Music in August.
Hi everyone, feels good to be back here with you all giving music reviews after taking the last month off. I continuously appreciate your support. Thank you, I don't take it for granted.
So let's get to it, what were the big music talking points in August?
“You don't need no other body”
It is no longer news that Wizkid and Tems' Essence have gone on to become a global hit and arguably the biggest song of the summer of 2021.
The "Essence" wave started as a viral sensation on the internet as several top celebrities made videos dancing, working out etc. to the song. This propelled the song to become a chart hit in the UK where it hit number one on the UK Afrobeats chart and stayed there for six weeks and it began a steady climb on the UK Top 40 Official Chart.
It didn't take too long to penetrate the US market. The streams from the Apple and Spotify charts in those regions grew rapidly and it gathered momentum to initially debut at number #19 on Billboard Bubbling 100 without radio airplay at the time.
In the following weeks, it was released as a single in the US. With streams and radio airplay it made its debut on Billboard Hot 100 at #82 becoming the first Nigerian and Afrobeats song in history to debut on the chart and the fourth African song in history after Miriam Makeba's Pata Pata 1967, Manu Dibango's Soul Makosa 1973 and Hugh Maskela's Grazing in the grass 1968.
"Essence" enjoyed a steady rise on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as it placed at #44 before Wizkid announced a remix version of the song with Pop power house Justin Bieber.
The announcement of the remix received mixed reactions as the majority of fans felt the song was perfect and that it needed no other version. The part that the majority of fans who held that view missed was the fact that the remix was more of a marketing strategy to help push the song to a bigger audience.
The aim of the Justin Bieber remix version is similar to what was achieved with 2017's Despacito remix. This was easily achieved in the first tracking week of "Essence" which included the Justin Bieber remix, the song jumped up 28 places to move straight into the top 20, placing at #16 which was it's peak at the time.
"Essence" also topped the Shazam chart which indicate frequent open air play and curiosity in listeners not familiar with the artist.
Essence" has now spent six weeks at number one on the World Digital Sales chart.
"Essence" hits number one on R&B/Hip Hop Airplay in its ninth week, notably one of the fastest times in recent years for a lead act without much history on the chart.
Since Dababy sent "Suge" to the top spot in its eighth week in June 2019, Wizkid becomes the first act to rule R&B/Hip Hop Airplay in under nine weeks without having notched any previous top 5 hits on the chart.
Beyond it's mainstream R&B/Hip Hop base "Essence" gains traction on three other radio charts.
It debuts on Adult R&B Airplay at #25, Rhythmic Airplay at #11 and Pop Airplay at #36. "Essence" traces part of its emergence on the latter two formats to its remix with Justin Bieber.
This also pushed the album "Made In Lagos" to jump up two spots on World Music Albums chart to hit the top spot beating BTS who had held the top spot by charting two different number one albums (The Best and Map of the Soul: 7) in back to back weeks. The latter of which had spent 34 weeks at the top spot.
"Made In Lagos" is now set to reach a peak of #25 on Billboard 200 Albums chart and become the highest charting Nigerian album of all time.
The Deluxe version of the album "Made In Lagos" which included Essence remix + 3 new tracks have already been widely received by fans and critics alike. The track "Mood" which features Buju is already predicted to become a hit. Wizkid and Buju have been two of the biggest names who have dominated the year. The combination of that starpower is almost likely to turn out into something big. We wait on that.
From consistently putting out great music to having a global hit, to selling out concerts within minutes and continually being a source of inspiration to his generation.
Wizkid deserves every accolade that he's getting and he's the August star of the month.
Good Things are here!
Country music's biggest duo Dan + Shay released their fourth studio album "Good Things"
This is their first project since the major success of their 2018 self-titled third album which produced three number one hits on Country Airplay chart (Tequila, Speechless and All to myself)
"Good Things" earned them their fourth Top 5 entry on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, placing at number 2 behind Morgan Wallen's Dangerous. All four of Dan + Shay's album entries have debuted at either no. 1 or 2 on the chart.
"Good Things" follows the duo's self-titled album which arrived at the summit in July 2018, "Obsessed" which bowed and peaked at no. 2 in June 2016 and "Where It All Began" which debuted at no. 1 in April 2014.
The singles off the album have already gone on to become hits.
The album's lead single "10,000 hours" which featured Popstar Justin Bieber led the Country Airplay chart for two weeks in January 2020 and ruled the Hot Country Songs chart for 21 weeks.
The second single "I should probably go to bed" peaked at #4 and #2 on the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs chart respectively in January 2021.
The album's third single "Glad You Exist" hit #1 and #2 on the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs chart respectively in August 2021.
It is a no-brainer that Dan + Shay, who are not just one of Country's biggest names but also one of Country's biggest Pop crossover success stories, borrowed heavy influence from Pop music in the direction of this new album.
