William Onyeabor
William Onyeabor (Enugu, Nigeria, 29 March 1946 – 16 January 2017) was a Nigerian afro-funk, musician, singer and songwriter.
Onyeabor's songs are often heavily rhythmic and synthesized, occasionally epic in scope, with lyrics decrying war and sung by both Onyeabor himself and female backing vocalists. In recent years a number of his songs have appeared on various compilations, most often his biggest hit, "Better Change Your Mind", which has appeared on Africa 100 Read Full BioWilliam Onyeabor (Enugu, Nigeria, 29 March 1946 – 16 January 2017) was a Nigerian afro-funk, musician, singer and songwriter.
Onyeabor's songs are often heavily rhythmic and synthesized, occasionally epic in scope, with lyrics decrying war and sung by both Onyeabor himself and female backing vocalists. In recent years a number of his songs have appeared on various compilations, most often his biggest hit, "Better Change Your Mind", which has appeared on Africa 100, World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love's a Real Thing - The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa, and Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos, through labels such as Luaka Bop.
Some biographies claim that he studied cinematography in Russia, returning to Nigeria in the 1970s to start his own Wilfilms music label and to set up a recording and production studio. He was later crowned a High Chief in Enugu, where he still lives as a businessman working on government contracts and running his own flour mill. According to the Luaka Bop record label, Onyeabor "self-released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 and then became a born-again Christian, refusing to ever speak about himself or his music again." The label reports that through attempting to speak with Onyeabor himself, and by talking to people who seem to have firsthand knowledge, it has been trying to construct an accurate biography of him for the past 18 months, without success.
In 2014, the music website Noisey, affiliated to Vice magazine, released a 31-minute documentary entitled Fantastic Man that documents Onyeabor's history and legacy as well as Noisey's attempt to track him down for an interview. 2014 also saw a touring supergroup called the Atomic Bomb! Band come together to play Onyeabor's music at a series of concerts and festivals around the world. The group includes David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and Money Mark (of the Beastie Boys).
In December 2014, William Onyeabor made his first radio appearance on the Lauren Laverne Show on BBC 6 Music, where he stated "I only create music that will help the world," whilst also admitting that he has never played live, and announcing that he had plans to release new material.
William Onyeabor died aged 72, peacefully, on January 16, 2017.
Atomic Bomb
Luaka Bop World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
Onyeabor's songs are often heavily rhythmic and synthesized, occasionally epic in scope, with lyrics decrying war and sung by both Onyeabor himself and female backing vocalists. In recent years a number of his songs have appeared on various compilations, most often his biggest hit, "Better Change Your Mind", which has appeared on Africa 100 Read Full BioWilliam Onyeabor (Enugu, Nigeria, 29 March 1946 – 16 January 2017) was a Nigerian afro-funk, musician, singer and songwriter.
Onyeabor's songs are often heavily rhythmic and synthesized, occasionally epic in scope, with lyrics decrying war and sung by both Onyeabor himself and female backing vocalists. In recent years a number of his songs have appeared on various compilations, most often his biggest hit, "Better Change Your Mind", which has appeared on Africa 100, World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love's a Real Thing - The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa, and Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos, through labels such as Luaka Bop.
Some biographies claim that he studied cinematography in Russia, returning to Nigeria in the 1970s to start his own Wilfilms music label and to set up a recording and production studio. He was later crowned a High Chief in Enugu, where he still lives as a businessman working on government contracts and running his own flour mill. According to the Luaka Bop record label, Onyeabor "self-released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 and then became a born-again Christian, refusing to ever speak about himself or his music again." The label reports that through attempting to speak with Onyeabor himself, and by talking to people who seem to have firsthand knowledge, it has been trying to construct an accurate biography of him for the past 18 months, without success.
In 2014, the music website Noisey, affiliated to Vice magazine, released a 31-minute documentary entitled Fantastic Man that documents Onyeabor's history and legacy as well as Noisey's attempt to track him down for an interview. 2014 also saw a touring supergroup called the Atomic Bomb! Band come together to play Onyeabor's music at a series of concerts and festivals around the world. The group includes David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and Money Mark (of the Beastie Boys).
In December 2014, William Onyeabor made his first radio appearance on the Lauren Laverne Show on BBC 6 Music, where he stated "I only create music that will help the world," whilst also admitting that he has never played live, and announcing that he had plans to release new material.
William Onyeabor died aged 72, peacefully, on January 16, 2017.
Atomic Bomb
Luaka Bop World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
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Atomic Bomb
William Onyeabor Lyrics
I want to realize, man
The way I feel in me (how do you feel?)
I want to realize, women
The way I feel in me (how do you feel?)
I'm going to explode
(You mean you're gonna to explode?)
I'm going to explode, watch out
I'm going to explode
Like atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
I want to realize, oh man
The way I feel in me, how do you feel?
I want to realize women
The way I feel in me (how do you feel?)
I'm going to explode
(You mean you're going to explode?)
I'm going to explode
I'm going to explode
Like atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Atomic bomb
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIAM ONYEABOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Eriayo Odetayo
I'm crying. I'm 17 years old and this is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. So proud to be Nigerian right now.
r
It's pretty dam cool
pimc gd
tu peux
Victor Yakubu
I'm Nigerian, and I must say I grew up listening to William Onyeabor's music in the '70s. My aunt was a teacher east of Kaduna town toward Jos city, capital of Plateau State. She used to have a large collection of LPs from all over the world.
This track was the one she used to serenade herself to sleep, not because it was not good, but because it was excellently done to send you to Cloud 7. To think that this was the '70s makes me really appreciate Onyeabor's musical effort.
There was none like him at that time. He was well ahead of the musical game. Unfortunately, he went off the radar but my aunts LPs are stored in my village store. This track "ATOMIC BOMB" reminds me of many things.
Thanks for bringing him back to light, I mean lamplight. I must say, thanks.
Steflonc
Thank you sir
Vladimir Salo
This track crossed over my iTunes two days ago, since then I will keep in my most valuable collection!!!
Jimbo P
That's such a cool story. You must know that your aunt was the COOLEST to be into this music that long ago. The world is still not ready for William Onyeabor.
Blair Sadewitz
@adorno_gangI think it is important to note, though, that trade is not inherently exploitative. Keep in mind that these organizations are internationalist; they're just as happy to run roughshod over the population at home as they are abroad. Unfortunately, this seems to apply more or less equally to, for example, the US government and US corporations--including the internationalism.
Here is a paper that I had in my queue of things to read. It illustrates what I am trying to describe a lot better than I do. ;-)
https://academic.oup.com/jah/article/99/1/155/854916
"U.S. Oil Companies, the Nigerian Civil War, and the Origins of Opacity in the Nigerian Oil Industry"
adorno_gang
@Blair Sadewitz I'm afraid it's a matter of geopolitics rather than just Nigeria's own politics... As long as the world's foremost industrial powers exploit the Third World for profit, countries like Nigeria can't be independent or prosperous
Sam Gardiner
Loving this during lockdown in my garden......sun is shining, beer is chilled and this awesome tune is educating or annoying my neighbor's.....🙂🙃😉