A Thought ~ 16: The Music Ramrod

Renaissance:Music must surely be a/the ramrod by means of which Africa will gain/regain its glorious place in the cultural world. And if not the world, the universe.

Spetxa One by C4Pedro                                                                

Kelele za Chura by Chege ft. Nandy                                                               

               

Leg Over by Mr. Eazi                                                                                                                         

King Kong Remix by Vector ft, Phyno x Reminisce x Classiq x Uzi                                                           

Nana by Diamond Platnumz ft. Mr. Flavour                                                                                          

Dorobucci by The Mavins (Don Jazzy et al)                                                                                  

Dance For Me by Eugy and Mr. Eazi                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Nana by Diamond Platnumz ft. Mr. Flavour ~ #TheYamboSelection

[Note: This is archival material extracted from an earlier version of the Top 40 list published in 2015. The extract was effected to ease (speed-up) navigation up and down the Top 40 list]

Diamond Platnumz and Mr. Flavour, the two artistes behind Nana, are among the very few everyone seems to place at the summit of Africa's musical mountain these days. The accolade validates the great and sustained -- and smart -- effort that they continue to put into their respective creative works. They are versatile, and they are inspired. Nana deservedly places them jointly in the second spot in 2015.

 Nana is a lovely song to listen to. The video -- with obviously well-practiced and finely choreographed dance-routines fused with a heart-warming story-line -- is great fun to watch, over and over. And over: if, that is, you want to try some of those seemingly effortless moves in the privacy of, of...wherever it is you are free to goof and stumble (in safety).

Several superstars make cameo appearances in the video. Those mentioned by this source are: Iyanya, Bracket, Sean Tizzle, Praiz, A.K.A. But the first two that I see, and who are not mentioned, are Vanessa Mdee (perhaps her shades conceal her) and, I believe, Donald. One other person remains anonymous, I think (but someone correct me, svp).

The Nana video was shot in Cape Town, South Africa. The finished work was published on May 29, 2015. That's 2015. By July 6th, 2015, Nana had gained a total of 2.24 million YouTube views. This number rose to 7,978,094 views in the early afternoon of Boxing Day 2015.


Click to watch the video


READ: Diamond Platnumz's bioinfo

Africa's Top 25 Pop Songs of 2015 ~ #TheYamboSelection

I. INTRODUCTION:

This is a segment of the second annual edition of #TheYamboSelection. It presents the list of Africa's Top 25 Pop Songs of 2015. The same criteria have been used this year (2015) as were used last year to select and rank the best songs out of those released or published during the year.  

Since we have last year's list of 25 (see below for the link to it), there is opportunity to compare: What kind of song (genre, singer's gender and nationality) is making it, gaining or losing ground; who/what are the main influences (directors/ producers, other artistes, world trends)?

The listing task requires more and more meticulous attention because of growing complexity arising from a discernible and laudable burst of creativity up and down sub-Sahara, and with easier and faster online access to artists' creations, and 'the market'. Every region seems to be catching up with the 'pioneers' and demanding attention by sheer activity and flashes of brilliance. No one can sit on their laurels.

As with last year, the focus of this list is the song, not the singer, with the added requirement that only songs in video form qualify. In addition, the song must broadly fit the standard definition of popular (or pop) music.

CLICK HERE For the Full Introduction and Selection Criteria
SEE: Africa's Top 25 Songs of 2014


II. THE LIST AND RANKING OF AFRICA'S TOP 25 POP SONGS OF 2015
[Click on a Song's title to watch the video]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the record, the latest number of YouTube views per song is given under each of the Songs numbered 40 down to 11. The data were captured during a two-hour period (2:20 - 4:26 p.m.) on December 31, 2015. This post was published just over one hour later, at 5:35 p.m. One can use the figures as baselines for the respective songs, which can be tracked over time for a number of reasons. The Top 10 have their own respective baselines, as shown above. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

25. Baby Paulina by Ketchup ft. Uhuru (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 45,741
Click here to read comment

24. Sijazoea by AT (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 191,796
Click here to read comment

23. Celebrity Girlfriend by Falz ft. Reekado Banks (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 329,410

22. Fans Mi by Davido + Meek Mill (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post:  4,387,596

21. Make Am by Patoranking (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 28,391
Click here to read comment

20. Laye by Kiss Daniel (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 2,809,191

19. Don't Stop by Olamide (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 260,863

18. Bestie by D'Prince x Don Jazzy x Baby Fresh (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 250,361
Click here to read comment

17. Take it Slow by Zikki ft. Jaguar (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 146,973
Click here to read comment

16. She Need Am by Cheezy Chi (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 1,269

15. Soweto Baby by DJ Maphorisa ft. Wizkid (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 217,054

14. Sexy Rosey By Mr. Flavour ft. P-Square (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 3,245,677

13. Igbeyawo by OritseFemi (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 213,718
Click here to read comment

12. Soke by Burnaboy (2015):
Views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 1,043,602
Click here to read comment

11. Enemy Solo by Awilo Longomba ft. P-Square (2015):
YouTube views on record just prior to the publication of of this post: 2,097,063

