And the 2004 music awards go to...
Dec 31, 2004
What a year of mixed fortunes for music!
What a year of mixed fortunes for music! Dark clouds of gloom hang over the country when evergreen Elly Wamala succumbed to cancer of the throat. Some artistes walked away empty handed during the PAM awards and cried foul. Four gave the Kora Awards in South Africa a shot but fired blanks.
Our neighbours Kenya grabbed three Koras! A lot of music was released, but most of it hardly left the shop shelves due to poor marketing strategies. nonetheless, a good number of stars kept the pop flame burning red hot.
They dropped some hot albums and singles in our laps. Joseph Batte now brings you those 2004 hits that merit mention.
1. ‘Jamila’
Now this is a song that had one of the fattest basses. It was also a dancefloor filler. No wonder it had the entire audience excited at the PAM awards when it was announced best hit of the year. The video on wife battering was even better.
2. ‘Ekitooke Kifa Nsalira’ by Haruna Mubiru
He is a wonderful singer and songwriter just like his uncle Messach Semakula who co-produced the song. It came packaged with a beguiling Afro/raggae beat and was warmly received by most women. It became their anthem. If you refused to give her money, she only had to quote Ekitooke kifa Nsalira meaning: ‘a banana plant will give you a big bunch only, if you take care of it.
3. ‘Taata W’abaana’
by Juliana Kanyomozi and Bobi Wine
These two runaway best-selling artistes combined to give us this funky ragga tickler. It was nicely packaged with Juliana’s smooth soprano contrasting beautifully with Wine’s delivery. That, plus the call-and-response between the two beats, moved us to head-nod territory.
4‘Kulika Baby and Teriyo Alumirirwa’ by Mesach Semakula
He is one of the best songwriters in the country from the high riding Eagles Production camp. He ripped true lyrics about the pain pregnant mothers go through in labour wards. This track, which was later translated by a Makerere University professor, won him a medal and title of Golden Boy of Africa at the annual International Theatre Institute conference in Mexico. Teriyo Alumirirwa also has lyrics about the dangers of listening to gossip. This is to the goings on of cute beats that were laid down by producer Andrew Kiwanuka.
4. ‘Doctor’ by Sheila Nvannungi
The song was as infectious as flu. Though the lungs of this CBS ‘Witchcraft Teacher’ are not the strongest due to lack of good vocal training, she still boasts of one of the lustiest alto voices in the country. She tickled our ears with this sweet, yet mild love song that had an urbanised rumba treading all over it. The rhythmic styling and melodic contribution were well executed.
5.‘Mbawe’ by Ragga Dee
He was among the favourite candidates for ‘Best Male Artiste of the Year at the PAM Awards on the strength of this track. The glimmers of precious shine came from his lyrical content, and the way he spits them lyrics against the backdrop of an Afro beat tugged at our heartstrings.
6. ‘Nsaba Onyanjule’
This was another of his rabble-rousers that oozed his spitting flare. He got into his cute lyrical delivery, imbuing it with an eeee, eeee, eeee response that had our ears cocked. This track, which deals with love and introductions, is now a must-play on every introduction ceremony.
6. ‘Sambagala’ by Halima Namakula and Bebe Cool
Now sample this. One is a master of resurrecting those old nursery rhymes into hot hits the other, a talented musician, but with a ‘bad boy’ persona. When the two put their heads together, they gave us this zouk-powered intriguing goodie. The track dealt with life, kimansulo, in the golden 60’s and today. It was a comforting theme, however, it sounded suspiciously similar to late Elly Wamala’s Ebinyumo byaffe’ Twalyako bye twalya, which is not a crime.
7. ‘Ssasira’
Artiste: Winnie Munyenga
At the beginning of this year this pretty, glorious eyed bird was unknown. Three months later she was the toast of the city. How come? Well, she really smacked it. Being unique, beautiful and talented on stage is what its all about in the music industry. Thanks too to the mid-tempo rumba track that was laid down by Pam Award winning producer Joe Tabula. He made it a sweet-sounding love song that got us hooked on Munyenga.
16. ‘Superman’
Another of her hit songs. It was packaged in a mid tempo-yet-fresh modern Rumba sound worth a listen. It is still fascinating urge to hear it again and again.
