Oliver Twist

Album: Mr Endowed (2011)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo is a Nigerian Afrobeat singer-songwriter and harmonica player who records under the moniker of D'banj, which is a combination of his first name Dapo and surname Oyebanjo. Following the tragic death of his older brother in a plane crash, D'banj ditched a career in the army. He started playing his late brother's harmonica, which was recovered from the crash and soon became a self-taught master of the instrument. In 2005 he recorded his debut album, No Long Thing, which yielded several hit singles. Since then D'banjo has become a superstar in his home continent, winning many music awards including Best African Act at the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at both the 2008 and 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards and Best International Act; Africa at the 2011 BET Awards. In June 2011, D'banj signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D Music and this is the first single released under his new label.
  • Whilst Charles Dickens' poor workhouse boy Oliver Twist famously asked for more gruel, only to be rebuffed by Mr. Bumble, D'banj's wish is more fanciful. He confesses to his girl that his desire is to get with certain famous pop divas - including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj - but can't because he's "just like Oliver, Oliver, Oliver Twist." He then tells his girl he knows her secret is that she likes such musicians as Trey Songz and his Nigerian producer Don Jazzy, before suggesting the truth is she also is just like, "Oliver, Oliver, Oliver Twist." The lyrics then grow increasingly bonkers and move even further away from Dickens' Victorian novel as D'banj cries, "Why you come dey shake e, shake e, bum bum."
  • Nigerian Sesan Ogunro directed the song's music video, which features cameos from D'banj's label mate Big Sean and Sugababe Keisha Buchanan. At the end of the clip the Afrobeat singer joins a hooded Kanye West in an elevator.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.