Tuesday, December 15, 2009

OVATION RED XMAS CAROL


The celebrity studded ovation xmas carol was a good idea and a beautiful way Ovation is showcasing this year Ovation red and xmas carol rendition to be staged in Lagos sometimes this month. The song paraded the big weights in nollywood and the music industry, the producers claimed he worked with 100 celebrities but ended up shooting the video with as much as 30 celebrities. Majority of the invited stars could not wait for the video shoot due to various engagements they have to attend. The carol couldn’t have been better with likes of Wande Cole and Omawunmi leading the song and if I should grade it will score 60% .The song is enjoying massive air play on radio and TV, it’s the toast of all disc and video jockey this yuletide time.
The songs production, theme and message are aspect that the initiators of the song scored low, the songs theme is not clear, is it a Xmas carol or Ovation red Xmas carol party theme song? Ovation is mentioned more in the song than Christ, Xmas, Jesus and other Xmas songs attributes. Also haven listened to song on several occasions, I still can’t hear all what Wande Coal said in the song, I can’t understand most of the words in his lyrics and I don’t just know why he is speaking through his nose. The producers of this song should be aware that if it’s going to be a hit like the Skye banks “say yes” jingles it has to be graphically interpreted in form on text words running vertically across the screen so that we can all read and sing along. The other issue is why did they have all those A list celebrities on the big stage just dancing and singing the chorus instead of handing them all a part in the song. I would have loved to see few of my favorite artiste and nollywood stars singing together, imagine Terry G and Dare Alade sharing the mic. This is my expectation, artiste of different wavelengths streaming in a singular frequency. The artiste that got the top roles in the song are all not my favorites though I have mad love for omawunmi and Coal, I don’t know the other girl and I believe artiste like Terry G, Obesere and Dagrin should be featured in the song. I guess the producers were in a hurry to bring out the song and never had time to plan. Another Nigerian factor

99.9% REAL BEAT

Am an unrepentant fan of Rhythm 93.7 fm, I love everything about the sea side station, am a fan of silver group in general but the attraction came from the way rhythm 93.7fm changed the Nigerian music scene and increased the population that listen to Radio. Due respect to the then OGBC 2 fm in Abeokuta.This station now known as Gateway Radio was home for Kenny Ogungbe, JAJ “the Meccadon” or can, and host of other A list presenters in the 90s.Raypower rode on the back of OGBC and showed how private sector can run media house properly. Its emergency was the end of OGBC 2 and the birth of independent radio stations. Radio stations springs up nowadays like petrol stations which is fast becoming the only tourist attraction in and around Lagos. There are up to 50 government and privately owned radio stations in South-west Nigeria and there are up to 20 stations competing in Lagos and its neighbours; Abeokuta, Ibadan. The very wide coverage of these stations has made them the advertiser’s choice and they make more money in adverts than any other thing they do. The increase in adverts has turned most of these stations into public announcement medium, you hear more advert than songs nowadays, and this has been the same problem with all the existing fm radio stations in and around Lagos. The sudden emergence on BEAT 99.9fm is like the re-birth or the peak of modern Radio presentation. The BEAT 99.9fm probably learnt from everybody and took some lessons from foreign radio stations to launch a very interactive and highly infotainment Radio station. It is now the best station I ever listened to in Nigeria, probably its still new and the adverts are not flowing heavily yet. The BEAT 99.9fm combined good radio presentation; news and local/foreign music are well mixed. Each programme is accompanied by entertainment and social news that keeps you abreast with the global entertainment world. There News section is professionally presented that it still blends with the current programme on air. The Beat 99.9fm is the only station that keeps me lively from morning till evening, I leave my radio on even when am asleep. The powers behind 99.9fm should learn from their sister stations shortfall and try to maintain its very high standard. THE station blends all genre of song and you will never feel bored listening to the BEAT 99.9fm.Lets see how loud this BEAT will sound, but I thing it will never stop. Let the BEAT play on.

SENSE ON BOARD

Entertainment industry has witnessed a significant growth since Nigeria joined the world democratic league. Since the return to civilian rule, entertainment industry has attained a its original status as it is all over the world, artistes, print and audio media, entertainment industries, recording labels, radio stations and others have all seen financial success since THE khaki boys left. I guess we all know the reason for this success. Musicians can say what ever they want in the songs, and film producers can act any script they desire without fear. Contents of works produced by musicians and scripts of films are all subjects of screening by a body set up to regulate and pass fit for public viewing works done by artistes and producers. The body that screen what we see on TV has always looked like a body that never sit to view works of artiste, they just sit at home and decide to ban what they and there family don’t like. The Film and music census board or what are they called is an organization that should be scrapped and replaced by professionals. It is shocking how most of the films get to pass their screenings and music videos fail. The biggest shock off all is that cable companies like HiTV and DSTV are above their law. Local stations are barred from viewing certain music videos and same programme that runs on a cable company platform shows such music video to our admiration.
Am not against the content of our musical videos and films, but my displeasure is in the injustice done in stopping some music videos and films from been aired while some enjoy airtime, foreign music videos have no restriction unlike the locally produced ones. I am a frequently viewer of music programmes both on terrestrial and cable platform, and I have a very good knowledge of our local contents and that of foreign product. Terry G is one of the best young producer/singer and his well loved for his energetic dance performances on the stage and in music videos. His private life may not be that of a good youth ambassador but what he gave to music and his raise from Iju streets to stardom is a good example for youths to emulate. Majority of the older folks may see him as a bad influence to their wards due to his fashion sense and his energetic dance which are seen to be done under certain influence. We of the new school are very aware that Terry G is still morally better than the world celebrated stars like Lil Wayne, T.I, Fabulous and host of other foreign artiste who frequent the jail due to gun running, assault charges, and other misdemeanors. The new video of Terry G “free madness” which was released recently has been taking off the air due to certain reason that also caused Dbanj’s “Suddenly” and Tuface’s “enter the place” to be judged dangerous to viewers. The listed videos still enjoy air play on cable networks though the local stations are not permitted to air and it is also been well enjoyed by Nigerians in Diaspora. MTV still air these music videos all over Europe, America and Africa. I have watched this videos several and I still wonder why is they were been censored, “free madness” video has neither sexual content nor violent content. It was based on Terry G’s showcasing his barbaric dance steps which is in vogue, he brought his hood Iju to limelight by adorning its name in the background. Terry G never smoked in music video like Fela did, he was lyrical cleaner than King Sunny Ade when it comes to love songs, and sexual content is ZERO compared to beyouce’s last three videos which were sexually choreographed by her and her two very sexy dancers. The band might have got the booth due to the sexual content of the video, but is it as bad as the Fifty cent and Ciara’s duet? The two mentioned foreign music videos made it to no.1 on video chats across the local TV’s while there Nigerian counterparts got censored ,taken of the local scene completely, but they watch it on cable networks. The Tuface’s “enter the place” video was a masterpiece and it was the best video from the internationally know singer. The quality and the set were perfect and the cast was star studded, I didn’t see anything bad in the video if I have to compare it to majority of the foreign videos and some local ones. I have seen sexual stimulation at its highest and violence in its peak in most of the foreign videos on air. The Terry G’s video censor is more personal than the ethical reason or moral reason that will be given. There’s nothing wrong in showing your talent in whatever way or form you could, it might look extraordinary to others but it’s a gift to you from the creator. The sweat of these young artistes should not be wasted by few partial people who are not aware of recent development in the world, qualified and dedicated people should be allowed to handle the censor board. The creativity of these artistes should be encourage and not discouraged. Personality should not be an issue in judging the videos and let’s not introduce Sharia law. Please we need more sense on censor board.