"I Wonder" | |
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Song by Kanye West | |
from the album Graduation | |
Released | September 11, 2007 |
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Genre | |
Length | 4:03 |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Kanye West |
"I Wonder" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, released as the fourth track on his third studio album, Graduation (2007). The song was written and produced by him, while Labi Siffre received a songwriting credit due to the sample of his work; West moves towards influences from rock and electronic music. Composed by West as a variation of "City of Blinding Lights" by his tourmates U2, he set it to focus on the concerns of university graduates. A hip hop and R&B ballad with Eurodance and stadium rock elements, the song relies on a sample of "My Song" by Labi Siffre. Its downbeat instrumentation has a distorted beat and is led by Larry Gold's orchestration, razorblade synths, and a drum kit.
In the lyrics of the song, West raps about the contrasting scenarios of him having achieved his dreams and other dream chasers still searching for theirs. "I Wonder" was met with critical acclaim, being lauded the composition. Some praised West's vocals for his delivery, while certain critics saw it as a highlight of Graduation. In 2023, the song reached number 88 on the Lithuania Top 100. It was also awarded triple platinum and gold certifications in the United States and the United Kingdom by the Recording Industry Association of America and British Phonographic Industry, respectively.
An accompanying video clip was directed by Derrick Lee and screened during the album's session at New World Stages in August 2007, consisting of synced footage from the first installment of the Tron film franchise, Tron (1982). Despite abandoning his consideration of "I Wonder" as the fourth single from Graduation, West identified it among his three favorite songs from the album. West performed the song at the Global Gathering and Glastonbury festivals in 2008 and 2015, respectively. In 2017, Big Sean performed a cover version on the Live Lounge of BBC Radio 1Xtra with altered lyrics. A cult following has emerged for the song amongst West's fans, while it has also been credited with an impact on other musical acts.