Wizkid And 2face Idibia Will Have An Odd Music Wedding

jonathan

September 10, 2014 11:52 AM

The combination of 2face and Wizkid throws up a lot of questions. Why were they chosen? Who made the selection? On what basis was this particular combination assessed and accepted by the brand decision makers? Pulse.ng's Joey Akan goes through the choice of stars for this year's concert.

The 2014 Hennessy Artistry headlining artistes have been announced, and it is with great pleasure that we get to confirm that 2face Idibia and Wizkid are the chosen ones for this year's festival of music. Inasmuch as we initially get to feel a rush of energy and joy on the surface, we have to look dig deeper and find out reasons why they got the nod.

An intelligent look through will reveal a lot. For all his star power, huge fan-base and talent, 2face Idibia isn't exactly the most impressive of celebrities. He excites you mildly, makes you feel love and respect, reminds you that legends are a reality in 2day's world, and with great appreciation will you love him. But what he lacks at the moment is the 'energy' factor. Wizkid is his foil and balancing act. Blessed with a huge talent, and the youthful exuberance, Wizkid is the star to infuse the energy and extra verve to this year's concert. His electric performances and appeal to the young women and men will create wonders, when mixed perfectly with 2baba's timeless elegance.

Musically, there is a huge question mark. Both stars as part of the contract with Hennessy are expected to join forces and create a theme song for the year. And that's where the prospects do not add up. Musically, a song between Wizkid and 2face will be cool, but won't bring down trees. They are both core Afro Beat singers who specialise in Pop music. Sure they can play in-between genres and find a meeting point for all their melody, but will they find a satisfactory sound?

There lies my doubt.

Last year's Hennessy Artistry left a lot to be desired. D'banj, the headlining act, was absolutely underwhelming. Fans left the concert with a lot to be desired and Hennessey has learnt their lesson. Once a bastion of good music, D'banj's musical powers have been on the decline, but it's in contrast to his brand quality. Hennessy took the waning musical giant and made him their own, and today they still wonder what would have been.

But this year they seem to have got it right. They didn't just go for the strength of the superstar, in a bid to boost brand image perception. They went for individual brilliance, and musical perfection. The only cloud that hangs is the combination of the stars.

“Selecting these internationally recognized superstars for Hennessy Artistry 2014 was definitely a great choice. They both appeal to different kinds of fans and having 2Face and Wizkid release their first-ever collabo will definitely shake the African music scene.” Brand manager for Hennessy Nigeria, Lere Awokoya said.

Hennessy will get what they went for; increased brand awareness, the perception of class and power. The shows leading up to the grand finale will be a packed affair, with many people drawn to the magic of the star duo, and ultimately, the cognac itself. They have made a good decision from the PR angle.

But what they aren't sure of, is the quality of their theme-song. Let's hope it convinces.

jonathan