We have a minor “hot or not” debate going on in The Root’s Slack as I write this, sparked by the latest gesture of love from Kanye West to wife Kim Kardashian West.
Having struck out on his $14 million condo Christmas gift to Kim— reportedly because it wasn’t private enough—Kanye decided to stage a super private concert for Valentine’s Day, featuring about 14 million roses and one Kenny G.
I’m just going to say for the record that if I walk into a Valentine’s Day surprise where my love has hired Kenny G to play sax in a field of flowers, we’re probably going to break up. Meaning, I’m about to get broken up with, because I won’t be able to stop laughing. I’ve barely been able to stop laughing since I saw it.
My coworkers are far more generous in their appraisal of this romantic gesture. They simply can’t understand why anyone might take objection to being surprised with the silky-sweet sounds of Kenny’s soprano sax.
Ibn Safir: But why??? I thought it was dope tbh. I mean Kenny G is who he is but the setup and the thought were pretty fire to me.
Tonja Renée Stidhum: the aesthetic is cute lol.
Clearly, I’m jaded AF, but my initial reaction was more like this:
Don’t get me wrong: Kenny G is the GOAT of smooth jazz—and hasn’t aged a day, from the looks of it (definitely still has all his hair). For real, though? What in the 1988 hell inspired this? Is he one of Kim’s favorite artists? Because that will just confirm the previously outlandish theory that she and Kris are actually twins and Kim just has a freakishly good plastic surgeon—or that she’s a vampire (I kid, but...). I mean, I know the late ‘80s/early ‘90s are back (hi, grunge), but y’all are taking this whole kitsch thing a little far, don’t you think?
My first question? Did Kenny play “Silhouette” or cover Kanye’s “Runaway”? (Because that would’ve been a title I would’ve taken literally.) As it turns out, neither. As Kenny told TMZ, he played one of his own compositions, “Forever in Love,” followed by “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
(Sorry. It’s all so sweet, I just threw up a little in my mouth.)
Kenny also busted Kanye out by divulging that his performance was a last-minute gift. Y’all, this brotha waited until 11 p.m. before Valentime’s Day to get his gift—which he had his friends call around for.
Stars! They’re just like us!
Another thought to marinate on? After his performance, Kenny joined Kanye in his studio to listen to some new tracks, and the two “had some conversations.”
“I can tell you this: this saxophone will sound great with his music. It will; I know it will,” Kenny told TMZ.
Kenny also said he found the request to perform flattering, and is flattered to be asked by whomever. So if this is something you think your significant other would be into, he’s only a few of Kanye’s friends’ phone calls, texts or emails away. (But seriously: If we’re dating, this will not end well for either of us.)
Maybe my aversion to this setup is that when I think of Kenny G, I don’t think of romance, sexy times, or the next fire single. I think of sitting in the backseat during interminably long road trips with my parents. Who is the target audience here, Kanye???
But you know what? I’mma let y’all finish on a happy note. Kim apparently loved it, so mission accomplished. #FreeKennyG