As i have been keeping tabs on the Nigerian Music industry lately, i have discovered a lot of flaws that if not rectified, can cause catastrophic effect.
I was at the Nigerian Music Awards couple of months back. while i was apalled by the common passion for music that most Nigerians have as well as the planning for the awards, i can’t but stress the artistic stage perfermance which is below expectation.
It still daze me why so many Nigerian artiste mime their played original Cd rather than sing along to its sound track. Most artiste inclusive of Dbanj, African CHina, Marvellous Benjy, Jazzman Olofin, Faze and a host of others are guilty of this. I mean, i could possible do same feat myself by miming Tuface “African Queen” on stage and doing it the Tuface way.
Making use of only the instrumentals and back up voices on the CD( i call it sound track) should do the trick as fans will be elated by their original voices. While styl-plus tries so much to make use of sound track rather than the original Cd, i could’t help my dissapointment at the way their voice cringes and go off key during the Blacknights Nigerian Independence Show. Itwas so obvious that Shifi is the least vocal talented individual among the trio while Tunde’s voice was very great. it further proves the fact that their songs were most of the times, digitally enhanced.
Overall, their stage performance was below fan’s expectation as they lack the attitude of carrying the fans along. I can’t imagine that its only Zeal that can dance to “Olufunmi” and “runaway” while shifi and Tunde just stand still and sing along.
(*)Tuface performing live
So far so good, as per the shows i have been to, Dbanj is one of the best stage entertainer, as he dishes out his songs in a more physically apalling way. Singing, playing the harmonica and dancing, all at will. The only negativity been, performing on stage with an original Cd. I guess he could have done more by just singing his original voice mixed with the sound track.
Faze has a good acapellah voice, as evident from him singing “”faze alone” without the instrumentals reveals how talented he is more than tuface. He also have the capability of commanding an artistic personality on stage
Furthermore, show/music promoters need to do much more in delivering value for money to fans who troop to numerous shows to watch their favourite artiste perform, by staging up to standard. An example is the “almight Kennis Music”s, stinginess in putting up a stage that is not enough to accomodate instruments and artiste at stratford Rex in London during the Kennis Music Easter bash 2006. I could’nt stop hissing while watching The whole tictac crew and tony Tetuila stamping over themselves and trying hard not to fall off the stage during their performance. Also that night, Tuface was soooooo……..unappealing when trying to sing “Get the feeling”as he was going off key and ranting as if he was mad.
Stage perfromance is much more important than albums and music video’s in the sense that it brings out the real artiste, and connects the artiste with the numerous fans who have had a picture of what he is like on their minds and in their head. Being below expectation will only reduce an artiste fanbase.
Whil i understand that the Nigerian Music Industry is only emerging, i believe there is still room for improvement and perfection…….therefore:
Can all Nigerian artiste please stop playing their music CDs during life performances but instead use the sound track, also can all music/show promoters please enable a platform that is more convenient for artiste to perform.
Also, i think Nigerian artise needs to do their home work by rehearsing their performances before coming on stage. That will further enhance correlation instead of confusion for most of them while performing on stage.
(*) Sasha…..
(*) sasha in black and white
*Mode9 (C)naijajams2006