Robocop

Kanye West's "Robocop" is really nasty. It is like being at a dinner party with a toxic couple who keep making personal attacks on one another. Worse - the attacks are supposed to be humorous, or at least are delivered with a false mirth that barely hides the seething contempt beneath the jibes. This makes everyone sitting around the table feel awkward.

The lyrics are like this, and yet they are sung to an upbeat, anthemic string background replete with tinkling bells and rat-a-tat marching band snares (with shades of The West Wing's theme music).

Which makes this a glorious chorus about being sick to death of someone. Nastiness wrapped in loveliness.

Sinister yet impressive.

Late-Breaking Discovery

Quite belatedly, I have looked into Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak. 'Love Lockdown' is jaw-dropping. The zen art of melody writing.

This performance in particular blew my mind.