Let’s take a look at the visuals for “Funds” by Nigerian award winning singer Davido’s recently released track featuring Odumodublvck and Chike. While the song is gaining traction, the video doesn’t quite match the level of creativity and energy it could have had. Here’s why.
Repetitive Wealth Display: More of the Same
The video starts in an auction room with actor Gabriel Afolayan the auctioneer-a very promising setting, one might think. What follows is just another picture of wealth: While “Funds” clearly celebrates success and affluence, this theme is explored in the most basic, uninspired way. The concept of an auction room feels more like a setup for showcasing status rather than offering any deeper narrative or creative exploration. This is a missed opportunity to push boundaries and create something memorable.
Underwhelming Collaboration: Odumodublvck and Chike
There was a touch of uniqueness in the song by Odumodublvck and Chike, but the video could not do good justice to this. Their performances seem secondary as they lip-sync their verses in the background while the auction and Davido take center stage. Odumodublvck’s energy would’ve added more life to the visuals, but his verse seems too little, too muted. Chike’s dexterous flow gets eclipsed almost entirely. They both deserve a lot more visual stimulation, emphasizing their personal styles, but the focus seems predominantly on exhibitionism rather than actual storytelling.
Pacing and Transitions: Clunky and Disjointed
Directed by Dammy Twitch, the pacing of the video feels awkward at times. The scene transitions are awe-inspiring, especially when it comes to transforming the video from an auction room to high-energy moments. The video does not have a unifying story where the upbeat vibe blends with the song. At some times, the pace slows down, taking away the song’s zeal. What you get is a video that doesn’t feel like a balanced visual experience rather more like a random col of scenes.
Tribute to Brenda Fassie: A Touch of Nostalgia, But Could Have Done More
Davido samples Brenda Fassie’s 1997 South African song “Vuli Ndlela” in “Funds”, and the video dedicates itself to the memory of the late songstress. This tribute, though fairly deep, diverges somewhat from the rest of the video. There is certainly elements for paying homage to Brenda Fassie’s legacy, but it’s only subtly referenced. Rather than developing this tribute into detail, the video continues with wealth and luxury, making the tribute feel seemingly peripheral.
Conclusion: A Missed Visual Masterpiece
The tune, “Funds” is certainly a catchy one but loses out in the video department. There is nothing unexpected or engaging about the auction room setup and wealth-oriented visuals. The Odumodublvck and Chike contributions seemed unimpressive, with the pace lacking the requisite liveliness needed for this specific song. With a better narrative, it could be telling a different story than just being another glorified show of success; it could have woven a narrative in such a way that viewers would resonate and capture the very spirit of the track.
Rating: 5/10
For a video that accompanies such a dynamic song, it misses the mark on several fronts. It’s visually appealing in parts but lacks the substance to make it truly memorable.
What do you think about the video? Do you find it to be lacking from a more creative perspective, or do you believe it competently captures the meaning of the song in terms of richness and material success? Let us know!
