Tiwa Savage's Wanted: Utterly unoriginal, incredibly boring

Tiwa Savage's Wanted: Utterly
unoriginal, incredibly boring
'Wanted',thefirst track off Tiwa Sav-age's 'Once Upon
ATime' debut derives heavily from Barbados-born
sensation, Rihanna's 'Man 'Down'. Released in 2011,
Rihanna's reggae revenge anthem had her singing
furiously about ending a man's life. The video stirred
controversy when it featured the pop singer shooting
a man in cold blood after he assaultsher sexually.
TheUS Parents Television Council (PTC) called for a ban
of the video, condemning its unrepentant violent
message.
Like Rihanna, like Tiwa Savage.
'Wanted' used to be most famous for being that Tiwa
Savage song that combined the throb- bing reggae
atmosphere of 'Man Down' with the memorable lines,
'outin the streets/they call it murder', best known
from Damian Marley's 'Welcome to Jamrock' hit –
until Tiwa Savagereleased the controver- sial
promotional video. The video directedby Mr. Moe
Musa immediately launched thousands of You Tube
views and snarky online comments. Why? From the
opening scenes, it was clear Ms Savage intended to
start up a storm with this one. Performing solo for her
audience, Ms Savage can be seen in a nude body suit
covering only strategic locations of her anatomy,
flaunting her beautifully toned body. She goes on to
touch herself suggestively, writhing sensually to the
jaunty beats, making funny faces that are more ugly
than sexy, and rounding up with erotically charged
dance moves.
The internet hadn't seen anything like it, perhaps not
since Tiwa Savage had everyone scandalized by the
flesh baring, thigh flaunting fiesta of her 'Love Me
Love Me' video. Having recently toned her sex appeal
down to a more wholesome family image in the days
lead- ing up to her fairy talewedding, it was indeed a
shock to see the super sexualized Tiwa Savage going at
it once again.
The video for 'Want- ed' really isn't worth all the
hype. Honestly. If you have seen any video in the last
five years from Rihanna, Beyonce or any female pop
artiste with a hint of a sexual appeal, you have
probably seen 'Wanted'. And seen it done better too.
Savage doesn't even update the tem- plate; she just
struggles to follow it. After all the touching and
writhing and gyrating, the video is deviously
empty.No climax, no release. Everything she doeshas
been done before; nothing is new. Notthe dancing, the
dance moves or the camera angles. It is just Tiwa,
doing what every other person (including Tiwa) has
done before.
It is important for Tiwa to note that aping Rihanna or
Beyonce goes beyond photocopying some sug- gestive,
come hither moves. While every Beyonce video can
ultimately be said to bethe same performance, Queen
Bey never fails to put out something distinctive in
eachone. Something new, something borrowed, it
doesn't matter. Long as it stands out. Compare the
infectious, tightly choreographed energy of 'Single
Ladies' to the inebriated, loose dance moves of 'Drunk
in Love'. Even when Rihanna goes all out to do
raunch, she does it peerlessly as seen with the trashy
twerking on water moves of 'Pour It Up'. No one has
topped that. Standing out is all- important. And
nothing in the 'Wanted' video stands out. Well, except
maybe for those funny looking shoes.
Tiwa's video does not fail because it is raunchy,
because sheis a married woman in- sistent on living
out her fantasies or because of the questionable
fashion tastes. It fails because after all the glossy hype,
the video is utterly unoriginal, desperately copycat-ish
and incredibly boring.
On to the next one please…