Thursday, 28 March 2013

A Review Of Raquel's "Lovi Dovi" Video




Well, when i first heard the audio version of Raquel's "Lovi Dovi" song ... it sounded like just another Ghanaian youth of my generation trying to experiment with the Highlife genre. This is because when Raquel came out with her debut single "Odo", i categorized her as an RnB artist.

I didn't pay much attention to the "Lovi Dovi" song when it played on radio or at social places.
Even when it was announced that, the video for the song had been made and was due to be premiered, i promoted and retweeted it on my facebook and twitter out of the show of support for a fellow artist ...however, i didn't really care.

In fact, when it was finally put on youtube, it took me a very long time before i streamed it, and it was out of curiosity and idleness.

Anyway, before i submit my findings on the "Lovi Dovi" video, i would like to make a solemn confession.

Raquel is my girl but to be honest the "Sweetio" video she did with sarkodie in my opinion was a "huuuuge" disaster. Talking about crazy make-ups, animated backgrounds and silly costumes.

I am sorry, i couldn't help but snitch about it.

i have always thought the "sweetio" song was great in terms of lyrical composition, content and everything. However the video lacked content and direction.
It simply and clearly showed a lack of idea and creativity for the video.

I was even surprised to see Sarkodie on it (looking at how huge his brand is), but i guess he might have had his own reasons (... not many men can resist a woman's charm ay?)

Anyway, i was imagining that the "Sweetio" video was going to follow the story line obviously presented in the song.
Raquel & Sarkodie on set for "sweetio" video shoot
A scene from the "sweetio" video


MY "BIG PICTURE" FOR THE VIDEO:


Possibly Sarkodie meeting Raquel sitting by herself and feeling bored or exausted at a food court in the mall and both being instantly attracted to each other. Then he trying to woo her with treats from the confectionary and he also proving not to be just sweet like a "candy man" with toffes and chocolate bars and lollipops but being also sweet, sensitive and caring guy or boyfriend, treating his new found love (Raquel) to romantic and enchanting moments for the two.

A scene from the "sweetio" video
Or


Sarkodie just minding his own business at an ice cream pallor where Raquel happens to be a sales attendant... on seeing Sarkodie, Raquel with her chin resting in her palm on the counter day dreams about Sarkodie walking up to her and presenting her with sweets as a gesture of proposing love.
A scene from the "sweetio" video
Then from there a romantic relationship evolves, from walks on the beach, swinging and see-sawing on the park, holding hands, romantic dinners and vacations together, etc, etc till at the end of the video her fantasy is interupted by a queue of angry protesting customers who just want to get served. lol

Anyway, enough said about the sweetio video.
I loved the "Lovi Dovi" video and it made me fall in love with the song itself.

A scene from the "lovi dovi" video
The video is about a "spoilt" city girl who travels to the village and meets a sexy young man for which she is desperate to win his attention and affection.
She goes the extra mile of dressing like a village girl and doing house chores at the expense of her polished nails and lotioned body, with the intent of making the young man less intimidated by her class and making her seem approachable.
It was also a pretence to make her seem like the hardworking house wife sort of woman that most village guys seem to prefer for marraige.
However, anything she seems to try doesn't make her "target" any interested.

You need to watch the video to get the full picture... (its simply hilarious.)

A scene from the "lovi dovi" video
 I believed the video conveyed more meaning than the song did to me.
The video had one simple message for the viewer ...

"Do not change who you are just for the sake of winning  love".


The story line was interesting.. the setting was very natural and the characters including Raquel were very interesting.

Personally, i think Raquel should consider acting too.

I appreciated the dorminance of local fabrics used in the video. It told me that whoever wrote the script for the video and directed it had put a lot of thinking into it.

The video is very typical of the director Mr. Pascal Aka in a perculiar way, but it was much better than the highly anticiapted "Vera" video.

A scene from the "lovi dovi" video
Anyway,i usually delete junk from my computer in  a matter of minutes after i have viewed the material but for this video to still be on my computer and still have a good impression on me means its that good.

Overall, i give the "Lovi Dovi" video a 7 out of 10, however, i wish the song alone had made as much impression as the music video had had on me.

Good going Raquel.


Thursday, 28 February 2013

My Letter To Tonto Dikeh

Tonto Dikeh
FRIENDLY CAUTION : 


Before I say what ever is on my
mind, please know that i am a
big fan of Tonto Dikeh movies
and I think she is very beautiful.


Well, I have always been
skeptical about actors and
actresses who delve into music
and I have had some horrible
listening experiences that further
deepens my phobia for these
kinds of acts.


We have had the likes of Jim Ike,
Majid Michael, Omotola Jilade 
giving a try at music.

And if I am not mistaken
Tonto Dikeh
Genevieve Nnaji as well as
Patience Ozorkor have delved
into music at some point in their
careers too.

Anyway not all were bad news though.

some of these artist have
managed to pull it off but most
of them have performed
abysmally poor.


Just last night, I visited a friend
with the intent of copying a few sound tracks
he had downloaded for
free over the internet (legally of course).

 While we were selecting,
 he stumbled on a track he had
downloaded titled  "Get higher" by
the one and only Miss "Tontolet".
(Tontolet is like the cool pet name for Tonto Dikeh)


For two reasons,

1. one because I am a huge fan of
her movies, and

2. because there was a lot of
hype about the song, I decided
to let my guards down this time
to listen.

Boy was i in for the shock of my
life.


The intro to the song was
horrible (sorry i just had to say it) 
to say the least ... to say
Tonto Dikeh
the most, the intro lacked
originality as she sang a hook/
chorus from an old but popular
Spanish/Mexican tune.
 (sounds like "wantara mera") .


Okay, so for a minute I thought
that she was about to do a remix
to that particular song, and then
I realised she was just playing
around with it. 
(Wheeew! ... i was relieved for a moment that 
i was finally going to hear something new )


However, after that troubling intro,
 she started with her own verse and I
swear I had no choice but to
change the song.

You ask Why ?

Well, its her singing voice ....



Two possible reasons,

1. either the sound engineer/
producer didn't mix her vocals 
well or
Tonto Dikeh

2. my beloved Tonto simply
doesn't have the talent to sing.

I would simply advice that, if my
beloved Tonto needs to continue
singing as a profession ...

1.she either gets help from a
voice coach in order to sound
better or

2. Change who ever is in charge
of producing, mixing or mastering her songs.

I just hope Yvonne Nelson doesn't use it as an asernal 
against my beloved "Tontolet"  in any of their petty squabbles. lol


If you want a first hand
experience of the trauma i went
through ....
 Here's a youtube link to the video of the
song ...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_LzhKnLKA) .

Signed: Osborne