A-Pluz is buoyant, sure-footed and full of himself upon the release of his latest single, released to cause the usual stir. He is quick to retort about his exercise of freedom of speech whenever he’s called upon to answer questions on this not-so-wowing song.
It is therefore prudent that I also take advantage on my rights to free speech and free my mind in this article.
In his new single, A-Pluz recommends Nana Akuffo-Addo as the best candidate to lead the NPP in the next presidential election amongst the seventeen others, and it is acceptable for the artiste to articulate his preference which I don’t give a hoot.
But I do care when A-Pluz blurts out that delegates can go ahead and squander monies offered them by aspirants and decide not to vote for them and I also care when he makes scurrilous statements that if the presidential race was a beauty contest, Former President Obasanjo could not have won the Nigerian presidency.
This guy could have gone ahead and raved about his unflinching support for Nana Addo without making the attempt to denigrate some other aspirants with his faux pas.
Music is a full-time business and people get into it to make money but unfortunately I don’t see A-Pluz making that money. In fact, his so-called political songs don’t sell, they don’t sit on top of the regular music charts and event organizers don’t call on him to perform on their bills. Radio presenters play it regularly, pass comments about it and it ends there.
If you are a musician, your music don’t get patronage(sales), your songs don’t feature on the charts and you don’t get gigs to perform on, then desperation and anxiety would compel you to make that kind of music that can get you the money, and for me, A-Pluz is trying it with this new single. Repudiate and brush it off when you hear him in his typical braggadocio self say that he has never met Nana Addo before or after the making of the song, we’ve heard those lines before.
My face is always etched with agitation, bewilderment and despondency whenever I read or listen to any A-Pluz interview, like this one in the Daily Guide, 5/12/07 “ I am the only Ghanaian musician who researches before coming out to do a song.” What kind of research is he blabbering about? And the first to do research on his music? Issues raised by A-Pluz in his songs are items we read and listen to in the newspapers, radio and television, unless of course he goes to the offices of Daily Graphic to rummage for old newspapers for information or to Peace FM to inquire about tapes of news bulletins. Give us a break!
You can’t help but laugh out loud when he says, “I am the only musician in Ghana who has loyal fans.” Yes, the loyal fans that feverishly tune in to the radio to listen to your songs, commend and fawn over you with all the accolades but fail to purchase the songs.
And has anyone seen any A-Pluz music video? No?
When ‘Letter to Parliament’ came out, A-Pluz in another interview was asked if he sought permission from Kaakyire Kwame Appiah before sampling Kaakyire’s critically-acclaimed ’24th’, his answer was an emphatic no, and when prodded why, he goes like, “ I want to create controversy.” How infantile! Especially when you claim to be enlightened and decide not do the right thing.
Some music enthusiasts brand him as a brilliant chap who churns out good, thought-provoking lyrics and all, but how brilliant can you be when your much-talked-about song can’t make you money? I’d prefer to call such a person dim.
I like his swagger as an artiste but he should calm down during interviews and not go berserk with words. Coming out with singles anytime he feels like it won’t help. He should take his time and make good songs with constructive criticisms, songs that will sell because all the popularity must reflect in the pockets and if event organizers won’t call him, he should make his stagecraft more appealing and organize his own shows.
No hard feelings A-Pluz, am just exercising my right to free speech or free writing.
