Fingers's "Mystery of Love", Rare Earth's and The Undisputed Truth's respective cover versions of "(I Know) I'm Losing You", Hardrive's "Deep Inside", and Barbara Tucker's "I Get Lifted (The Underground Network Mix)".

In 2016, the song reached number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100, alongside attaining fellow top 50 positions in Canada, France, Scotland, and the United Kingdom.

[4][5] The song was played over video footage that showed people lined up in lines in a manner reminiscent of 1984 and various celebrities were in attendance for the debut, including Drake, Common, 2 Chainz, and Pusha T.[4][5] After it leaked following the debut, Post Malone subsequently confirmed him and Ty Dolla Sign appear on the song while Pitchfork reported that it is titled "Fade".

[7] The song samples American DJ Larry Heard's recording "Mystery of Love", which is a house track that was released in 1985 under his moniker Mr.

"[9] In the months following the February 2016 release of The Life of Pablo, West continuously made changes to the album; Def Jam referred to it as "a living, evolving art project."

[8][15][16] The vocals "Your love is fading/I feel it fade" from a 1970 cover version of the Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1966), written by Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield, and performed by Rare Earth, are sampled on the song.

[8][16][17] The song includes a sample of a version of the same title as Rare Earth's cover, written by the same musicians and performed by The Undisputed Truth.

[12] West interpolates lyrics from "Rock the Boat" (2002), written by Stephen "Static Major" Garrett, Rapture Stewart and Eric Seats, and performed by Aaliyah.

[22] In June of that year, Def Jam confirmed the song was set to be released to contemporary hit radio stations across the United States.

[23] The song was released for digital download and streaming in various countries by West's record labels GOOD Music and Def Jam as the album's third single on September 9, 2016.

"[29] Greg Tate, writing for Spin, analyzed that it sees "Motown's blue-eyed-soul-outfit-that-could Rare Earth and house diva Barbara Tucker cross-fade and elevate the curtain moment with what gooder-than-Yeezus-and-thou Christians call the Good News" while opining rapper Kendrick Lamar should have provided vocals for the song instead of fellow album track "No More Parties in LA".

[30] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork described the song as pitting Post Malone "against a sample of" "Mystery of Love" as well as "a flip of" Rare Earth's "(I Know) I'm Losing You", with him admitting that the song "rigs the mix so that Malone, somehow, sounds more important than both of them" while calling the sampling "a reminder of Kanye's audacious touch with huge, immediately recognizable pieces of musical history.

Club stated it went from "a plodding, repetitive instrumental number" to "an intricately layered legitimate banger" that features "some superb scumbaggery from Ty Dolla $ign.

"[31] In HipHopDX, Justin Hunte labeled the song an "ode to dwindling love that moves more like a Ty Dolla $ign and Post Malone collaboration than a Yeezy solo offering," concluding by pointing to it as "an ironic ending to an album" that is mostly about the polarizing topic of West's greatness.

[32] For RapReviews, Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania selected "Fade" as a "fan favorite" on the album and compared the song to a "happy catwalk model" due to it being "taken from front and centre, and shoved right to the back, just to be contrary and fit in something like '30 Hours'.

[40] The music video for "Fade" was directed by the University of Southern California (USC) graduate Eli Linnetz, who first met West when he was working on his 2011 collaborative studio album Watch the Throne with fellow rapper Jay-Z.

Linnetz elaborated on his time at the USC, saying his scholarship involved "working in the costume department, sewing clothing" and that he "was gathering these skills that ended up being perfect for a Kanye West environment.

[42] Linnetz said West emailed him "superlate at night" and requested him to direct the music video, noting he wanted Taylor to dance and her husband Iman Shumpert to also make an appearance.

[49] For the ending shower scene, Taylor lies on Iman's back as the couple are accompanied by their baby daughter Junie Shumpert, who cries as they are surrounded by several pink sheep.

"[41] Justin Carissimo of The Independent noted Taylor's "fiery performance," describing her as having "essentially danced her ass off for three minutes a la Flashdance.

[55] Production Personnel Following the release of The Life of Pablo, the song debuted at number two on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.

[70] West performed "Fade" live as the closer to his opening concert on the Saint Pablo Tour at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on August 25, 2016.

[71] While the song came to an end during the performance, the lift designed for carrying West over the large 30' x 30' projection screen in front of his stage malfunctioned.

[72] On November 1, 2016, the song was performed by West for his fourth concert at The Forum in Inglewood on the tour, with him being backed by pink strobe lights.

[75] A gospel rendition of the song was performed by West and the Sunday Service Choir for the group's concert at the Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago on September 8, 2019.

[76] On October 12 of that year, West and the Sunday Service Choir performed the song as part of a surprise concert on the yard at Howard University.

[81] Ty Dolla Sign wrote that his single "Ego Death" "expands on 'Fade'," which was released on July 1, 2020 and features West, FKA Twigs, and Skrillex.

Earmilk author Max Pasion-Gonzales said it may be "the most compelling moment" on Jesus Is Born, commenting that "Follow Me" includes an "inviting dance groove" alongside describing "Faith" as "a strong religious iteration" of "Fade".

"[89] For NME, Rhian Daly wrote that the reinterpretation "inventively switches lines" from "Fade" and commended the organs, horns, and handclaps for "adding another glorious layer of joy to things.

"[91] Revolt's Preezy Brown opined that by transitioning from "Follow Me" into "a gospel-infused interpolation" of "Fade", the rendition "brings the club to the church, and embodies the best of both worlds in the process.