Revisiting Fela's Power Show.

There's something about Fela's early 80s ouevre which had the gentle kick of the heydays, the mid-seventies.Power show, a 14 minute spool of soft-tempo melancholia attacks the circumstantial misuse of power, which, surprisingly, is characteristic of nigeria, nay africa.What is most innovative about this low-keyed dirge is Fela's recourse to the piano, which he had majored in at the Liverpool Trinity School where he trained as a musician. There were several short and intermittent solos of brassy key notes with a blast of reponse intiated by the horn section but later orchestrated by d maestro himself, all these being observed by the soft percussion and a mellow rhythm section.The vocals are employed earlier on with the adopted call and response reminiscent of Soul music. And about a third of the way down the track, the real music of organic instrumental dialogue begins till the track tampers down the crescendo.This for no apt and reason justifiable happens to be my personal favourite after d order of Trouble Sleep.The two songs are very social in their content and have charged itself with the responsibility of telling the story of the down-trodden, something a man from at least bourgeois origin tells most eloquently.

On a Certain Nigerian Movie

Now I believe that the Choc Boys have a shot at the forefront in Nigeria Arts and Music. I think they can be at the melding point of the renaissance, where popular music may transform into art, and their price will be higher regard in excess of what the reigning circus of entertainers and their presumably easy-going chieftain come away with. This is a relevant aside; let me return to the business of this piece, presumably the glorification of a good Nigerian movie.

The idea to market M.I’s sophomore as a movie was effective, especially in the early days when the blogosphere and social networks speculated that perhaps the fine hip-pop act was thinking of venturing into Nollywood. The Idea of the movie to the frame of the album is not entirely fitting, neither is it completely discordant. Three tracks allude to movie: Action Film, Wild Wild West and Epic, and these tracks in a light can be described as the strongest at different moods.

The Cover-image is excellent and brings to memory the first album’. Only that here MI is suited with a rather apt bow-tie and in his clutching the butt of a mic, with his left hand stylishly dipped into his pocket. The picture oozes of business, the business of musical mastery.

MI has morphed. He has become what he wanted to be. The classic rap maestro who lyrically experiments with rap in several musical formulae has succeeded at composing compound sounds which in good time will bear his insignia.

MI 2 works on several levels. It works as a leisure L.P, the type you listen to for the heck of hearing good sounds. Action Movie is perhaps the only club-banger or the song orchestrated to cater to dance. Brymo, the man with the honeyed husk of a voice, does his “thing” again, asserting that his excellent collaboration with Ice Prince on Oleku is not particularly a fluke or a lucky ride.

Slow Down is one of my personal favourite and MI is not without assistance in the vocals of another croning chap, Julius Caesar. The track is interestingly refreshing, it’s a booty song with a feel good twang, sort of like a love song miss road come jump on top bed.

Number One is a landmark hit, the first success of its kind, a fusion between highlife and rap. The track is awesome on both levels and entirely works. The lyrical arrangement is almost divine and MI was on top of it. Yes sir
Anybody and Nobody respectively recruiting Timaya and Tuface are not exceptional. They are just regular musical collaborations that will do their bit in entertaining, reigning and eventually fading. They may find themselves a place in the back corner of tracks reserved for old school, if they keep their airplay up.

Beef, MI’s retort to his beefers, itself a metaphor, is witty in the handling of material, does not take itself serious and delves the blow where it is most needed. Then Wild Wild West is a love song to the religio-ethnic war ravaged J-town, Jos. It is relevant in the concern of music and arts with the human condition brought about by either religious and political propanganda or both.
One Naira with Waje absolutely works in its uniqueness of an age old concern, love.
Craze is not a personal favourite, it is my least heard track.
Undisputed reiterates the essence of the entire LP, that MI’s glory is inimitable. And I agree.

Epic is reminiscent of gospel, the crooner, called Praise, handles his business in a John Legendish fashion and the track will be known for its autobiographical exposition.
Imperfect me is a musical tribute to imperfection and features close allies voicing what they don’t like about MI. This is MI selling his personality with his sophomore album, perhaps he is also reiterating that his art and his life is inseparable.
And of course, back to the beginning we have a choc boys anthem, with each lieutenant in the fold acoustically represented.
Indeed M.I has made a good album.

Translation of Asa's Bamidele into English Language

Robert Frost affirmed that poetry is lost in translation.
I set at doing an experiment to disprove this and i picked the most assured material to dispel every mind of Robert Frost's caveat to translation. A song. Not just any song, a poetic kind and i translated it into English language.
Might i quip that i am more dexterous in the English than my mother tongue, Yoruba in which this song was written but what the heck! I face challenges headlong with my arsenal. My arsenal is passable Yoruba and a slippery grasp of English grammar, for i am only proficient in

my ability to juggle words as if I am a circus man.
Whatever. Find my translation below and be the judge. My inference is RF is right.

Asa's Bamidele , Bonus track in her sophomore effort, Beautiful Imperfection
Either you are happy or not,
You must accompany me home

Even if it will take some force,
We must go together to my father's house.

Akinyele wants to marry wife,
He doesnt want to pay some brideprice, you better find it.

Akinyele Jinadu does not want to pay
Some brideprice, you better find it

Akinyele o(8ce)

I feel cold,
I suffer backache,
Come home with me.
Didn't you say the same thing yesterday
I'm back again, lets go meet my parents

Headstrong lawyer, first class liar
Stupid, pay before service.

My mother did give birth to me,
My father nurtured me,
I'm not fit for registry marriage, literate lawyer.

Akinyele o(8ce)

Headstrong lawyer first class liar
Stupid, pay before service.
You indulge so much in drinking,
Eating and flirting that u dont no better.

Akinyele o, till fade.