In a song published on January 9, 2016 (and which has 2,245,753 YouTube views right now), Baddo sings a heartfelt love song for his 'hometown', the giant and great city of Lagos. So, what kind of city is this that he so genuinely loves, and invites us all to?
I think that Baddo Olamide, a native of Lagos State, speaks with song to a generally positive trend in Lagos' image in the wider world, but, more specifically, of itself through the eyes of its own citizens. He has been witness to all that with his own artiste's eye and as a regular resident of the city.
So, in his I Love Lagos lyrics, he sings and makes certain categorical declarations and retorts:
"...Oyingbo ekolowa oyinbo
Oyingbo why you speaking oyinbo
I think that Baddo Olamide, a native of Lagos State, speaks with song to a generally positive trend in Lagos' image in the wider world, but, more specifically, of itself through the eyes of its own citizens. He has been witness to all that with his own artiste's eye and as a regular resident of the city.
So, in his I Love Lagos lyrics, he sings and makes certain categorical declarations and retorts:
"...Oyingbo ekolowa oyinbo
Oyingbo why you speaking oyinbo
Oyingbo you dey lagos to oyingbo
If i carry you go banana
My guy you go love lagos
You go love lagos"
He mentions other places, people and things, too, he "could carry you go", and you would love Lagos: Elegushi, Police, Ikedja, Badagri, Ikorodi, Epe, VGC. And there's "oh no hustle", he claims, when you ride through his city. So, indeed, your love would only grow after all these experiences that he suggests we should have.
The sung lyrics are even more lyrical than the written, I find. That's the power of good sound and voice. Perhaps that is because, as I keep telling my students, the ear is more generous than the eye. The singer, resting his case, concludes after all this:
"You cannot deny you no see
You go love Lagos oh"
Here below is the video. It is has very optimistic and upbeat images (of various slices of Lagos) and aurally matching sounds. The chorus is lovely. This is the best music video about an African city that I've heard. It is sung with unquestioning and even protective/ possessive love and passion. The sites(sights) and sounds we see and hear are so infectiously evocative of a living city evolving toward the dreams inside the chronicler's/troubadour's (i.e. Baddo's) head -- and inside all of the dwellers' heads. Yambo says, "Love it all":
Watch Olamide's "I Love Lagos" Video
CLICK: I Love Lagos Lyrics
He mentions other places, people and things, too, he "could carry you go", and you would love Lagos: Elegushi, Police, Ikedja, Badagri, Ikorodi, Epe, VGC. And there's "oh no hustle", he claims, when you ride through his city. So, indeed, your love would only grow after all these experiences that he suggests we should have.
The sung lyrics are even more lyrical than the written, I find. That's the power of good sound and voice. Perhaps that is because, as I keep telling my students, the ear is more generous than the eye. The singer, resting his case, concludes after all this:
"You cannot deny you no see
You go love Lagos oh"
Here below is the video. It is has very optimistic and upbeat images (of various slices of Lagos) and aurally matching sounds. The chorus is lovely. This is the best music video about an African city that I've heard. It is sung with unquestioning and even protective/ possessive love and passion. The sites(sights) and sounds we see and hear are so infectiously evocative of a living city evolving toward the dreams inside the chronicler's/troubadour's (i.e. Baddo's) head -- and inside all of the dwellers' heads. Yambo says, "Love it all":
Watch Olamide's "I Love Lagos" Video
CLICK: I Love Lagos Lyrics
