Kanye West, "Touch the Sky"

[HER MINAJesty]

Also on Monday, West revealed the next single from Late Registration will be "Touch the Sky," which in some ways is a response to his critics.

" 'Touch the Sky' is what my life is about, it's what this year's been about," he said. "To anyone that feels like something is so far away, [the song is] just the concept of actually being able to leap above the environment that you're in. All the naysayers and the haters and people say, 'You'll never make it that far, you'll never make it out of this town, we'll call you,' and all those things, and finally you get the opportunity to touch the sky. That's what this year's about, so no matter what they give to me or try to take from me, there's nothing you can take from me. We've already touched the sky.

"With or without any accolades, whatever it is, the fact that people listen to this music and it's connected with people, the fact that you see fans crying in the audience — you can't tell me anything after that because there's so many places and establishments where people are out of touch," he continued. "When someone hears your song and cries, then you're in touch and that's what matters. At that point, you feel like you've touched the sky."

www.mtv.com/news/articles/1517545/20051206/west_kanye.jhtml?headlines=true

[marcjm]

They have been playing this somehat frequently here in Chicago. It would make a good next single because it has a good energy to it. Heard Em Say is one of the best songs in some time, and I just want that to make a little more noise, so it can get its propers. That song is tight, and it deserves way more success than Gold digger, which gets tired after the first listen.

[halo19]

I think it's one of the best songs on the album, and I really love the album.

[Krypton46]

This looks like it will blow up at Rhythmic and Urban, no surprise there. It picked up the most Urban adds this week with 52 and it's at #54 with a bullet of +137. It's on the verge of entering the top 50 on Rhythmic.

[soundwave]

Touch The sky is one of the best cuts from the album. I'm glad it's finally getting it's shine.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

Great Song!

[Linnethia Monique]

Just Blaze and Kanye killed this song. One of the best off the album plus it helps as a push for Lupe Fiasco.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

I actually think it could've been better if a singer was performing all or part of this.

[Filthy Pop]

I'm not too crazy about this.

[babyboylrtm]

This song is such a JAM! My favorite from the album. Any word on the video? How is it doing on radio?

[britrocks16]

Blah. His album underperformed. He's had more flops than hits!

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

britrocks16 said:

Blah. His album underperformed. He's had more flops than hits!

That's simply not true. He's had 1 hit, and 1 flop (if you call a top 30 single a flop). This song will likely peak inside the top 20 or top 10.

They've actually been playing this song since the album came out. I hear it on 97.9 regularly. I always like it when I hear it. Great driving song.

[babyboylrtm]

Top30 single it's not even a flop. It's a BOMB cuz it followed a MASSIVE #1 SMASH. Top20 will still be a flop for Touch The Sky.

After all the shit he has said about his album and crap it makes me believe, more than ever, that Late Registration is a flop as well.

He isn't all that.

[Linnethia Monique]

His sales are stalling were "College Dropout" was. Around 2.5-3 mil.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

2.5 million is not a flop by any means in this day and age. No matter what you or Kanye says. I like to stick to the facts. Anything inside the top 40 is not a flop if we are sticking to facts. That relative stuff is just for those who try and bring down artists they don't like or agree with. If top 40 isn't a flop for joe blow who's never had a hit in his life. Its certainly not a flop for anyone else. Just about every other artist would kill for Kanye's numbers accept for maybe Usher.

[babyboylrtm]

No, Adonis.

I love Late Registration but the album is under-performing. Is that term better? Heard Them Say is a FLOP no matter how you look at it. A song that follows up to a #1 SMASH and barely makes the Top30 is a F-L-O-P.

His album is under-performing by all means. 2.5 or whatever he has sold is shit based on his airs of greatness, a 10 week #1 SMASH and all the promo he did. 2.5 million is a FLOP

[Bob]

I never get over people who think the term flop should be so relative... it's really not, if you're going to use words like that you have to be objective and therefore it's a more or less absolute thing.

