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I went in with an open mind. I listened to his albums. I tried to "get it", and I did!
That being said, I was very disappointed. I get what he was doing, his show, his preaching, his dreams and aspirations... but it all came off pithy and arrogant. If you wanna compare yourself to great people like Walt Disney or William Shakespeare, at the very least you should have something in common with them. Disney dreamed of a world where everyone could enjoy themselves and have a happy time. I have seen Disney's dream in film and in person at his parks. I didn't feel anything even close to the joy I have felt while watching a Disney movie or visiting his parks (or stores even). I didn't feel any level of emotion that I felt when reading Hamlet or R&J by Shakespeare. All I felt was alienated. If you need to believe that you are as good as the greatest people that have lived on earth to actually BE one of the greatest people on earth, that's fine. I get that. But to say it as a fact just makes you look like an ass. Not to mention him going on about Bonnaroo '08 and how it was everyone's fault but his own. He neglected to mention his attitude about it, the fact that he wasn't going to go on stage without his full setup (which wouldn't fit) and that he shortened his set significantly. And then he just asks where the press is? Also, lots of people lose family members every year. It's very sad. He could have not played at all, and it would have been entirely justified. The entire thing was very one sided. But that's just what I took from it.
I really wanted to enjoy the show. But after the "sermon", I was just happy to hear a song or two. Jesus Walks sounded good, but it was more of a relief than anything. I saw no "genius", I saw no "best rapper of all time". I saw a man who alienated himself from the very people who elevated him to the status he has. Yet you still stand and support him blindly, without question. Just saying that everyone else just "hates on him" or "doesn't show the "true Roo spirit" is garbage. More than 1/2 of the attendees didn't enjoy it or want him there. Believe it or not, that 1/2 were heavily enjoying the festival, and almost everyone I talked to disliked his show, his sermon, and his presence, and showed me all the positive vibes I could ever ask for aside from that. Being "true Roo", or however they are coining, does not mean hiding your feelings or rejecting a negative presence. It is emphasizing the positive and shunning the negative. Kanye was a negative experience for me. He didn't once thank the crowd for their support. And I hope he never returns.
If you wanted to hear a truly humble and grateful artist, take Lionel Richie for example. I was blown away not only by his humility, but also by how well spoken he was.
I talked to you all and talked about having an open mind going into this. I prepared myself, and this is my honest post experience reply. If you think I'm spewing hate, then you are simply blinded by this guy, and I don't understand it. I took it all in exactly as I experienced it, without prejudice, and without hate. I felt as though the people booing were actually justified when he said what he said. Again, I understand aspiring to greatness, but the people who were truly great, especially the ones he mentioned, did not get there stepping on those who supported him. If you don't believe me, read some famous quotes by Walt Disney about pursuing your dreams, and then go back and listen to the sermon Mr. West gave at Bonnaroo. Let the words speak for themselves.
If you wanted to hear a truly humble and grateful artist, take Lionel Richie for example. I was blown away not only by his humility, but also by how well spoken he was.
*blows dog whistle*
Why would you compare Kanye West to Lionel Richie? The two seem to have nothing in common artistically.
Alright, i've just been reading a ton of your consistent back and forth. My experience was annoying. I really enjoy Kanye and really loved the set, but everyone around me was just fucking negative and it really killed it for me. I really really really want to hear a good audio recording so i can confirm to myself that this was an awesome set, and not feel the negative emotion when thinking about it. I am so happy to hear from you all that it was wayyy better than my experience. It was just annoying listening to people yell and say shut up, and like someone said the sound from where i was, was a little rough which killed my entire groups mood.
I was expecting the rants and loved it. But because of everyone else's negative attitude i feel i came out of this concert kind of confused as to whether i ACTUALLY enjoyed it, or it was just shitty and my love for Kanye made me not want to say it was bad.
Again happy to see from other positions it seemed like this show was absolutely insane. I just wish i was around those areas to enjoy it more.
