Musicians cash in on popular phrases
Recent trends have seen a number of musicians getting hooked on popular phrases and turning them into songs.
Dan Lu and Phyzix last year produced a song Cha Nyoo which borrowed one of the popular phrases then and recently Janta has released a song Yomweyo Galu Iwe following the popularity the phrase has garnered in social circles.
But while the popularity of the phrases have helped the compositions to gain instant attention, questions have been asked on the long-term relevance of such songs.
The artists themselves admit the trend needs to be approached with caution since it has the potential of stifling one’s creativity.
Hip hop artist Phyzix, in an interview, said they have embraced trending phrases because it is a part of modern creativity.
He said: “It’s a current global trend to create theme songs around popular events and things of that nature. It’s part of the modern day creativity for the modern day artist in an era whereby the shelf-life of music has significantly dwindled.
“People consume music fast these days and they are on to the next one before you know it.”
The rapper said there is increased pressure on artists to be creative and release new material, which has led them to jump on already developed concepts.
“Nevertheless, it’s a risk, it can be highly rewarding or it can expose the artist to ridicule as people criticise the artist for displaying a lack of creativity and resorting to mediocre stunts to secure a hit song through these popular phrases,” said Phyzix
The Cholapitsa creator said if an artist feels connected to the phrases they can benefit by adding a new angle.
On his part, Dan Lu said as artists they move with time and are always observant of what is trending. He said to ensure their survival they go for things that are popular to elevate their songs.
“When an artist is composing a song, the intention is for the song to be popular. There are other words and phrases which are common and don’t have ownership which is already known to people, it is acceptable to use such fads and make them part of your song.”
The Part of Life hit-maker said the practice helps the musicians to remain relevant, but he stressed that it is all down to one’s creativity on how he deploys the words in line with the message of the song.
Seasoned musician-cum-producer Tapps Bandawe said in as much as the trend has advantages, the sustainability of such songs is not guaranteed.
He said musicians should instead strive to come up with words and phrases that people can adopt as trendy.
Bandawe said: “Music is about what people relate to, so the most popular phrases of the times easily and instantly get into people’s heads once incorporated into songs. Even the corporates when promoting their products they use such phrases as well.”
Mzuzu University linguistics lecturer Chimwemwe Kamanga said using linguistic fads is potent in the development as well as populisation of works of art.
“Such fads are susceptible to recycling, which means if they don’t make it into the long-term immediately, there is always a chance for them to be recycled,” he said.
Kamanga added that the long-term relevance of using such fads can be judged on a case by case basis.
He said: “The fads are part of the evolution of language, which in our country is mainly manifested through street slang (chibrazi).”
