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Heartless (Kanye West song)

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"Heartless"
Song

"Heartless" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released on November 4, 2008 digitally as the second single for his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak. It debuted at the number four spot on the Billboard Hot 100 where it eventually peaked at number two and reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks and U.S. Hot 100 Airplay chart.[1][failed verification]

The song came to be covered by numerous artists, most notably by Denver-based piano rock band the Fray, American Idol season 8 winner Kris Allen, and singer-songwriter Dia Frampton (runner-up of season 1 of The Voice), with all three versions managing to enter charts in the absence of a physical single release. "Heartless" is one of the best selling singles of all time, selling 5.5 million digital copies in 2009.

Background

On his fourth studio album 808's & Heartbreak and in the pop song "Heartless", Kanye West utilized the voice audio processor device known as Auto-Tune.[2] West had previously experimented with the technology on his debut album, The College Dropout, for the background vocals of "Jesus Walks" and "Never Let Me Down." The voice altering device created a unique sound helping West express his then feelings of his break up with fiancée Alexis Phifer months after the untimely passing of his mother. The pipe-organ sound was sampled from The Alan Parsons Project song Ammonia Avenue.[3]

Chart performance

In the U.S. on the week of November 13, "Heartless" made a "Hot Shot Debut" at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 201,000 downloads in the United States alone and making it his second highest debut on the chart.[4] The single fluctuated in and out of the top ten for two months before reaching number three in mid-January, and rose to its peak at number two on the chart issue dated February 21.[5] In early March it also reached number four on the Pop 100 chart. It is West's second consecutive top five hit on the Hot 100, and his second consecutive song to debut in the top five there. This makes 808s & Heartbreak the first West album to contain two Hot 100 top five hits. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it peaked at four. It debuted at number eleven on the Hot Rap Tracks and has managed to reach number-one in late January. As of September 2012, the song has sold over 4 million paid digital downloads in the United States, becoming West's second song to reach that mark, the first being "Stronger".[6]

In Canada, it also made a "Hot Shot Debut" at #8 on the Canadian Hot 100, also based on huge amount of downloads in the country. On 1 December 2008, the song debuted at #63 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. It reached #6 on the New Zealand RIANZ chart. On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number #45 and reached #10 due to album download sales. The official digital release date for the single was 12 January 2009. On the Irish Singles Chart the song has peaked at #10.

Music video

Directed by Hype Williams,[7] the animated music video for "Heartless" pays tribute to Ralph Bakshi's 1981 film American Pop.[8][9] It features use of rotoscoped animation, in which actual people were filmed and had their every move drawn over, and references various scenes and backgrounds from the film. The video portrays West wandering through a city alone at night, with scenes of various women shown throughout the video. The video also takes place in West's actual apartment den, where The Jetsons portraits are located. West stands by the Astro portrait in five scenes of the video. It was the first animated video directed by Williams.

Live performances

The song was performed for the first time in Denver, Colorado.[10] The song was also performed at a T.I. concert at Key Club in Los Angeles.[11] Kanye made a special guest appearance and confirmed the song's future release as a single at that show.[12][13] A snippet of the unmastered version of the song was leaked onto the Internet on October 12, 2008. This was followed by a full unmastered version of the song being posted on West's official blog on October 15.[14] The song was released on iTunes on November 4, 2008. On November 8, 2008, Kanye posted a new mastered version of the song on his official blog. A free link to download the song was posted there as well.[15]

Track listings

Digital download
  1. "Heartless" – 3:31
CD single
  1. "Heartless" (Album version) – 3:31
  2. "Heartless" (Instrumental) – 3:30

Personnel

Information taken from 808s & Heartbreak liner notes.[16]

  • Songwriters: Kanye West, Ernest Wilson, Scott Mescudi, Malik Jones
  • Producers: Kanye West & No I.D.
  • Recorders: Andrew Dawson & Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Keyboards: Jeff Bhasker
  • Mix engineer: Manny Marroquin
  • Assistant engineers: Christian Plata and Erik Madrid

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[44] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date
United States November 4, 2008
United Kingdom[45] December 6, 2008

The Fray version

"Heartless"
Song

American rock band, the Fray performed a cover of "Heartless" for their Live Lounge performance on February 16, 2009. Following the premiere of their rendition on BBC Radio 1, it began to receive an unprecedented amount of radio airplay. The track was later included on their Live from SoHo album released onto iTunes on April 7, 2009.[46] In absence of a single release, the band's version of "Heartless" managed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number seventy-nine on May 21 based solely on downloads.[47] The song has since became a staple at the Fray's live shows and sold over 125,000 downloads in the United States alone. Due to overwhelming public demand, it was released as a digital single in the UK on September 14, 2009. The song was also included in the deluxe edition of their sophomore self-titled album, which was released on November 10, 2009.[48][49]

Music video

A music video of the Fray's version of "Heartless" was released on September. The video showed a classroom full of elementary-level students with the video centering on one boy. He keeps glancing at a girl, as drawings appear on a piece of notebook paper in front of him. The band members as well as Kanye West are seen as simple drawn figures performing on the paper. Eventually, the artwork expands out to the classroom, forming a design around the girl. The video implies that the girl was the 'heartless' one who hurt the boy.