From the collaboration of Popstar, Justin Bieber to songwriting credit from Shawn Mendes on the track "Body Language" to songwriting credit from Julia Michaels on two tracks "Irresponsible" and "Give In To You" to songwriting credit from Tayla Parx on "Glad You Exist".
Other tracks on the album like the album's title track could pass for straight Pop songs because of it's uptempo vibe and happy lyrics.
Dan + Shay's bold move to experiment with Pop sound fully paid off as "Good Things" is album of the year material. In fact, I dare say Country Pop has never sounded better than this. This album is so good that I'll be rooting for it in every award show for the rest of the year.
The VMAs.
Justin Bieber, Meghan Thee Stallion and BTS lead the nominations for the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards as they racked up 9 and 7 nominations respectively. Both of whom are vying for Artist of the year.
Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Drake, Giveon and Lil Nas X follows the pack as they all got 6 nods apiece.
Other first timers include Olivia Rodrigo, The Kid Laroi and 24k Goldn who got nods in multiple categories including Best New Artist.
The eligibility period of this year's award is from July 2020 to June 2021.
I have my eyes set on a few categories. Among them is the Artist of the year category where Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Justin Bieber, Meghan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift.
It's a tightly contested category in which Olivia Rodrigo is slightly the favourite as she has been the biggest sensation of the year under review. But as it's a fan-voted category, Taylor Swift who has the biggest fanbase among the nominees becomes the easy favourite.
Another category is the "Best Pop" category. The nominees in this category are Ariana Grande's Positions, Billie Eilish's “Therefore I am”, BTS' “Butter”, Harry Styles' “Treat people with Kindness”, Justin Bieber's “Peaches”, Olivia Rodrigo's “Good 4 u", Shawn Mendes' "Wonder" and Taylor Swift's "Willow"
This category is stacked with multiple favourites Ariana Grande has been the biggest name in Pop music for the last three years, Billie Eilish who had a big breakout just two years ago made a powerful comeback this year, Taylor Swift's starpower which has never been in denial released "Folklore" and "Evermore" under the year in review, Olivia Rodrigo who has been the biggest sensation this year. But among all of these big names which go head to head BTS leads as the favourites just because it's a fan-voted category.
BTS currently have the biggest global fanbase in music. This might be the key factor that could earn them this award.
Finally, for the first time in VMAs history, 2 female collaborations are nominated for Video of the year (Cardi B/Meghan's WAP & Doja Cat/SZA's Kiss me more)
Other nominees in this category are DJ Khaled/Drake's Popstar, Ed Sheeran's Bad Habits, Lil Nas X's Montero, The Weeknd's Save your tears.
I would like for Ed Sheeran to win this category purely for sentimental reasons but it looks like it's a straight fight between Cardi B's WAP and The Weeknd's Save your tears in which WAP looks likely to win.
The award is set to take place live on September 12 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with performances from Chloe, one half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, who is set to make her solo debut with the TV premiere of "Have Mercy" from her upcoming album.
After winning "Best Collaboration" with Camila Cabello for Senorita in 2019, Shawn Mendes who is up for Best Pop will perform his latest single "Summer of love"
Twenty One Pilots are scheduled to perform their latest single "Saturday" which recently hit number one on Alternative Airplay chart. The duo are also nominated for Best Alternative.
Following Doja Cat's space themed mash-up of Say so and Like that during the 2020 VMAs, the popstar will return to this year's show to both host and perform.
Other scheduled artist to perform include Camila Cabello, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Foo Fighters, Machine Gun Kelly, Kacey Musgraves and Justin Bieber.
Top projects in August.
Ayra Starr. 19 & Dangerous.
Tiwa Savage. Water and Garri EP.
Liya. Alari EP.
Wizkid. Made In Lagos (Deluxe)
Rotimi. All or nothing.
Chris Young. Famous Friends.
Dan + Shay. Good Things.
DVSN & TY Dolla Sign. Cheers to the best memories.
Lorde. Solar Power.
Ben Platt. Reverie.
Halsey. If I can't have love, I want power.
OneRepublic. Human.
Maisie Peters. You signed up for this.
Kanye West. Donda.
Albums to anticipate in September.
Johnny Drille. Before we fall asleep (Sept 3)
Drake. Certified Lover Boy (Sept 3)
Imagine Dragons. Mercury - Act 1 (Sept 3)
Lil Nas X. Montero (Sept 17)
Jameson Rodgers. Bet you're from a small town (Sept 17)
Alessia Cara. In the meantime (Sept 24)
The August playlist.
A 40 songs playlist of my favourite songs from the month of August.
Click here to listen on Apple music.
Click here to listen on Spotify.
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