"This sound track is a love letter to Africa and i wanted to make sure we found the best talent from Africa and not just use some of the sound or my own interpretation of it,".This is an excerpt from Beyonce's interview with Good Morning America after the release of The Lion King movie and accompanying music album.When in 2017,the producers told the world a 3D remake was in the offing with Beyonce playing Nala and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) playing Simba,it became one of the most anticipated movies in Hollywood with names as prominent as Quavo of the Migos requesting that the group be casted as the three hyenas.
What no one knew however was that Beyonce was going to drop new music to commemorate its release and with the Lion King: The Gift album accompanying the movie,it was safe to say which ever artiste she had chosen from the continent to be on the album was going to be on the biggest album worldwide when it was released.From Nigeria were Wizkid,Mr Eazi,Yemi Alade,Tiwa Savage,Burna boy and Tekno.The Gift represented the biggest medium ever made available to our artistes to sell themselves to the world.It was indeed a love letter.
Lets take a look at how the artistes fared.
BROWN SKIN GIRL (WIZKID,BEYONCE,SAINT JHN AND BLUE IVY CARTER)
This has turned out one of the most loved songs of the entire album.Wizkid's velvety smooth vocals pack the track with just the right emotion for the inspirational black and beautiful message.The synergy with Beyonce is mesmerizing.She gets on a higher pitch with her vocals to create a balance with his absorbing verse and then she complements him on the chorus for the climax moment.Sheer magic.
If Wizkid has a strategy on how to conquer the global market,a shrewd use of his vocal prowess should be a key part of it.The spotlight will be on him after this fantastic display and it is left for him to make the most of it.
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM (TIWA SAVAGE AND MR EAZI)
Tiwa Savage is reputed to have written and worked with some of the biggest names in music overseas.The lady freely expressing herself without having to worry about the dynamics of the Nigerian music market would entail some R&B.The work she so commendably puts in here comes from a natural place.Bearing in mind the craving for a strong african feel,nigerian producer Northboi deserves special credit for keeping that in mind with his infusion of a healthy dose of authentic african instrumentation.
Tiwa Savage was simply amazing on Keys to the Kingdom.She flawlessly hits the right notes and matches it with excellent drift in rhythm.She has a management and publishing deal with Beyonce's husband,Jay Z's Roc Nation and that will wow a lot of the foreign audience bound to look into her after listening to the song.I honestly think Keys to the Kingdom should have been a wholly Tiwa affair.One of the stand out qualities of the song is that it exhibits what the continent's refined singers are capable of and Mr Eazi appeared more than anything to be crashing her party.
JA ARA E (BURNA BOY)
Dating Stefflon Don gained Burna boy some major buzz and Atlantic records moved to have him make a joint EP with label mates,LA DJ/Production duo DJDS.Giving Burna's lacklustre effort at making a first major impression on the grand stage,a lot of fans expected him to seize the opportunity Beyonce's The Gift album presented to sell himself on an even bigger platform.
Burna boy doesn't quite do that.He goes purely african on Ja ra E; a song that is more or less made just for the Nigerian listener.Its really hard to figure out why Burna chose to make a song like this for the album.
The predominantly youthful global music audience would only gravitate towards a song they didn't understand a word of if its catchy.Fela was able to stir up some interest among fans abroad on his terms because he was bringing something they had never seen.There was the unique instrumentation,the costumes,the dancing and the legend about all the dancers being his wives.
Even from a Nigerian perspective,Ja ra E
is a mid-tempo afro-beat song that appears stuck between now and then.It lacks the energy to move the young listener and though a recognizable template for the more matured listener,its ladden with too many elements of music for the young to get a permanent spot on the playlist.As far as impressing the international audience goes,most will hit skip when it comes on.
DON'T JEALOUS ME (TEKNO,YEMI ALADE & MR EAZI)
Its really not a big deal these days for a nigerian artiste to score a major international collaboration or to see foreign acts dancing to nigerian songs.That is a huge testament to growth.In 2019,a nigerian artiste dreaming of making the next Gagnam style doesn't sound far-fetched.
Dance has always represented the best potential to key into with the shaku shaku and zanku dance steps making waves across the globe and in Don't Jealous Me, the fabulous trio of Tekno,Mr Eazi and Yemi Alade keep their eyes on the ball.Its bouncy and absorbing in a real African way and just about any of the dances would appear tailor-made for it.
With the right video,this song could go on to become huge.If we really want to talk this album being an opportunity for african artistes to showcase their wares to the world,then Don't Jealous Me is the jam.Its where artistic brilliance meets right strategy.Tekno talks the talk perfectly and Yemi Alade's background vocals add some spice but Mr Eazi is the star of the show with his auto-tuned, 'african' accented pre-chorus and ghanaian post-chorus.A great song no doubt.
Nigerian artistes certainly don't disappoint Beyonce on The Gift.
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