Battle of the divas: Tiwa Savage & Seyi Shay

As Rita Ora sleeps in the coziness of her lavish pad in London, she wonders what next it is Rihanna will evolve. Her wardrobe is already stack full of assembles simultaneous to RiRis, her music is merely a breath from sounding like that of the Barbados beauty. On and on again, speculations have traveled wide as to if Rita is intentionally doing so to boost her career, or -as a matter of mere coincidence, -just a dead ringer to RiRi. Its been an on going battle for so long between divas, who sadly, not only now have to contend for prestigious awards, but also stagger through steady comparisons via style, artistic mystic and music genre. But take off the blonde weaves and red lipsticks folks; our focus is on Seyi Shay and Tiwa Savage.

First, let’s clearly state how they both broke into the music world in Nigeria. We, are a country with the habit of perpetual name dropping, and the minute we heard she co-wrote the track “Collard greens and Cornbread” on Fantasia Barrino’s Grammy-nominated album Back to Me, we pushed aside whatever it was left of our senses and welcomed her. Roll in Grammy season and everyone and their mothers spread the notion that she was a Grammy nominee. (Wotchu mean? Yall better don’t make me go madea on yo asses).

Her demeanor is cute and very lovable and she actually does sing. Before then we’ve been tormented time and time again with the audible bombs from over-produced female artistes, so we are really stunned to hear such vocal strength. Tiwa has been in the business a while now: by using one stone to kill two birds, (one production; two songs) she recorded Kele Kele and Love Me Love Me Love Me which became instant hits and made radio charts. Her videos pushed the boundaries also with its provocative dances and in no time, her name was on everyone’s lips. Throw in 2 more hit singles and her ladder to fame had no stairs left. Constantly said to have revoked the ghosts of R&B, it is unargueable that Tiwa Savage just like Jesus, came at the right time to deliver us from the likes of Sasha and ManMc, sorry, Weird Mc.

Then came Seyi Shay who brought along with her voice, a weighty resume as well. (If you call occasionally belting just “uh huhs” for Beyonce one). Just in the way Tiwa relocated from abroad, homegirl did the same and to her, it was her passion that brought her home. Yes it was. (Yes it was such passion. Not the fact that the Nigeria music industry was burgeoning into global domination; shut up Shei) It is a vast and growing industry and many artistes find it almost impervious to break through, but with the right contacts, money, few girls to shake booties like they’re falling under the anointing at an MFM crusade (they’re now glorified I hear. Video vixens, is it?), a few catchy phrases that make up the 3mins chorus(yes, no stanzas) and talent (usually the least in the equation) a star is made.

Now take off the weave on Tiwa Savage’s head -the length of a horse tail- and that heavy layered make-up that appears to be detachable, and you have a new pop princess in town. Her single, “Loving Your Way” no doubt boasts of vocal acrobatics, almost like an apparent contention to snag out what was a building empire for divas in Nigeria. She sings it well, delivers the standard video for pop mediocrity, and as Betty White continues to live, climbs the music chart. Now everyone is heebie-jeebies of what next SS has up her sleeves. Maybe record something congruous to Loving Your Way? Perhaps, join a prestigious record label? (Yall better redneckonigze SheiFunmi saw these visions). But still we wait with hanging breaths, straining our ears to the radio to hear what next SS has cooked up for us and hope for the life of the Pope, it doesn’t sound like a TS track.

Here’s the cake: Seyi Shay is Tiwa Savage years ago. Don’t get us wrong here, they both can sing their weaves off, and deliver incredible performances, but in this battle of divas, Tiwa is….well, we have to wait for albums to decide. Yes, albums! That thing Rihanna does every time a virgin in Barbados gets pregnant. TS was scheduled to drop one in April but for whatever reasons, couldn’t, and gurllllllll, are we almost tired of waiting.

But drop your weaves and lipsticks; SheiFunmi just needs his military boots and skinny jeans to contend with these divas. When he gon’ sing, yall gonna need baptist church nurses to fan yall back to life.

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