Finally (D'banj song)

"Finally"
The artist stands in front of and orange and brown background while wearing sunglasses.
Single by D'banj
from the album D'Kings Men
Released20 June 2013
Recorded2013
Genre
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo
D'banj singles chronology
"Top of the World"
(2013)
"Finally"
(2013)
"Feeling the Nigga"
(2014)

"Finally" is a song recorded by Nigerian recording artist D'banj for the compilation album, D'Kings Men (2013). The song serves as the tenth commercial single from the album, which features collaborations between members of D'banj's DB Records label. The track premiered at a promotional event for the record, which was headlined by several Nigerian artists, including the singer. Solely written and produced by D'Banj himself, the recording is an EDM and pop song with lyrics predicting that any girl will beg for D'banj's love and compassion.

The recording was generally well received by contemporary music critics, who reached a consensus predicting that it would be successful both commercially and critically. An accompanying music video was released on 2 October of the same year and features the singer performing at night at a party in a forest.

Background and composition

"Finally" was released on 20 June 2013 through DB Records and Sony Music Entertainment, the former of which is a joint effort co-created by D'banj himself.[1][2] A sneak peek of the official recording was released one day prior to the Nigerian radio station, Lagos BEAT 99.9 FM.[3] The track is featured on the compilation album, D'Kings Men (2013), which is full of collaborations created by recording artists under DB Records.[4] Four days after the initial release of "Finally", the singer released the parent record on 24 June 2013 following a concert held at a Nigerian hotel;[5] at the event, he performed the single live for the first time to a crowd of individuals within the music and entertainment industries.[6] To further promote the track, he partnered with Nigerian music download website NotJustOk for a promotional dance competition, where participants would submit videos of themselves dancing to the song in order to win an unnamed prize.[3]

An EDM and pop song[4][7] that was solely written and produced by D'banj himself.[8] According to Don Boye from tooXclusive, the singer's approach on the track was simple, consisting of an "amazing beat" with fairly "basic lyrics".[9] Lyrically, "Finally" details the singer's "subliminal" and "egotistic[al]" side, featuring the protagonist begging: "You will love me finally / You will need me finally / You will want me finally".[9]

Reception

"Finally" was generally well received by contemporary music critics. Boye acclaimed the recording and stated that the singer "knew this number would cause a frenzy", in addition to declaring it a "potential chart topper".[9] A different critic from tooXclusive described "Finally" as a "confirmed hit" and predicted that it would be very successful on Nigerian radio.[10] Oye AKD from the music website 360 Nobs listed the single in their "360Recommends" column and claimed: "D'banj is back in the building with this hot new single."[11] Commercially, it was listed on MTV Base's Official Naija Top Ten chart, where it debuted and peaked at the bottom position of number ten for the week of 25 October through 31 October 2013.[12]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Finally" was released through D'banj's official YouTube account on 2 October 2013.[13] It was directed by Sesan under his MKN Productions company.[14][15] The video opens with a graphic displaying DB Records' label, and continues with D'banj shooting an arrow into the sky with a bow. Several rounds of fireworks and bright-coloured lighting flash above him in the night sky as he dances in a forest surrounded by background dancers and huskies. As the song's bridge begins, it is revealed that the group is actually singing in front of a live audience before the video concludes with a group of birds flying away. Ovie O. from NotJustOk claimed that the video's release was worth the wait,[14] while tooXclusive's Tyler Batimoore was excited by the created hype and noted that Nigerian recording artist Wizkid made a cameo within the visual.[16]

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Nigeria (Official Naija Top Ten)[12] 10

References

  1. ^ Jaguda, Ayo (2 October 2013). "Video Premiere: D'Banj – Finally". Jaguda. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. ^ Lusea (2 October 2013). "Video Premiere: D'Banj – Finally". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b O., Ovie (19 June 2013). "World Premiere: D'Banj – Finally! Dance Competition". NotJustOk. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (13 September 2013). "Casual Swagger, Cracked Hearts and Earnest Guitars". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. ^ "D'Banj Presents D'Kings Men by D'Banj on iTunes". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. ^ Aiki, Damilare (28 June 2013). "BN Red Carpet Fab: D'banj's "D'Kings Men Live in Concert" Show in Lagos". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  7. ^ Ovueraye, Onos (2 October 2013). "New From Banga Lee! Watch D'Banj – Finally". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  8. ^ D'Kings Men (CD liner notes). Various artists. DB Records, Sony Music Entertainment. 2013. DB007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b c Boye, Don (27 June 2013). "Album Review: D'banj presents 'D'Kings Men' ft Kayswitch, J.Sol & Olamide". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  10. ^ Tobi_tx (20 June 2013). "D'banj – Finally". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  11. ^ Oyeakd (20 June 2013). "360Recommends: D'Banj – Finally (Download)". 360 Nobs. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  12. ^ a b Daily Times staff. "D'Banj's 'Finally' Makes New Entry on MTV's Official Naija Top Ten". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  13. ^ GoldMyneTV (2 October 2013). "D'Banj – Finally [New Video]". YouTube. Archived from the original on 16 December 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  14. ^ a b O., Ovie (2 October 2013). "Video: D'Banj – Finally". NotJustOk. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  15. ^ BellaNaija staff (23 February 2016). "Join Director X, Sesan & Moe Musa at the First Ever Music Video Director's Seminar – Saturday, March 12". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  16. ^ Batimoore, Tyler (2 October 2013). "Video Premiere: D'Banj – Finally". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.