If i had one complaint about his performance (not about the crowd) it would be that the side screens weren't on. but that is so minor that i feel again, if i was in a better spot in the crowd, i would have not mind at all.
Now you can all continue to argue, tooth and nail, as to whether it was the greatest redemption show or a complete shit show based solely on what you experienced.... then argue that your opinion is the more correct opinion. I'm loving all the back and forth.
You literally just wrote about what you personally experienced. Besides, what else is there exactly?
Alright, i've just been reading a ton of your consistent back and forth. My experience was annoying. I really enjoy Kanye and really loved the set, but everyone around me was just fucking negative and it really killed it for me. I really really really want to hear a good audio recording so i can confirm to myself that this was an awesome set, and not feel the negative emotion when thinking about it. I am so happy to hear from you all that it was wayyy better than my experience. It was just annoying listening to people yell and say shut up, and like someone said the sound from where i was, was a little rough which killed my entire groups mood.
I was expecting the rants and loved it. But because of everyone else's negative attitude i feel i came out of this concert kind of confused as to whether i ACTUALLY enjoyed it, or it was just shitty and my love for Kanye made me not want to say it was bad.
Again happy to see from other positions it seemed like this show was absolutely insane. I just wish i was around those areas to enjoy it more.
If i had one complaint about his performance (not about the crowd) it would be that the side screens weren't on. but that is so minor that i feel again, if i was in a better spot in the crowd, i would have not mind at all.
Now you can all continue to argue, tooth and nail, as to whether it was the greatest redemption show or a complete shit show based solely on what you experienced.... then argue that your opinion is the more correct opinion. I'm loving all the back and forth.
You literally just wrote about what you personally experienced. Besides, what else is there exactly?
I know i wrote about my own experience, i'm not arguing with you lol, i'm just laughing at the way everyone is arguing that it either sucked or was amazing based on what they experienced, then argue with another person saying their experience is incorrect while yours is 100% correct. I'm not trying to say the set was amazing or absolutely shitty, i'm just stating how i felt at the concert.
You literally just wrote about what you personally experienced. Besides, what else is there exactly?
I know i wrote about my own experience, i'm not arguing with you lol, i'm just laughing at the way everyone is arguing that it either sucked or was amazing based on what they experienced, then argue with another person saying their experience is incorrect while yours is 100% correct. I'm not trying to say the set was amazing or absolutely shitty, i'm just stating how i felt at the concert.
Haha. I oh gotcha. I did read your whole thing, just didn't get what you meant there. I understand completely. I'm glad the people that enjoyed it, did enjoy it. I don't think there is a right or wrong, but I think both sides are totally justified. Is that wrong of me? Boo us I guess for believing both experiences are correct lol.
I've been wanting to show this video but haven't had time until now to upload it. Brad took it from the top row of the bleachers during Black Skinhead. I personally have never seen a What Stage crowd as energized as this one in my four years attending Bonnaroo. Usually everyone in the bleachers sits for the entire performance. Well, not Kanye's. The bleachers were actually swaying, which was a little scary. I thoroughly enjoyed his set, one of my favorites of the weekend. We all knew he would go off on rants, so it was no surprise there. I can honestly say that I loved just about every minute of my first Kanye show.
wow. thanks for posting that. we were up pretty close in the thick of it. when he finally came on and this song started, we all looked at eachother and started jumping and going crazy. I had an absolute blast at this concert but.......
1. I was around others who were fans and not booing. 2. I knew a lot of the songs/lyrics and were around others who did too and were taking the songs seriously and not just the hits 3. Being up close is always way more fun than being in the back
Granted I couldn't see much bc I'm short and the screens werent on but just the music and energy was enough for me. The thing about Kanye is that he is controversial. I think most people were hoping to show up and see him lose his shit and when he didnt, they were like 'fuck this'. Even the so called 'rant' didnt bother me so much as that it was slow and I was losing my pace and wanted him to play more songs. I would honestly pay money and go see him again. But he never comes near here.... so I was slightly a little too excited to see him headlining at Roo.
