VGMA14 WISH LIST

In less than a week the annual Ghana Music Awards will come off. The event, which is the 14^th edition, is been sponsored by telecom giant Vodafone and this is the second year Vodafone has assumed the official sponsorship accolade.

Each year the organizers of the event, Charter House try to chip off the glitches or blunders of the previous event and this being the 14^th edition, I’ve drawn up 7 things I would wish to see on that day.

1. RESPECT TIME. It appears Ghanaians are good at most things but keeping to their time. This unholy behavior has on numerous occasions affected the commencement of shows. Most event organizers have ridden at the back of this excuse to keep time conscious patrons chained.

Charter House must break this trend- though they themselves have been caught in this mess on more than one occasion. They should stick to their time. They should respect those who’ll turn up early. After all, this won’t affect ticket sales since most, if not all would have been sold prior to the day.

2. IMPROVE SECURITY. Last year, and the years preceding that, security seem to have been one of the challenges for organizers. Last year, security persons were sourced from Cote D’Ivoire for what the organizers explained was to prevent ‘familiarization’.

That is, those in Ghana may allow some people in because they may know them so in other to prevent that security was exported from Cote D’Ivoire.

The complaint was these security persons harassed and heckled patrons attending the show and contributed to the late start of the show since they are illiterates in English.

Hope something worthy is done for one can’t pay GHc 200 for VIP tickets or GHc 100 and get manhandled at the gate.

3. SITTING ARRANGEMENT of nominees should be enhanced. We all watch the Grammys, BET Awards and Peoples’ Choice Awards and see how and where the nominees sit. The sitting arrangement is such that it is easier for the award winner to navigate through the people to the stage to receive the awards.

Last year, same happened at the VGMA13. All nominees were given front row treatment and that was commendable. I hope the arrangement stays that way.

And should an award winner be absent or not around, there shouldn’t be a pause in the ceremony. Somebody must be quick to claim it. Those who might be absent must ensure they notify the organizers of who will be taking the award on his/her behalf.

We don’t want to see anybody look sheepish on that stage especially those giving out the awards.

4. SHOW HOST. Fact is a show is as good as the host. Fact is also that Charter House has struggled to find that one MC with that ‘X-Factor’ to host that show after Kwame Sefa –Kayi. Charter House has experimented with various hosts, from KOD, KKD, Chris Attoh, Doreen Andoh to Samini and Obuor.

Except KKD (we know his pedigree), the various host have not cut it that well. Last year, DJ Black was the host and manned the show well (certain he'll host). If you ask me, I’ll say Kwame Sefa-Kayi must be drafted to host it. Hey, that’s my opinion.

5. PERFORMANCES: One of the criticisms of the VGMAs has to be with performances put up by guest artistes. They performances lack the oomph and sometimes tawdry. Patrons attend these shows to enjoy themselves and to be served a cold dished performance is a NO- NO.

Artistes must take their mic-check sessions and rehearsals serious. They should know that performing on that big stage is not a right but a privilege. Guest acts must give their best.

And the mics must be checked often. Having ones mic go off in the middle of a performance is really upsetting. It can kill the vim of the artiste. This mustn’t be glossed over. Nope!!

6. SPEECHES must be kept short. Some award winners want to do a roll call of everyone who has played a part in their quest to winning an award. Fair enough. But to go on ‘shout-outing’ everybody from God to grandmother to unborn kids is simply outrageous.

Yes, you get overwhelmed with joy on such occasions but simplicity is everything. One thing organizers can do is time the speeches and cut the mic of anybody who goes way off the time. Discipline is key. We don’t have all day people!

In addition is to limit the number of people who come on stage after an award winner is pronounced. Last year was great per this. I pray they keep it like that.

7. SCRIPTING is key. The event must be scripted to ensure great delivery and limit the flaws. From the red carpet interviews to the performances and awards to what the host will say or not must be written down and adhered to. Once the script is right, the show will pass as best. I hope they include a ‘Kanye West’ moment.

These are my top seven wishes for this year’s VGMAs.  Hope somebody will take some few points from it.

THE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE 20/20 EXPERIENCE

The album is polished and seductive, adorned by big hollowing horns. But not a phenomenal one 

 

The expectation was high since news came in that Justin Timberlake (J.T) will be releasing a third studio album after a seven year hiatus. The news was greeted even louder following the official release of the lead single ‘Suit & Tie’ featuring Jay Z.

The album, 20/20 Experience, according to Nielsen Soundscan is anticipated to sell a record One million copies in its first week of release. It will become the 19^th album in the Pop category to cross that milestone since 1991 should it hit the mark.

Unlike his two previous albums, Justified and FutureSex/ LoveSounds, The 20/20 Experience leans greatly towards jazz and soul and less on contemporary RnB. Though not a phenomenal body of work (relative to his two albums) it is however solid. It’s different and an experience.

In his unmistakable falsetto voice, the Memphis, Tennessee born crooner exhibits his singing over a mix of jazzy, soulful, hiphop and RnB beats provided by long time associate, producer Timbaland.

Listeners to this album will be a bit disappointed since it lacks that ‘wow’ experience relative to huge radio formatted songs which occupied his two former works. It still an experience as J.T shifted from his usual pop-filled, RnB cloned, sexually innuendoed tunes like Sexy Back, Rock Your Body, My Love, Senorita to one that shows profound maturity and a relative discount-style wise.

The album, made with the matured listener in mind is dotted with 80s-styled –soul- ballads, jazz orientation, horns and contemporary RnB sounds and a touch of rap. The horns and jazz aura gives the album an ‘old school’ charm.

One of the unique features of the album is the length of the songs. Some span between over 4 minutes to 8 minutes as in as in the case of Pusher Lover Girl (8:02), Strawberry Bubblegum (8:00) and Mirrors (8:06). Dress On (4:39) is the shortest track on the album. The 20/20 Experience boasts 12 songs with a total of 79 minutes of music.

There is also the switch in tempo and delivery during the course of some track such as Pusher Lover Girl, Strawberry Bubblegum and Hold The Wall. Despite it being creative, hardly will you come across an album with such break-and –switch characteristics in contemporary pop/RnB world. One artiste who did such was Frank Ocean on Pyramids off his Grammy winning album Channel Orange. However, the songs drag, creating a sense of boredom. But the switch works better for me.

 Aside Suite & Tie, the up-tempo, RnB/hiphop lead single and the introspectively lovely Mirrors and maybe Dress On, Hold The Wall and Tunnel Vision which will feature regularly on radio playlists, equally good songs like Strawberry Bubblegum (which samples Barry White’s voice), That Girl, Blue Ocean Floor and Body Count will miss out. Sadly.

The 20/20 Experience is worth its name. It is an experience worth experiencing. As they say, age has a way of transforming a man. Undoubtedly, it did to J.T. on his third studio album.

And should the album cross the One million copies threshold, I see the album becoming a blue-print for other artistes. The 20/20 Experience has the potential of defining the RnB landscape which currently leans towards hip hop than the soul and jazz influences of the past.