Chart positions

Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[47] 79
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 25
US Billboard Rock Songs 26

Kris Allen version

"Heartless"
Song

An acoustic interpretation of the song was performed by American Idol season 8 winner Kris Allen as his personal pick for the Top 3 night of the show's eighth season. His performance was praised all across the judge's panel and by other critics, who called it "inventive".[50] Randy Jackson stated that he preferred it to West's original and the Fray's cover version while Simon Cowell said, "I had written you out of the competition but that has changed after that performance." A studio version of the cover was temporarily made available on iTunes the following week. The performance helped him move on to the finals and win.[51] His version of the song debuted at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2009. Allen has also performed the song during the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 with a more alternative rock-oriented sound.[52] Allen re-recorded the song for his self-titled debut album. Allen also released the album version of the song as his second single in New Zealand. During tour, Allen also did a mash up of this song and Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio.

Chart positions

Chart (2008/2009) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100 39
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 16
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 29

Other covers

Usage in media

References

  1. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 – Heartless". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
  2. ^ Lamb, Bill (2008). "Kanye West – "Heartless"". About.com. About.com. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
  3. ^ Viney, Liam (4 February 2016). "Friday essay: the sounds of Kanye West". Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  4. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-11-13). "T.I. Leads Hot Singles 100; Kanye, Taylor Debut High". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  5. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2009-01-15). "Lady GaGa Dances Again Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  6. ^ Paul Grein (Sep 19, 2012). "Week Ending Sept. 16, 2012. Songs: Novelty Hit Of The Year". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. Retrieved Sep 22, 2012.
  7. ^ "The Greatest Animated Music Videos". Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ Kaufman, Gil (May 13, 2009). "Kris Allen's 'Heartless': The Story Behind The Cover". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-05-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ J.C. Maçek III (2012-08-02). "'American Pop'... Matters: Ron Thompson, the Illustrated Man Unsung". PopMatters.
  10. ^ Kanye performing Heartless live
  11. ^ Smith, Camilo (2008-10-05). "Kanye West, Rihanna appear at T.I.'s Myspace show at Key Club". L.A. Times Music Blog. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (2008-10-06). "Kanye: New Album Coming Nov. 25". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-11-16. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2008-10-06). "Kanye West Reveals 808s And Heartbreak Release Date During Surprise Appearance At T.I. Concert". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  14. ^ Kanye's Official blog post with Heartless, link contains adult content
  15. ^ Mastered Version
  16. ^ 808s & Heartbreak (Media notes). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2008. 0-06025-1791919-8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  18. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  19. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  20. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  21. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  22. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless". Tracklisten. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  23. ^ "Kanye West – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Kanye West. Retrieved December 28, 2014. [dead link]
  24. ^ "Chart Track: Week 4, 2009". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  25. ^ "Media Forest Week 12, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kanye West" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  27. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  28. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  29. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  30. ^ "Kanye West – Heartless". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  31. ^ "Billboard Türkiye Top 20 (Liste Tarihi: 02-03-09)". Billboard Türkiye. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  32. ^ "Kanye West: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  33. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  34. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  35. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  36. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  37. ^ "Kanye West – Awards (Billboard Singles)". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 18, 2012. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  38. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  39. ^ "Kanye West Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  40. ^ "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  41. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  42. ^ "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Kanye West – Heartless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 19, 2015. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Heartless in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  44. ^ "American single certifications – Kenye West – Heartless". Recording Industry Association of America.
  45. ^ "heartless | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  46. ^ "The Fray: iTunes Pass". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  47. ^ a b Trust, Gary (2009-05-21). "Chart Beat". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved 2009-05-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ "Music - News - The Fray 'to release Kanye West cover'". Digital Spy. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  49. ^ "The Wellingtons To Perform for Free In St Kilda Today | undercover.com.au, Music, News, Entertainment". Undercover.com.au. 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  50. ^ "Kris Allen officially signed to 19/Jive | EW.com". News-briefs.ew.com. 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  51. ^ Montgomery, James (May 12, 2009). "Kris Allen Covers Kanye, Simon Feuds With Kara On American Idol". MTV.com.
  52. ^ 6 juli 2009 (2009-07-05). "Kris Allen - Heartless - 7-5-09 Portland, OR". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  53. ^ "Kanye West : Blog : Brand New Rick Ross "Heartless" Remix". Kanyeuniversecity.com. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  54. ^ "Fishsticks". South Park Studios. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  55. ^ "Rains - Heartless (2013)". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
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