Good Morning (Kanye West song)
"Good Morning" is the first song from American hip hop recording artist and record producer Kanye West's third studio album Graduation (2007). The song was produced by West and contains samples from the recording "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" by English singer and pianist Elton John. As the opening track, the song serves as an introduction to the musical and lyrical themes of the album. West establishes the academic narrative of it, celebrating his graduation in the realm of hip hop and rapping about his skepticism of higher education over thumping, off-kilter boom bap drums.
"Good Morning"
September 11, 2007
2006–2007
- Sony Music (New York)
- Record Plant (Hollywood)
3:15
- Kanye West
- Elton John
- Bernie Taupin
Kanye West
The composition of "Good Morning" is both light and dark in tone and retains keyboard-laden, electronic instrumentation in addition to being imbued with poignant introspection. The song's atmospheric hip hop production harbors a subdued measure of progressiveness as West incorporates New-Age and ambient elements. His pensive verses are largely built on self-aggrandizing undercut with self-criticism and explore lyrical concerns pertaining to anti-establishment. The song's lyrics express motivational declarations of triumph and contain numerous pop-culture references.
"Good Morning" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics, who praised its production as well as West's wordplay. West performed the song as the opener of the set-list on his worldwide Glow in the Dark Tour (2008). In the years since its release, the song has been covered and remixed by a variety of hip hop artists, record producers and musical groups.
Though not released as a single, an animated music video was produced for "Good Morning". The video produced by Japanese animation studio OLM and was directed by Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, who had designed the album artwork of Graduation and the cover art for the album's singles. The surrealistic visuals of the video take influences from Japanese animé and utilises cel-shaded animation. The narrative is centered around West's anthropomorphic teddy bear mascot Dropout Bear. He overcomes various obstacles while racing through a futuristic city in an effort to reach his college campus in time for his graduation ceremony. The short animated feature was released to widespread critical acclaim and is often cited as one of West's most artistic music videos. It was included in the 'best-of' lists of publications such as Billboard and Complex, and has been showcased in multiple art museums.
Cover versions and remixes[edit]
"Good Morning" has been covered and remixed by other hip hop artists, record producers and musical groups. Vitamin String Quartet composed a string-laden cover version of "Good Morning" for the opening song of their tribute album, The String Quartet Tribute to Kanye West.[115] In a similar composition, Rockabye Baby! featured an interpretation of "Good Morning" as the opening track of their tribute album, Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Kanye West.[116] Intended for infants, the soothing rendition is a wordless lullaby instrumental, substituting keyboards and drums in favor of xylophones and bells.[117] The rendition was later featured on Good Day, Goodnight, their five-year anniversary 2-CD compilation release. The compilation album contains the most requested songs from their previous releases, including "Good Morning," in addition to several exclusive new tracks.[118]
Virginia hip hop duo Clipse used the instrumental of "Good Morning" and included the track on their 2008 mixtape We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 3.[119] Kelefa Sanneh from The New York Times praised Malice and Pusha T for delivering, "almost nothing but witty, well-made stanzas."[120] Likewise, Pitchfork reviewer Ryan Dombal described their song as a "well-chosen introspective pick."[119] A remix for "Good Morning" was produced by The Kickdrums for inclusion on Sky High, a remix mixtape that was mixed and compiled by DJ Benzi and Plain Pat.[121] The mixtape features remixes by various DJs and record producers of songs taken from West's first three studio albums. It was made in anticipation of the release of his fourth studio album 808s & Heartbreak (2008).[121] The remix project was commissioned by West himself the year prior. He handed over a cappellas and other session tapes to DJ Benzi, who then spent his time trying to match different and DJs and producers to certain tracks.[121] Like every of the other tracks, "Good Morning" (The Kickdrums Remix) had at least five revisions recorded before being completely finished.[121] The song's refrain contains guitar-driven production in addition to melancholic crooning. The remix also features a guest verse from then-newly signed GOOD Music recording artist Big Sean.[122]
Speech of the alternative hip hop group Arrested Development lyrically references "Good Morning" in the opening lines of "Any Tree But That" on their sixth studio album, Strong (2010).[123] The song was the source of inspiration for the beat and chorus of "Hoodmorning" by Compton rapper The Game.[124] Named after the rapper's signature Twitter phrase, "Hoodmorning" was produced by in-house record producer Mars and The Game released it as the opening track of his twelfth mixtape, Hoodmorning (No Typo): Candy Coronas.[124][125] Hosted by DJ Skee, the mixtape was made in promotion of the repeatedly delayed release of his fourth studio album The R.E.D. Album (2011).[124][126] On July 28, 2011, DJ Skee made available an exclusive preview trailer for the mixtape on YouTube. The trailer briefly displays The Game rapping in a recording booth and DJ Skee at his laptop before a mixing console inside the control room of a studio decked with bottles of Corona Extra as "Hoodmorning" plays in the background.[125] Hip hop artist Evidence has used samples of the drums from "Good Morning" to produce the instrumental track "Good Evening". It was for his fourth instrumental hip hop album Green Tape Instrumentals (2013).[127]
Information taken from Graduation liner notes.[1]