Digging Kanye West's singing? Rate the 'SNL' performance

While artists such as Alicia Keys and John Mayer get talked-up as Grammy darlings, since 2005, perhaps, the biggest Grammy mainstay has been rapper Kanye West. Album of the year nods came his way in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

He was a force at the recently announced nominations for 2009 as well. There was Kanye's name atop the Grammy press release, boasting of his six nominations. But those six noms come with an asterisk. None are for music released under his own name, as Kanye was recognized this year only for his collaborations with other artists. 

Yes, his "808s & Heartbreak" was released after the Sept. 30 deadline, but his single, "Love Lockdown," was eligible. It was indeed submitted, and then promptly ignored, by Grammy voters.

And it's not that voters didn't have time to get to know the tune. Kanye, after all, unveiled the song on the MTV Video Music Awards in early September. But it heralded Kanye's move from rapper to singer, and it will be curious to see if that hurts his Grammy appeal.

It's easy for voters to shower accolades upon Kanye in the rap categories, where Kanye has dominated, but "808s & Heartbreak" is essentially a pop record, where Kanye will face stiffer competition. 

And making matters tougher for the artist, his singing is still getting mixed reviews. Less than 24 hours after appearing on "Saturday Night Live," Kanye was getting attacked for singing like "bad karaoke."

Please --  the man isn't a great singer, but that's not the point of "808s & Heartbreak," as Kanye artfully uses auto-tune vocal effects to soften the edges on his voice, turning emotional, heartbroken rants into something a bit more nuanced, a bit more lost.

And anyway, Kanye, rightfully, doesn't seem too concerned. He posted the "Saturday Night Live" clips on his blog. Watch "Heartless" for yourself, while the clip is still available:

So what's the verdict?

--Todd Martens

Photo: Kanye West at the MTV VMAs. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[tootie]

Overblown, over-rated, under-talented.
But attitude sells.

[jdubbs]

I mean if he was on American Idol, they would have stopped him about 15 seconds into this "performance" and he would have exited stage left.
He can't sing, he can't dance. Good producer, though.

[HeartMusic]

Kanye is Kanye a true Chicago person, just because he is not in pitch or in tune and might not be traditional music does not make this performance terrible!! This is not American Idol he doesnt need to prove he has talent because he has done so in his past CDs and we all know its their!!! 808's & Heartbreak is a Awesome CD and the performance will not hurt his career if Britney is still around so will Kanye!!!! Music is Change!!

[Mr. Youngblood]

I thought the performance was great. I dont think everyone is looking at it with the meaning he is feeling inside. Thats what i got out of it but im a kanye fan so what do i know?

[Sandy Frazier]

This guy is exactly what's wrong with music today - mediocrity, no talent, bad singing, meaningless crap.

[marques]

I'm not terribly thrilled with this because it's something different from him...and the same goes with Beyonce's new material.

However, I am finding a similarity among the new music put out by the heavyweights..John Legend, Outkast, Kanye, Common, Beyonce....they're all leaning towards this futuristic sound that actually hasn't really been taken on en masse by black artists before.

They're all good friends and I'm pretty sure this is a concentrated effort. Let's see how it turns out

[ES]

Auto-tune is the new disco. Truly unbearable, but if it were taken away, it would expose all the top 40 MTV-created cash machines as the hacks they truly are....

[Rich]

He's a rapper not a singer. This is a experimental album I have to pass on. I like my rappers to be rappers and my singers to be singers. Sometimes the line gets distorted and they want to do the opposite ex. Tyrese rapping please stick to what you know best thank you

[db]

two things i don't get: one, this performance and song is mediocre, not awful, so i don't understand the hype. two, if this is really the best pop music has to offer right now...wow.

[Karcasstic]

I'm sure this is somehow George Bush's fault.

[sara]

when watching the snl performance i kinda assumed that kanye was sick or something because he sounded off. but i still liked the performance because i believe what he lacked in talent he made up in emotion. regardless i like what kanye is doing with music, it's changing and he's helping to lead it.

[I can Sing Either]

I used to like the song! Wow, he needs to take that song off his performance set!

[Dat Right]

Kanye is a fool!!!

There's nothing "experimental" about his latest album. White performers have done it for years dating all the way back to Kraftwerk in the 70's. Just because I black person does it it is "experimental'?

Kanye is just a tool to make money for the record execs. And all you wussies hand your money over without thinking...

Fools!!!