Post by rustyautoparts on Jun 18, 2014 10:08:25 GMT -5
I thought Kanye absolutely slayed this set. My buddy, mostly unfamiliar with Ye's music and public persona, was floored by the performance. I was surprised, because he can be guilty of casual racism, and his favorite genre is country, but he had no complaints about the show. We were a few people off the rail behind the pit, and the energy from the crowd was incredible. I honestly thought he had "redeemed" himself in the eyes of the crowd based on everyone's reaction. It wasn't until I got back to camp that everyone was shit taking Kanye when I realized that the redemption wasn't complete.
Kanye will always be polarizing, I get that. All artists worth studying were polarizing at some point in their careers, because the things worth saying should be disruptive to the status quo. People forget that the musicians we hold up as legends now were crazy egomaniacs constantly railed against by the establishment. They are only universally revered now because the anti-establishment of the 60s/70s has become the new establishment.
Complaining that Yeezy didn't play Gold Digger is akin to complaining that the Beatles stopped making music like 8 Days a Week after Revolver. Kanye can even one up the Beatles there: he's in his artistic prime and still putting on a live show.
I know i wrote about my own experience, i'm not arguing with you lol, i'm just laughing at the way everyone is arguing that it either sucked or was amazing based on what they experienced, then argue with another person saying their experience is incorrect while yours is 100% correct. I'm not trying to say the set was amazing or absolutely shitty, i'm just stating how i felt at the concert.
Haha. I oh gotcha. I did read your whole thing, just didn't get what you meant there. I understand completely. I'm glad the people that enjoyed it, did enjoy it. I don't think there is a right or wrong, but I think both sides are totally justified. Is that wrong of me? Boo us I guess for believing both experiences are correct lol.
yeah i know right? Alas if only everyone could just enjoy/dislike what they saw and not try and force everyone on their side, but i guess that would make the internet completely useless....
Post by minneapolisaroo on Jun 18, 2014 10:56:44 GMT -5
I cannot stop thinking about this show. I don't know if I necessarily enjoyed it but it was the most thought provoking, visceral thing I've ever seen.
My theory is Kanye West = Andy Kaufman. Hear me out.
The first 20-30 minutes of the show he won everyone over. It was awesome. I was there in 2008 and was as pissed off as anyone with him, and he came out with the craziest shit I've ever seen.
Then, he went on to rant, call out everyone from the people actually at the show to Bruno Mars, started saying the most off the handle sheeze...it was nuts. Almost like he was trying to get everyone angry at him, he might as well have been wrestling women up there. Hate me, love me, hate me, love me...
This persona of his is either all an act or he is an actual insane person. There is no in between.
I was expecting a rant because it happened at multiple Yeezus concerts so it would be a given. Especially with the past history of Ye and Roo. I don't understand why some people are whining when they knew damn well that shit was going to happen. I liked his rant. Personally it made me feel inspired and good about myself. Something that I definitely needed in my life and all. No other artists I've listened to made me feel confident and that's why I'm such a huge fan of him. So when he said if you're a fan of me then you're a fan of yourself it really hit me. The inspirational part of his rant I loved it and if you're only focusing on the press and porter-pottie part of the rant then you weren't listening to everything he was saying. You were too busy trying to find something to bitch about instead of trying to find something positive to take home with you. This world is already shitty as it is, try to find something to make it better and stop focusing on the negatives.
My comments have attracted the attention of Delicious Meatball Sub and Flanz ....can I go for the Inforoo trifecta? Where the hell is juggs? Paging @foxandhound ........
I do think it is great that during "Where the press at?" rant that Kanye accurately predicted the the media/blogs/the dumb people on this board would only report on the negative and not that he had everyone's hands up (which custeph's video proves). He knows you all are going to try and drag him down. He could have easily turned down bonnaroo but he came and brought it knowing this would happen bc he knows he has real fans out there in that crowd that he wasn't going to let down. That performance was for us not for all the negative people out there. It shows real heart to go out there and put on a show like that knowing that the only thing that will make it to print is that people hated it which is not true
This was my first pit experience, so I'm curious, is the left side vs the right side any different in their setups/organization, or are they both awful?
