On May 31, 2024, Nigerian superstar Ayra Starr unveiled her second album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’. In an interview with Apple Music, Ayra Starr explains that her second album is a reflection of her personal growth. “This album has made me who I am now. It was proper character development,” she remarks.
Her latest album contains 15 songs with different diverse artists:
- Birds Sing of Money
- Goodbye (Warm Up) with Asake
- Commas
- Woman Commando with Anitta & Coco Jones
- Control
- Lagos Love Story
- Rhythm & Blues
- 21
- Last Heartbreak Song with GIVĒON
- Bad Vibes with Seyi Vibez
- Orun
- Jazzy’s Song
- 1942 with Milar
- The Kids Are Alright
- Santa with Rvssian & Rauw Alejandro
Review
Among all the tracks on her album, “The Kids Are Alright” particularly resonated with me. It carried a profound message, emphasizing that celebrities are human beings as well.
Featuring audio from Ayra herself, her mother, and her siblings, Ayra dedicates the entire song to her late father, crying out, “Hope you can see what I turned into/hope I’m out here making you proud.” Although thematically different from the rest of the album, “The Kids are Alright” offers essential context about Ayra Starr’s journey. Her pursuit of fame is intentional and rooted in a strong sense of family heritage, rather than seeking fame for its own sake.
“I told everybody to send a voicemail to the group chat — like, if they could talk to my dad right now, what would they want to tell him? Just give an update of your life. We’re sending voice notes, and everybody was snitching on each other! It was so funny and cute. It really was a huge bonding moment for us.
Two weeks before I recorded the song, I was on a three-day break from work. I wanted to rest, so I went to London. And I was overthinking a lot — because I was feeling guilty for taking a break, because I’m a workaholic. And my mom randomly sent me a voice note, as if she knew. She was like, “I want you to enjoy yourself. I want you to have a good time. Go out with your friends, enjoy yourself, be happy.” I was like, “Wow, wow, thank you!” It meant so much to me, so I put it in the song.”
There’s nobody that can boldly say they’ve never experienced loss before. It could be the death of your family member(s), it could be your friends, acquaintance or even your pet. Listening to that song pierces through your emotions, you see yourself remembering old happy memories, you smile, you laugh and you cry. You wonder if they’re in a better place, you imagine how life would’ve been if they were still here and then you pray and hope that they’re proud of you wherever they are.
Personally, I lost my Dad so it could be part of the reasons why I’m so drawn to the song. If my dad would hear me now.. I would also say I miss him, I’m trying my best, I’m praying he’s proud of me, I wish I could hear his voice, and so many other things and now, listening to this song gives me some sort of comfort. It’s amazing how she expressed hers and her family’s emotions into a simple 3 minute song that has captivated everybody.
Few comments on the song:
The intro of Ayra Starr “The kids are alright” gives me so much goosebumps, The part where her mom was having a conversation advising her to enjoy herself cuz she worked for it, When artiste put their parents vocals on their project >
I felt the message
it’s was too emotional
The pain of knowing that you will never ever see this person again kills the most
Today marks one month since I received that call that my mom passed… I think(know) I’ll never be able to understand how I feel ever since
Ayra Starr u do this one. The kids are alright. Am not alright at all oooo. Ayra well done . Daddy Sleeep well.
Conclusion
Overall, Ayra Starr has truly excelled with this album. She deserves all the accolades coming her way, and we eagerly look forward to more of her incredible music in the future. Her talent and dedication shine through each track, promising a bright and impactful career ahead.
