WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IN 2013

2012 was a good year for pop music in Nigeria and therein lies the problem. As more and more Davidos, Wizkids, Dammy Kranes – and whatever the latest pop incarnation is that the Nigerian pop confectionery can think of – other genres of music will definitely be the worse off.

Diversity is gradually becoming an extinct word in our music glossary. A DJ's playlist in the club is the similar to his radio playlist. Cop an Alaba mix CD and what you have are the same old songs. Yeah, 'Dami Duro' was a hot record but after listening to it at Club Uno, Liquid Lounge, PoP, The Place and on air on your favourite station throughout the week, you begin to get tired of the jam.

Where does this leave us? A nation of music lovers 'forced' to listen to songs that have enough 'promo' money behind them. These songs are not bad it's just that we can't be clubbing everyday and girls can't be 'going down low' every three minutes. If you eat too much cake or take too much ice cream, your stomach is going to hurt. And I dare say that there are millions of us hurting.

The deadness I feel when I listen to radio can only be blamed on the gatekeepers; OAPs, heads of programme, and in some really ridiculous cases librarians. The art of breaking records is gone. Everyone wants to play the record they feel is 'safe', no one wants to try anything new. Some OAPs are so one dimensional that they only play 'singles', when there are even hotter songs on albums.

That's why I don't listen to radio anymore. It's like zombie land where everyone plays the same songs-usually pop. I remember back then when Rhythm 93.7FM were the first to slam Trybesmen's 'Plenty Nonsense'. I still remember that day; I was in a cab on my way back from school. I remember when Keke and D1 premiered Plantashun Boyz' 'Knock Me Off' on their radio show. It's cliché to say those where the days but On-Air-Personalities really had balls back then. Now if your song doesn't have the right 'push', forget it. If the BPM isn't high enough don't even bother.

Nigeria has a lot more to offer than the Alingo-which is a cool dance by the way. Yes we have Asa, Pype, Bez, Praiz, J'odie but we want more creative souls from different genres. R&B, dancehall, reggae, rap, and soul are genres that will help diversify our one-track industry. It will also help the lyrics department. Let's not lie, some of our biggest pop acts write crap. It sounds okay but the construction is just horrible.

In the pop craze of 2012, we've missed out on good albums such as Goldie's African Woman and Capital FEMI's debut effort 'The Year of RnB'. These are not albums that should be swept under the rug while learning the newest dance craze, these are albums that are worthy of classic consideration in the next decade.

What I want to hear in 2013 are artistes who take their time to write and compose a song. I am tired of 'freestyles'. I want albums that are not made up of party tracks. I want to listen to songs and albums that enrich my everyday experience, that inspire and motivate. Dancing can now take a hike most especially since trekking is the new pastime of Lagosians these days. Let's feed the soul and mind.