Monday, August 24, 2009

My Life’s Soundtrack – More

It is rather unusual for me to label a song as MLS when I’m not really impressed with it and this song almost suffered a sad fate when I first heard it. It took some time (and continuous replay) to grow on me but I’m glad it did. The upbeat tempo midway into the song plus the video helped as well!
More was the second single off Darey’s unDAREYted album and the South African-shot video features a club-dance floor sequence/mystery lady/time-travel concept interpreted with the transition of dance steps, hair-do, costumes, vehicle and photographic equipment all the way from retro to present. This - in my opinion - is a splendid example of how music videos’ storyboards should be done. Enjoy!


Track: More (Track 5 from the album unDAREYted)
Artiste: Darey Art Alade
Transcribed by: Naughty Eyes


[Verse 1]
Jump in the car and drive out of my home
I ain’t gonna spend my Friday night alone
I step into the club and near the microphone
There’s a pretty young lady dancing on her own
So I say lady the way you move it, I know you know you got it
Lady the way you move it, you make me wanna have it
Lady the way you move your sexy body
There’s just one thing I wanna know

[Chorus]
Can you shake your body more, more girl
I need some more, more girl
Can you touch my body more, more girl
I still want more, more girl

[Verse 2]
4:25 and still we’re on the floor
All of your girlfriends left the club at four
I am pretty sure that by now your feet are sore
But I really can’t help it girl, I still want more
So I say lady the way you shake it, you make me wanna take it
Lady the way you shake it, it’s like you’re gonna break it
Lady the way you shake your sexy body
There’s just one thing I need to know

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge]
Uh baby, tell me if you’re ready to go down girl with me
‘Cos I’m ready to go with you
Baby shake your body more and more and more
Tell me if you’re ready to go down girl with me
‘Cos I’m ready to go with you
Baby shake your body more and more and more

[Repeat Chorus]

[Adlibs]
Yeah, yeah, yeah (more girl)
Can you touch my body (yeah, yeah)
Can you touch my body more girl

[Repeat Chorus]

Instrumentals till Fade...

Lyrics © 2009 Darey Art Alade & SOUL Muzik

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

My Life’s Soundtrack - No Stars

The second track I’m posting off Darey’s unDAREYted album is actually a themed and cinematic sequel to the previous one, Not The Girl I posted earlier. As can be expected, the video styles are similar and the locations just like before but this time the lyrics in my opinion are deeper.
Great work from Darey. But I’ll let you be the judge…


Track: No Stars (Track 4 from the album unDAREYted)
Artiste: Darey Art Alade
Transcribed by: Naughty Eyes


[Verse 1]
No stars in the sky
Makes me wonder why
I’m still gazing...
I’ve done all I know to do
And there’s still no sign of you
Are you coming soon?
Now I’m staring out the window
But the waiting’s just begun
And all I see is shadows
Even though I see the sun

[Chorus]

You took away my sunshine
And I want it back
You took my star from the sky
And I want it back
You took away my sunshine
And I want it back
You can only give it to me
When you come back home… home… home

[Verse 2]
There’s a picture on my chair
Like you’re sitting there
Can I sit with you?
I can hear you when you call
Like you never left at all
Should I answer you?
I’m still staring out the window
Wishing you’d be passing by
But all I see is shadows
As the memories pass me by

[Chorus x 2]


You could only give it to me…

No stars in the sky
Makes me wonder why
I’m still gazing...

Lyrics © 2009 Darey Art Alade & Soul Muzik

Friday, August 14, 2009

My Life’s Soundtrack - Not The Girl

Move over M.I.! Yeah, the Pyeri boy sure ruled MLS two months back but this time my soundtracks for the month will be taken from the latest album of yet another talented male R & B / Hip-hop / Fuji vocalist who goes by the name Dare Art Alade. One thing I love about him? There is only ONE DAREY, no imitation! Let’s ride as I kick-off this month with his Cobhams Asuquo-assisted Hip-Hop World Awards-nominated single…

Track: Not The Girl (Track 3 from the album unDAREYted)
Artiste: Dare "Da-rey" Art Alade
Transcribed by: Naughty Eyes


[Chorus]
You’re not the girl I used to know
You’re a shadow of yourself
I think I lost you long ago
Like a book that’s left the shelf
I hear the footsteps down the hall
And I know someday that will be you leaving me for good

[Verse 1]
I’ve been sitting here for two straight hours watching you asleep
Wishing I could talk to you
There is no denying we both have emotions running deep
Oh if I could talk to you
‘Cos I’m scared, ‘cos when I try to take your hand you are not there
Even though I see the signs you think I’m just scared
Give me one reason why I should hide my fears
When it’s killing me inside…

[Repeat Chorus]

[Verse 2]
We have been together for so long you seem a part of me
Just how did this all go wrong?
And you say you gave to me your best just to make it work
But just how did this all go wrong?
‘Cos I try, see my eyes are empty from all the tears I cried
Since this perfect love is hardly satisfied
Give me one reason why I should hide my tears
When it’s killing me inside…

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge]
Hmm… And if I ever come across a girl like you again
I don’t know if I will let my emotions show
I’ll just look the other way
I don’t care what you might say
‘Cos I’m not so sure how much of this
My poor heart can take

[Repeat Chorus x 3]

Fade…

Lyrics © 2009 Darey Art Alade, Cobhams Asuquo & SOUL Muzik

Saturday, August 8, 2009

FEATURES OF A TYPICAL NAIJA ALBUM

I am a lover of Nigerian music. Unlike some people (who prefer buying pirated compilation CDs), I buy original albums. If I like an artist, I go out and buy his/her album. One advantage of this I have discovered over the years is that there are some really good songs you won't hear on radio on a normal day.