7. ‘Nsoyiwa Faaza’
Artiste: Titi
This track served as a powerful testimony to Titi as one of the best songwriters in the country. And you won’t get much argument when you say that this crooner stepped in the scene with experience under her belt. An admirable piece of work that shone the spotlight on the temptation that married women, and men face. She backed the song with a video clip featuring hilarious comedian Amooti Amubalanguzi acting as the Faaza.
9. ‘Oli Miss’ by Geoffrey Lutaaya
This album, by one of the best soulful vocalist in the country, actually spawned three top hits. Though Oli Miss was not my favourite, I closed my eyes and floated away with his wonderful tones that gave depth to the track. Soothing music that connects with voices within, but it was the video that caused all the most damage.
10. ‘Kunjani’
by Black Boy
‘Kunjani’ is Zulu word for ‘Hello,’ isn’t it? It is also the name of this track by one of the newest urban singer who decided to turn to South Africa for music inspiration. He not only borrowed the Zulu form of greeting for his chorus, but also had it wrapped in semi-Mbaqanga beats!
10. ‘Mambo Bado’ by Jose Chameloene
His musical motto is: the best beats are those that grab and energise the listener. And this is what this dynamic rail thin musician with a gruff voice did again in 2004. This track just worked to confirm his status as the master at creating good, hooky tunes. Though Mambo bado does not burn as hot as Bei Kali, it is a representation of Jose Chameloene’s consistent chart success
11.
‘Seven Days’
You want proof why this young lady has one of the best sets of vocal chords in the country? This track is it. It crawls with pure vocal finesse, classical R n’ B stylings, good song writing and production by hot shot beat master Steve Jean. Check out the orchestral string arrangements.
11. ‘Kanchachanche’
Blu* 3
The trio who are being nurtured by Steve Jean and were unveiled by Coca Cola during the talent search last year are climbing the ladder rung by rung to the top. This track that was penned by Titi is one of the songs that is helping them reach their goal. It rides on the strength of a strong urban zoukish beat and hooks crafted by Steve, the man behind their ‘Frisky’ single that was recorded in South Africa.
12. ‘Kisanja Kipya’ by Peter Miles
There are artists who are incapable of doing songs, which do not sound good. Miles, the young man who gave us One Time last year is one such act. Given this, it is obvious his latest outing that goes Kisanja kipya not only has blockbuster sound from Ogopa DJ sound factory in Nairobi, but rolling dancehall grooves as well. His word play is as sweet as sweet can be.
12. ‘Brenda’ by Sweet Kid
Sweet Kid? Street Kid? Sounds the same. What actually was so sweet about Sweet Kid is that he can actually sing and spit out words. Must have spent quite sometime listening to Jamaica’s Red Rat, because this sprightly dancehall-ish track caused quite a stir on the dance floor.
13. ‘Sunda’ by Ziggy Dee
and Bobi Wine
After emerging with that might ‘Eno Mic’ track, which was stocked with a quite heavy South African kwaito beat, he teamed with Bobi Wine. Problem was its tonal flow was awfully similar to ‘Eno Mic,’ but a dancehall stomper all the same.
13. ‘Nubian Queen’
by Dorothy and Mosh
This moon-round-faced duo worked their way into our hearts with this brilliant single, which was a great listen. The melody, the video, the vibe all had one thing in common. They were hooklicious and put them in power song territory with the best in 2004.
14 ‘Kunyanja Twagobako’
by Mariam Ndagire
She has been in the tabloid press for wrong reasons manufactured to tarnish her name. That apart, this black beauty with an enchanting smile that can melt the coldest of hearts made a good account of herself with this track that has nice vibes.
15. ‘Pilot Wange’
by Rebecca Jingo
As the curtain was closing on 2004, in breezed this lady with her prominent voice and a cute album full of melody power. She made her solo move with confidence, relying on the pen of Kato Lubwama and the feel-good dope beats by innocent Kayizzi.
16. ‘Foda’ by East World
These wide-eyed schoolboys from Busoga were surprise high achievers in 2004, especially in their homeland. They kicked ass at Munyonyo and walked away with four PAM Awards. Of course the entire Busoga voted overwhelmingly for them in all the categories they were nominated in just because they were singing about vintage Ford cars that were a prized item in that region.
