Lucas Delgado
The music video for Kanye West's Fade stars Teyana Taylor, who showcases her dancing skills in a gym, wearing a sports bra and thong. The video ends with a scene of Taylor, her fiancé Iman Shumpert, their baby, and several pink sheep. Taylor's face transforms into that of a lioness, with brows drawn on and a cat face and tail. While Taylor did not elaborate on the meaning of the cat face, she hinted that the video is deeper than people probably processed it. One interpretation is that the entire video references artist Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle, with its themes of mythology, love, and reproduction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the video | "Fade" |
| Artist | Kanye West |
| Star of the video | Teyana Taylor |
| Director of the video | Eli Linnetz |
| Choreographer of the video | Jae Blaze |
| Taylor's transformation | A lioness with brows drawn on |
| Taylor's attire | A sports bra and thong |
| Taylor's background | Singer, dancer, actress |
| Taylor's spouse | Iman Shumpert, a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player |
| Taylor's child | Junie Shumpert |
| Taylor's record label | GOOD Music |
| Taylor's age | 25 years old |
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What You'll Learn
The video's ending is a reference to procreation and birth
The music video for Kanye West's "Fade" stars Teyana Taylor, who dances in a manner reminiscent of Flashdance in a workout room. The video ends with a shot of Taylor transformed into a lioness, posing alongside her fiancé, Cleveland Cavaliers player Iman Shumpert, and their baby daughter.
There has been much speculation about the meaning of the ending scene. One interpretation is that it is a reference to procreation and birth. This interpretation aligns with the artistic vision of choreographer Jae Blaze, who has described the video as focusing on "mythology, love, and reproduction". In an interview with Vanity Fair, Kanye West cited artist Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle as an inspiration behind his work, and one of the films in the series features a woman transforming into an exotic animal.
The video's director, Eli Linnetz, has also commented on the ending, saying that West wanted to "take it to the next level" and that Taylor's transformation into a lioness was intended to be "chic". While Taylor herself gave little explanation for the cat face, she did suggest that the video is "deeper than people probably processed it".
The ending of "Fade" can thus be understood as a reference to procreation and birth, with Taylor's transformation into a lioness symbolizing the power and strength associated with motherhood and femininity.
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The cat face is a nod to Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle
The cat face in Kanye West's "Fade" video has sparked various interpretations among viewers, with some speculating about the underlying message behind the transformation. While the cat face has prompted diverse interpretations, one perspective suggests that it serves as a nod to Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle.
Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle is a collection of five feature-length films, accompanied by sculptures, photographs, drawings, and artist's books. Created over an eight-year period from 1994 to 2002, the cycle explores the connections between real people, places, and things personal to Barney, albeit with a degree of fictionalization. The cycle's narrative draws from various disciplines, including biography, mythology, and geology, and it repeatedly delves into moments during early sexual development where outcomes are uncertain.
One of the interpretations of the cat face in "Fade" draws parallels with the conceptual underpinnings of the Cremaster Cycle. The cat face, specifically its association with a lioness, symbolizes Teyana Taylor's emergence and fierceness, mirroring the lioness's protective nature towards her offspring, as noted by the video's choreographer, Jae Blaze. This interpretation aligns with the cycle's exploration of sexual differentiation and moments of pure potentiality during early sexual development.
Additionally, the presence of sheep in the closing scene of "Fade" further invites comparisons with the Cremaster Cycle. The juxtaposition of the "lion and the lamb" has been interpreted as a biblical reference to a utopian Golden Age, alluding to prophecies about Christ's first appearance. This interplay between the lioness and the lamb introduces a layer of symbolic complexity that resonates with the Cremaster Cycle's exploration of sexual differentiation and the unknown outcomes during early sexual development.
While the direct influence of the Cremaster Cycle on the cat face transformation in "Fade" remains speculative, the thematic parallels and symbolic resonances suggest a potential connection. The interpretation of the cat face as a lioness, coupled with the presence of sheep, invites a dialogue about sexuality, protection, and the exploration of form, echoing the conceptual framework of Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle.
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The transformation is a powerful statement
The transformation of Teyana Taylor into a lioness in the final scene of Kanye West's "Fade" music video is a powerful statement. The video, directed by Eli Linnetz, premiered at the 2016 MTV VMAs and features Taylor in a series of striking visuals. While the cat face has been described as "weird", there may be a deeper meaning to it.
