5 Years since Kanye West at the Hammersmith Apollo (Retrospective Review)
KANYE WEST
HAMMERSMITH APOLLO
[24/02/13]
The Perfect Tempo presents a retrospective analysis of one of the greatest live shows we have ever witnessed. When at the pinnacle of his career, Kanye West performed a surprise residency at London’s Apollo theatre
Hip hop’s most outspoken icon, Kanye West, has always been effortlessly unpredictable, whether it be invading award speeches or with one of his outrageous outbursts at shows. Tonight, however, he’s managed to surpass even himself.
With less than a weeks notice and without any material to promote he’s still managed to sell out the Apollo in less than a single minute, where the audience are currently packed inside like sardines.
The iconic Apollo stage is unrecognisable, every side draped in white sheets, with an arctic landscape protected upon it , the anticipation in the air is at fever pitch but no one could have predicted the first song of the evening as Foreigners 1977 single ‘Cold As Ice’ blares across the room, Kanye rises from behind the stage engulfed in a straightjacket as the projectors now turn the floor into the sea to show him walking on water itself, a knowing reference from the self-proclaimed God.
Kanye has started enthusiastically, setting the stage for a frenzied first hour as he launches into a barrage of his greatest hits such as ‘Power’, ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing’ and ‘Jesus Walks’. Some concerts have a single iconic moment or song you vividly remember, tonight Kanye has set out to have many, some of these are intentional… some noticeably are not.
The second half of the evening takes on a more introspective and subtle approach, choosing to play rare experimental cuts from his vast discography, It’s interesting to note that when performing his most personal and emotional songs Kanye can’t even bare to show his face, instead hiding it in a diamond encrusted mask for both ‘Say You Will’ and ‘Runaway’ the later of which has an elongated 10 minute piano solo, which both dumbfounds and irritates the hyped up crowd.
What’s bound to get the headlines of course though is Kanye’s erratic behaviour, which tonight is on full display as he berates one of his technicians (who are also dressed in full white as to not disturb the video projections around the room), subsequently restarting ‘All Of The Lights’ a staggering five times, because as he says “the sound just ain’t right” He’s not wrong, however, an unfortunate theme throughout the night is the over-reliance on bass drowning out the sound quality.
As the night draws to a close Kanye starts to mentally combust before our very eyes. The usual horn filled triumphant finale of ‘Touch The Sky’ is replaced by his screams, it manages to reach ear-splitting levels before a sudden silence as his mic launches across the stage into an unfortunate audience member.
A bizarre and unforgettable night at the Apollo has proven that Kanye might just be the musical genius he’s always claimed to be, if so, however, he’s definitely a tortured and flawed one.
SETLIST:
Cold
Mercy
Can't Tell Me Nothing
Power
Jesus Walks
Say You Will
Heartless
(Birds Interlude)
Homecoming
Flashing Lights
All of the Lights
Birthday Song (2 Chainz cover)
Clique (Kanye West, Jay-Z & Big Sean cover)
I Don't Like (Chief Keef cover) (GOOD Music Remix)
Good Life
All Falls Down
Stronger
Run This Town (JAY-Z cover)
Diamonds (Rihanna cover) (Remix)
Runaway
Lost in the World
ENCORE:
Touch the Sky
