Jul 28, 2007

Umbrella Remix - Ebutte Meta

Time was COB on a Friday Evening. I was in my car driving to the island for a meet. Listening to my radio and tuned in to 96.9 Cool FM, Olisa was trying his best to keep me in the TGIF mood. After some nice Jams, he slipped in Rihanna's Umbrella. Now I must say I was already getting tired of that song, I had heard it so many times and I easily get tired of songs. Anyway, I decided to listen. When it was about to end and the soundtrack was fading out, Olisa started playing it again. I was like "What wrong with this guy?" and was about changing the station when I heard the rap ... "Nah, that's no Jay Z's rap! Maybe it's a remix", I thought, I listened further when suddenly, I started hearing familiar places ... "Abuja, Calabar, Anambra ... Niger, and finally Ebute Meta, meta, meta, eh, eh, eh" all sang by a male singer. Man, was I amused? Even though I had got to my destination, I waited in my car and listened until it ended. After that, I was all thoughts. That song sounded more interesting than the original version - maybe because I'm from Naija myself.

I did some investigation and I discovered Banky. Banky is a young Nigerian male vocalist who recently won the Grand Prize, R&B category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest with his song "My Regret" (here). He and a group of guys were just having fun in the studios and decided to record a Naija version of Rihanna's Umbrella. Not a commercial thing, but it was good. I searched all over for that song and finally found it on youtube. I've posted it here. Listen and let me know your thoughts.




42 comments:

Anonymous said...

funny enough i dont like the ebute metta even though i actually heard him perform it live...

diary of a G said...

yea am feeling the banky remix
the naija version
I first heard it on naija vixen's blog
I didn't like that song umbrella until 2desrcide did the cover in the BLOGVILLE Idols contest

peace

AaaDee said...

hi tayo..

thanks for ur visit..yeah m doing fine..i have also been keeping extremely busy these days..hardly finding any time to concentrate and write..life is running at full pace.. i think God must add few more hrs. to each day..

i have regularly been visiting your blog here but didnt write a comment as commenting on a writeup of this stature really needs some effort..!!

keep writing more frequently..!!

cheers..!!

Unknown said...

I have heard the remix by Banky.... You should listen to his older songs like My Regrets, Ay mami... very nice. That broda can sing. he's fine too

omohemi Benson said...

I love the ebute metta song o!
Its really nice, very creative too.

Thanks for stopping by.

aloted said...

nice concept! I hope Rihanna will not sue him for using her melody...lol..wateva!

Unknown said...

@Overwhelmed, so he actually performs it live? I thought it was just a "fun" thing.
@D.O.G. yes, it's a great song and banky did a good job. Thanks for visiting.
@aaadee, I'll try to write frequently. Seems the "busy" syndrome is all around these days. I agree with you, we need more hours each day ... maybe 6 more!
@olamild, I've heard My Regrets, not heard ay miami though. The guys is good, impressive.
@omohemi, thanks for visiting. I'll soon come finish up on ur articles.
@aloted, I hope so too o! In fact, I didn't want to blog about it initially for this reason.

Ms. Catwalq said...

A NEW SERIES LAUNCHED ON MY BLOG!!!
CATWALQ INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIE HAS ARRIVED.
CHECK IT OUT ON MY BLOG.

Afolabi said...

-posted on my bolg..it sounds good, and funny even if it's not original.

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

hear it at vixen's blog not too long ago. i like it though i can't stand the rihanna version.

onydchic said...

there was an odd but amused silence in the car when we heard that remix. All I could think of is, 'that song had it coming'. By the way, there's another remix which i thought was funnier, cos it sounded a bit like what my class boys would have done. it kinda goes like,

"umbrella, eeeeh eeeeh, u can stay under my umbrellla, eeeeh eeeeeh".

Now all we need is the fuji remix.

Admin UD said...

What's the purpose of having an email when you don't respond to your mails. wat's up?

AIVY said...

i like the 'ebute metta' version but Nigerian artists sing better when its original

kshorty1 said...

What has music come to these days? ella ella eeee eeee???

http://naijamusing.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the invite catwalq
@afolabi, You're right, it's funny
@solomonsydelle, I thought i was the only one who couldn't stand the Rihanna version.
@onydchic, r u serious? where can I get that remix? pls answer sharp sharp!
@ugo, I'm sorry i've been MIA for a few days. I've replied your mail. How u dey?
@aivy, thanks for visiting, I agree with you on the originality thing. That's why I hope Banky is really doing this for fun and not planning to go commercial with it or something. It would be too bad if he did.
@kshorty1, thanks for visiting. Na so we see am o .. LOL

Anonymous said...

Chris Brown also came out with his own remix.
See how they want 2 spoil the girls song for her(lol)

The experiences of an achiever....... said...

lol! i like banky's my regret better..first timer on ur blog..lemme check ur archives.

Saint T said...

was that Beyonce on the bed with him?
the song's ok, went to a couple of his performances here...i hope he really blows up!

Mimi said...

ehn ehn, so u are just hearing it?

Anonymous said...

howdy!

Dolly said...

I think I like the remix.... just hearing it

Vera Ezimora said...

