Yuri Loza dismisses Kanye West's music

Plans for Kanye West to perform in St. Petersburg continue to spark debate. The 49-year-old rapper was expected at Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11, but the prospect of those concerts has become highly uncertain. Among those clearly not upset by this is Yuri Loza.

The 72-year-old singer made clear that the work of the 24-time Grammy winner does not impress him at all. Moreover, Loza doubted that the American artist is as well known to the broader Russian public as the buzz around his visit might suggest.

«There is my music, which I like, and there is music I don»t listen to. Go out on the street, ask people who Kanye is. They will shrug and say, «I have no idea.» And those who were going to the concert, let them hum at least one of his melodies or say something,« Yuri Eduardovich said.

Loza did not stop there. The musician«s main complaint was that behind the large-scale stage production he finds none of what he himself usually goes to performances for. He apparently also did not appreciate rap as a way of delivering material, reducing it rather bluntly to talking over music.

«He doesn»t sing, he talks. Well, a talker from America. So what? Well, the lights blink, it«s a show. What»s that to me? I«m a musician, a composer. I love melody, harmony, good lyrics. I was raised on something completely different. When I go to a concert, I go to listen as well. There is nothing to listen to at West»s concert. And I can just watch on TV,« Loza was quoted as saying by Argumenty i Fakty.

While Yuri Eduardovich focused mainly on the musical side of the issue, Vitaly Borodin chose far harsher arguments. The head of the Federal Project for Security and Anti-Corruption had earlier spoken out against West«s visit and linked his position in part to the political situation.

«We have the special military operation going on, and then some American comes, pockets a billion of other people»s money and leaves for another country where he pays taxes, and weapons for the Kyiv regime are supplied with those sums. This is a slap in the face to our society,« the public figure said indignantly.

Borodin also recalled earlier scandals surrounding Kim Kardashian«s former husband. Among other things, he cited West»s remarks about Hitler and the episode with clothing featuring a swastika. For the activist, this was enough to consider a possible cancellation of the performances the right decision.

«Why do we need a person who instills in young people a love of Hitler? So the decision to cancel is a response to society»s demand, and only then did it reach the relevant authorities. Thank God we were heard — this is a victory!« Borodin said in a comment to NSN.

The public figure decided not to stop at complaints about the rapper himself. He was also interested in other venues that were reportedly ready to host West instead of Gazprom Arena. Borodin suggested taking a closer look at those prepared to organize such a performance.

«We need to take a close look at these people who today promote Western values and a foreign agenda in our country. Certain conclusions should be drawn about them,» he added.

Yekaterina Mizulina also spoke out against the American musician«s visit. The head of the Safe Internet League and wife of Shaman singer Yaroslav Dronov feared that West might appear in St. Petersburg in clothing bearing a swastika. For a city that endured the Siege of Leningrad, she considered such a gesture especially unacceptable.

Mizulina responded to the report that the performances might not take place very briefly and at the same time made clear that she considers herself involved in that outcome.

«I serve Russia,» she wrote next to a photo of Kanye.

Incidentally, Kanye West has already drawn attention from Russian artists for another reason. Earlier, Dima Bilan said that in one of the American rapper«s shows he noticed ideas suspiciously reminiscent of the staging of his own »Planeta« show.