Nothing is more complex than being a Super Diva the calibre of Juliana Kanyomozi. She has been there, seen and done it all; won awards, topped charts, stretched airwaves, rubbed shoulders with challenges and success in equal measure. And, much as that is a great place to be, it is also very complicated.
What, for example, is her motivation?! After so many years of doing music, where does she still pick her inspiration from?! Does she also still have a burning desire for progress? Isn’t she at the point in her career where we can confidently state that she already “arrived” and doesn’t have to go through the hustle of worrying about crafting good music?!
These questions and more crowd the mind of the music consumer! When one hears that Juliana has a new single or album, what exactly should they expect? Hasn’t Juliana already done all that can be done by a musician?! What else has she got to offer?!
It is against that backdrop that we take a closer look at every layer of Juliana Kanyomozi In her latest Album, Bits And Pieces. In this review, we look at each of the eleven songs independently, before tying the whole album in one conclusive bundle.
The album that was officially released on the 2nd of July 2018 in the midst of pomp, anxiety and anticipation has eleven songs which are all available on iTunes, Spotify and other major digital music stores. (See links below.)
Let’s now take a look at the songs, one by one.
I Love You (Nakupenda)
It is a known secret that Juliana sounds magical when she goes Swahili and it is awesome to know that the album kicks off with this slow and beautifully winding ballad which has an East African appeal, given the Swahili in its chorus.
From the vocal package to the lyrics and track, all inputs connive to make Nakupenda a very soothing love song. Its early part is composed of calm strings, keys and percussion, all of which get complemented by wind from time to, with the track intensifying towards the climax. This package is completed by a hook in the chorus, making it easy to sing along. Nakupenda is such a beauty! The song is rendered in Swahili and English, giving it broader appeal beyond Uganda.
Omukwano Ogwedda
This particular song is wrapped in nostalgia, taking one back to the typical Juliana days when her songs still had a Silver Kyagulanyi signature. From the narrative to the images of speech, Omukwano Ogwedda will sure appeal to typical Juliana fans, especially the mature ones. The track is rich enough to help in the impeccable delivery of the sweet ballad in a manner that is pleasantly typical of Juliana. Being a Luganda song, Omukwano Ogwedda has in mind a typical Ugandan music consumer as well as the mass market.
Woman
Well, Woman needs no introduction. Any music consumer, whether ardent or passive, must know this song that has since turned into a “feminist” anthem of some sorts. The song has since its release been popular among women, given its message!
Beyond the message, music consumers love it for its emotional touch and the ability by Juliana to exhibit a kind of passion through her lyrics that puts the listener right at the heart of the song, breeding a great sense of connection and attachment.
Twalina Omukwano
Written by Moses Radio, Twalina Omukwano must be remembered as a song that was widely appreciated by Juliana’s mass market consumers, following a run of Urban songs that were largely in English.
Twalina Omukwano breathes heavily from Afro Caribbean music, the kind that characterized post-independence Ugandan bands and musicians; yet with a feel of contemporary R&B at some point.
Its tempo, just like its flow and track slowly winds to a place close to slow Rumba, yet with some mild Jive, similar to the kind of Calypso that was done back in the 80s and early 90s. Twalina Omukwano is some complex cocktail that gives birth to a beautiful love song, which tells the story of sweet love that once was.
I’m Still Here
This song too must still be fresh on the minds of Ugandans, It was written by Esther Nabaasa and its Reggae touch and an addictive chorus make it easy to sing and dance along. The package of I’m Still Here is wrapped in a motivational message, a thing that endears it more to music lovers.
Right Here
Right Here, which is most likely another song on this album that was written by Esther Nabaasa, came in right after I’m Still Here. It is in Juliana’s trademark zone of low tempo love songs, yet with a touch in its track, of lively romance.
Voodoo
This will sure stretch airwaves and dance floors. Rendered in English, Voodoo is an up-tempo song, whose track and flow rub shoulders with South African Kwaito. The lyrics are also structured on short lines that settle beautifully with the percussion, making it the ultimate dance song on the album.
Naliko Omukyala Oyo
Most women are or have ever been in the kind of relationship that is covered in the message of this song. You probably know of a marriage of relationship where the wife is under the firm grip of the husband or man – not allowed to work, abused psychologically and sometimes physically, yet the woman stands it all and seeks to portray a successful relationship!
Naliko Omukyala Oyo is a close relative of Woman albeit with a better narrative and a more tangible picture.
Zaabu
Groovy, in Luganda and with a message targeted to a specific audience, it will be hard to attend an introduction (kwanjula) or wedding reception in the coming days, where Juliana’s Zaabu isn’t played. With lyrics that are descriptively perfect, vocals that are playfully romantic and a track that appeals to the part of the human brain which causes excitement, Zaabu is destined to be one of the biggest mass market hits off this album.
Twala
This song largely drinks from the same cup as Zaabu, but with a more lively track and more likely to inspire dance. Twala is a Luganda song, with which Juliana clearly had the typical music consumer in mind.
Whether in Kololo or Katanga, Clement Hill or Kiyembe, Twala will put airwaves on fire with its up-tempo flow and a captivating hook.
Wakajanja
If you’ve heard the line, “Sweetieeeeeee/ Sukali muchai yatalimu oba yenze asinga okuwoooma”, then you know Wakajanja. Another Luganda song that probably needs no introduction, given that it is one of those on the album, which were released ahead of the official album release.
Given its lively track, the jovial feel in Juliana’s vocals and an unavoidable hook, Wakajanja has since received amazing airplay in addition to being a favourite at domestic events.
The album
It is clear that this album is a full package. From Luganda to English and Swahili; from ballads to livelier songs; from an urban audience to a mass audience; Juliana thought about all kinds of music consumers in Uganda and beyond. There’s something for everyone and that can be felt in the variety of genres and a spectrum of tracks.
The album’s weakest link is that it has quite a number of songs that are not exactly new, songs that have been on the market for quite some time. There’s nothing technically wrong with that but psychologically, it affects what should otherwise be a feel of freshness.
Fortunately, the new and previously unheard songs on the album are beautiful enough to make the album worth the wait and money.
With Bits And Pieces, Juliana Kanyomozi exhibits not just talent but maturity and professionalism.
