#BeyChella is Proof that we Deserve More

Watching #Coachella over the weekend and zooming in on Beyoncé’s performance a.k.a #BeyChella, I realize that we need to demand more from our artists, not just for our entertainment but for their own growth and Country Cred.

When I heard Wizkid was performing at Coachella, I was afraid that he’ll be performing on the same day as Queen Bey! That worried me because every performance I have seen of him are nothing like his music videos but this article is not a jab at Wizkid, it is just a demand for better standards.

A little context, I have watched a number of Beyoncé’s performances and she embodies what a performer should be! Every year, we look forward to shows/events like The Grammys, Super Bowl, BET Awards and many other shows not because we care about who wins but majorly for trends and performances.

Artistes abroad seem to understand that there is a difference between singing a song and performing that song.

Performance is about the things you can do with the song, how you can twist and turn it and still make us love it. It’s about re-enacting a live music video that we would love.

Think of it like a play. A book is written; people can either blandly read it to us or act it out to us or make films. The book in this context is the recorded song, reading it out to us is coming on stage and lip syncing and jumping up and down or even going off key. Acting it out as a live play is actually performing and making films is the music video part. I have watched Chris Brown mime and to be honest, he makes up for it with the dancing and all. Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Kanye, Jay Z etc. are all phenomenal on stage. They invest in props, concepts, ideas, people and give us an experience with every encounter no matter how small or large the audience is.

The excuse might be, you’re not paid enough to pull in props, then pick a good costume, invest in good dancers, rehearse with them, don’t just jump in and try to even distort their own choreography that they have worked so hard for. Yes, most Nigerian artistes are not doing it. You start! Make that your selling point and charge higher. Asa does not go all Beyonce on us but she performs, you are entertained.

Performing is an opportunity to tell a story, give people an experience, address societal issues, address personal issues, connect with the crowd and emphasis your relevance. It is an opportunity to make an impact. It is your chance to give other people a chance.

It is your chance to make people cry, laugh, scream, faint, not just sing your song for you exactly how it was on the CD! Fela performed, KSA still performs. John Legend sometimes sits by the piano but still performs! Reinvent your songs! Find your rhythm and make it a thing.

I remember an interview where Beyoncé talked about how often she practices, trains. Ask singers, it is not easy to sing and move but she pulls it off. If your voice is auto tuned, ask the tech people to auto tune the mic to give us that effect. Temi Dollface performed “Just like that” once in front of me and I have never forgotten it. Dare Art Alade kills it. Yemi Alade too dey try.

We just can’t sit down and say “Na Naija we dey” or “it’s Nigeria it’s okay”. It’s in all these little decisions and excuses that we permit mediocrity. Nigerians go abroad and do great in cities where mediocrity is not enough. That’s why they are so excellent. Let’s leave Nigerian standard and focus on global standards, not just for our entertainment but for our artistes’ growth and country credibility.

Someone tried to compile Beyonce Fails yet all I saw was how she performed through it all and stayed professional and excellent!

Be entertained. Be Excellent. Don't accept anything short of Exceptional