"Closed on Sunday" is a song by American rapper
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
from his ninth studio album, ''
Jesus Is King
''Jesus Is King'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Kanye West. It was released on October 25, 2019, through GOOD Music and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album follows a Christian theme, different from his usual work. Wes ...
'' (2019). The song was produced by West, Angel Lopez, Brian "AllDay" Miller, Federico Vindver, and
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...
. It was co-written by the producers with
No Malice
Gene Elliott Thornton Jr. (born August 18, 1972), better known by his stage name No Malice (formerly known as Malicious and later Malice), is an American rapper from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is best known for being one half of hip hop duo C ...
, Rennard East,
Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 20 ...
and Victory Elyse Boyd, and since the song
samples work by Grupo Vocal Argentino, a songwriting credit was added for Chango Farías Gómez. On November 28, 2019, the song was released by West's record labels
GOOD Music
GOOD Music (also known simply as GOOD, stylized as G.O.O.D. Music; a backronym for Getting Out Our Dreams) is an American record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label signed an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with t ...
and
Def Jam
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The ...
as the second
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
from the album. A religious
hip hop song, it is based around a sample of "Martín Fierro", performed by Grupo Vocal Argentino.
The song's lyrics see West emphasizing
Sunday Sabbatarianism
Sabbatarianism advocates the observation of the Sabbath in Christianity, in keeping with the Ten Commandments.
The observance of Sunday as a day of worship and rest is a form of first-day Sabbatarianism, a view which was historically heralded ...
, alongside him referencing the closure of
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A ( , a Word play, play on the American English pronunciation of "wikt:filet#Pronunciation, filet") is an American fast food restaurant chain which is the country's largest which specializes in chicken sandwiches. Headquartered in Coll ...
on the
Lord's Day
The Lord's Day in Christianity is generally Sunday, the principal day of communal worship. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is said in the canonical Gospels to have been witnessed al ...
. Since being released, "Closed on Sunday" has received generally negative reviews from
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
. They often criticized the lyrical content, mostly placing focus on the referencing of Chick-fil-A. Despite the negative reception, the song received a nomination for Top Gospel Song at the
2020 ''Billboard'' Music Awards. It reached number 17 on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100, while further attaining top 20 positions in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, and the United Kingdom.
A
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
for "Closed on Sunday" was released on November 28, 2019, coinciding with
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden and ...
in the United States. The video has a family theme, with it featuring West and
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel Kardashian (formerly West; born October 21, 1980) is an American socialite, media personality, and businesswoman. She first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, but received wider notice after the sex ...
, accompanied by their four children. The version of the song used for the visual features vocals from the
Sunday Service Choir
The Sunday Service Choir, (commonly known as Sunday Service) is an American gospel group led by artist and producer Kanye West and conducted by choir director Jason White. Beginning in January 2019, the group has performed every Sunday, as well ...
and North West. In October 2019, the song was performed by Kanye West and the Sunday Service Choir alongside a band on ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The nightly hour-long show debuted on January 26, 2003, at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, Los ...
''. The performance received positive reviews from critics, with general praise for the chemistry of the performers. The song has since been performed during Sunday Service concerts on multiple occasions. It was covered by
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Grand Saline, Texas, United States, who has sold over 7 million records. He is a member of Passion Conferences an ...
in October 2019.
Background and development
In December 2018, West collaborator
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...
and American record producer Federico Vindver took part in recording sessions with numerous rappers in
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, including
Saweetie
Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper (born July 2, 1993), known professionally as Saweetie (), is an American rapper. After the release of her debut single "Icy Grl" in 2017, she was signed to her then-manager Max Gousse's record label Artistry Wo ...
and
Lil Mosey
Lathan Moses Stanley Echols (born January 25, 2002), known professionally as Lil Mosey, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame in late 2017 with the release of his single "Pull Up". Mosey's debut studio album ''Northsbes ...
.
West showed up to the sessions in under 24 hours, with Vindver recalling that him and Timbaland were "blown away" when West started "playing tracks for the ''Yandhi'' project."
Vindver explained the collaborative process between West and Timbaland, saying: "Timbaland would freestyle with him in the studio — Tim on the drum machine, Kanye singing in real time. He wanted to make more healing music at that time. But he was still finding what it was."
West and Timbaland were reported to be working together in Miami again during January 2019 for completion of the album, alongside rappers
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...
,
2 Chainz
Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, al ...
