I was never one for love ballads. Not a Celine Dion fan. “I Will Always Love You” is a lovely song, masterfully sung, but not one I’d put on my iPod. Nor do I adore Madonna’s ballads, or any boy band hits you can’t dance to. You get the picture.
Give me the classics – Etta James’ “At Last”, Nina Simone’s “I Got It Bad”, or even some Jackson 5.
But I digress.
“5 & 6”, performed by Nigerian artist Naeto C, is a re-creation of the romantic ballad. It’s “Eternal Flame” made as danceable and happy as “Walk Like an Egyptian”. It captures plenty of African flavor, but sounds as modern as anything you’d hear on Top 40 radio today. It’s thoroughly romantic, but you wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to dance to it.
I wish I knew the meaning of the non-English lyrics – they sound beautiful, and add flair to a song already resplendent with energy and happiness.
A confession: this song has me, the polar opposite of a girl who sighs at the sight of a bridal magazine, fantasizing about dancing to it at my wedding reception.
You’ll dance and daydream to this one.
Check Naeto C out on: facebook twitter myspace truspot last.fm
Tuneiverse 