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Sharing a stage with Lionel Richie is a big feat and singing for King Charles is a milestone in the career of queen of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage.
“She killed it”. That’s the language when a singer delivers a masterpiece as Tiwa did last Saturday in front of millions of people who saw King Charles Coronation.
Sometimes I shed tears of joy when Nigeria and Nigerians are being celebrated. Tiwa’s composure and composition heralded a standing ovation and little whispering between the king and his wife. There is no doubt that they love it.
She also saw the video and wrote on her IG page, “One day I will tell my son, this is Tiwa Savage. Koroba , I say thank you for making us proud.
I still dey gbadun your “Stamina”.
But Lionel Richie did not impress me as much. He butchered his own songs even though he came in with one of his classics, “Easy” like Sunday morning.
However he remains great at 73 both in look and frame. His voice is leaving him now. The Lionel Richie of those years had long gone.
Today’s young stars will own Richie’s songs if given the opportunity to make some versions of it.
I think Richie should allow this generation to resing some of his songs just as Whitney Houston did Dolly Parton’s “I will always love you”. This makes the songs to live more in our hearts.
Houston is gone, Parton is alive but the Houston’s version of “I will always love you” lives longer.
That is what Tiwa gave us on Saturday. She brought the black culture to the palace of the whites as she sings, “Awa naa re, a ju be lo, Tiwa ma n se bebe leko Ile.” The talking drum, the dance and the colour are kissable.
Well done queen.
By Kunle Awosiyan