That being said, "underperformed" is a decent word. "Heard 'Em Say" underperformed, especially compared to expecations, but it's still got 550 million total audience, that's not a flop lol. And the album isn't a flop at all, those sales these days are enormous.

Touch The Sky stats: up to 9.6 million total audience from 6.2
1242 total spins from 760.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

okletthisworksvp said:

I never get over people who think the term flop should be so relative... it's really not, if you're going to use words like that you have to be objective and therefore it's a more or less absolute thing.

That being said, "underperformed" is a decent word. "Heard 'Em Say" underperformed, especially compared to expecations, but it's still got 550 million total audience, that's not a flop lol. And the album isn't a flop at all, those sales these days are enormous.

Touch The Sky stats: up to 9.6 million total audience from 6.2
1242 total spins from 760.

I agree. I remember thinking underperformed is probably the more correct term. I'm not sure if the horrible video for this song or Kanye's big mouth(literally) turned people off more.

[Linnethia Monique]

I would also use "underperformed" for "Heard 'Em Say" also. Let's not start listing flops ya'll............

[britrocks16]

okletthisworksvp said:

I never get over people who think the term flop should be so relative... it's really not, if you're going to use words like that you have to be objective and therefore it's a more or less absolute thing.

That being said, "underperformed" is a decent word. "Heard 'Em Say" underperformed, especially compared to expecations, but it's still got 550 million total audience, that's not a flop lol. And the album isn't a flop at all, those sales these days are enormous.

Touch The Sky stats: up to 9.6 million total audience from 6.2
1242 total spins from 760.

Bob, your a fan of Faith who is just another word for Flop so I won't even say anymore, lmao.

[perfectsituation]

babyboylrtm said:

No, Adonis. 

I love Late Registration but the album is under-performing.  Is that term better?  Heard Them Say is a FLOP no matter how you look at it.  A song that follows up to a #1 SMASH and barely makes the Top30 is a F-L-O-P.

His album is under-performing by all means.  2.5 or whatever he has sold is s**t based on his airs of greatness, a 10 week #1 SMASH and all the promo he did.  2.5 million is a FLOP

How's it a flop if it sold as much as his last album. He's been consistent.

and LMAO at you calling Kanye a flop when J.Lo couldn't even sell a million in the US. That's pathetic.

[babyboylrtm]

perfectsituation said:

babyboylrtm said:

No, Adonis. 

I love Late Registration but the album is under-performing.  Is that term better?  Heard Them Say is a FLOP no matter how you look at it.  A song that follows up to a #1 SMASH and barely makes the Top30 is a F-L-O-P.

His album is under-performing by all means.  2.5 or whatever he has sold is s**t based on his airs of greatness, a 10 week #1 SMASH and all the promo he did.  2.5 million is a FLOP

How's it a flop if it sold as much as his last album. He's been consistent.

and LMAO at you calling Kanye a flop when J.Lo couldn't even sell a million in the US. That's pathetic.

I can call Kanye and right about anyone I want a flop. smh @ this new members

Kanyes album is a FLOP compared to his debut and obviously his #1 single who top the chart for 10 weeks.

[That Skipping Rope.]

The EW article makes this video sound like a major motion picture.

[Linnethia Monique]

Kanye's album has sold the same amount as "College Dropout" and in LESS time which does not make it a flop. Kanye is a consistent artist. Your trying to make an arguement based on opinions which hold no weight. Facts are what its all about.

[Rob64]

LOL! Kanye's CD is NOT a flop!

[laguy03]

youtube.com video preview link

www.youtube.com/?v=QXVehAOm8ZY

[That Skipping Rope.]

Please tell me that font isn't in the video.

[reception]

mms://66.186.0.101/allaccess/kanytouc.wma
It went for adds at Urban on January 24.

[Krypton46]

I guess he's determined to make up for the failure that was "Heard 'Em Say" (the video and the song) by coming out with his best video yet, which it's looking like it will be. Who else would go so far as to having a trailer for a music video?

[reception]

It's featured on the Radio & Records EPK.