For a man who has shown workings with songs like “Sade,” “Orente” and “High,” Adekunle Gold’s penmanship have never been in doubt.
So it came as a shock when the singer, in response to a fan’s question about his most regrettable song, nominated “Ready.”
“I wanted to replicate the success of ‘Pick Up,’ so I made the exact sound, just a different story and till today it haunts me. In fact, I don’t perform it for that reason,” he tweeted.
But fans weren’t having it and voiced out in the comments.
Abisola Babatope was among the first to chime in when he wrote: “Ready is sweet sha, na you know wetin you dey talk.”
@omokehinde___ was also not in the mood for entertaining any “Ready” slander: “No ‘Ready’ Slander will be allowed here. What are you saying? no vex me abeg”
@eniturn wasn’t having it either: “Ready wey dem use sleep with me? Please behave yourself Kunle”
@SimpleTeeh went as far as threatening incarceration: If no be say na you sing Ready, them suppose lock you up, cuz what????
@HonestyNwaeke pleaded: “Omo, me I like “ready” ooo. Don’t regret writing it abeg.”
@melosoj couldn’t believe it: “Wait, shey my own jam abi which ‘Ready’ Kunle dey talk?”
@freshdebut5 warned stylishly: “Big fish… No vex me o
‘Ready’ is the best song you have ever released”
If these reactions are anything to go by, it’s that an artiste’s perception and self-critique song doesn’t always correlate with the audience’s. To Adekunle Gold, “Ready” was a botched attempt at replicating a successful formula. To fans, it was the creation of something special.
It mirrors the story of Burna Boy’s “Last Last,” where the singer emotionally laid down his heartbreak that became a dancefloor favorite, or Belgian singer Stromae’s “Papaoutai,” a song about a missing father that turned into an anthem.
In both cases the intention was overshadowed by the listeners’ interpretation and enjoyment, giving weight to the old saying that the consumer – or in this case, the listener – is always right or has the final say.