There are people who understand that the diversity and unity which music has. It is kind of complex but the younger sister of the biggest pop star to ever live understands this. I was just completing the post of soul music Icon Aretha Franklin when the pop up of Janet Jackson came up. Because I had seen the advert some days back about the release of the song I felt obligated to download and listen. I bet you I did not expect what I heard. I was thinking it was going to be a normal RnB or pop sound that she is synonymous for but to my greatest surprise, it was a sound having many elements of Africa in it. The drum line is one snare hit short from a full makosa drum line and will have you twisting your waist to the beat. Daddy Yankee in this song sounds like popular DR Congo Rappers DJ Arafat and Fally Ipupa with the way he raps in Spanish. The video had Jennet and her choreographers dancing popular Nigerian and West African dance called Shoki and Alkayida. Nice song coming from Jennet Jackson making me remember that only the Jackson family can bring some real good voice with peace and energy to the musical studio. Jenet Jackson’s Made for Now is the new world unity dance hall sound.
THE MESSAGE
This song which preaches the sermon of self-love and enjoyment tells everyone to enjoy and feel the moment. Jenet tells us that if we are living for the moment, that we should not stop but always celebrate the feeling and break the ceiling because we are made for now and not the future which we don’t have control over. In the background Daddy Yankee tells us to move our body and dance not caring the present situation. I wish I could understand what this papi called Daddy Yankee was saying in Spanish but either way, I could say he said we should be thankful for what we have now, dancing and never stopping the good energy that is beaming in us.
THE BEAT
Using a well-played lead electronic guitar and a makosa drum line; Harmony Samuels who is from United Kingdom but born of Nigerian parents brings the beat close to Africa especially DR Congo and Nigeria. Although Samuel tries to reduce the African influence in the drum line by restricting the snare line to a Caribbean beat pattern, he could not stop the base line and lead tenor sound from hugging popular DR Congo string sounds that can be attributed to Koffi, Awilo, DJ Arafat and Fally Ipupa. This beat is so African that even Dave Meyers could not resist the urge to use all African flair in the music video.
THE VIDEO
Dave Meyers went all African with the costume and setting of the video shoot. The video is shot in an African American Neighborhood with people of different ethnicity coming together to dance and show the world that we are made for now. I personally love the scene where the Yoruba people were really depicted with a team of tradition Yoruba drummer beating the Talking Drums. I also love the scene where Janet leads an army of Dancer in to groovy dance steps which was a mix her family’s popular break dance and a blend of Nigerian Dance steps.
