Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the other side. It has been a very long sixteen months, but it seems like we’re finally on the other side. (God willing) Boris has finally eased all restrictions and we are FREE!!

A lot has happened, and the hospitality, as well as the entertainment industry, has suffered, through it all though, artists have continued to express themselves through song, but the lack of being able to properly gather without restrictions meant that an element of enjoying these songs was missing.

With lockdown in the rearview, it means that we can finally enjoy all the good music from the last year blasting from surround speakers, whilst standing up with a drink in our hands, the way it was intended to be enjoyed. At the clurbs, house parties, weddings and of course concerts and festivals. At least until September for some of us – I still don’t trust our government.

Now that the clurbss are open, and there are no restrictions on large gatherings, we can finally ayeeeee again, as Friday nights turn into Saturday mornings, we will once again experience the contented feeling of stepping out of a hot, steamy venue in search of food after shaking a leg all night, or at least for half of the night if you’re anything like me.

And the DJ’s better start the set from January 2020, we’re not skipping over the songs we didn’t get to enjoy properly. To help them get started I’ve compiled a list of song’s I’d love to hear this summer, from songs to vibe to, to the ones you sing at the top of your lungs with your crew, in no particular order:-

Essence /Ginger / Mighty wine  – Wizkid

Yes, I know. Is it greedy that I want the entire Made in Lagos album? This album was honestly one of the highlights of my 2020, and to be able to listen to it again from a completely different headspace brings me so much Joy. It’s a testament to Wizkid’s talent that two of these songs are still on the charts almost an entire year later. I absolutely cannot wait for the Made in Lagos concert on the 28th of November, but until then I’m content to sing along with my mates.

Grammy award-winning Burna boy stays reminding us that he does not come to play, he rarely misses, Kilometre currently has 8.5 million and counting views on youtube in just two months, it peaked at no 1 on the Official Afrobeats Chart Top 20 and has been on the charts for 12 weeks. Kilometre is another rich fusion of dancehall, reggae, and Afrobeats that’s best experienced blasted at the loudest volume, whether that’s in your bedroom or at a club is entirely up to you.

Olamide may have taken a brief hiatus but he came back stronger with ‘Carpe Diem’ which gave us the song ‘Loading’ an anthem that’s swept through not just Africa, but the diaspora too. And he did it again with ‘Rock’ a mid-tempo tune that reminds me of ‘Greenlight’. Coming in at no 5, it has stayed on the charts for 10 weeks and continues to perform well. Rock is a mid-tempo groovy song with the sound bite ‘ma lo fe broke n***a, fight for your life’ and amen to that, because in this life… Have money!

 

‘Feeling’ which was originally written as a poem titled “How I’m Feeling Now’ is Poe’s first official single of this year and a follow up to ‘Rap Messiah’, the song has performed very well and has quickly become a crowd favourite all around the world. It peaked at no 3 and is currently holding its spot at no 7 on the official UK afrobeats charts, and No. 1 on the radio charts in Nigeria for the eighth week. Feeling” is a song about gratitude. It’s a song highlighting the importance of tuning the bad thoughts off and projecting positivity. I’d say that’s very on-brand for the ‘good vibes’ theme of 2021.

This song is a banger! And I dare anyone to argue with me. This infectiously upbeat song is addictive, with a catchy tune and slang you’ll be hard-pressed not to dance, zanku or chop palliative to (whatever rocks your boat). Both the original song and the remix with Sho Majodzi, have over 3 million streams respectively.

“Another banger is definitely the right way to open this song, entering the charts at No 1, Rema continues to make his mark as a talented afro-fusion singer. Soundgasm opens up by a soft arrangement of guitar strums before Rema’s recognizable vocals pierce through. The thing about the songs is it can equally hold up in the club as well as in your chill vibes playlist.

If it goes down when your G’s connect, then this song absolutely has to be played.

There’s no doubt that Amapiano is the sound of the moment, and it has indubitably been publicized with the help of South Africa’s Lethabo Sebetso, professionally known as Focalistic. The remix to Ke Star is a fusion of house,  jazz, lounge music characterized by synths and the percussive bass lines that Amapiano is known for with Davido’s husky voice in Yoruba. Love to see it.

Fast-rising star Daniel Benson, popularly known by his stage name Buju continues to prove himself. The Next Rated singer broke into the music industry with his 2019 debut hit Lenu originally released in 2019, it was later remixed with a feature from Burna boy, which catapulted the song to the spotlight, and it shows no sign of stopping just yet.

Koroba is one of miss Savage’s biggest hits (without features) only second to 49-99. With over 11 million views on the official Youtube video and 8.1 million Spotify streams. This song came in with a BOLD statement, she came to scatter the table so to speak, and it definitely doesn’t hurt that it’s very quotable with the popular ‘I no come to this life to suffer’ line.

With over 8 million views on Davido’s official youtube account and over 32 million views across official video channels, Davido definitely had our attention in 2020, with the release of ‘A Better Time’. The album dominated the No.1 position in the Apple Music charts across 8 territories, including Nigeria, where it maintained this spot for 4 consecutive weeks. A Davido + Mayorkun was always going to be nothing but good vibes, this is definitely one of the favourites on the album.

British rapper “Santan Dave ” teams up with Nigerian’s finest Starboy “Wizkid” on this jam. a mellow summer riddim with a beautiful combination of the afrobeats instrumentals, and Dave’s striking rap talent. I already love this song so much and I can tell it’s going to be a hit for the rest of the year.

Kilofeshe – Zinoleesky

Koleyewon – Naira Marley

Focus Dance – Star Moni