, and
YNW Melly
Jamell Maurice Demons (born May 1, 1999), known professionally as YNW Melly (initialism for Young Nigga World Melly), is an American rapper and singer. He is best known for his songs " Murder on My Mind", " Mixed Personalities" (featuring Kany ...
, among others. In addition to "Closed on Sunday", Timbaland contributed production to ''Jesus Is King'' tracks "
Water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
", "
Hands On", "
Use This Gospel
"Use This Gospel" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his ninth studio album, ''Jesus Is King'' (2019). The song features guest appearances from hip hop duo Clipse and jazz saxophonist Kenny G. It was produced by West, Angel Lopez, ...
", and "
Jesus Is Lord
"Jesus is Lord" (Greek: κύριος Ἰησοῦς, ''kyrios Iesous'') is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament, one of several slightly more elaborate variations. It serves as a statement of faith for the majority of Chri ...
".
Timbaland produced the former of the five tracks with West, Angel Lopez, Brian "AllDay" Miller, and Vindver.
The song
samples "Martín Fierro" (1970) by Argentinian folk group Grupo Vocal Argentino, and the group's director Chango Farías Gómez had died in 2011, meaning that the sample was posthumous. Speaking to ''Silencio'', Vindver stated that generally, several producers are in charge of looking for the samples for most of West's songs.
Vindver elaborated, saying that Miller "goes through the internet and record stores where he gets
mp3s,
vinyl
Vinyl may refer to:
Chemistry
* Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer
* Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation
* Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry
* Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl m ...
and a lot of weird stuff," and found the Grupo Vocal Argentino sample when he was looking for
Latin American music
The music of Latin America refers to music originating from Latin America, namely the Romance-speaking regions of the Americas south of the United States. Latin American music also incorporates African music from enslaved African people who were ...
. West introduced Vindver to Miller in 2018 and Miller then showed him the sample; Vindver explained that after they found a
loop
Loop or LOOP may refer to:
Brands and enterprises
* Loop (mobile), a Bulgarian virtual network operator and co-founder of Loop Live
* Loop, clothing, a company founded by Carlos Vasquez in the 1990s and worn by Digable Planets
* Loop Mobile, an ...
, West "recorded his raps on it, and then we replaced the guitars and recorded the vocals with Kanye's
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
," though he admitted to West not knowing who Gomez is or "who many other artists are."
Due to having composed the recording, Gómez received credit as a writer on "Closed on Sunday".
West, Lopez, Miller, Vindver,
No Malice
Gene Elliott Thornton Jr. (born August 18, 1972), better known by his stage name No Malice (formerly known as Malicious and later Malice), is an American rapper from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is best known for being one half of hip hop duo C ...
, Rennard East,
Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 20 ...
, Timbaland, and Victory Elyse Boyd are also credited writers on the song.
In August 2019, West's wife
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel Kardashian (formerly West; born October 21, 1980) is an American socialite, media personality, and businesswoman. She first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, but received wider notice after the sex ...
shared a track list for ''Jesus Is King'' in August 2019 that included a track titled "Sunday". Two months later, "Closed on Sunday" was revealed to be set for inclusion on the album, though it was not known if the track was a retitled version of "Sunday". The line "Closed on Sunday, you're my
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A ( , a Word play, play on the American English pronunciation of "wikt:filet#Pronunciation, filet") is an American fast food restaurant chain which is the country's largest which specializes in chicken sandwiches. Headquartered in Coll ...
" was revealed by West to have been recorded as a
Voice Memo on his
iPhone, which West first starting doing for his sixth studio album ''
Yeezus
''Yeezus'' is the sixth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on June 18, 2013, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. West gathered a number of artists and close collaborators for the production, ...
'' (2013).
Prior to referencing American
fast food restaurant
A fast-food restaurant, also known as a quick-service restaurant (QSR) within the industry, is a specific type of restaurant that serves fast-food cuisine and has minimal table service. The food served in fast-food restaurants is typically ...
chain Chick-fil-A within the song, West had often shown his appreciation for fast food.
West tweeted in 2016 that the company
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechri ...
is "my favorite brand," while he later called it "my favorite restaurant" in 2018.
Composition and lyrics
![Chick Fil A - Cranberry TWP, PA - panoramio](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Chick_Fil_A_-_Cranberry_TWP%2C_PA_-_panoramio.jpg)
Musically, "Closed on Sunday" is a
hip hop track. The track includes samples of "Martín Fierro", written by Gómez and performed by Grupo Vocal Argentino.