I couldn't see in My daft punk helmet when the pit line started moving. Talk about scary. I was being squished and couldn't see. So I just grabbed someone and held on so thanks whoever you were for dragging me in.
Wait... I just remembered the mortifying thing I saw before Kanye started. I was at the front right of the rail, and I swear I saw this girl get pulled out of the crowd who's face looked like the girl in Willy Wonka when she eats the blueberry bubblegum and her face turns swollen and purple and blue... did anyone else see that?
I've been wanting to show this video but haven't had time until now to upload it. Brad took it from the top row of the bleachers during Black Skinhead. I personally have never seen a What Stage crowd as energized as this one in my four years attending Bonnaroo. Usually everyone in the bleachers sits for the entire performance. Well, not Kanye's. The bleachers were actually swaying, which was a little scary. I thoroughly enjoyed his set, one of my favorites of the weekend. We all knew he would go off on rants, so it was no surprise there. I can honestly say that I loved just about every minute of my first Kanye show.
where are all those people who weren't enjoying it
If you wanted to hear a truly humble and grateful artist, take Lionel Richie for example. I was blown away not only by his humility, but also by how well spoken he was.
Post by fake neil young on Jun 18, 2014 16:51:31 GMT -5
Is there really that much to talk about here? Kanye put on a very solid set. Everyone who's a fan or went to have a good time (which, if you check the videos, is a lot of people) enjoyed the show. Some of the people who didn't like it heckled Kanye in the back of the crowd, but most either skipped his set or left it early on. I was midway up, and everyone was having a blast. At one point I went back to the bathrooms, and yes, at the back of the crowd, people were talking shit. Not really a big deal though, because they weren't audible unless you were back there talking shit with them.
Kanye ranted. Kanye rants at his shows. If he didn't, it would be a huge disappointment to his fans. The only surprise here is how many people take him seriously when he says he's going after Genghis fucking Khan.
He didn't play Gold Digger. Walking away from his set, I was honestly impressed he could play so many hits while leaving some out. Great artists do this all the time. There are plenty of awesome songs Jack White didn't play, there are plenty of classics Springsteen rarely plays etc. Stevie Wonder teased "I Wish" but didn't play it in '10, which was too bad, but still a great set.
I was a little bothered hearing people talk so much shit the next day, but whatever. Plenty of artists I think are legitimately terrible have headlined Bonnaroo (Mumford/Jack, Kings of Leon, RHCP, Eminem), but I don't walk around all weekend hating because I know many people there like those artists. Kanye talks shit though, so I can see why people talk shit on him.
I will say that I saw a big gap between the older, whiter crowd that hated on Kanye and the younger, more diverse crowd that liked him. Is there a racial component? Probably. The anti-Kanye crowd aren't generally huge fans of hip hop, they don't really like seeing a black man with a rock star attitude take the stage, and many of them voted for George Bush twice.
Kanye put on a great set though, and the cool kids loved it. Can't be mad about that.
Everyone I know who didn't go to Bonnaroo keeps asking me about this show expecting me to have some story about how he was booed off of the stage and then everyone threw garbage at him. I can't help but feel that, even though a lot of attendees really didn't get the point of the whole "where the press at" speech, the press definitely got it, and were not pleased.
I've already said it in this thread, but nowhere around me was any indication that anyone was having anything other than an incredible time. I heard no booing, no fuck kanye chants, once the show got going, everyone around me was dancing and going crazy for the whole show.
"In an interview with Power 105.1?s The Breakfast Club, Kanye called the album his “Born in the U.S.A.” and said it would sound like Yeezus’ more accessible, soul sample-centric tracks, “Blood on the Leaves” and “Bound 2.” Billboard’s Erika Ramirez reports that “as of two-weeks ago, there’s 12 songs on [Kanye's new] album. Out of six heard, it’s ‘mostly a mixture of soul samples and tamed Yeezus-esque darkness… nothing abrasive.’”