17. ‘Say it’ by Juliana Kanyomozi
Though it’s hooky from start to finish, you can still accuse her of pandering too heavily to a western style of pop music. This track seemed to have been directed to capture the hearts young student crowds. But all the same it had a comforting swing that was pleasing to an old ear as well.
18. ‘Weere Weffe’ by Juliet Mugirya
She became a household name in her home town of Mbale with this track that was powered by a folksy genre called Luwengere from Bugisu. It was a hit late last year and continued burning hot this year earning her a PAM award.
19. ‘Grade’ by Sister Charity
Grade, in my opinion, was the best song to come out of Ankole this year and the girl got it in with the right beats. The song is brazen attack on men who con women who are grades above them, forgetting entaama tekuza ha mbuzi(a sheep can’t mount a goat). You don’t need to understand Lunyakole to enjoy this song.
20. ‘Take me to Calvary’
Artiste: George Okudi
Now this is what I call music by this Bible beater. He delivers something new and different that follows closely behind Wipolo with furious Mbalax rhythms from Senegal!
21. ‘Gwe Luyimba Lwange’
by Betty Nakibuuka
This songbird is a household name on the Gospel circuit. She lived up the hype and hit the nail on the head melodically with this track that it won her a Gospel Award.
22. ‘Bamuyita Yesu and Mbulira Gwotambula naye’ by Betty Namaganda
These two brilliant singles are from one of the most respected names on the local Gospel music scene. They are undeniable up-tempo tracks, which had even the brethren in church jumping up and down, ululating and punching the air like teenagers wherever she went on stage to sing them.
23. ‘Kameme’ by Gerald Kiweewa
This dude, whose singing is steeped in tonalities of kadongo kamu singers, caused quite a storm with Gaali Ekozeeko (second-hand car), which can be loosely translated as sugar mummy. Kameeme flows is the same vein as any kadongo kamu music. Kameeme is usually reserved for conductors or passengers, who want a free lift. But in Kiweewa’s context, it is a woman who is already married or booked.
24. ‘Bam Bam’
Artiste: Bobi Wine
This spike dread-locked bloke dropped this phat-blessed jam that was marked with some nicely rhythmic vocals and a great sense of verbal syncopation. The video that was shot in the ghettos of Kamwokya, and features the wacky duo of Paddy Bitama and Amooti Omubalanguzi of Amarula Family, among others was a piece of video art at its best.
Our neighbours Kenya grabbed three Koras! A lot of music was released, but most of it hardly left the shop shelves due to poor marketing strategies. nonetheless, a good number of stars kept the pop flame burning red hot.
They dropped some hot albums and singles in our laps. Joseph Batte now brings you those 2004 hits that merit mention.
1. ‘Jamila’
Now this is a song that had one of the fattest basses. It was also a dancefloor filler. No wonder it had the entire audience excited at the PAM awards when it was announced best hit of the year. The video on wife battering was even better.
2. ‘Ekitooke Kifa Nsalira’ by Haruna Mubiru
He is a wonderful singer and songwriter just like his uncle Messach Semakula who co-produced the song. It came packaged with a beguiling Afro/raggae beat and was warmly received by most women. It became their anthem. If you refused to give her money, she only had to quote Ekitooke kifa Nsalira meaning: ‘a banana plant will give you a big bunch only, if you take care of it.
3. ‘Taata W’abaana’
by Juliana Kanyomozi and Bobi Wine
These two runaway best-selling artistes combined to give us this funky ragga tickler. It was nicely packaged with Juliana’s smooth soprano contrasting beautifully with Wine’s delivery. That, plus the call-and-response between the two beats, moved us to head-nod territory.
4‘Kulika Baby and Teriyo Alumirirwa’ by Mesach Semakula
He is one of the best songwriters in the country from the high riding Eagles Production camp. He ripped true lyrics about the pain pregnant mothers go through in labour wards. This track, which was later translated by a Makerere University professor, won him a medal and title of Golden Boy of Africa at the annual International Theatre Institute conference in Mexico. Teriyo Alumirirwa also has lyrics about the dangers of listening to gossip. This is to the goings on of cute beats that were laid down by producer Andrew Kiwanuka.