For the opening of the track, a
fragment
Fragment may refer to:
Entertainment
Television and film
* "Fragments" (''Torchwood''), an episode from the BBC TV series
* "Fragments", an episode from the Canadian TV series ''Sanctuary''
* "Fragments" (Steven Universe Future), an episode f ...
of the recording is used.
Guitars are sampled from the recording, being used as the basis for the track and the sample was described as featuring "eerie yet melodic strings." The song features a gospel chorus, which is performed by West.
The lyrics of the song feature West highlighting the traditional Christian doctrine of
Sunday Sabbatarianism
Sabbatarianism advocates the observation of the Sabbath in Christianity, in keeping with the Ten Commandments.
The observance of Sunday as a day of worship and rest is a form of first-day Sabbatarianism, a view which was historically heralded ...
, while he sings about Chick-fil-A.
West praises the fast-food chain for being closed on the
Lord's Day
The Lord's Day in Christianity is generally Sunday, the principal day of communal worship. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is said in the canonical Gospels to have been witnessed al ...
of Sunday, referencing
Exodus 20:8:11, which he directs praise towards due to the closure allowing people to rest.
West places emphasis on the importance of
Christian Sabbath
Sabbath in Christianity is the inclusion in Christianity of a Sabbath, a day set aside for rest and worship, a practice that was mandated for the Israelites in the Ten Commandments in line with God's blessing of the seventh day (Saturday) making it ...
and links it with "the end of imprisonment, slavery, and debt peonage," expressing the same point as
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign ...
.
In the chorus, West sings the line "Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-fil-A."
The song also features West mentioning his favourite order from the fast-food chain: "You're my number one, with the lemonade."
With certain lyrics, West pleads for his listeners to observe the Lord's Day similarly to how Chick-fil-A does. The song concludes with a high pitched voice that cries, "Chick-fil-A!"
Release and promotion
![Oculus (41323p)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Oculus_%2841323p%29.jpg)
"Closed on Sunday" was released on October 25, 2019, as the fourth track on West's ninth studio album ''Jesus Is King''. The song was later released as the album's second
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
on November 28, 2019.
Prior to the album's release, it had been played during listening parties for ''Jesus Is King''.
West and his gospel group the
Sunday Service Choir
The Sunday Service Choir, (commonly known as Sunday Service) is an American gospel group led by artist and producer Kanye West and conducted by choir director Jason White. Beginning in January 2019, the group has performed every Sunday, as well ...
performed the song live together at the ''
Oculus Oculus (a term from Latin ''oculus'', meaning 'eye'), may refer to the following
Architecture
* Oculus (architecture), a circular opening in the centre of a dome or in a wall
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Oculus'' (film), a 2013 American ...
'' in Manhattan on October 25, 2019, with the performance airing that same day on ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The nightly hour-long show debuted on January 26, 2003, at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, Los ...
''.
A
brass section
The brass section of the orchestra, concert band, and jazz ensemble consist of brass instruments, and is one of the main sections in all three ensembles. The British-style brass band contains only brass and percussion instruments.
They contain ...
was included from an accompanying band, adding a live instrument spin to the song.
West and the Sunday Service Choir wore matching dark navy blue tops for the performance, despite the structure having a white appearance.
Similarly, the band wore dark blue that matched the aesthetic of the rollout for ''Jesus Is King''.
The performance lasted for around two minutes and was uploaded to West's
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
channel on October 28, 2019.
Michael Saponara from ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' called the performance a "heavenly set" that West was joined by the Sunday Service Choir and a brass section for the completion of, while analysing the "matching dark navy blue tops" worn by everyone as what "bounced off the structure's white appearance."
Robin Bacior of ''
Consequence
Consequence may refer to:
* Logical consequence, also known as a ''consequence relation'', or ''entailment''
* In operant conditioning, a result of some behavior
* Consequentialism, a theory in philosophy in which the morality of an act is determi ...
'' said that West and the Sunday Service Choir "bounced through the rumbling tune, their interlocked voices carrying the song."
''
Complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
''s Brian Josephs called the performance "joyous," while Chris Stack from
Dancing Astronaut
Dancing Astronaut is an American media platform founded in 2009 that primarily covers the electronic dance music industry. The website covers concerts and festivals, reports on entertainment news, reviews music, and publishes original content sy ...
described the instrument spin as being "encompassed by a beautiful open space to the produced track."
Stack continued, writing that, "The community feel and build take on a new era of Kanye," while West "continues his life journey through fatherhood and gospel-focused music."
