Lorde Covers Kanye West's 'Flashing Lights' and Doesn't Disappoint
Even Yeezus himself would approve.
Lorde has taken us back, way back, to an era we like to refer to as B.Y. — that's Before Yeezus.
During her Pure Heroine tour's three-night stint in New York City, the songstress performed 'Flashing Lights,' the fourth single off of West's 2007 album Graduation. In terms of composition, it's no surprise Lorde was attracted to the number with it's electronic-flavored hip hop and string instrumentals, hard-hitting lyrics, and Dwele's soaring R&B vocals on the hook.
Her rendition, albeit short, was truly mind-blowing as told by one roaring, hard-to-please New York crowd. It was a worthy intro to her equally stirring number Bravado — which she has in spades, we might add — and an homage to West that might even warrant praise from the himself. In the past she's cited the rapper as an influence and covered his newer track 'Hold My Liquor' live.
Naturally, we can't help but wonder if collaboration lies in the future for Lorde and West. Sure, there's a line around block of artists waiting to jump on the Yeezus train, but if we know one thing about West, it's that he only enjoys fellow, prodigiously talented company. In that sense, Lorde is a shoo-in, so, consider our breath held. Watch her rousing re-imagination of the orchestral track, which she originally performed during the tour's kick-off in Philadelphia, below:
Update: According to Page Six, sources say that West is about to start recording with Lorde. Oh to be a fly on the recording studio wall!
Related Links:
Lorde Is Everything We Wish We Were in High School
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Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
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