4. ‘Doctor’ by Sheila Nvannungi
The song was as infectious as flu. Though the lungs of this CBS ‘Witchcraft Teacher’ are not the strongest due to lack of good vocal training, she still boasts of one of the lustiest alto voices in the country. She tickled our ears with this sweet, yet mild love song that had an urbanised rumba treading all over it. The rhythmic styling and melodic contribution were well executed.
5.‘Mbawe’ by Ragga Dee
He was among the favourite candidates for ‘Best Male Artiste of the Year at the PAM Awards on the strength of this track. The glimmers of precious shine came from his lyrical content, and the way he spits them lyrics against the backdrop of an Afro beat tugged at our heartstrings.
6. ‘Nsaba Onyanjule’
This was another of his rabble-rousers that oozed his spitting flare. He got into his cute lyrical delivery, imbuing it with an eeee, eeee, eeee response that had our ears cocked. This track, which deals with love and introductions, is now a must-play on every introduction ceremony.
6. ‘Sambagala’ by Halima Namakula and Bebe Cool
Now sample this. One is a master of resurrecting those old nursery rhymes into hot hits the other, a talented musician, but with a ‘bad boy’ persona. When the two put their heads together, they gave us this zouk-powered intriguing goodie. The track dealt with life, kimansulo, in the golden 60’s and today. It was a comforting theme, however, it sounded suspiciously similar to late Elly Wamala’s Ebinyumo byaffe’ Twalyako bye twalya, which is not a crime.
7. ‘Ssasira’
Artiste: Winnie Munyenga
At the beginning of this year this pretty, glorious eyed bird was unknown. Three months later she was the toast of the city. How come? Well, she really smacked it. Being unique, beautiful and talented on stage is what its all about in the music industry. Thanks too to the mid-tempo rumba track that was laid down by Pam Award winning producer Joe Tabula. He made it a sweet-sounding love song that got us hooked on Munyenga.
16. ‘Superman’
Another of her hit songs. It was packaged in a mid tempo-yet-fresh modern Rumba sound worth a listen. It is still fascinating urge to hear it again and again.
7. ‘Nsoyiwa Faaza’
Artiste: Titi
This track served as a powerful testimony to Titi as one of the best songwriters in the country. And you won’t get much argument when you say that this crooner stepped in the scene with experience under her belt. An admirable piece of work that shone the spotlight on the temptation that married women, and men face. She backed the song with a video clip featuring hilarious comedian Amooti Amubalanguzi acting as the Faaza.
9. ‘Oli Miss’ by Geoffrey Lutaaya
This album, by one of the best soulful vocalist in the country, actually spawned three top hits. Though Oli Miss was not my favourite, I closed my eyes and floated away with his wonderful tones that gave depth to the track. Soothing music that connects with voices within, but it was the video that caused all the most damage.
10. ‘Kunjani’
by Black Boy
‘Kunjani’ is Zulu word for ‘Hello,’ isn’t it? It is also the name of this track by one of the newest urban singer who decided to turn to South Africa for music inspiration. He not only borrowed the Zulu form of greeting for his chorus, but also had it wrapped in semi-Mbaqanga beats!
10. ‘Mambo Bado’ by Jose Chameloene
His musical motto is: the best beats are those that grab and energise the listener. And this is what this dynamic rail thin musician with a gruff voice did again in 2004. This track just worked to confirm his status as the master at creating good, hooky tunes. Though Mambo bado does not burn as hot as Bei Kali, it is a representation of Jose Chameloene’s consistent chart success
11.
‘Seven Days’
You want proof why this young lady has one of the best sets of vocal chords in the country? This track is it. It crawls with pure vocal finesse, classical R n’ B stylings, good song writing and production by hot shot beat master Steve Jean. Check out the orchestral string arrangements.
11. ‘Kanchachanche’
Blu* 3
The trio who are being nurtured by Steve Jean and were unveiled by Coca Cola during the talent search last year are climbing the ladder rung by rung to the top. This track that was penned by Titi is one of the songs that is helping them reach their goal. It rides on the strength of a strong urban zoukish beat and hooks crafted by Steve, the man behind their ‘Frisky’ single that was recorded in South Africa.
12. ‘Kisanja Kipya’ by Peter Miles
There are artists who are incapable of doing songs, which do not sound good. Miles, the young man who gave us One Time last year is one such act. Given this, it is obvious his latest outing that goes Kisanja kipya not only has blockbuster sound from Ogopa DJ sound factory in Nairobi, but rolling dancehall grooves as well. His word play is as sweet as sweet can be.