During their concert on November 1, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Sunday Service Choir opened with a performance of "Closed on Sunday". The group performed it for
Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association's "Strength to Stand Conference" on January 19, 2020, and the song was popular with the crowd. West delivered a performance of the song for a Sunday Service concert at the LeConte Center in
Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 6,343. Situated just 5 miles (8 km) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Par ...
on January 19, 2020. During another one of the concerts, in the
Credit Union 1 Arena
Credit Union 1 Arena (previously known as UIC Pavilion) is a multi-purpose arena located at 525 S. Racine Avenue on the Near West Side in Chicago, Illinois, which opened in 1982.
Description and history
Credit Union 1 Arena is located on the cam ...
of West's hometown of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
on February 16 of that year, he performed the song.
Reception
"Closed on Sunday" has been met with generally negative reviews from
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
, with many criticizing West's lyricism. ''
Insider
''Insider'', previously named ''Business Insider'' (''BI''), is an American financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Insider''s parent company Insider Inc. has been owned by the German publ ...
'' named the song as one of the worst tracks of 2019, with Callie Ahlgrim saying it is "hard to believe" that after releasing "lyrical masterpieces" such as "
Black Skinhead
"Black Skinhead" (also stylized as "BLKKK SKKKN HEAD") is a song by American rapper Kanye West, from his sixth studio album ''Yeezus'' (2013). It was produced by West and Daft Punk. The song's lyrics center on racial tensions and the crumbling ...
" (2013) and "
Runaway
Runaway, Runaways or Run Away may refer to:
Engineering
* Runaway reaction, a chemical reaction releasing more heat than what can be removed and becoming uncontrollable
* Thermal runaway, self-increase of the reaction rate of an exothermic proce ...
" (2010) that West "actually wrote and released a song that's all about" Kardashian being compared "to... Chick-fil-A." The song was also listed as one of the year's worst by ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'', and the staff said that it "might be the most forgettable Kanye West song to date if not for the sheer inescapability of one line: 'Closed on Sunday, you're my Chick-fil-A.'" ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...
'' ranked the song as the second worst track of 2019, with Bryan Rolli calling it "a dour, preachy
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
anchored by melodramatic acoustic guitar arpeggios and ham-fisted lyrics about waging spiritual warfare." Brian Josephs of ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' labeled the song "the album's immediate
meme
A meme ( ) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural i ...
thanks to the banal refrain" and attributed the "virality" to "how it sounds like the raving of an altar boy getting in his last chuckles before mass," while he noted the song's clumsiness.
Writing for ''
The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'', Roisin O'Connor stated that the "biblical terminology" of the song "reminds you of the preachers on street corners shouting at passers-by that they're going to hell – you feel uncomfortable and vaguely embarrassed on their behalf." ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' writer Dean Van Nguyen branded West's suggestion of "turning off
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
to spend more time praying with family" within the song as "a statement that would spark significant eye-rolling from kid worshippers if they heard it coming from the church pulpit."
In ''Spectrum Culture'', Daniel Bromfield noted the song for being the only time on the album where "the
trollish Trump
Trump most commonly refers to:
* Donald Trump (born 1946), 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
* Trump (card games), any playing card given an ad-hoc high rank
Trump may also refer to:
Businesses and organizations
* Donald J. T ...
energy that defined Kanye's Wyoming work creeps in."
A few reviewers received the song less negatively. Aidy James Stevens from ''
God Is in the TV
''God Is in the TV'' is an independent music and culture online magazine founded by editor Bill Cummings in Cardiff in 2003. It publishes independent music reviews, features, interviews, podcasts and media. The webzine's coverage varies from un ...
'' was somewhat mixed, calling the song "a darker, brooding afair akin" to ''Yeezus'', though he stated that the Chick-fil-A line "really made me consider my position" as a fan of West and concluded by labeling the lyric "a bit of a dampener on what is otherwise a callback to some of Ye's greatest work." ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
''s Jordan Bassett wrote that the referencing of Chick-fil-A "will draw jokey headlines," despite admitting the song's message "is actually quite humble and grounding."
Will Rosebury was most enthusiastic in ''
Clash'', citing the song as one of the best tracks on ''Jesus Is King'' and writing that it manages "to thematically balance out, as Kanye discusses his life within the context of his new found faith."