The transformation could be a reference to artist Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle, a series of films focusing on mythology, love, and reproduction. In an interview, Kanye cited Barney as an inspiration, and one of the films features a woman transforming into an exotic animal. Thus, the cat face could symbolize Taylor's procreation and birth of her child, visualized through her transformation.
Additionally, the transformation adds to the video's theme of empowerment and showcases Taylor as a "superwoman". Despite giving birth only six days prior to filming, she exudes confidence and athleticism in her performance. The transformation, then, becomes a symbol of her strength and versatility as a performer, highlighting her dancing, singing, and acting talents.
Furthermore, the cat face adds an element of surrealism and fantasy to the video. By embracing the unusual and unexpected, Kanye challenges traditional music video norms and encourages viewers to interpret the scene in their own way. This open-ended interpretation invites fans to engage more deeply with the video and creates a lasting impression.
In conclusion, the transformation of Teyana Taylor into a lioness in "Fade" is a powerful statement on multiple levels. It references artistic influences, symbolizes procreation and empowerment, showcases Taylor's versatility, and encourages interpretive fan engagement. Through this transformation, Kanye makes a bold and memorable statement about creativity, strength, and transformation.
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The lioness face is a chic choice, according to Kanye
The music video for Kanye West's song "Fade" premiered at the 2016 MTV VMAs and was directed by Eli Linnetz. The video stars Teyana Taylor, a singer and dancer, who signed with West's GOOD Music label in 2012. In the video, Taylor performs a sweaty, athletic dance routine in a gym, dressed in a sports bra and thong. The video ends with a shot of Taylor transformed into a lioness, alongside her fiancé, basketball player Iman Shumpert, their baby daughter, and several pink sheep.
In an interview with Vogue, Taylor revealed that the cat scene was filmed first and that West gave no explanation for the lioness face, simply saying, "I'm going to put you in this cat face, it's going to be chic." Choreographer Jae Blaze, who worked on the video, spoke about West's creative genius and his desire to take things to the next level.
The choice of a lioness specifically may be due to the animal's association with strength, power, and femininity. The lioness is often seen as a symbol of female leadership, courage, and protection, reflecting Taylor's strong and dynamic performance in the video. The lioness face also adds an element of surrealism to the video, with the transformation serving as a memorable and unexpected conclusion to the narrative.
Kanye West's decision to include the lioness face transformation in the "Fade" music video showcases his creative vision and willingness to experiment with unique and thought-provoking imagery. By embracing the chic choice of the lioness face, West once again pushes the boundaries of artistic expression in his work.
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The scene was filmed first, with no explanation given
The music video for Kanye West's "Fade" was directed by University of Southern California (USC) graduate Eli Linnetz. The video stars Teyana Taylor, a singer and dancer, who is signed to West's GOOD Music label. In the video, Taylor performs a sweaty, Flashdance-style dance routine in a gym, wearing only a sports bra and thong. The video ends with a shot of Taylor transformed into a lioness, posing alongside her fiancé, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player Iman Shumpert, and their infant daughter, Junie.
Regarding the unusual ending, Taylor revealed in an interview with Vogue that the scene was filmed first, with no explanation given:
> "He [Kanye West] was just like, 'I'm going to put you in this cat face, it's going to be chic.' And while she gives little to no explanation after that—besides the fact that the sheep were pooping all over the set—Teyana does say the whole video is 'deeper than people probably processed it.'"
Taylor's statement seems to be supported by one of the video's choreographers, Jae Blaze, who explained that West is a creative genius with a specific vision, and that the video's ending was intended to symbolise Taylor's transformation into something powerful. Some have speculated that the entire video is a reference to artist Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle, a five-part film series focusing on mythology, love, and reproduction, which features a woman transforming into an exotic animal.
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Frequently asked questions
The ending of the 'Fade' video sees Teyana Taylor transform into a lioness, alongside her fiancé, Iman Shumpert, their baby, and a handful of sheep. While Kanye West and Taylor did not provide an explanation for the transformation, the video's choreographer, Jae Blaze, suggested that the video's theme could be interpreted as a representation of procreation—from Taylor's dancing, to the shower scene with Shumpert, and finally, the birth of their child in the closing scene.
Teyana Taylor is the star of Kanye West's 'Fade' video. She is a singer, dancer, and actress. Taylor signed to a major record label at the age of 15 and has appeared in films such as Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family.
The 'Fade' music video was directed by University of Southern California (USC) graduate Eli Linnetz. Linnetz first met West when he was working on his 2011 collaborative studio album Watch the Throne with fellow rapper Jay-Z.
