On Sight

Album: Yeezus (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kanye West opens his sixth studio album, Yeezus, with this pulsing, racy opener, which interpolates a melody from "He'll Give Us What We Really Need," an old track from the South Side of Chicago choir, Holy Name of Mary Choral Family. Lawyers for West's record label were still trying to track down the choir director and members of the choir to get clearance for the vocals days before the album release. The Def Jam label chiefs were so concerned about whether they would get rights to the track, that at the last minute they re-recorded the vocals with a different choir.
  • The song's beat, courtesy of French dance duo Daft Punk, is one of several on Yeezus inspired by Chicago house music. West told the New York Times: "I knew that I wanted to have a deep Chicago influence on this album, and I would listen to like, old Chicago house. I think that even 'Black Skinhead' could border on house, "On Sight" sounds like acid house, and then 'I Am a God' obviously sounds, like, super house."
  • The song's lyric, "A monster about to come alive again. Soon as I pull up and park the Benz. We get this b---h shaking like Parkinson's," attracted anger from sufferers of Parkinson's disease. Kathryn Whitford, who is Vice President of the American Parkinson Disease Association, slammed West's use of the condition as a punchline. 'We find these lyrics distasteful and the product of obvious ignorance," she told TMZ.com.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.