For the last three years (when Naija music started gaining acceptance), I have been buying Naija CDs so much so that when you come across my collection, you would think I sell CDs. The following are the albums in my collection, if you can beat my record, let me know! You may have some albums I don’t but I have all the albums that matter!
Body and Soul – Plantashun Boiz (Who does not have this then?)
Plan B – Plantashun Boiz
Face2Face – 2Face Idibia
Grace2Grace – 2Face Idibia
Enter the place - 2Face Idibia
The unstoppable - 2Face Idibia
Independent – Faze
Originality - Face
Me, music and I – Blackface Naija
We be Da Natives – Da Natives
No long thing – D’banj
Run down/Funk you up - D’banj
The Entertainer - D’banj
Curriculum Vitae - D’banj and Mo’hits All Stars
Mushin2Mo’hits – Wande Cole
The Certificate – 9ice
Gongo Aso – 9ice
From me to you – Dare Art-Alade
The most un.darey.ted – Darey
Naija 007 – Sound Sultan
SS4 – Sound Sultan
Yahoozee! - Olu Maintain
E Plaribus Unum (One amongst many) – Mode 9
Pentium IX: The mixtape - Mode 9
The Paradigm Shift - Mode 9
Thy album come – Ruggedman
Ruggedy baba – Ruggedman
The King is back – eLDee
BIG BOY – eLDee
The rapman begins – Terry Tha Rapman
Money Long: The mixtape: Sauce Kid
Shock Therapy: The Minority Report – Rooftop MCs
Kalangolo – Frank D’Nero
Mr Capable – Banky W
Still on the matter – Da Grin
True story – Timaya
Second turning by the right - Lord of Ajasa
Game over - P Square
Free me – Terry G
Pin code: 9.10.11 – Sunny Neji
The Definition: DJ Jimmy Jatt
King of the Zanga – Durella
King Kong – Shank
You know my P – Naeto C
Dat Ibo Boy – Ill Bliss
Talk about it – M.I.
Life and times of Killz – Ikechukwu
Asha – Asa
Saxophone mood – Yemi Sax
Buga: Never say die – Jesse King
Africano: The mother of groove – Lagbaja
Paradise and Sharp Sharp – Lagbaja

Over the years, i discovered some similarities in my CDs; some major features which all almost always have in common. They include:

1. NUMBER OF TRACKS: The number of tracks on a regular Naija music album is between 9 and 11. Though nowadays, we see some hip-hop artistes having 18-22 songs on their albums. We have been made to know that what's responsible for the small number of tracks on Naija albums is not lack of creativity but a business strategy, since they'll make the same meagre sum from a 11-tracker that they will from a 22-tracker.

2. UNNECESSARY SKITS: From the 11 tracks in these albums, we find 2-3 drab and absolutely unnecessary skits in most Naija albums. I dare say that there are some really good, creative and interesting skits in some as well.

3. INSTRUMENTALS: It is only on a Naija album that you will find instrumentals i.e. the beat of a song. They like to include the instrumentals of their most popular songs in their albums. I don't know what they think, that maybe we like the songs insomuch that we listen to only the instrumentals? I mean, not all of us are DJs, are we? Methinks it is just to increase the number of tracks on their albums.

4. TRADITIONAL MUSIC: You will always find a traditional music on a Naija album. When I say traditional music, I mean songs done in the indigenous language of the artiste. Apart from normal English and Yoruba language (Yes, Yoruba because it's the official music language in Naija) Naija artistes sing in, they also have at least a track done in their purely indigenous language. Patriotism, you say?

5. THANK YOUs AND OVA ISH (apologies to M.I.): You are likely to find a song dedicated to God or to people who contributed to the artiste's success or both on a Naija album. As is common to all Nigerians, they allude to being God-fearing people when in fact, their actions says otherwise.

6. POLITICAL SONG/SOCIAL COMMENTARY: Politics is a favorite past-time of most Nigerians, whether they know sh!t or not. The political situation in the country gives Naija artistes something to sing about. And like they say, people learn a lot from the music they listen to. Naija artistes see themselves as role models to a lot of young people so they've taken it upon themselves to pass social commentaries once in a while (lets not forget that they are also responsible for majority of the slangs on the streets).

7. ALBUM ARTS: The CD jackets of Naija albums are always made of paper. The last time any one came with plastic, I haven't started buying. It is common to see some of the following on a Naija music album art:
1. Typographical errors.
2. Track mismatch.
3. Artistes showed putting on jewelry that's not real.
4. Websites that don't exist, either of the artiste, record label or marketer.
5. Marketer's name, phone number and office address.
6. Manager/Promoter's name and phone number.
7. Written appreciations/dedications apart from the song on the album.
8. Lyrics to some tracks on the album.