"Closed on Sunday" was nominated for Top Gospel Song at the
2020 ''Billboard'' Music Awards, ultimately losing the award to fellow album track "
Follow God
"Follow God" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his ninth studio album, ''Jesus Is King'' (2019). The song was produced by West, BoogzDaBeast and Xcelence. The producers wrote it alongside Aaron Butts, though the song's sampling of wor ...
".
Music video
![Kim Kardashian & Kanye West collage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Kim_Kardashian_%26_Kanye_West_collage.png)
An accompanying
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
was directed by
Jake Schreier
Jacob Stacey Schreier (born September 29, 1981) is an American commercial, music video and film director. He was a founding member of Waverly Films, a Brooklyn-based filmmaking collective, and joined Park Pictures in 2006, releasing his first f ...
and filmed on West's ranch in
Cody, Wyoming
Cody is a city in Northwest Wyoming and the seat of government of Park County, Wyoming, United States. It is named after Colonel William Frederick " Buffalo Bill" Cody for his part in the founding of Cody in 1896.
The population was 10,066 at ...
.
Prior to filming it in Cody, West had shot the video for previous ''Jesus Is King'' single "Follow God" in the city, which was released in November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, West announced the world premiere of the music video for the following day and followed through with the proposed release date, coinciding with the year's date of
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden and ...
in the United States.
The clip stands as West's second video to feature Kardashian, following on from "
Bound 2
"Bound 2" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featured as the final track from his sixth studio album, ''Yeezus'' (2013). It was produced by West and Che Pope, with additional production being handled by Eric Danchick, Noah Goldstein, No I ...
" (2013).
Before Kanye's father Ray West appeared in it, he had made a cameo in the visual for "Follow God".
The music video is dimly lit and centered around family, beginning with Kanye and Kardashian cuddling with their children; North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm West, who are sleeping.
Kardashian also has her eyes closed and Kanye West appears to be keeping watch, with the couple and their children being sat in the cleft of a rock formation, which is on a hill.
The family members then walk hand-in-hand across a stone
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ha ...
, as the first verse of "Closed on Sunday" plays in the background.
In the following scene, other members of the
Kardashian-West family and members of the Sunday Service Choir both arrive in a convoy of
all-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is stra ...
s (ATVs).
Kanye's mother-in-law
Kris Jenner
Kristen Mary Jenner ( Houghton , formerly Kardashian; born November 5, 1955) is an American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman. She rose to fame starring in the reality television series ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians'' (2007 ...
steps out of an
army tank wearing a fur coat, leather gloves and diamond earrings, joining a large group of the extended family that wears
Carhartt
Carhartt, Inc. is an American apparel company founded in 1889, known for heavy-duty working clothes such as jackets, coats, overalls, coveralls, vests, shirts, jeans, dungarees, fire-resistant clothing and hunting apparel. Carhartt remains a fam ...
s, including Ray.
The camera then zooms out to a shot of a group that shows Kanye's sister-in-law
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Mary Kardashian (born April 18, 1979) is an American media personality and socialite. In 2007, she and her family began starring in the reality television series ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians''. Its success led to the creation of ...
and her children Mason Dash, Penelope Scotland and Reign Aston, front and centre, accompanied by the West children, their mother, and Jenner.
Kanye West later stands alone on a rocky outcrop in the video before dropping to his knees, bowing his head, and raising his hand while the line "I pray to God that he'll strengthen my hand" is heard.
West is surrounded by the Sunday Service Choir, with them doing this while he stands on the higher ground, and the group sing the last lyrics of the song.
The music video concludes with a close-up shot of North West screaming "Chick-fil-A," differentiating from the original version of the song where the line is performed by her father.
Commercial performance
Following ''Jesus Is King''s release, "Closed on Sunday" entered the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 17. The song lasted for two weeks on the Hot 100.
It debuted at number two on the US
Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It ranks the popularity of Christian songs using the same methodology developed for the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the magazine's flagship songs ...
chart, later becoming Kanye West's second most successful release on the chart.
On the
Gospel Songs
Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...
chart, the song charted identically by also opening at number two.
That same week, it reached number eight on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart. On September 15, 2020, "Closed on Sunday" was certified
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...
by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) for sales of 500,000 certified units in the US.
Elsewhere, the track charted at number 20 on the
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. The Canadian Hot 100 was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007, and is currently the standard record chart in Canada; a n ...
. It performed similarly in Australia, reaching number 19 on the
ARIA Singles Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
. On the
New Zealand Singles Chart
The Official New Zealand Music Chart ( mi, Te Papa Tātai Waiata Matua o Aotearoa) is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The Music ...