Errrrr....can't say I'm really liking the remix. I hardly like it when Naija people remix someone's song and make it Nigerian. Or when they use the beat of someone's song to make theirs.

...Guess wat? My friend will be going 2 Naija in December and she has promised 2 bring me some gala. Yay!!

Yes, I know December is 4 months away, but a gal can get excited, can't she?

Anonymous said...

Who links to my website?

Anonymous said...

feeling what? Didn't even hit a B- with me.

how are u though?

omohemi Benson said...

OGA, abeg update

Anonymous said...

na wah o!
is it this year or next year?
TO...the whole world is waiting in deep expectation for the revelation of your update!
hehehe...i try, i try :)

Saint T said...

na wah o!
is it this year or next year?
T.O...the whole world is waiting in deep expectation for the revelation of your update!
hehehe...i try, i try

Vera Ezimora said...

Update!

Dolly said...

UPDATE!!!
UPDATE!!!
UPDATE!!!
UPDATE!!!
UPDATE!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey dude.. how goes it.. interesting read, and Ebute Metta is another story!

Dolly said...

Omotayo Where art thou

Anonymous said...

yeah he performed it live during the nigerian canadian reunion thingie last month or 2 months ago.. i wasnt really feeling it.. i dont know jare... i didnt even like the dude initially cos i thought he was a bit full of it.. but i loved his song the one that has the phrase ijo banky jo... thats when i actually liked him... so hes not bad in my books now...

chidi said...

great write up!

Anonymous said...

you know what i really do the remix of ebute meta. keep it up

Anonymous said...

you know what i really do enjoy the remix of ebute meta. keep it up

Unknown said...

@Nadine, I heard the Chris Brown edition. I think it's pretty nice .. Cinderalla .. lol
@the experiences, thanks for visiting! Keep coming, I'll retalliate soon
@saint t, Beyonce kee? I don't think so o!
@mimi, you wan yab me abi??? Okay o!
@pink Satin, I'm fine, thanks. Long time...

Unknown said...

@dolly, great!
@vera, awwww... I sent some o, believe me. But when the got to verastic.blogspot.com, it said you were on break and they had to bring it back. Imagine, i paid shipping 2ce, and couldn't even eat the gala!
@truth, serious? lol. I'm fine, thanks
@omohemi, I don update o!!!
@saint t, I don update o!!!
@vera, I don update o!!!

Unknown said...

@Akin, I'm cool man. lol ... another story, very true
@Dolly, I art here!
@Overwhelmed, that's interesting. I hope he does not get into trouble with Rihanna and co ...
@Chidi, thanks!
@anonymous, I enjoyed it too. Thanks for visiting.

Unknown said...

I am Tino Bendel and i am one half of 'The Muzik Men' songwriters and producers of Banky's music. I am Nigerian and it is a shame that some people have not got the point of the song. We all know Ebute Metta, we are taking something negative and making it positive. No matter what your situation is if you apply yourself, work hard and believe in your self you can be anything..a SUPERSTAR!!! For those of you who do not realize that a remix is just a promotional tool that every artist uses (from Jay Z to R Kelly)then wise up...and those of you worrying about publishing and unlicened use of the song, you can rest there is no infraction (infact Rhianna does not own the song, she just performed it Tricky Stewart produced it and The Dream wrote it). For those who enjoy it we appreciate it and will keep on bring quality music as we always do. For those of you saying we don't do original material do your research...Banky writes and produces all his music and til date has not used a sample of anyone's music. Check his catalogue; "Undeniable" Back in the Buildin" "Heir to the Throne:The Mixtape" all original. We jost got a publishing deal for the award winning song 'My Regret' are getting major airplay here in the US, Canada and the record is taking off in Europe & Asia. We are working on "Afrodisiac" a tri lingual (yoruba,pidgin,english) album of new material that will have reggae, afrobeat and traditional african music blended with Banky's style of R&B/Soul...so don't hate, congratulate. We are approaching 1,000,000 hits on www.myspace.com/banky We are doing something positive whether you like it or not, we are headed to the top and we are taking Nigeria to the top...u never seen an african do it like this!!!!!

Joy Isi Bewaji said...

is it just me or is this Tino Bendel sounding a bit...offish?! am a journalist and i've written stuff some liked and others didn't like at all. doesn't mean they are 'hating', just means it didn't work with them. that's life, deal with it! only when people throw aspersions at u dat u can get all defensive. relax! people will always love and hate. even Rihanna's Umbrella still has a love-and-hate 'thing' with the audience.
nice blog though!

Unknown said...

@Tino Bendel, thanks for visiting here. Everybody here's just saying their minds. I'm sure no one has a doubt about the fact that you guys did a good job. I was initially worried about legal implications with Rihanna and co, but if there's none, then by all means carry on. Banky sure is talented and I wish to see him at the very top.
@Isi, thanks a lot for visiting here. I agree with you, Tino needs to be more "Open Minded". Some of the best insights are from critics.

dScR?Be said...

hehehehehehehehe!!! just saw dis posting...
LMAO!! Thanks D.O.G!!! HEHEHEHEHE, I made him like the original...

I wish banky made something up 4 d "you can run into my arms...." part... ah well, his remix is just aaiiight tho' lyrics r okay too... its woreva man