Music Marriages

 

What more can be soothing to the ears than a blend of an old tune and a new tune? What more can trigger nostalgic goose bumps in a music enthusiast than listening to a duet by a legend and the rave of the moment? In this generation of collaborations between veterans and youngsters, music has indeed, played god, reconnecting our past with the present.    

A glance behind the glitter of music collaborations usually reveals something more than a colourful paradise. It validates the innovation, and the creativity that seeps out of duets. It is akin to what the Portuguese writer, Paulo Coelho likened to combining the knowledge of a youngster sheep rarer and blending it with the gift of a veteran clothing merchant in a state of productive shearing, in his novel, The Alchemist.

Many who grasped these productive lanes have kissed fame in acclaim and successfully written their names in gold in the history of Nigeria music. OMOTOLA OLAIFA of Entertainment Express, in this expose, examines the influence, significance and the ‘real deal’ behind music collaborations between our legends and the hardworking youngsters.

 

Everybody knows Victor Olaiya. Everybody loves Tuface. Then many love their style of music, beats and lyrics. Either it is the tune of African Queen or Feso J'aiye, you can be sure music enthusiasts across Africa would dance to the tune. Olaiya’s captures the subtlety of fiction effortlessly and quite impressively with his voice, trumpet and white handkerchief, thus making his simplest tunes memorable. Like pieces of a shared life, an intimacy between him and whoever cares to remember and appreciate.

Even the most noxious music critic can testify that a combination of Victor Olaiya and Tuface on a song would result to a golden tune. It is a collabo that can be simply described as déjà Vu. Two renowned musicians from the old and new generation taking center stage to remix a classic song from the early 1960’s is nothing less than a classic. It is to the delight of many music buffs that energetic Tuface Idibia performed a song from Dr. Olaiya’s early collection “Mofe Muyan,” now christened “Baby Mi Da.”

The song reproduced by Spellz with Nollywood’s finest, Director Kunle Afolayan of “The Figurine” fame, who made this his music video debut. Premier Records ltd, the label under which Dr. Olaiya is signed, sees the collaboration as a way of uniting musicians from different generations. “It is pertinent that we bring back to the music industry what made Dr. Victor Olaiya internationally known,” said Michael Odiong, Project Manager of the Premier Records. “His lyrics are still very relevant today, and he has so many tracks like ‘Ilu Le O’ and ‘Mr Judge’ that have an impact on people everywhere, and his classic love songs like ‘Omo pupa’ ‘Fami Mora O’ will withstand the test of time any day. We want to encourage younger stars to take advantage of these classic songs and do something new with them.”

At the video shoot, veteran producer/director, Mr. Tunde Kelani, was on hand at the Stadium Hotel to support the team. “Premier Records and Spinlet put heads together to commission the two stars to do the collaboration in order to bring something that will be a novelty in the music industry,” he hinted on how the collaboration came about. “So, it wasn’t their ideas. The idea was formulated by Spinlet and Premier Recording Company.”

Dr Victor Olaiya narrated how he was contacted about the project.  “I was approached and I viewed it and I told them there was sense in the collaboration,” Olaiya enthused. “Although, I had for some time refused to collaborate with any individual. I wasn’t able to measure the degree of what they could contribute to my music. Most of my numbers, over the years, have been hit numbers. I couldn’t imagine anybody could come and make it ‘hiter’ or better. I don’t have any regret so far.  It is the talk of the town now and it gives me joy.”

Obviously, he chap (Tuface) involved is very talented. Olaiya, the Evil Genius of Highlife as widely acclaimed couldn’t resist the charm and cool of the respectful and highly gifted pop star.  According to the veteran “Tuface has the qualities.”

As the old saying goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. Olaiya readily agreed that he wouldn’t have agreed out-rightly to the project if any other artiste were to be considered. He would have listened to anybody brought his way to determine the musical qualities of the individual. “But for Tuface, everybody knows he is gifted. I adore him, I admire him and I love him. He has most of the qualities I would expect of a young lad like him.”

