Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" is the single most influential song of the last 10+ years

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

More so than all of 808s and heartbreak. Without this song, theres is no 808s and Heartbreak....which is clearly an influential album.

This song changed the sonics of urban music as we know it and everyone has been chasing this aesthetic, feel, and authenticity.

Period.

And I'd honestly say its more influential than Andre 3K's "The Love Below," which itself had more funk elements. Don't get me wrong, its HIGHLY influential...



...but I see "Flashing Lights" as a literal breakthrough.

 

[Xtraz2]

Name some examples of songs chasing this sound

 

[2CT]

it's one of his best produced songs but not even in his top 5 most influential IMO

Drake owes his whole career to Say You Will

 

[Poh SIti Dawn]

Was just talking about the production on it. And the lyrics are epic too. Idk about op , id l just say one of the best examples of music and story telling done at such a high degree that it comes off as simplicity

 

[SirBiatch]

yet OP has provided zero receipts

sounds like he wants it to be the most influential song in the last 10 years regardless of whether it's true or not

 

[Tunez]

Reach

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Was just talking about the production on it. And the lyrics are epic too. Idk about op , id l just say one of the best examples of music and story telling done at such a high degree that it comes off as simplicity

Think about what was being done at the time that song came out.

It was a literal window into the future.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

yet OP has provided zero receipts

sounds like he wants it to be the most influential song in the last 10 years regardless of whether it's true or not

Remember (if you can)...when Flashing Lights came out...it was TOO weird for most people. A lot of people skipped it cause they could't get the vibe.

Thats how forward thinking this shyt was in 2007.

It literally sounded like some super artsy esoteric shyt that you've. None of these young guys would have "dark sounding" or moody production with this much electronic music sounding influence as Flashing Lights had.

Flashing Lights (Kanye West song) - Wikipedia

Without flashing lights this doesn't happen:

The Coldest Story Ever Told: The Influence of Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak | Pitchfork

 

[Paper Boi]

idk, but the video sure influenced my young 16 year old mind.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

yet OP has provided zero receipts

sounds like he wants it to be the most influential song in the last 10 years regardless of whether it's true or not

He listened to it for the first time in 5 years and got emotional

 

[str8up]

 

[SirBiatch]

Remember (if you can)...when Flashing Lights came out...it was TOO weird for most people. A lot of people skipped it cause they could't get the vibe.

That's just not true. It was played A LOT. You're telling me that a song that peaked at 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 was skipped? Cmon

I agree that it sounded unlike any hip hop record. Like some shyt you'd hear at Ibiza. As a long-time Kanye non-fan, I thought it was one of the dopest things he'd ever released.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

That's just not true. It was played A LOT. You're telling me that a song that peaked at 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 was skipped? Cmon

I agree that it sounded unlike any hip hop record. Like some shyt you'd hear at Ibiza. As a long-time Kanye non-fan, I thought it was one of the dopest things he'd ever released.

No. It wasn't. Not until about a year-plus after it came out.

Trust me. I was there. I was REALLY there.

People were NOT playing flashing lights like that cause it smacked a bunch of people sideways.

 

[SirBiatch]

No. It wasn't. Not until about a year-plus after it came out.

Trust me. I was there. I was REALLY there.

People were NOT playing flashing lights like that cause it smacked a bunch of people sideways.

where's 'there' breh?

and you saying some far out shyt that's easily disputed. Album came out Sep 2007. By December 2007, it was in ad campaigns. And you're telling me it wasn't popular? Cmon

As a result of its popularity, "Flashing Lights" was utilized by multiple media outlets. In December 2007, the song was used in an ad campaign for French vodka Cîroc, featuring spokesperson Sean Combs.

Breh, there's a whole 'chart performance' section on wiki that flat out disproves what you're saying. And you're telling me 'you were there'.

 

[MIKE SPLEAN]

More so than all of 808s and heartbreak.

This song changed the sonics of urban music as we know it and everyone has been chasing this aesthetic, feel, and authenticity.

Period.

And I'd honestly say its more influential than Andre 3K's "The Love Below," which itself had more funk elements. Don't get me wrong, its HIGHLY influential...



...but I see "Flashing Lights" as a literal breakthrough.

Agree