THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

423-D’banj-Oliver Twist.

2012-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 3.04. ‘Please sir, I want some more.’

D’banj was born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo on June 9th, 1980, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, his stage name is a combination of his first name and his surname. In 2001 he arrived in London, England, to continue his studies as a mechanical engineer, but his passion for music got the better of him when meeting the music producer and songwriter Michael Ajereh, better known by his working name Don Jazzy, who was also of Nigerian decent. Together they started the record label ‘Mo’Hits Records,’ from where D’banj released his first three studio Albums, and 13 singles between 2005-2008, the pair also released music from other artists who were signed to the label. D’banj and Don Jazzy worked together until their mutual split in 2011. By now D’banj had signed to the ‘G.O.O.D. Music’ record label owned by Kanye West, and appeared on the compilation Album ‘Cruel Summer,’ on the track ‘The Morning.'(see also best songs 849 and 267) D’banj is one of the most successful acts to come out of Nigeria, and Africa, his musical genres include ‘Afrobeats,’ ‘Pop,’ ‘Hip-Hop,’ and ‘R&B.’ The discography of D’banj includes six studio Albums released between 2005-2024, and 40 singles released between 2005-2022, there are also two official compilation Albums available. In Europe ‘Oliver Twist’ is his only charting single, having peaked at Number 9 in the UK in 2012.

‘Oliver Twist’ can be filed under the musical genre of ‘Afrobeats,’ which is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora, that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000’s and 2010’s. ‘Afrobeats’ is most identifiable by its signature driving drum beat rhythms, whether electronic or instrumental, and is a diverse fusion of various different genres such as British ‘House Music,’ ‘Hiplife,’ ‘Hip-Hop,’ ‘Dancehall,’ ‘Soca,’ ‘Jùjú Music,’ ‘Highlife,’ ‘R&B,’ ‘Ndombolo,’ ‘Naija beats,’ ‘Azonto,’ and ‘Palm-Wine music.’ The term ‘Afrobeats’ was created in order to package these various sounds into a more easily accessible label, which were unfamiliar to the UK listeners where the term was first coined. It is the British radio and television presenter Abrantee Boateng who is credited for coining the name ‘Afrobeats.’ The styles of music that make up ‘Afrobeats’ largely began sometime in the late 1990’s and early to mid-2000’s. With the launching of the British pay-per-view ‘MTV Base Africa’ in 2005, West Africa was given a large platform through which artists could get coverage on a scale that was unheard of previously. However it was when Abrantee Boateng in April 2011 began presenting a radio show on ‘Choice FM’ (now ‘Capital Xtra’) that the genre really took off. The launch of his show gained popularity, and provided a launch pad for both UK based and African artists to submit songs for playlist consideration. Abrantee used his daytime show to test daytime play of ‘Afrobeats,’ including this track ‘Oliver Twist.’

‘Oliver Twist’ was co-written by D’banj, and Don Jazzy, with the production being by Don Jazzy, the song was first released in Nigeria in August 2011, and then made available in the UK in May 2012. ‘Oliver Twist’ also appeared on the June 2013 compilation Album ‘D’Kings Men,’ which is an Album issued on ‘DB’ records a label owned by D’banj. The Album is a showcase of the artists signed to the label, and comprises of 21 tracks, of which 11 were issued as singles. Don Jazzy was born Michael Collins Ajereh, on November 26th, 1982, in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, he is a music producer, and songwriter. In 2004 he collaborated with D’Banj to form ‘Mo’ Hits Records,’ the pair would work together until their split in 2011.

As for this songs meaning, Charles Dickens’ poor workhouse boy ‘Oliver Twist’ famously asked for more gruel, only to be rebuffed by Mr. Bumble. D’banj’s wish is more fanciful, he tells his girlfriend that his desire is to be with famous Pop Divas such as Beyonce, and Rihanna, but can’t, because he is just like Oliver Twist. He then tells his girlfriend that he knows that she is much the same as he is, because she desires the R&B singer Trey Songz, and also the music producer (of this song) Don Jazzy.

‘See I like Beyonce, but she dey with Jigga. I like Nikki, her yansh is bigger. I like Rihanna, she dey make me day go gaga.’