BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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Burna Boy is, without question, a master of his craft, and his latest single, Update, is yet another testament to his genius. The Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar has once again proven why he stands at the pinnacle of global Afrobeats, blending his signature sound with masterful production, strategic marketing, and an unwavering artistic vision.
Update is a sonic powerhouse, built on a foundation of rich Afrofusion elements and enhanced by Burna’s commanding baritone vocals. The track is elevated further by a creative sample of Soul II Soul’s 1989 classic, Back to Life (However Do You Want Me). The way Burna Boy weaves this nostalgic sample into the song, breathing new life into it while maintaining its original essence, is nothing short of brilliant. This is not just music–it’s a bridge between generations, cultures, and musical legacies. As Burna himself put it, “Sampling is a way to pay homage to the sounds that shaped me while creating something new. It’s about bridging cultures and showing that music is a universal language.”
Beyond the sample, the production of Update is a beast of its own. Produced by the ever-talented P2J, the track boasts a pulsating rhythm with intricate African folk drum arrangements, a hypnotic melody, and an undeniable groove. The hard-hitting bass drives the song forward, making it impossible not to move. It’s a soundscape designed to be felt as much as it is heard, a testament to Burna Boy’s commitment to crafting immersive music experiences.
Creating an absolute banger of a song just wasn’t enough for Burna, he had to go all out for the video too, and he certainly created a masterpiece. Vibrant, colorful, and extremely creative, the video for Update is a visual feast. directed by the brilliant UAX, each scene showcases something new, something refreshing. The opening scene shows Burna, dapperly dressed in a richly colored and expertly beaded blazer, paired with stylishly baggy pants. He’s surrounded by a crew of stunning vixens, chic and suave in their appearance as they don the most classy, striped, navy blue three-piece suits. In the scene, there’s a tug of war taking place–five muscled men on one end, exerting all their strength and energy in a bid to win the war and barely making their opponent budge. Their opponent? The African giant himself, Burna, hardly even noticing their effort and participating in the tug with just one arm.
In the next scene, Burna brings that Michael Jackson vibe, complete with bootcut pants and that arm jerk-leg tap dance style so reminiscent of MJ. Yet you can observe some Fela too, particularly in the fluid and energetic dance moves executed by Burna’s dancers. Like many times before, Burna stood on the shoulders of those who had gone ahead of him, crafting a seamless fusion of the art forms of famed musical legends.
The next scene brings to mind the sensational video that stormed the internet a short while back: “Aaron Pierce, that’s Mufasa!” Of course, it’s Burna Boy getting the chants this time. The creativity expressed in the creation of this video is nothing short of spectacular. Flashy cars, exquisite jewelry, exceptionally beautiful women–you name it–coupled with seamless scene changes that take viewers on a trip through time. A masterpiece indeed.
Of course, what’s a Burna Boy release without an expertly executed marketing rollout? Update was introduced to the world with an audacious promotional campaign that saw trucks carrying massive billboards of the song’s cover art rolling through the streets of London. Prior to this, Burna Boy teased the single on Instagram by removing all previous posts and replacing his profile picture with a loading icon, sparking fan speculation and building the excitement and anticipation for the song to a fever high pitch. This bold and unconventional strategy sparked widespread conversation and built anticipation for the song’s release, setting the stage perfectly for his upcoming album, No Sign of Weakness.
And the numbers speak for themselves. Within just 24 hours of its release, Update has already soared into the top 10 of major music charts, proving once again that Burna Boy’s impact is immediate and undeniable. Meanwhile, the song’s music video has garnered nearly 600,000 views on YouTube within the same timeframe.
With Update, Burna Boy has given fans a taste of what’s to come, and if this is any indication, No Sign of Weakness is set to be yet another landmark project in his illustrious career. The song is more than just a hit–it’s a statement, a declaration of Burna Boy’s unshakable dominance in the music industry. His ability to innovate, pay homage, and push boundaries all at once is what makes him truly extraordinary. Update is here, and it’s already rewriting the rules.
