#17. Kanye West – Jesus Walks

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#17. Kanye West   Jesus Walks music feature Artwork by Adam Sarpalius

As 2009, and the decade come to a close, PMA will be looking back at our favorite songs of the last ten years. We will update a list with 75 empty slots until we reach that song that changed everything. You can keep track of this list by keeping an eye on this page. We make these lists in hopes that you guys will chime in the comments and share your favorite musical moments of the noughties.


#17. Kanye West   Jesus Walks music feature It’s the 2005 GRAMMYs and a young, new rapper has taken the stage. He’s Kanye West, and a quick Google check tells me he nearly died in a car crash and had steadily built his reputation over the past year. As with most rap artists, I gave West one performance to sell me. And with a majestic, theatrical, over-the-top performance of “Jesus Walks,” ultimately his greatest song, West did more than that. He wowed me, shocked me, recreated a music video in a live setting before my very eyes. He had more passion than any other musician I’d ever seen, rapped every lyric like it was his last, rose from the ashes with wings as if he truly believed he was Jesus.

Now, as the decade closes, we know that isn’t too far from the truth. He’s the self-proclaimed “voice of the generation,” and he feels that his opinion is always the right one. But all of this adds to West’s image, his legend, if you will. “Jesus Walks” let the world know that Kanye was someone new, someone different, and someone important. Five years later, although he is indeed a “jackass” as the President says, we know he is still as important and relevant as ever.


#18. Beyonce – Crazy In Love
#19. LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge
#20. Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
#21. The Strokes – The Modern Age
#22. Jay-Z & The Beatles – 99 Problems (Danger Mouse)
#23. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
#24. The Knife – Heartbeats
#25. Lil Wayne – A Milli
#75-26: Various

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

Patrickk December 9, 2009 at 2:08 am

In my opinion the College Dropout was Kanye’s best album. This song is classic. Good choice here. This song not only put him on the map but changed peoples perception of him. He was only known as a producer and that was it. This song let people know that he had lyrical talent aswell. Back then he was more then just the person who had produced Jay-Z’s takeover diss track.

Reply

patrick ewing December 9, 2009 at 3:28 am

Is Coldplay #16?

Reply

Izkid December 9, 2009 at 6:33 am

I was hoping I wouldn’t see any Coldplay in the Top 25 lol

Reply

jaijai December 13, 2009 at 12:34 pm

the mutual is feeling. haha. i was thinking the same way

Reply

Anonymous December 9, 2009 at 4:37 pm

When I saw him on his Glow in the Dark tour, this was easily his most dynamic song. And it was probably the closest thing to a religious experience I have ever felt.

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CMAC December 9, 2009 at 9:54 pm

agree.
kanye opened my eyes/ears to hip hop.

Reply

Barnaby Jones December 10, 2009 at 4:25 am

Kanye is very good. This song is absolutely terrible you could have picked a ton of other songs. Please do.

Reply

Anonymous December 11, 2009 at 12:18 am

How can Jesus Walks be his greatest song when the same guy did “Through the Wire”?

Reply

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