The video for Kanye West’s new single, “Stronger” — the one that samples Daft Punk quite liberally — takes inspiration from Katsuhiro Otomo’s classic AKIRA film.
Category: Anime • Music
Jean Snow lives and breathes design and pop culture in Tokyo -- sustained by an unhealthy addiction to magazines and frequent visits to his favorites cafes. He has reported on these obsessions for the following online/offline publications: Time, Inside (Australian Design Review), Gizmodo, Gridskipper, Kotaku, Tokyo Q, Superfuture, OK Fred, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, I.D. (International Design), Metropolis, Azure, MoCo Loco, Kateigaho International Edition, Game|Life, and The Japan Times. He also manages the gallery space at Cafe Pause.

The Superfuture Superguides are a series of PDF travel guides to some of your favorites cities, updated monthly, and obsessively compiling the best places to shop, eat, and drink. The Tokyo guide is edited by Jean Snow.

Jean Snow is the design/culture editor at Neojaponisme, a web journal covering social and cultural aspects of Japan. Read the manifesto, by founder and chief editor W. David Marx, here.
PauseTalk is a regular series of events that take place at Cafe Pause on the first Monday of every month, with a start time of 20:00. The idea is to create a forum where Tokyo-based creatives can get together and discuss their own projects, as well as cultural currents of the city. The next edition happens June 2.
Categories
Art & Design
Media
City Life
Tokyo Boy
Find out more about how to advertise directly on this site here, or by contacting me.




Video aside, this is indeed the P. Daddy school of music business.
Main hook from a hit song that is not quite old enough to be rediscoverable + mediocre hip-hop vocals = $$$
Totally agree (and mediocre is being VERY nice here).
I understand and respect the art of sampling, but this isnt sampling. Disappointing that Daft Punk allowed this.
I think you guys are way too harsh.
If you’re interested in sampling see the link below to check out how Daft Punk use samples.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPdVVOmbz4
Technically, I think he’s Tetsuo.
Yeah, the title of the post just alludes to the film.
Personally, I think the track is awful (and I’m a fan of the original Daft Punk song).
Is it actually Daft Punk that appears in the video?
Well, actually, for that matter, who can tell if it’s really them at any time they’re seen…
to quote Kayne, “does anyone make real shit anymore?”
>> “Does anyone make real shit anymore?”
YES! In fact, since the 90s, hiphop has become less and less sample based, since everyone realized how expensive sampling can get.
I’ve been using samples for years in my own music, and although it’d be silly to try to make rules, I would say that sampling is more interesting when it does at least one of the following:
* Exposes forgotton music or obscure music
* Reveals hidden sounds in familiar music
* Reveals a new way of hearing a familiar melody
* Adds new meaning to an old vocal
I don’t think this track does any of that.
(sorry to derail)
The thing with this track is that it’s just not even a good pop single, no matter the sample. Take for example that Cure cover last year — I can’t remember the name of the singer, maybe Alyah or something. Even though it was nowhere as good as the original, I think it still worked fine as a catchy pop single.
Chris-
I agree. I think it’s ironic that Kayne uses this line in this very song when it’s so clearly not “real shit” that he’s made.
Chris - agreed!
>> “Does anyone make real shit anymore?”
this sounds like a sorry excuse for Kanye’s lack of ideas (lack of talent?)
To reference the youtube link Ken commented with - I think Chris has a great point in his list - and Daft Punk clearly know the art of sampling
Yo “Akira” is taken from an old movie called “Tetsuo”. Even the anime is a ripoff. Or perhaps imitation is the best form of flattery. Kanye is purposefully being ironic. He’s an experienced producer and knows wtf a sample is. Doesn’t mean he can’t exploit it.
Furryfrog - whatchoo talkin’ bout Willis? Please enlighten us regarding this “old movie called Tetsuo” you speak of.
I realise that most people here don’t like this track, but I still do.
If you have a certain perception of Kanye West I would suggest listening to his first album and more recently his Can’t Tell Me Nothing mixtape (he’s less egotistical and back to how he was for his first album)
When I saw this video and saw the daft punk driods doing a cameo I presummed that they liked what Kanye had done to the track.
I just loved that a Kanye was paying homage to Akira and dDaft Punk.
No, the film AKIRA is Otomo’s adaptation of his own manga, which pre-dates Tsukamoto’s TETSUO film (even the AKIRA film pre-dates TETSUO). Maybe you’re confused because one of the main characters in AKIRA is called Tetsuo.
Apperantly All of You are probly white! I would like to start by saying shut the hell up! Kanye West is Great and he brought the song to light for u retards. NO ONE CARES about some DAFT PUNK…SHIT I never heard of them till Kanye west came out with this. You are just made becuase he is BLACK…STOP Hating and let the man do what he does best…No one around can make a sample sound like this. Yes its sampling but which one of u terds can make a hit song from sampling…NONE OF U or U would b KANYE WEST!! BITCHES
ANd when He says make real shit anymore he’s not talking about beats you asses..He is talkin about the content in the music. How rappers today talk about nothing in thier songs, but drugs, money and sex. Thats what the hell he is saying..None of you understand his music so shut up!!
Q you are out of order.
Just because they may not like the tune dosn’t mean they hate balck people.
It’s kind of messed up to say things like that. I agree that Kanye is really good but I think he’s showing you what good music inspires him so maybe go and pick up a Daft Punk album (if you like animation check out interstella 5555).
hey all
check this
sorry, embed didn’t take.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tyObodndtJ4
Is it cause I is black?!