2021. October 29, 2021.
  18. News: Aswad. Jem. Kanye West Drops Video for 'Come to Life,' Featuring Kim Kardashian Wedding Scene. Variety. September 2, 2021. October 29, 2021.
  19. Web site: Squires. Bethy. Watch the Video for Kanye West's 'Come to Life'. Vulture. limited. September 2, 2021. October 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210904095601/https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/watch-the-video-for-kanye-wests-come-to-life.html. September 4, 2021. live.
  20. News: Furdyk. Brent. Kanye West Performs 'Donda' Tracks During Rare Live Performance At Venice Wedding. Entertainment Tonight Canada. October 17, 2021. October 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211017210415/https://etcanada.com/news/828654/kanye-west-performs-donda-tracks-during-rare-live-performance-at-venice-wedding/. October 17, 2021. dead.
  21. News: The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 September 2021. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1644. 4. September 6, 2021.
  22. Web site: Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 27/08/2021 to 02/09/2021. The Official South African Charts. June 1, 2024. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909213625/https://theofficialsacharts.co.za/charts/streaming-chart-20-08-2021-to-26-08-2021/. September 9, 2021.
  23. Kanye West Chart History (Hot Gospel Songs). Billboard. October 29, 2021.
  24. Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 20, 2021.
  25. Hot Gospel Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 20, 2021.