Concert Fever album with classics such as Omoge and Time Na Money gave us the original authentic beats for the future.

Mike Okri’s debut album Concert Fever in 1988, changed Nigerians local vibe addiction to a global sound appreciation. And he opened our eyes to the new urban sound we should be looking forward to, yet it took another generation of musicians and producers to put us on the global map with a Grammy award for Best Global Sound, BET and MOBO awards respectively in the bag. But for Mike Okri’s generation, Concert Fever album with classics such as Omoge and Time Na Money gave us the original authentic beats for the future.

The Nigerian music scene has always been full of gyrating ideas and experimentation. After backing other legends such Onyeka Onwenu and performing all over Lagos with concert shows and club vibes, Mike Okri decided to launch his brand and fans made it their Playlist top number one.

Concert Fever was produced by the legendary and super producer Laolu Akins, a music behemoth himself. Laolu Akins catalogue is still massive and he was actually regarded as Nigerian version of Quincy Jones.

Leading the production team on Okri’s Concert Fever was a joy to the legendary producer famous for his use of authentic sound that easily changed our behavioural approach in African sounds appreciation. And here we go with quality compositions such as Time Na Money.

One of the unique features on Mike Okri’s songs were his social commentaries. In Time Na Money, Mike admonished the lazy act culture in a man who is not ready to face the reality of life to eke a living. The song latches on the power of time in human existence. Time waits for noone. Opportunities knock with time.

Hey hey hey my friend time na money o
Make you no play with your work you hear
Tme na money o o time na money
Time na money o o time na money…

Time Na Money, just like the other songs on the massively successful album was rendered in Nigerian pidgin English and Isoko dialect from the Niger- Delta. The strategic use of the language very close to the people, also did the magic in commercial success and brought the desired unity the country was yearning to have among the people.

Despite military presence in Nigeria, running the affairs of the nation through coups, 1988, was the same year the word Newbreed came into Nigeria’s political lexicon according to the military leadership to grow and nurture new breed of politicians to steer the affairs of the nation in the new transition.

Thank God for Concert Fever, and much appreciation goes to Mike Okri for bringing sounds and dancesteps that promote our unity as a people. Concert Fever was released by CBS Records

Words Ireho Aito / Images /Google