After legally changing his name to Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West performed a cover of Adele’s recent single “Easy on Me” with his Sunday Service Choir as a tribute to late fashion designer Virgil Abloh it was announced he died of cancer yesterday (November 28th).
Shortly after the news went public, Ye posted a link to a livestream on the Donda Live website via his Instagram story. Those who attended the livestream event were treated to a reasonably low quality, grainy video of the Sunday Service Choir all stood hooded in the dark with a screen displaying the message “In loving memory of Virgil Abloh, creative director of ‘Donda’”. The choir took on a cover of Drake’s “God’s Plan”, as well as a version of “Easy on Me” with reworked lyrics. The original chorus to the song sees Adele sing, “Go easy on me, baby / I was still a child / I didn’t get the chance to / Feel the world around me”. The choir have made changes to say, “Go easy on me, father / I am still your child / And I need the chance to / Feel your love around”.
Watch a video of the performance below.
Virgil Abloh – founder of luxury fashion label Off-White, and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear – passed away aged 41 after battling with a rare form of cancer known as cardiac angiosarcoma. Abloh’s family made the announcement via his social media, writing, “We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues.”.
LVMH, Louis Vuitton and Off White are devastated to announce the passing of Virgil Abloh, on Sunday, November 28th, of cancer, which he had been battling privately for several years. pic.twitter.com/CytwZLvSFu
— LVMH (@LVMH) November 28, 2021
Ye and Abloh have collaborated extensively in the past, meeting in 2002 on a Fendi internship in Rome, Abloh would serve as the creative director at Ye’s agency DONDA from 2010. Where the pair would go on to work together on several albums including; My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezus, and 2011’s collaboration album with Jay-Z Watch the Throne which ended up winning them a Grammy.
Adele’s track first track in 5 years “Easy on Me”, released October 15th, had also broken a Spotify streaming record. The track had amassed the most streams in a single day as it debuted with 24 million streams in 24 hours.
