| "Flashing Lights" | ||||
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| Single by Kanye West featuring Dwele | ||||
| from the album Graduation | ||||
| B-side | "Stronger" (Andrew Dawson Remix) | |||
| Released | November 20, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2007 | |||
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| Length | 3:57 | |||
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| Kanye West singles chronology | ||||
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| Dwele singles chronology | ||||
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| "Flashing Lights" on YouTube | ||||
"Flashing Lights" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song features a guest appearance from R&B singer Dwele and additional vocals from Australian singer Connie Mitchell. West co-wrote and co-produced the song with Eric Hudson, who had completed the production before the duo added a live string section in 2007. It was released to US rhythmic contemporary radio as the album's fourth single on November 20, 2007, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. A hip hop, electro rap, and R&B song with elements of numerous genres, it prominently utilizes strings and synths. Lyrically, the song features West rapping about a complicated relationship where a girl has power over him; he also compares the paparazzi to Nazis.
"Flashing Lights" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who mostly praised the production. Some highlighted the synths in particular, while a few critics saw the song as a significant moment in hip hop. It has since appeared on best-of lists from multiple publications, including Pitchfork's decade-end ranking for the 2000s. The song was one of the Award Winning Songs for the 2009 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The song charted at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while reaching number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also attained top 40 chart positions in Ireland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, while peaking at number 54 in Canada. In the United States, the song received a sixtuple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. It was also certified platinum in both Denmark and the UK by IFPI Danmark and the British Phonographic Industry, respectively.
An accompanying music video debuted on February 10, 2008. It stars Rita G who takes out her frustration on West and he is placed in the trunk of her Ford Mustang and attacked with a shovel. The visual received positive reviews from critics and several praised the model's involvement. It won Best Narrative Video at the 2008 Antville Music Video Awards, two years before being named by West as the favorite video of his career. Two other music videos had been produced that West chose not to release, yet they sprang internet leaks in May 2008. West performed the song on his Glow in the Dark Tour (2007–08), following a space opera storyline where he attempts to escape a planet devoid of creativity and fails. He also performed it at the Coachella and Splendour festivals in 2011. "Flashing Lights" has been used in numerous commercials, video games, and other songs. The song has been covered by Kids These Days in June 2012 and Lorde in September 2014; the latter's live performance received positive reviews from critics. The remix of the song was released in January 2008, featuring a verse from R. Kelly.