"What makes a song truly classic? Examining the lasting impact of 2000s Nigerian music."
In my opinion, not too many classics came from the artistes who ruled the airwaves in the 2000s.
Yes, I mean the big names.
While some of the 2000s acts produced a remarkable body of work, we got more of feel-good, dance bangers than timeless classics.
Note:
A classic is a song that:
- stands the test of time
- influences other artistes or genres
- has significant cultural impact
Most importantly, it has a serious quality to it.
Amongst the top guys from the past era, 2baba's "African Queen" easily stands out as a classic, it caused a major cultural shift.
Asa's "Jailer" became the blueprint for those who wanted to make serious music.
African China's "Mr President" and Blackface Naija's "Hard Life" are classics and anthems of change till tomorrow.
Lagbaja and Ego's "Never Far Away" rocked the industry and has remained an important song.
Tosin Martin's "Olo Mi" and Sunny Neji's "Oruka" rank as wedding classics.
Dare Art Alade's "Not The Girl" and Djinee's "Ego" are also classics. The former showcased musical innovation, the latter is timeless.
"Olufunmi" by Styl Plus and "Angel of My Life" by Paul Play Dairo are r&b songs that transcend time.
The message in TY Bello's "Greenland" will still be relevant in 2050, the song demonstrates exceptional artistry.
I can't find too many classics in P-Square and D'banj's discography.
Definitely not "Tongolo" or "Bizzy Body".
No doubt, both singers made some iconic songs, but not all iconic songs are classics, especially if they have no enduring quality.
Most of their songs were trendy for the moment.
Please don't start mentioning random hits and calling them classics. Abeg!
And this is NOT a Stan post.
