Recently,I was walking aimlessly round the house and I just heard Shina Peters "Oshee" play on the radio. I was so excited not just because it was my mums favorite track from that record but because it reminded me of what good music should sound like with all its adorned originality. That shot me back to the past with a blast,the vintage picture of the living room,the record player and a long shelve of neatly arranged records of then superstars who are this day called legends in music. The tunes played in my head,perfectly organized genres from Oliver De Coque to King Sunny Ade,to Onyeka Onwenu,Christy Essien Igbokwe,Orits Wiliki,Majek Fashek,Fela Kuti,Victor Uwaifo,Victor Olaiya,Ik Dairo,Sunny Okosu,Ebenezer Obe,KWAM 1,and its a long list of ever green songs,songs naturally arranged to fit moments in the day to day running of both personal life and societal events,songs even after countless remix of the original version,the message is still felt and like a printed copy of an original page,its still 1 of 1..songs like Osadebes "Osondi Owendi",even Jayz went that far in 2010,compiling the Nigerian gangster album which is a mash up album with samples of various fela kuti songs of all time.
The pictures that your mind process when you listen to a particular song is the message and the lyrics just screws the last nail to the coffine,transporting you through it all,motivation,love or whatever the theme directs. That's why the old folk can't connect with the new noise that describes nigerian music,because they understand the importance of tying a song to a theme.
Even when they try to listen,its just themeless,noisy and filled with repetition. At the end you are just as confused as the artiste who can't fix the song into a genre..that's why its easy to remember the electrifying steps of King Sunny Ade in a concert I watched on a black and white screen than a group of modern lip sync acts you paid big money to watch live,its just about the the impact of true originality and perfect understanding of the spirit that guides music.
i grew up listening to foreign oldies...All 4 one, Abba, phil collins and aunty Celine dione..not a fan of naija oldies.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I grew up listening to oldies too. Nat King Cole, Lavern Baker, Abba, etc. Still prefer them. Naija oldies are alright too. Today, a lot of the music is just noise to me.
ReplyDeleteWhenever u hear dem oldies u always lighten up....evry single time. Tnx 4 d reminder dear
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