It has caused mayhem. It’s understandable. Some people are sour-grapping. Some are jubilating. Some are ‘kubongaling’. It’s life. No one died. No one committed suicide; life went on smoothly. But let’s talk about the song itself. I have never really liked songs that required joint efforts from renowned faces to make it pass. To me, such is overhyped claptrap. And I always press NEXT. For Tubonga Nawe, I did the exception; I was caught in the rowdy tide. I was swept away by the hurricane of shares online. And I listened in, rather watched on. Let’s face it; truthfully, this is a good song. Hatred aside, this is a good video. I honestly never thought that these lads will pull it off. I had seen the behind-the-scenes pictures and I bit my fingers in boredom.
Videographer, Sasha Vybz seems to be at it again, showing his visual maturity, his adeptness, he is a genius; his shots are amazingly stunning. There is the way he slows the scenes down and reveals the smallest of details. The bungee jumping shots were expertly done. This song was packed with weighty names in the music industry. Shot from Namboole Stadium, it opens with King Saha (yes, of all those galacticos); he held his chance in his grip and ran away with it. He was his usual self, crooning and hipping praise on the man with a hat. It’s understandable, really.
Naysayers should take a seat and lick your thumbs. I loved everyone’s part. I loved how they looked happy while at it. I loved the fluidity with which they transformed, one-by-one; everyone nailed his part. Haruna Mubiru sauntered in unannounced; one of those acts that were thrown in to cater for the low-brow folk.
Bebe Cool was largely unheard; he mouthed two or three words and he was off the screen. Gagamel folks might rant about this, I am waiting. To me, Bebe Cool had no impact on that song. But you have to give it to him; much as he said a paltry of words, his voice, that iconic husky voice, seared through and added ingredients to the melody.
I liked Weasel’s part; he is such a talented lad. Much as Radio takes most of the credit, Weasel is quite a ball of talent. You could easily see it in him. When Mowzey Radio came through, it felt like a storm has come; you could hear it from a distance. And when he came, he changed the melody; dragging it into a slow, almost halting the song, effortlessly, with a touch of his magical voice and his crisp lyrics, holding the song in his boney grip, and he released it later, like a pack of locusts. Listen to that part. Sink in your chair and listen.
Juliana was good; she looked different though. Different and more fresh, for luck of a better word. Judith Babirye was almost herself. Pr. Wilson Bugembe preached. Mun*G? Well, his verse was the funniest (you would expect it to be).
And along came Jose Chameleone, the godfather of that pack. Here, he reminded us that he runs this industry. Give Chameleone any beat and it will fit him like a glove. That song, I thought, was his playground; the high tempo and upbeat worked for him. He nailed it. Everyone nailed it. I hope it will reflect in the votes. I hope they will vote with as much enthusiasm as they showed in there. And for the hating artistes, well, channel your energy into making good music. Nigerians seem to be ruling the airwaves again.
Staff Writer