10. So Good by Eddy Kenzo (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

9. Melo Melo by Olamide (2015):

Click here to read comment on this song

8. Kaunyaka by Chege + Mh Temba ft. Dj Maphorisa (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

7. Chekecha Cheketua by Alikiba (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

6. Muita Areia by C4 Pedro ft. Big Nelo + Kaysha (Video ft. Rlynda) (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

5. Never Ever by Vanessa Mdee (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

4. Fakosi by Sun X ft. Timaya (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

3. Reggae Blues by Harrysong ft. Olamide + Iyanya + Kcee + Orezi 015)
Click here to read comment on this song

2. Nana by Diamond Platnumz ft. Mr. Flavour (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song
READ: Diamond Platnumz's bioinfo

1. King Kong Remix by Vector, Phyno, Reminisce, Classiq and Uzi (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

Africa's Top 10 Pop Songs of 2015 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION:

This is an excerpt of the second annual edition of Yambo Selection, presenting only Africa's Top 10 Pop Songs of The Year, 2015. The excerpt includes some commentary on each of the Top 10 Songs, or links to related comments and information. 

Other reviews, not necessarily restricted to songs on this year's Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 25 or Top 40, will continue to be published on the blog or elsewhere as and when appropriate. Indeed, some titles on this list were already previously reviewed. 

Finally, as we start looking at, and using, the list, let us remember that Top 10 is hallowed space. Only the best songs should populate that space, in proper order, regardless of country or sex or language or ethnic identity or religion, or race; and here they do.


HERE IS THE LIST OF AFRICA'S TOP 10 POP SONGS OF 2015
[Click on a Song's title to watch the video]

10. So Good by Eddy Kenzo (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

9. Melo Melo by Olamide (2015):

Click here to read comment on this song

8. Kaunyaka by Chege + Mh Temba ft. Dj Maphorisa (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

7. Chekecha Cheketua by Alikiba (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

6. Muita Areia by C4 Pedro ft. Big Nelo + Kaysha (Video ft. Rlynda) (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

5. Never Ever by Vanessa Mdee (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

4. Fakosi by Sun X ft. Timaya (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

3. Reggae Blues by Harrysong ft. Olamide + Iyanya + Kcee + Orezi 015)
Click here to read comment on this song

2. Nana by Diamond Platnumz ft. Mr. Flavour (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song
READ: Diamond Platnumz's bioinfo

1. King Kong Remix by Vector, Phyno, Reminisce, Classiq and Uzi (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
READ: Africa's Top 40 Pop Songs of the Year, 2015
READ: Introduction and Criteria Used to Select and Rank the TOP 40 Songs

Africa's Top 5 Pop Songs of 2015 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION:

This is an excerpt of the second annual edition of Yambo Selection, presenting only Africa's Top 5 Pop Songs of  2015. 

It includes links to commentary on each of the Top 5 Songs, or links to related comments and information. 

Other reviews, not necessarily restricted to songs on this year's Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 25 or Top 40, will continue to be published on the blog or elsewhere as and when appropriate. Indeed, some titles on the larger Top 40 List were already previously reviewed. 

Finally, as we start looking at, and using, the list, let us remember that Top 10 is hallowed space. Only the best songs should populate that space, in proper order, regardless of country or sex or language or ethnic identity or religion, or race; and here they do:

HERE IS THE LIST OF AFRICA'S TOP 5 POP SONGS OF 2015
[Click on a Song's title to watch the video]

5. Never Ever by Vanessa Mdee (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

4. Fakosi by Sun X ft. Timaya (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song

3. Reggae Blues by Harrysong ft. Olamide + Iyanya + Kcee + Orezi 015)
Click here to read comment on this song

2. Nana by Diamond Platnumz ft. Mr. Flavour (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song
READ: Diamond Platnumz's bioinfo

1. King Kong Remix by Vector, Phyno, Reminisce, Classiq and Uzi (2015):
Click here to read comment on this song


READ: Africa's Top 40 Pop Songs of the Year, 2015
READ: Introduction and Criteria Used to Select and Rank the TOP 40 Songs

AfroPOP: Diamond and Mr. Flavour Sing Their Hearts Out in Nana

Diamond Platnumz and Mr. Flavour, the two artistes behind Nana, are among the very few everyone seems to place at the summit of Africa's musical mountain. The accolade validates the great and sustained -- and smart -- effort that they continue to put into their creative work. They are versatile, and they are inspired.

 Nana is a lovely song to listen to. The video -- with obviously well-practiced and finely choreographed dance-routines fused with a heart-warming story-line -- is great fun to watch, over and over. Several superstars make cameo appearances in the video. Those mentioned by this source are: Iyanya, Bracket, Sean Tizzle, Praiz, A.K.A. But the first two that I see, and who are not mentioned, are Vanessa Mdee (perhaps her shades conceal her) and, I believe, Donald. One other person remains anonymous, I think (but someone correct me, svp).

The Nana video was shot in Cape Town, South Africa. The finished work was published on May 29, 2015. That's 2015. By July 6th, 2015, Nana had gained a total of 2.24 million YouTube views. This number rose to 7,978,094 views in the early afternoon of Boxing Day 2015.