Alingo
| "Alingo" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Alingo" is a song by Nigerian R&B duo P-Square, released as the first and only single from their Greatest Hits compilation album.[1] The song is also the lead single from their sixth studio album, Double Trouble (2014). Upon its release, it eclipsed the 5 million views mark on YouTube. It peaked at number one on MTV Base's Official Naija Top 10 Chart from March 22 through March 28, 2013, surpassing 2 Face Idibia's "Ihe Neme".[2] It was originally leaked to the public. The duo recorded the song prior to the "Love AfroBeats Festival" that occurred at the HMV Apollo in London.[3]
Music video
The music video was directed by Jude Engees Okoye and Clarence Peters.[4]
Dance crave and controversy
"Alingo" became popular due to its popular and somewhat controversial dance moves. The duo first hinted to the Alingo dance during the "Love Afrobeats Festival Press Conference". Furthermore, they went on to say that the pace of the dance makes it complicated for a lot of people. When the duo uploaded the music video for "Alingo" onto YouTube, they received a lot of criticism from people who felt the song's dance moves bear close resemblance to the Azonto dance. Puffy Tee, a music manager responsible for Olu Maintain's "Yahooze", VIP's "Away" and Becca's "No Away", said: "the music industry is a vast one so everybody has the opportunity to create a new thing, so if Ghanaians introduce Azonto and P-Square from Nigeria also create Alingo, it's all in the best interest of the African music industry as a whole".[5]
The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) placed a ban on the music video, stating: "erotic dance scenes at the end of the musical video".[6] When asked how they received the news of the ban, Peter of P-Square said:
We heard about the ban. But when they ban a particular song, they are indeed helping to promote that song. By the way, if they ban a song from being broadcast in Nigerian stations, will they stop MTV, Channel O, Soundcity and other cable networks from playing the same song. It's not possible.
— Peter Okoye, [7]
Accolades
The music video for "Alingo" won the "Most Gifted African (West) Video" and was nominated for "Most Gifted Video of the Year" at the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards.[8][9] Jude Engees Okoye, the elder brother of P-Square, won the "Best Music Video Director" award at the 2013 The Headies for the music video of "Alingo".
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted African (West) Video | Won |
| Most Gifted Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
| The Headies | Best Music Video | Won |
Track listing
- Digital single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Alingo" | P-Square | 4:31 |
| 2. | "Alingo (Instrumental)" | ———— | 4:29 |
References
- ^ "Greatest Hits by P Square". iTunes. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "P-Square's "Alingo" Steals 2Face Idibia's Coveted Number One Spot on This Week's MTV Base Official Naija Top 10". Bellanaija. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "P-Square 'Love AfroBeats Festival 2012' with Wande Coal, May D". Nigerianmusicnetwork. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- ^ "VIDEO: P Square – Alingo". Notjustok. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "Ghanaians should accept P-Square's Alingo – Puffy Tee". Ghanaweb. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "NBC ban the video of Psquare Alingo,Take Banana, Shake Ur Bum Bum and others". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "Only 'one thing' can split us – Psquare". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "Channel O Music Video Awards 2013: Full List Of Winners". 360nobs. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ "Channel O Music Video Awards 2013+ Complete List of Nominees". Naijanews. Retrieved 7 October 2013.