The sun was out early in its full glory, basking, bright and shiny as the rays extended over the whole Dallas metropolis. I was feeling energized with all the Vitamin D and decided to run a few errands armed with my mask, hand sanitizers and all necessary ammunition in this COVID-19 war. As I put my car in motion, I decided to check out the Top 100 Nigeria playlist on Apple Music and as expected Simi’s unmistakable voice softly belting ‘Duduke’ fills my speakers, making its way into my soul. After ‘Duduke’, Adekunle Gold’s ‘Something Different’ started playing and I caught a breath. Wait! Simi and Adekunle Gold have the number 1 and 2 songs on the Nigerian charts? Amazing! This is surely something different on the Nigerian music scene and I bet every Nigerian music lover or love apostles heart is doing Duduke right now. This is unprecedented since the height of the reign of the Fuji music genre when we had Waka Queen, Salawa Abeni and King Kollington Ayinla. We haven’t had a music couple at the forefront like this. Queen Salawa Abeni was the undisputed number 1 female artist in Nigeria at one time and was married to Kollington Ayinla who was reigning as Fuji King. The duo had a storied love affair before their marriage crashed but ruled the airwaves as a couple especially in Southwest, Nigeria.
Tunde and Wunmi Obe were also a singing couple who dropped some hits a few years back, but they were a band Tunde and Wunmi Obe -TWO. The Adekunle Gold and Simi’s story is a unique one, both started at the very bottom of the pyramid and have risen to the top. A story of grass to grace, one that would inspire generations in years to come. Adekunle Gold started as a graphic artist while pushing his music, his paths crossed with Olamide and YBNL and his career took off. Since his debut, Adekunle Gold has been given us a consistent string of hits including ‘Sade’, ‘Orente’, ‘Pick Up’ and more. His talent was obvious and totally different from what we had on the scene in Nigerian music. From the soul singer who crooned ‘Sade’ into our hearts, Adekunle Gold has undergone an evolution right before our very eyes, turning into AG baby is your baby. He has changed his looks, his build and followed a deliberate branding plan that has seen him metamorphose into an Afro Pop King. His sound has evolved overtime without losing any bit of quality we have associated with his talent. There is no talent like Adekunle Gold on the scene at the moment, his style is uniquely different and peculiar to him and ‘Something Different’ is a crowning glory of the new AG Baby. He has stated severally that Simi mixes most of his records and this shows what an amazing synergy they have as a music couple.
Simi voice gets into your ears and you can hear it reverberating in your soul, she’s armed with one of the most distinctive voices in the entire music industry. Simi’s vocals have a golden touch to it and anything she sings turns to gold. Her voice is penetrating and puts you on a high that makes you want more. Since gaining prominence with the song ‘Tiff’ in 2014, Simi has emerged as one of the best vocalists from Africa with solid hits that include ‘Jamb Question’, ‘Love Don’t Care’, ‘Soldier’ featuring Falz and many more. According to music executive Ovie Ofugara of Notjustok.com ‘Simi is a cheat code for rappers. She has successfully created so many hit records with rappers including Falz and trending single ‘Know You’ with rapper Ladipoe. Her smooth melodious voice and rhythm serves as the perfect foil for rappers. Just weeks after hitting the number 1 spot with the Ladipoe collaboration ‘Know You’, Simi’s latest single ‘Duduke’, which she unveiled her pregnancy with has climbed to the number 1 song in Nigeria. An ode to their unborn child, declaring a mother’s love that cannot be described and an excitement that makes her heart beat like ‘duduke’. The song has become the anthem of pregnant women across the land and even the men are loving the sweet record. This is probably the first time in the history of Nigerian music that a married singing couple have the number 1 and number 2 tracks in the country.
Adekunle Gold and Simi’s story is one that makes love purists drool and we are here for it. Their rise should not be entirely surprising with the level of hard work they both put in their craft. Each with their own talents but blessing our ears with sweet music. A grin as wide as the 635 express in Dallas creeped into my mouth as I played Duduke and Something Different back to back and journeyed through my errands, hence the inspiration to pen this piece. Pulled up to the side roads, drew out my notepad and scribbled words as they came and finally pieced this together when I got home. If you love love, you will love Adekunle Gold and Simi’s story, it is Something Different and makes the heart to beat like Duduke.
Richard Iroko