Already 20 self-identified collaborators have come forward, some of which have worked with Kanye recently like Q-Tip, Rick Rubin, Tyga and Evian Christ. Other names that have risen include James Blake, Young Thug, Mike Will Made It, DJ Mustard, James Fauntleroy and French Montana. The title of the album comes from West’s love for the city of Florence. The city carries a lot of meaning for Kanye, as he revealed in the interview with La Nazione that the city is where his daughter North West was conceived along with where he wed Kim Kardashian in May of 2014."
Bolded is the point I think he was making you appear to have missed Cokes. It's more about him not caring about the value of his fans time. you know? the ones who paid to see him. Sure he doesn't care about money. But the people paying to see him likely often do.
Spoken like someone who isn't actually a Kanye West fan. If you were, you'd have not only expected a rant, you'd most likely be anticipating it. This is very, very simple. If people went there to boo, they're pieces of shit and I hope they fall down a well. If people went there to give it a shot and didn't like it? Fine, that is your right. But please do not start telling Kanye West fans what Kanye West thinks about them. The guy performs as hard as anyone, and that is not a biased, fanboy statement. Watch him perform a Yeezus set and tell me he's not giving a shit. He rants at those shows and you would be hard pressed to find a single fan that would bitch about his rants. If people paid attention to them, they'd find that they're very insightful and honest. They're not just the insane ramblings of a crazy person, despite the fact that everyone who dislikes the guy tries to paint them that way.
I said the point "he was trying to make" Flanz, merely pointing out that I thought cokes was misinterpreting it. I've already said I was there to neither boo nor heckle, and was actually around none of it. I just think the extended rants make the set disjointed. It took me out of it. I was all in up until the first one. Fine, no biggie. But by the second and third, it was just wearing my energy for the show down. Stated above I hadn't caught the Yeezus show as well, my first time seeing him. Sue me. And I still think there was zero reason to still be spitting excuses for 2008. I felt all that was pointless. But I think I've come to the conclusion that was for you all...the die-hards. He was spitting venom back at the crowd for you. And apparently you loved it. And he in turn fed off of that. You justified it for him. And maybe I just found it tedious because I kinda found myself in the middle at this show. I wasn't angry at Kanye, but I wasn't angry at the crowd either. I just wanted to see a good show. As for his rants being insightful and honest? What i love the most about Kanye's music are his insightful and unabashedly honest lyrics....even when he's directing it at himself. Correction:especially when it's directed at himself. It's when he's at his most human. It's an insight into the self-loathing we all have at least a taste of. In his lyrics he criticizes himself as much as anybody one second, and boasts the next. But jesus man those damn rants get long....especially considering the time constraints of a festival setting. Again...I just felt like it detracted from the show. And I feel like his lyrics say most of it well enough he doesn't have to keep yelling it at me too. Just my $.02 I guess. And when I got tired of it I didn't boo...I just left early for a good spot at Cube. Hell, I also already said I'll probably give him another shot when he's on his on,theres no crazy backstory, and he's got all damn night to rant if he wants and still play a full setlist and not blow my schedule of shows for the night doing it.
As for what makes me sad about this thread? The fact that as someone who didn't like the show, me and others have been generalized as everything from a stupid,rascist, dipshit douchebag to just an outright moron for not knowing the full details of a Yeezus show despite the fact I've never seen one. The harsh judgement in this thread is cutting both ways gentlemen. You all cry foul and then dish it right back. But that seems to be just following Kanye's example IMO.
Sidenote: I ain't even mad at Kanye no more, I got Outkast tickets. Now he's nothing more than one dissappointing set in an otherwise great weekend. Before, I admit, I was slightly bitter because I knew we would've had them if it hadn't of been Kanye. Now problem solved.