, the track reached number 26. The track performed best in
Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
, peaking at number 15.
It reached number 19 and 20 on the
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is the Republic of Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) and compiled on their behalf by the Official Charts Company. Chart rankings are bas ...
and
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
, respectively, remaining on the latter chart for two weeks in total.
The track charted in the top 40 of
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
,
Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...
,
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
,
Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
,
and Slovakia.
In popular culture
After the release of the album, "Closed on Sunday" was criticized by many users of
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
.
Most of them panned the Chick-fil-A referencing, which they often viewed as promoting
anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.
American fast food restaurant chain
Burger King
Burger King (BK) is an American-based multinational chain store, chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. Headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the company was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida–based res ...
tweeted "open on sunday" on October 25, 2019, indicating shade towards West and Chick-fil-A. Three days later,
contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...
artist
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Grand Saline, Texas, United States, who has sold over 7 million records. He is a member of Passion Conferences an ...
released a video of him covering the song via Twitter. During a round of the
primetime
Prime time or the peak time is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for a television show. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...
''
Jeopardy!
''Jeopardy!'' is an American game show created by Merv Griffin. The show is a quiz competition that reverses the traditional question-and-answer format of many quiz shows. Rather than being given questions, contestants are instead given genera ...
'' tournament ''
Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time
''Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time'' was a special tournament limited-run series of the game show ''Jeopardy!'' that took place in January 2020. The tournament was produced for ABC and aired on the network in prime time. This was the first ti ...
'' on January 15, 2020, host
Alex Trebek
George Alexander Trebek (; July 22, 1940 – November 8, 2020) was a Canadian-American game show host and television personality. He is best known for hosting the syndicated general knowledge quiz game show ''Jeopardy!'' for 37 season ...
gave the clue for a question about West's discography by stating, "'Follow God' and 'Closed on Sunday' are tracks on this 2019 Kanye West album."
The contestants
Ken Jennings
Kenneth Wayne Jennings III (born May 23, 1974) is an American game show host, author, and former game show contestant. He is the highest-earning American game show contestant, having won money on five different game shows, including $4,522,70 ...
,
Brad Rutter
Bradford Gates Rutter (born January 31, 1978) is an American game show contestant, TV host, producer, and actor. With over $5.1 million in winnings, he is currently the 2nd highest-earning American game show contestant of all time, behind Ken Je ...
and
James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer (born August 6, 1984) is an American game show contestant and professional sports gambler. He is the third-highest-earning American game show contestant of all time and is best known for his 32-game winning streak as champion ...
failed to correctly answer with ''Jesus Is King''.
West collaborator
Consequence
Consequence may refer to:
* Logical consequence, also known as a ''consequence relation'', or ''entailment''
* In operant conditioning, a result of some behavior
* Consequentialism, a theory in philosophy in which the morality of an act is determi ...
freestyled his version of the song under the title of "Cons On Sunday (Remix)" on February 11, 2020, sampling the original's guitar over more urgent percussion.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from
Tidal
Tidal is the adjectival form of tide.
Tidal may also refer to:
* Tidal (album), ''Tidal'' (album), a 1996 album by Fiona Apple
* Tidal (king), a king involved in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim
* TidalCycles, a live coding environment for music
* ...
.
*
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
producer, songwriter
* Angel Lopez producer, songwriter
* Brian "AllDay" Miller producer, songwriter
* Federico Vindver producer, songwriter
*
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...
producer, songwriter
* Chango Farías Gómez songwriter
*
No Malice
Gene Elliott Thornton Jr. (born August 18, 1972), better known by his stage name No Malice (formerly known as Malicious and later Malice), is an American rapper from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is best known for being one half of hip hop duo C ...
songwriter
* Rennard East songwriter
*
Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 20 ...
songwriter
* Victory Elyse Boyd songwriter
*
Mike Dean mastering engineer, mixer
*
Jess Jackson mixer
* Sage Skolfield assistant mixer
* Sean Solymar assistant mixer
* Andrew Drucker recording engineer
* Josh Bales recording engineer
* Josh Berg recording engineer
* Randy Urbanski recording engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Notes
References
External links
"Closed on Sunday" Lyricsat ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
{{authority control
2019 songs
Chick-fil-A
Gospel songs
Kanye West songs
Music videos directed by Jake Schreier
Song recordings produced by Kanye West
Song recordings produced by Timbaland
Songs written by Kanye West
Songs written by Pusha T
Songs written by Timbaland
Christian hip hop songs