Since February 2019, AG has had a roll out of singles that raise question marks in terms of commercial success. The most successful of these singles being his collaborative effort with Kizz Daniel on “Jore” which peaked at 7th position on the Apple Music charts. The song currently sits just outside the Top 20 and has spent 15 weeks on the Top 100 list.
For an artiste of Adekunle Gold’s calibre, this might be a serious problem. Or at least, indicates the symptoms of a much deeper issue. It is however the sad risk of re-invention amongst Nigerian Artistes.
Owing to the issues identified, Adekunle Gold decides to do Something Different. Unlike most of his earlier releases, it is not an instant pop number. Instead, it leans towards the “vibey” music of Wizkid and is quite reminiscent of Fever in its production. There is still a splash of pop in the lyrical melodies, but this track is more “jam” than “bop”.
Thematically, it is a song about love lost and feelings betrayed. Think Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” but with sulking lamentation instead of painful scorn. While Adele belts out “We could have had it all” with bitter rage, A.G croons “We could have been something different” with mournful introspection.
The lyrics are just fine as Adekunle Gold and co-writer Reekado Banks try to find a balance between strict rhyme and clear lyrical meaning. They succeed and serve us crisp effective lyrics that are sympathetic to melody and song stricure.
To a few, Something Different might come off as a sign that Adekunle Gold is scurrying in a time where commercial success is necessary to drive his upcoming project. However, in today’s music scene, that is simply immaterial. A.G is releasing great music in a time where many of his contemporaries are losing their grip.
At this rate, Afro-Pop is looking to be a great serve in a dense musical year. Adekunle Gold might not have your ears YET but he’s doing the Lord’s work. It might take some time and getting used to but TXT is here for it.
Listen below—
https://music.apple.com/ng/album/something-different/1508548810?i=1508548826
