Musing Aloud Hmm! The thoughts I am about to express have been on my mind for a while. Some people may feel their oxen are gored by my words. I may receive knocks on my head. I may draw the ire of others. But I will say what I have to say. Nigerian gospel singers! Nigerian music composers! It seems to me that some people do not do critical thinking about the lyrics of their songs before rushing to the studio to record music. The factors that make a good song include apt lyrics. But some Nigerian artistes just seem to think it is all about rhythm, chordal progression, and other things, except good lyrics. I will give you an example. There is a song titled Twale by some guy called Flo. Here is the chorus:- kabiyesi Olu orun I have come to you Twale (to give you Twale) To give you worship (To give you worship) This dude greets God with a street word Twale. This is a slang that most probably came from hoodlums or area boys. And I think to use that language for God is totally irreverent. God is awesome, holy, and greater than all imagination. To give Him twale to my mind, is reducing Him to the status of a street lord. Here is another line in the song:- If I was an angel , I would sound the alarm For the whole of creation to bow at your feet It is not the responsibility of angels to sound an alarm for people to worship God, at least not in this age. Is this man saying he would do better than angels without knowing it? This is a theological goof! Here is yet another worrisome line:- Even the babalawos can testify that there is only one Jehovah. Babalawos are occult diviners. Do babalawos call God Jehovah? If they truly realised God is Jehovah, they would cease to consult with demons. Why should this man even commend the enemies of God? Bear with me. Consider this line also. Yes I would go on soun, and patewo iye Go on soun! is a term used by generally ill-mannered Lagos bus conductors to give the green light to their drivers to continue on the journey. Is this guy a bus conductor? Why use such a term in a gospel song? By Patewo iye he seems to mean, he will give the Lord a hand clap or some hand claps that bring life. The meaning is not clear but I say clapping your hands do not bring eternal life. I can go on and on. But these should suffice. With the wrong use of words, this man has severely trivialised whatever message he thinks he is passing. Compare the lyrics of this song to our ever green hymns lyrics like O Worship the King, How Great thou art, among others. Compare also with the lyrics of the songs of contemporary singers like the Gaithers, Don Moen, Donnie McClurkin, and many others, then you could realise how unserious and tasteless these lyrics are.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:57:28 +0000