12. ‘Brenda’ by Sweet Kid
Sweet Kid? Street Kid? Sounds the same. What actually was so sweet about Sweet Kid is that he can actually sing and spit out words. Must have spent quite sometime listening to Jamaica’s Red Rat, because this sprightly dancehall-ish track caused quite a stir on the dance floor.
13. ‘Sunda’ by Ziggy Dee
and Bobi Wine
After emerging with that might ‘Eno Mic’ track, which was stocked with a quite heavy South African kwaito beat, he teamed with Bobi Wine. Problem was its tonal flow was awfully similar to ‘Eno Mic,’ but a dancehall stomper all the same.
13. ‘Nubian Queen’
by Dorothy and Mosh
This moon-round-faced duo worked their way into our hearts with this brilliant single, which was a great listen. The melody, the video, the vibe all had one thing in common. They were hooklicious and put them in power song territory with the best in 2004.
14 ‘Kunyanja Twagobako’
by Mariam Ndagire
She has been in the tabloid press for wrong reasons manufactured to tarnish her name. That apart, this black beauty with an enchanting smile that can melt the coldest of hearts made a good account of herself with this track that has nice vibes.
15. ‘Pilot Wange’
by Rebecca Jingo
As the curtain was closing on 2004, in breezed this lady with her prominent voice and a cute album full of melody power. She made her solo move with confidence, relying on the pen of Kato Lubwama and the feel-good dope beats by innocent Kayizzi.
16. ‘Foda’ by East World
These wide-eyed schoolboys from Busoga were surprise high achievers in 2004, especially in their homeland. They kicked ass at Munyonyo and walked away with four PAM Awards. Of course the entire Busoga voted overwhelmingly for them in all the categories they were nominated in just because they were singing about vintage Ford cars that were a prized item in that region.
17. ‘Say it’ by Juliana Kanyomozi
Though it’s hooky from start to finish, you can still accuse her of pandering too heavily to a western style of pop music. This track seemed to have been directed to capture the hearts young student crowds. But all the same it had a comforting swing that was pleasing to an old ear as well.
18. ‘Weere Weffe’ by Juliet Mugirya
She became a household name in her home town of Mbale with this track that was powered by a folksy genre called Luwengere from Bugisu. It was a hit late last year and continued burning hot this year earning her a PAM award.
19. ‘Grade’ by Sister Charity
Grade, in my opinion, was the best song to come out of Ankole this year and the girl got it in with the right beats. The song is brazen attack on men who con women who are grades above them, forgetting entaama tekuza ha mbuzi(a sheep can’t mount a goat). You don’t need to understand Lunyakole to enjoy this song.
20. ‘Take me to Calvary’
Artiste: George Okudi
Now this is what I call music by this Bible beater. He delivers something new and different that follows closely behind Wipolo with furious Mbalax rhythms from Senegal!
21. ‘Gwe Luyimba Lwange’
by Betty Nakibuuka
This songbird is a household name on the Gospel circuit. She lived up the hype and hit the nail on the head melodically with this track that it won her a Gospel Award.
22. ‘Bamuyita Yesu and Mbulira Gwotambula naye’ by Betty Namaganda
These two brilliant singles are from one of the most respected names on the local Gospel music scene. They are undeniable up-tempo tracks, which had even the brethren in church jumping up and down, ululating and punching the air like teenagers wherever she went on stage to sing them.
23. ‘Kameme’ by Gerald Kiweewa
This dude, whose singing is steeped in tonalities of kadongo kamu singers, caused quite a storm with Gaali Ekozeeko (second-hand car), which can be loosely translated as sugar mummy. Kameeme flows is the same vein as any kadongo kamu music. Kameeme is usually reserved for conductors or passengers, who want a free lift. But in Kiweewa’s context, it is a woman who is already married or booked.
24. ‘Bam Bam’
Artiste: Bobi Wine
This spike dread-locked bloke dropped this phat-blessed jam that was marked with some nicely rhythmic vocals and a great sense of verbal syncopation. The video that was shot in the ghettos of Kamwokya, and features the wacky duo of Paddy Bitama and Amooti Omubalanguzi of Amarula Family, among others was a piece of video art at its best.