Christmas is not complete until Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is sitting comfortably on the billboard top ten charts. The theme song to Nigeria’s Independence Day is Timi Dakolo’s “Great Nation”. Prince Nico Mbarga’s “Sweet Mother” helps us appreciate more the angels that birthed and nurtured us on Mothers Day. You may kiss the bride only if Sunny Neji’s “Oruka” will be played at the wedding reception. Jaywon’s “Odun Yi” kicks off every new year, and on the 14th of the following month, love is in the air, scented candles are lit, the aux cord transmits slow songs and everyone gets in their feelings – with either a pang of loneliness or overwhelming adoration of their significant other. Several ballads compete for playtime on Valentine’s Day but our personal favorite is CKay’s Love Nwantiti.
For Artists, these special songs serve as timeless masterpieces that secures relevance for their art despite the evolution of the soundscape as the years fly by. The music then graduates from being a song of the season to an undeniable classic up north (pun intended), down south and all round.
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey despite being a festive track has earned the artist a whooping $60+ million – a song written in just 15 minutes but has proven relevant for two and a half decades. In the UK alone, the song earns her over $500,000 in royalties every year, according to The Independent. If you include the royalties she receives from other countries in the world, she’s earning millions annually.
Somewhere on change.org, there exists a petition to change the country’s national anthem from Pa Odiase’s “Arise, O Compatriots” to Timi Dakolo’s “Great Nation”. Whenever Nigeria’s Democracy Day or Independence Day happen to fall on a fateful Sunday, Timi Dakolo is invited to churches to perform this special number. With the rendition of “Great Nation” Timi Dakolo closed the night as he united the presidential candidates at the NEDG/BON organized 2019 Presidential Debate.
Special songs make special days more memorable, more remarkable, more emotional, more personal and simply put – just extra special.
On February 14, the most imminent special day, MI Abaga’s Playlist should be top of your playlist. But it’s okay if your taste is different, CKay’s Love Nwantiti Remix dey for you. Featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene. Out on the 14th of February.