By every standard, Dr Victor Olaiya is a success. He played for several street brass bands including B. Effiong’s Street Band in Lagos. Noted for his rough, hoarse voice and dexterity on the trumpet reminiscent of the jazz legend, Louis Armstrong, Olaiya who often hold a white handkerchief while blowing the trumpet waxed a number of highlife hits in the 60s. Among his top hits were Omopupa, Jemila, Ilu le and Lafiaji. And at different times he was a trumpeter for Bobby Bensons Jam Session, Sam Akpabot’s All Stars Band, Lagos City Council clerk. Olaiya formed the cool Cats Orchestra with ABC Cole (late) in 1954. But later, in 1959, he formed his own band, the All Star Orchestra.

Over the years, his lyrics have been a hot cake in the music market. Even before he was nominated to play at the Independence Ball in the 60s, his music was on top. Long before the idea of collaboration came on a few years ago, when artistes felt they wouldn’t be able to do it all alone and they needed somebody to join them he was doing his music alone.

However, the music genius bemoans the dirt of lewd lyrics in the contemporary music of today. He does not agree with most of today’s lyrics. “In my days, I made sure that anything I composed or dished out to the public is not only musical, but also educative and poetic and it must convey sense and good music,” he stressed.  “It is a concord of sweet music. I think we have to re-plan with the youth and tell them to go back to the archives and be able to do something meaningful and educative and musical. I am not criticising; I am not even a critic as such. But most of the things I hear and watch on the TV, they don’t give me much to desire. They don’t give me the full joy of a good musical composition. However, no matter what we say, they are getting on with it and making money from it. Everybody wants to be a musician and there is nothing we can do about it. With time, I hope they will improve and we have a better ‘musical’ tomorrow.”

Tuface also agreed with the veteran on the increasing rate of lewd lyrics amongst his contemporaries but quickly dismissed the fact that nothing can be done about it. “The reward of hardwork is success and you can never be successful doing that kind of music,” he posited. “You know, music is a spiritual thing. You spit it as it comes but you also make sure it is good for the ears. Good music is not offensive. Good music is good for the soul and that is why I have decided to do this song with Baba Victor Olaiya.”

Like the Evil Genius of Highlife music, Victor Olaiya, Nigeria’s King of Afrobeat Femi Kuti has also collaborated with another youngster who, with his music, captured Nigeria and Africa, Wizkid. In this case, the Pakurumo crooner was the one who initiated the idea of the collaboration. “Wizkid was the one who came calling,” said Femi Kuti. “He called my sister on how he could feature me in his song. I think he called my sister maybe because he thought I would be difficult to reach.”

Fortunately, the Afrobeat maestro was traveling the next day and had no idea of how the collaboration would be possible the same day which happened to be the closing day of Nigerian Idol where he was a judge. But Wizkid wasn’t ready to take no for an answer. “It’s very urgent sir, we have to hit the studio as fast as we can,” he insisted. Although, it was tight for Femi but he had to juggle his schedule and went to the studio with him on that day of the closing ceremony of show.

In the song Jaiye Jaiye, the multi-award winning Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti, gave the track a new school high-life mix as he puts his superb saxophone skills to its full capacity. The track, Jaiye Jaiye which was produced by Sarz, showed Wizkid talking about his increasingly successful music career. Apart from this historic collaboration, Wizkid has worked with some of the biggest names in the local and international music industry including Akon, The Game, Kardinal Official, Wale, Young Jeezy, M.I, Ice Prince among others.

“I was shocked and surprised when Wizkid called me,” Femi’s sister, Yeni Kuti explained. “I told Femi and he said ‘no problem’ if it could fit into his schedule because he was traveling the next day. Wizkid supports us all the time, so we had to do everything in our power to support him also. So when Godwin (Wizkid's manager) gave me the call, I didn't even hesitate.”
“There is no way any of us would hesitate to work with Wizkid,” Femi added.  “His song is good. The lyrics make sense and when somebody like Wizkid calls me, it requires all of my professionalism and my creativity to make the project better. At this stage of my career when somebody like Wizkid calls, its always nice I bring out all my best.”

