Fem – Davido (Song Of The Day)
Fem was what the teachers use to say back in school to get the class as silent as the graveyard. It was a call to order, a demand for decorum, and used only by those with authority. Else it will lead to derision. Or a throwdown.
When I first got informed that Davido’s newest release was titled Fem, I didn’t expect it to be this much of a stirring of the hornet’s nest.
Davido used this as an opportunity to go after the latest set of people who have got grievances, real or perceived, with him. It is no hold barred. He is kicking ass and taking names.
Fem was released in September 2020 and was already a success globally. I can still remember him performing it at the finale of Big Brother Naija 2020. Being the lead single off his soon to be released album, A Better Time, this was a harbinger of what is as certain as certain can be, to be a great album.
When on October 8 2020, protests erupted around Lagos to end SARS, customarily, these protest featured lots of songs from Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Letter to Mr President by African China, Jaga-Jaga by Eedris Abdulkareem, and other revolutionary songs.
No one expected this protest to adopt any new anthem.
When Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu showed up at the protest at Alausa and was finally given a chance to talk, the youths at a point got disenamoured and disenchanted with him. No one knew they were on the cusp of history.
At the most opportune moment that I doubt will ever be bettered in Nigerian protests, the D.J who I would gladly push for a motion for him to be declared a national treasure started playing Davido’s Fem.
Just like you can’t stop an idea whose time has come, so also you can’t interrupt history.
Instantaneously, the crowd chorused the music. It was at that moment this song became the anthem for the #EndSARS protest.
Thankfully, the Governor didn’t try to fight the moment. We can never forget Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi of “Constituted Authority” fame.
Over the next couple of days, Fem was the most played song at all the protest venues across Nigeria. It also featured heavily in other #EndSARS protest across the globe.
All these helped the song which was already doing significantly well on global charts, get to more audiences.
Davido was heavily involved in his uncle, the dancing senator, Senator Ademola Adeleke’s governorship campaign in Osun state in 2018. He has confessed to having political ambitions. Anyone who knows his family’s antecedent in Osun state politics, as well as following Davido’s move closely can tell that he is serious about politics.
But no one would have predicted that it is one of his songs, especially one that doesn’t even have a political undertone, that will jolt him into Nigerians political consciousness.
Agree or disagree, love him or hate him, whenever you remember the#EndSARS protests of 2020, you will remember Fem. Inevitably, you will remember Davido too.
How talented Davido is might be up for debate. The influence of his father’s wealth on his musical career might also be up for debate. One thing that isn’t up for debate though is the tenacity, effort and hard work that Davido puts in.
I wasn’t exactly a big fan of his when he came into the industry. Dami Duro and Back When remains songs of his that I can barely listen to. But between then and now, the quality of songs he has put out has been increasing astronomically. And I’m a hundred percent a fan of him and his craft right now.
This improvement hasn’t been limited to the technical aspect of his production. Davido has not been shy about involving songwriters to his creative process. The impact of this can be seen in his last album, A Good Time, which in my unsought opinion was a great album.
I strongly believe that when we get to the twilight of the career of this crop of Nigerian musicians, we will look back at A Good Time and appreciate it for the classic it is.
Hopefully, A Better Time tops it and does way better.
In the meantime, look your problem in the face, square your shoulder ready to put in the work, turn to your naysayers and that voice inside you planting the seed of doubt and gently whisper with your index finger vertically across your pursed lips; Fem.
Fem Lyrics
E be like you don dey talk too much
Small talk you don dey talk who talk
Fem (baddest)
Oboy you don dey do too much
Small talk you don dey look who talk
Fem (I’m the baddest)
Person wey dey find the pity
Omo no dey give me itty bitty
Just call me, you wan know 30BG
You go know 30BG, when you see 30BG
You wey dey find the pity
Tell Odogwu say we like to party
Just call me, you wan know 30BG
You go know 30BG, when you see 30BG
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Make una tell am to call me
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Why them com dey para, para, para?
Para for me
Why everybody com dey para, para, para?
Para for me
Why them com dey para, para, para?
Para for me
Na why 30BG we go para, para, para
Them go para for you
Before the, before the matter get serious
Before the whole matter gets dangerous
You need to make sure you don’t say too much
‘Cause if you say too much, I fit to run up on you
You see say I get fans wey dey para gan
You see say my own G pass G-Wagon
My nigga, I set trends, no Twitter, star
I get men, I no dey gather boys
I dey live my life, man dey turn am to shoot on sight
When be say na me dey give them life
Them go tell me who dey give them mind, give them mind
Live my life, man dey turn am to shoot on sight
When be say na me dey give them life
Them go tell me who dey give them mind, give them mind
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Make una tell am to call me
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Why them com dey para, para, para?
Para for me
Why everybody com dey para, para, para?
Para for me ooo
Para, para, para
Para for me.
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