Post by chemicalbrother on Jun 18, 2014 20:51:09 GMT -5
The terrible irony of all this is that I've had to defend my liking Kanye's music on more occasions than i can count. They'll say "hes a douchebag". And I'll fire back that of course he is. But one, I don't care i like his music. And two, haven't you listened to his lyrics? He tells you that! You're not telling me anything I don't know!
And here I find myself on the ass end of an eerily similar argument.
My comments have attracted the attention of Delicious Meatball Sub and Flanz ....can I go for the Inforoo trifecta? Where the hell is juggs? Paging @foxandhound ........
I've been wanting to show this video but haven't had time until now to upload it. Brad took it from the top row of the bleachers during Black Skinhead. I personally have never seen a What Stage crowd as energized as this one in my four years attending Bonnaroo. Usually everyone in the bleachers sits for the entire performance. Well, not Kanye's. The bleachers were actually swaying, which was a little scary. I thoroughly enjoyed his set, one of my favorites of the weekend. We all knew he would go off on rants, so it was no surprise there. I can honestly say that I loved just about every minute of my first Kanye show.
That sir....was awesome. Sweet view of how many were actually there and jumping around. We were a little front right of the soundboard area in the middle or whatever it is. Everyone was jumping and singing having a blast. To see this view is very very cool
Not that y'all haven't hashed this out already, but I feel like working out my thoughts on that Kanye set, & this seems like a good place to do it, so here I go...
First of all - I've always liked the sound of some of Kanye's songs, but always had a "bleh" feeling about him (largely because of the publicity he gets, to be fair). When Yeezus got so much hype, I decided to give him an honest listen. Over the last year, I've come to really love the production side of his music, but I can't get past some of the words (I don't see how "I'd rather be a dick than a swallower" could be anything but sexist, sorry). But, since he was gonna be at Bonnaroo, I decided to give his live show a chance.
I went for the pit so I could get the best view & experience possible. I really didn't want to hear any quack Kanye chants if that happened, just wanted to see the show & try to understand what all the hype is about. Please don't anyone call me a racist Kanye hater - I went into this with nothing but a positive attitude.
Here's where I came down on it all: -Since he was 8-ish minutes late, ended 14-ish minutes early, & ranted for maybe another 15-ish minutes, we got about 80 minutes of songs. I felt that was a little short for a headliner, personally. Not a huge deal... just would have liked to have seen more. -Most of his rants had a mix of a good message, a skewed delivery of said good message, and some pretty funny lines. I'm not faulting him for telling people to follow their dreams, aim high, don't trust the media, etc... but his delivery does come across pretty egotistical at times. Saying he's "going after Shakespeare" is one thing. Saying "I'm the #1 rock star on the planet" is just blatant ego, to me anyway. -Still have a hard time getting over the elements of sexism in his music. Sorry for my sensitivity, kids. -I thought it was kinda a bummer that he didn't have screens on & never showed any normal video of the stage for people outside of the pit... if I had been in the back, I would have been annoyed I didn't get to actually see any of the show without the special effects. -I liked how clearly passionate he is about what he does -- he did seem to be giving it his all on stage. Word. -I wish there had been more actual instruments on stage. I remember hearing he had toured with a full string section at one point, & I prefer seeing a full band vs heavy on the computer-generated sound. -I thought it was interesting that he had a guy on stage to cover for him when he missed a line & help hit the right notes when he was singing. I don't think this is an oddity for hip-hop, I just noticed it.
Overall, it was a good show. From the pit, everyone seemed to be having a great time. He's clearly talented & if he comes back to Bonnaroo, I'll probably see him again... but I also don't quite get the massive amount of hype around him. It's hard not to be disappointed when he's talked up so much. But I definitely had a great time.
Oh, and one more thing... anyone who showed up to his set just to boo should be ashamed of themselves. Plenty of other things to do, & no reason to ruin a show for everyone else. Find something more positive to be passionate about, it'll make you feel better.
Now he's nothing more than one dissappointing set in an otherwise great weekend. Before, I admit, I was slightly bitter because I knew we would've had them if it hadn't of been Kanye. Now problem solved. 
