The timelessness of old songs

Greetings, music lovers!

Last Friday, I had a discussion with a friend about music, and we analyzed what one of the biggest songwriters in the Nigerian music industry posted on his X handle. The post said that the current new pattern of music fades easily while the old ones stand the test of time.

To be candid, that's what is currently happening in our music world (let me say Africa).

I know of hit songs that trended four to five years ago and no longer give the same vibe when played today, but also, there are songs that trended 40 years ago and, when played today, people get up to gyrate to them.

The question my friend asked was, **"Why is it like that? Because the technology nowadays is supposed to make things better and more suitable, which is supposed to last longer."

He smiled and attributed the fault to the lyrics, comparing what we had then to what songwriters are coming up with now.

I laughed, even though I'm not sure if his answer is correct because, using the Nigerian pattern of songs as an example, we are not really known for good lyrics, I mean, educative lyrics. Most times, the talk in the song is all centered on the beauty of a woman and love.

This brings me to this particular song, "IGWE" by D'banj.

This song was released 16 years ago (2008), and when played today, any African who knows good music will surely get up to match the vibe.

D'banj is no longer in the limelight in the music industry as the way other younger ones are booming, but whenever he's called to perform at an event and he happens to bring this song to the stage, the crowd goes crazy, cheering and singing along.

Before writing about this song, I first posted it on my WhatsApp timeline, and people came to reply how they missed the good old music. The one that surprised me the most was a lady I never thought would like this music, who came and expressed her love for the song and the artist.

I remember a bit then when the song was released; it got into the mouths of everyone because of the simple lyrics. It gave birth to a lot of songs, especially the "IGWE" by The Midnight Crew and the likes of the common typical Praise pattern in the Eastern part of Nigeria....in 'Chineke Idinma'

What about the song?

First of all, in case you happen to hear that I'm joining any of the singing communities to make a singing video, just know that it's this song I'm starting with. 😅
"IGWE" by D'banj is one of the songs that I can sing from A to Z without missing any part of it.

The song's lyrics didn't center on the beauty of a woman or love as we normally hear in typical Nigerian songs. This is more like a hint on what the songwriter has experienced in his journey to different countries and major parts of Nigeria. Just like he said:

- The first time he went to Jamaica, people were calling him Ski Banj.

- The first time he went to Ghana, the Ghanaian people were calling him Mensah.

- The first time he went to South Africa, the people there were calling him Capella.

- But when he got to the Eastern part of Nigeria, they called him so many names to the extent that they gave him a title, which was "Osinawata Buru Ogaranya," which means He's someone that's capable of making the young get rich, Hence, they started to greet him and hail his name as the king of the place, IGWE! (Yeah, IGWE is a king).

Thanks for reading.

_{Video from YouTube}

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