Alingo
"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 first 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] The song peaked at number 61 on Afribiz's Top 100 Music Chart.[3] 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.[4]
Music video
The music video was directed by Jude Engees Okoye and Clarence Peters.[5]
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 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".[6]
The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) placed a ban on the music video, stating: "erotic dance scenes at the end of the musical video".[7][8] 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. |
” |
|
|
Press release
During an interview with Vanguard Nigeria, Peter Okoye of P-Square was asked about the making of "Alingo". His response was:
“ |
Psquare for the past five years hasn’t done any dance video and our fans expected to see something of that nature from us. So, ‘Alingo’ was just the first song we had even before the ‘Invasion’ album came out. We didn’t take the song seriously until when our fans started loving it. And before we knew what was happening, it caught fire. We have no choice than to give our fans a video. |
” |
|
|
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.[10][11] 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".
Track listing
- Digital single
1. |
"Alingo" | P-Square |
4:31 |
2. |
"Alingo (Instrumental)" | ———— |
4:29 |
Video release history
Country | Date | Format | Label |
Worldwide | November 17, 2012 | Digital download | Square Records |
iTunes release history[12]
Country | Date | Format | Label |
Worldwide | April 28, 2013 | Digital download | Square Records |
Yearly chart
Chart (2013) |
Peak position |
Afribiz Top 100 |
61 |
References
|
---|
| | | Studio albums | |
---|
| Compilations | |
---|
| Danger singles | |
---|
| The Invasion singles | |
---|
| Greatest Hits singles | |
---|
| Double Trouble singles | |
---|
|
- Book
|
|