November 19, 2007
Kanye Breaks Down At Paris Concert
Kanye West Reportedly Breaks Down In Tears During Paris Concert: MC reportedly attempts to dedicate 'Hey Mama' to Donda but can't continue song; finishes concert with 'Stronger.'
Just a week after the death of his mother, Donda, Kanye West launched a European tour in Paris on Saturday, but broke down after performing for an hour, according to People.com.Toward the end of the hour-long show at Le Zenith, as "Hey Mama" began, West attempted to introduce the song, saying, "This song is for my mother ... " but could not continue, the magazine reported."He said the word, 'Mother,' and just couldn't go any further," Le Parisien journalist Meddy Magloire told the magazine. "A back-up singer, the DJ and a guitar player came over to console him. It looked like he might collapse. He just couldn't continue. He just stood there in a spotlight, crying, while the band continued playing." The song, from 2005's Late Registration, is a dedication to Donda.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Magloire said, the audience offered shouts of encouragement, which grew into applause.
West reportedly restarted the song but was unable to finish. He left the stage, returning after 10-15 minutes to conclude the concert with "Stronger," the magazine reported.
"He was very nervous, seemed to have gathered himself up, and had a lot of energy," Magloire told People. "He kept shouting out to the audience, 'I need you ... I need you right now.' and the public was screaming back. It was magic."
It's amazing he's even on tour this soon after her tragic death. I'm not even sure why this is even news. Of course, Kayne is going to break down singing a song with a line about his mom, she just died about a week ago.
Anyone surprised that he's even on tour? Thoughts, fellas?
Posted by anthony at November 19, 2007 10:43 AM | TrackBackI'm surprised, for one. And it's nice to see that the hardness of hip-hop doesn't have to penetrate that far as to make a man incapable of mourning well.
Posted by: Robert Perry at November 19, 2007 02:20 PMI am also surprised he is on tour, but like Robert said, he still appears to be mourning well despite the tour.
I am curious to know what the majority reaction is to this "breakdown". I am surprised he allowed himself to cry on stage as this type of emotion is typically not valued and often ridiculed in the hip-hop culture at large. If this was about anything other than his mother, I think his credibility might have taken a real hit.
Posted by: Stephen at November 19, 2007 04:55 PMI'm not really surprised he's on tour. I'd probably continue as well, otherwise you find yourself sitting around lost in sorrow. I'm glad to know, though, like Robert, that he is mourning. And I hope that he isn't ashamed of his sorrow. It is good for a man to mourn what is worth mourning.
Posted by: dramaturge at November 19, 2007 07:00 PMI guess I'm also torn on whether or not I'm surprised he's on tour so soon. Taking a lot of time off could make it even more difficult. But a week? Shoot, spend a month or two with family and friends. Travel and see extended family. If he had taken a month, or a few weeks off, that's fine. It's not like it will ever completely lose it's sting. But at some point he does have to get back to his job, and whatever distractions might help him get through the pain.
The other thing too is, Kanye is not looked at in the same light within the hip hop community as The Game, Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, 50 Cent, Wu-Tang, etc. etc. In a way, he's taken with a grain of salt, because he's different. However there's brilliance in what he does, so he's still well respected. But fans, peers, and critics observe him and listen to his music with a different ear. They know he's not gonna be rapping about killin' dudes and sellin' drugs. And if he is, he's frontin' because that's not who he is. And as a kid from the suburbs of Chicago, that's not his reality. So Kanye crying on stage is different from Methodman or Young Jeezy crying on stage. And plus, like you guys already said, it IS his mother. And few things are as sacred in the black and hip-hop community as a man's relationship with his mother.
Plus, this isn't the first public outburst of emotion from Kanye. It's just probably the most endearing, and real. He's blown up at award shows, and then rapped about. He's an emotional dude. And has every reason to be having just lost his mother.
Posted by: Darnay at November 20, 2007 01:25 AM