Fido’s latest single, Joy Is Coming, is an energetic celebration of life and love, fusing the infectious beats of Afrobeats with the rich melodies of highlife. Since its release on 14 December 2024, the song has gained rapid traction, topping Apple Music Nigeria and connecting with listeners through its uplifting message and catchy hooks, but does it have the depth and structure to make a lasting impression? Let’s break it down.
Lyrics
Intro]
Eyay-ay
Dr. ‘do-‘do-‘do, yeah-yeah
Ooshá
(ChokeBoi)
[Pre-Chorus]
He say na me been taking things easy
Catching some cruise with my gees
You smoke one puff, you dey hiss
Commort for the body, no dey breathe
Put on your shoe, make you stand at ease
All your sorrow, make you dance dem free
If e no be Galala Galala, ye!
If e no be Galala, I go give dem Fuji
Wón má jò o, Chee!
Ijò ò ye-ye hm, ijó ò ye-ye, mmm
Ahhhhh!
Moni wón ma jò-jò, hmm
Ijó ò ye-ye, hmmm and ima jò ò ye-ye, Ah!
[Chorus]
And if e no be Galala, I go give dem Fuji
Mòdupè, Òluwá, Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming, Joy is coming, wah
‘Dupe Òluwá, Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming, moni early in the morning, ye-nay
Mòdupè f’Òluwá, f’Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming (eyay-eyay), Joy is coming (eyay-eyay, mmm)
‘Dupe f’Òluwá, f’Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming, moni early in the morning, ye-nay
[Verse 1]
Upu NEPA, upu NEPA (woza)
Òluwá ti mu’ná dé ay-ay
Awon t’èmi shà’ná wó’lé ay-ay
Uhn-uhn-yeah
Do me gently, do me tender
Awón kele gb’òri wó’lè
Awón girlie gb’òri wó’lè, eyay
[Pre-Chorus]
He say na me been taking things easy
Catching some cruise with my gees
You smoke one puff, you dey hiss
Commort for the body, no dey breathe
Put on your shoe, make you stand at ease
All your sorrow, make you dance dem free
If e no be Galala Galala, ye!
If e no be Galala, I go give dem Fuji
Wón má jò o, Chee!
Ijò ò ye-ye hm, ijó ò ye-ye, mmm
Ahhhhh!
Moni wón ma jò-jò, hmm
Ijó ò ye-ye, hmmm and ima jò ò ye-ye, Ah!
[Chorus]
And if e no be Galala, I go give dem Fuji
Mòdupè, Òluwá, Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming, Joy is coming, wah (Coming Waaaaaaaaaaaah)
Dupe Òluwá, Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming, moni early in the morning, (Morning Yeeee-ayy-ayyyyy) ye-nay
Mòdupè f’Òluwá, f’Òluwá, ye-ay (chu-chu-chu)
Joy is coming (eyay-eyay), Joy is coming (eyay-eyay, mm)
‘Dupe f’Òluwá, f’Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming (tebe, tebe, tebe, tebe, tebe, tebe) moni early in the morning, eyay (chu)
[Outro]
Do me gently, do me tender
Gb’òri wó’lè
Shà’ná wó’lé, mm
Upu NEPA, upu NEPA
Òluwá ti mu’ná dé
Shà’ná wó’lé
Skrrr
Review
1. Heavy Reliance on Repetition
The song leans heavily on repetition, which makes it catchy but also predictable. While repetition is common in Afrobeats and street-hop, this track overuses it, especially in the chorus and pre-chorus. Lines like:
“Joy is coming, Joy is coming”
are repeated multiple times without adding new elements, which can make the song feel stretched rather than evolving.
2. Loose and Unstructured Verses
The lyrics lack a coherent narrative or a solid progression. While the song is about delight and thankfulness, the lines feel more like loosely connected phrases than a well-crafted message. For example:
“You smoke one puff, you dey hiss
Commort for the body, no dey breathe”
These phrases read more like random street expressions than parts of a unified story. Adding more structured storytelling would improve the song.
3. Transitions Between Themes Feel Rushed
The song occasionally veers between concepts without making a smooth transition. For example:
“Moni early in the morning
Upu NEPA
Upu NEPA
Òluwá ti mu’ná dé”
4. Lacks Standout Wordplay or Punchlines
Street-hop thrives on memorable lines and catchy slang, but Joy is Coming doesn’t introduce unique expressions that stick. Fido, unlike singers such as Portable, Asake, and Naira Marley, who use significant wordplay and cultural references, sticks to the basics. Adding additional unique street slangs could give the music more character.
5. Strong Vibe but Surface-Level Message
The song seeks to provide a positive and motivating message, as demonstrated in:
“Mòdupè, Òluwá, Òluwá, ye-ay
Joy is coming, Joy is coming, wah”
However, it lacks personal depth. While gratitude and celebration are powerful topics, including personal experiences or challenges would give the song greater emotional weight and significance.
Concluding remarks
Joy Is Coming has the intensity of a danceable street anthem, but its overly repetitive nature and weak lyrical structure make it less memorable. While the atmosphere is excellent, the song could benefit from better storytelling, smoother transitions, and more innovative wordplay to make a bigger impact in the Afrobeats scene.
