Paul IK Dairo: True Hero?

By Chiagoziem Onyekwena

With scores of songs released daily, and all of them vying for our attention, few quantities are shorter than the attention span of the average music listener; even fewer are more fickle. With what seems like an eternity since his last solo album, in truth it’s actually been four years, Paul’s fifth studio album Hero couldn’t have come at a better time to give his career a much-needed shot in the arm.

For better or worse, Paul’s achievements henceforth will almost-certainly be measured against his masterpiece of an LP- Hitsville and while no one was realistically expecting another Angel of My Life, expectations for this project were anything but low. Paul does his best to match them on the laid-back R&B gem Love Don’t Mean Nothin’.  With a combination of sprightly strings and heavenly keys, Paul’s velvety vocals urge his want-away lover to reconsider her decision and stay. The pleas continue on the mid-tempo Bring Your Love Back, an electro composition soaked in synths and dripping with hit potential. Paul Dairo then resurrects former Westside Records songbird Niyola for the engaging love song that is Kowale. It’s a lover’s delight.

However, there are times when Paul’s love streak gets downright sappy. The first time I heard Delicious on the radio several months ago, I was unconvinced that it was a good choice for a single. Now, even after nearly two dozen listens, the song still manages to make me cringe and no, not in a good way. There’s something pedestrian about the delivery while the syrupy chorus oscillates between a corny place and well, a very corny place. The banality continues on the album’s lullabies, Eni Rin Nkan He and Ololufe Mi. Apparently the songs are at the tail end of the album for a reason.

Hero sees Paul Play make a return of sorts to HighLife music albeit with a heavy contemporary twist. Just like he did in ’98 with the remake of Mo So Rire, Paul borrows a leaf from his late father IK Dairo’s (MBE) musical legacy on the witty Which One You Dey. With his humour in tow, Mr. Dairo delivers a stern warning to all hangers-on who think he’ll allow them feed fat off his success.

For almost the rest of his fifth studio album, Paul Dairo leans heavily towards a Hip Hop-styled production, infusing thought-provoking Yoruba lyrics and undertones to bring it closer to home. And while the album doesn’t have the sort of plug and play appeal, international hit potential its predecessor had, Hero certainly doesn’t disappoint when reviewed as a unit.

So in conclusion, while I’ll be the first to admit that it’s far too premature to pronounce Hero as the triumphant return Paul Dairo’s fans were eagerly waiting for, I’m just excited to watch one of Nigeria’s most revered singers and producers do his thing on the big stage, once again. Welcome back, sir.

ALBUM RATING – 3/5