Femi is not new to the collaboration business. He has the pedigree that qualifies him as a collabo master.  He collaborated on his album Fight to Win with a number of U.S. musicians, including Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright. He has also contributed a remake of his father's classic song, "Water No Get Enemy", to Red Hot & Riot, a compilation CD in tribute to Fela Kuti that was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA. His track was created in collaboration with hip hop and R&B artists, D'Angelo, Macy Gray, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, and Roy Hargrove, and all proceeds from the CD were donated to charities dedicated to raising AIDS awareness or fighting the disease.

Like Femi Kuti, Wizkid cuts the perfect picture of a Nigerian star who would strive to any length to get to the top of his game. His rise in the music scene is meteoric. Coupled with an adventurous streak, he has earned himself a major break in the music industry with this debut album, ‘Superstar’.

Apparently, persistence pays. Wizkid has featured in various music productions and collaborations spanning four years gliding from minor to major vocals. He also has a song in pipeline with King Sunny Ade, which will be released soon. “Indeed, the guy has got talent,” Femi Kuti acknowledges the young singer’s talent. “Even from his song composition you would discover some old strokes. The lyric of the song is what an old man like me can even sit down and meditate about. A young man dreaming about big things and all. The lyrics didn't sound stupid, it is not something I would be ashamed of associating with.”

On that note, an entertainment journalist and music critic, Timi Ojajuna agreed with Femi Kuti “ Truly, I don’t think Femi Kuti has anything to be ashamed of when it comes to doing a song with Wizkid. The young man knows his onions well and he is never relenting.”

Another musician who is never relenting is Omawunmi Magbele. Just as interesting as her music is, Omawunmi Magbele strikes you like a girl next door.  Judging from when she made her debut till date, she has not stopped thrilling her fans with her mind-blowing, soul-stirring songs. It is also not for nothing that she is referred to as Onyeka Onwenu of this generation. She has also featured the Elegant Stallion of music in her album. “I emulate her character and her person,” she said. “For her to be so graceful at her age and that her music is still somewhat in demand is a line that should be toed. So, I’m not ashamed of toeing that line. If there were more divas of her time alive, you’d have seen them on my shows because if you listen to my music, you’ll discover that I try to make my music in such a way that people who were here before me will listen and say I’ve done well. The first song that drew people’s attention to me was her “Eko” song and people have been calling me small Onyeka ever since.”

With her new album ‘Lasso of Truth’ Omawumi has proved her mettle in the music industry. ‘Laso of Truth’ is a golden rope that could go through the fire yet to be indestructible. Like when the singer sang the song, “If You Ask Me”, many critics attested that the lyric what was true.

“All Omawumi is trying to do is make people to connect to the message she is conveying through her music,” The Nation Newspaper’s Entertainment Editor, Victor Akande explained. “ There is never a dull moment listening to Omawumi’s songs. This is a singer who rose from the number two spot in a music reality show to beat the winner to the game in the job market. Omawumi Magbele was the first runner-up in the Project Fame Reality Show, which in 2007 saw Timi Dakolo winning the trophy. But today, her song has left many to wonder if that contest was fair to her. She appears to be one of the best to have come out of a reality show. Her manager, Sunday Are, wanted to intimate the media about a concert the artiste is putting together. And it caught every body’s fancy that Elegant Stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, will be performing at this young artiste’s show. Omawumi is just an example of a ‘no holds barred’, and she has just so much to say about her passion for music.”

Even the legendary singer, Onyeka Owenu described her work with Omawumi as epic. “Indeed, when for example you listen to Omawumi’s song called ‘If You Ask Me’ or ‘Bottom Belle’, one would understand that the artiste is moved by certain messages, which she renders clearly and suitably through danceable music. Give it to the girl she is just good.”

Today, in the music circle Tuface, Wizkid and Omawumi are on the verge of engraving their names in gold in the mind of many music buffs. Perhaps ambition would deign them a toothy smile and lead them across the cross-roads of fame to the realization of their dreams. Then they may improve and possibly sustain the charm that endears them to their fans and family. Who knows? They just might attain that final glow emeralds flaunt over other precious stones – grandeur. Makes them worth jostling for like the veterans.