As diverse as
our culture is, so it is of the songs that has bounced on our ear drums in
2014, with songs borne out of deep inspiration while others ventured out from bold
new areas. Our top ten Naija rock songs see bands up their ante and make
impressive comeback after years of being in “shadows” while others remained
steady and true.
2014 was of-course was a solid and defining year for rock
songs in a variety of different styles from a number of bands at different
stages in their career. We saw bands like 1 Last Autograph, Prodegalous, Richee
Rawk, XTSamurai, emerge on the scene and leave their stamp on 2014, while acts
like The Rising Rain, Clay, and Stage One took major steps forward in their
careers. Meanwhile the only old hand around, ThreadStone had plenty to say on
what their musical legacy will leave behind.
There
were some tough choices to be made, after a year’s worth of thought and
listening to everything we can get our hands on and keeping our ears to the
ground…after much deliberation we feel we’ve come up with our picks for the 10
Best Nigerian Rock Songs of 2014. For this list, we’re taking into account songwriting
prowess, creative progression, technical ability and many more dynamics.
We give you our choices for the 10 Best and Top Nigerian Rock
Songs of 2014!
Check out the list below.
10. Mighty to save(Hillsong Cover)
This song pushed the Benin rockers, FootPrint5 to not
just local but foreign limelight as it is a cover of a popular song that though
as already seen lots of cover from bands like, even Newsboys. It is a powerful
and energetic rock song which somehow could well contest with other cover
songs, one you would easily substitute the original song for and listen to this
one with all the passion for the original song.
9. God Complex
The second single from the band, The Rising
Rain, a pop rock with a blend of trance and house music produced by their Keyboardist,
Ebuka Onuchukwu. God Complex is supposed to be sitting in an even higher
position in this list for its extra-ordinary song writing prowess – as so many
are yet to get the idea and message behind the song or rather conflicting meaning,
and the unique technicality in the blend of four to five different contrasting
genres into one song and somehow they all complemented each other. It says of
what we are to expect from these rockers from the East of Nigeria. Here is God
Complex from The RisingRain at no 9.
8. Fire down below
The Queen of Nigerian Soft Rock, Zainab
Sule, released this single just days after we started compiling this list and
it immediately made its way somehow into the list. The song reminds a listener
of some rock acts like Dido, Natalie Imbruglia, Avril and many other foreign
female rock acts. It’s a beautiful, laid back soft rock song produced by Kachi
of Stage one which talks about Love, Sex and Temptation. With soft vocal texture
and melodic acoustic chords, it sits in our number 8 in the list of Top Ten
Nigerian Rock songs. Give it a listen and you wont be disappointed.
7. Ocho
‘This kind God, I never see your type
before’, fast forward to the chorus….Ocho!!!!, which stands for God in Idoma
language, is a Great- great masterpiece from Phrance. Coldflames did great work
as the man behind the computer and tools that brought Phrance’s ideas together
and Phrance kill the song with an ultra vocal delivery. This was the first rock
song to be released in 2014 and the insanity in roused from the rock scene and
in the social media perhaps inspired the quantity of rock songs that followed
suit.
6. Need
FootPrint5 came into the rock scene in 2014
and they found their way back here at no 6, and as though it seems like they ‘aint’
looking back any sooner. Need is one of the singles from the Benin rock band off
their E.P. titled, ‘Closed Doors, Open Exit’. It’s a song that reminds you the
unmerited love we have from God and how he’s always there for us. Such a
beautiful rock song you’ll have on repeat whenever you listen to it.
5. Down
Clay’s first or rather second alternative
rock song left goose bumps on the skin of many Nigerian Rock fanatics. She
killed ‘Down’ with her high pitched vocals and the front man to the on-demand
band, 1LA delivered his part perfectly well. If fans response was the only factor,
then ‘Down’ should be in the first two but for some technical reasons and many more
dynamics, it found its way here. Great inspiring song from the Darling of
Nigerian rock, the queen of pop rock. Rock on sweetheart.
4. Bigger
Nuhu’s vocals and Kachi’s production skills,
kicked so many back into their dancing shoes with this beautiful song from
Stage One. The band also re-invented their style with African elements and left
us dancing like the Africans that we truly are. Great song from the band from
Jos and here is a warning please……whenever you you want to press play, just be
sure you have you dancing shoes ready and you are already in a makossa dancing
pose. Thank You.
3. Redemption
The RisingRain re-invented itself in many
aspects, from recruiting new and better band members, to the quality of the
songs they whipped out. The band appeared again in the list on no. 3 with ‘Redemption’
which Is one of the singles the band hit us with and the song writing skills
delivered, again showed distinguishing characteristics of the band and why they
are seen as one of the very best in the game. It’s a song that could well
relate, to many in varied situations. All the dynamics used against this song placed
it in third place.
2. All or Nothing
The first release from Nigeria’s first
post-hardcore punk band, 1 Last Autograph and it definitely was a song you just
know was not a walk in the park to put together. The production and quality of
the song coupled with the growl, which a lot are yet to get their head around
makes it even more attention-grabbing. All or Nothing made its way to second place
and its well deserved.
1. God heal Nigeria
God Heal Nigeria is the first single from
Nigeria’s premier rock band – off their second album. It’s a song written out
of love and passion for a country frayed with injuries from religious,
political, and ethnic hostilities. It’s a song that could well be substituted
for the nation’s anthem. The song writing prowess, the technicality, the
creativity and all round delivery of the ballad gives it an all ten rating.
Tell us what you think of the list, who we left out and who should have made an even higher or lower spot in your comments below.
