Aṣa, Bukola Elemide (born September 1982), is a French-Nigerian singer and … Read Full Bio ↴Aṣa, Bukola Elemide (born September 1982), is a French-Nigerian singer and song-writer. She combines styles of funk, pop, reggae, jazz, folk and soul.

Aṣa (pronounced Aasha) means "little hawk". She was born in Paris to Nigerian parents, but after two years she moved with her parents to Nigeria and grew up in the capital of Lagos. Her music is thus linked to her time in Western Africa. Asa grew up under the influence of her father's record collection, which included legendary artists such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Aretha Franklin.

At the age of twelve years, her mother gave her the opportunity to attend one of the best music schools in the country. Aṣa not only developed her voice and her technique, over time she also discovered more about the musicians who fascinated her. When she came home, she discovered Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti, and Angélique Kidjo, in whose footprints she dreamed of following.

At the age of 18 she secretly signed up for the Peter King’s School of Music and learnt to play the guitar in six months. In 2004 Aṣa met her manager and friend, Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who in turn became her musical partner and producer. He enabled Aṣa, the free spirit, to find her bearings. She wrote songs in both English and Yoruba, with the music falling somewhere between pop and soul, inspired by her musical heritage. Particular care was paid to the melodies reflecting the feeling she puts into it.

Her texts talk about her country, the things in life, the things in her life, all delivered with feigned naïveté and real irony. She states "I like writing or thinking about my texts on the bus, or the molué, as we call it. 49 seats, 99 passengers standing up, as Fela described it. Everyone’s squashed up together and mini-dramas break out all the time. And, at the end of the day, we still manage to laugh, that’s where our strength lies..."

It was at this stage of her life that Aṣa finally returned to Paris. This was her chance to test out her talent on the French musical scene, playing with artists such as the Nubians, Manu Dibango, Doctor L and Tony Allen. In the meantime, back in Nigeria, her first single, Eyé Adaba, then Jailer, were beginning to get airtime. MTV chose her as the ambassador for South Africa. Her popularity became big, that when she came back to Nigeria she opened for Akon, John Legend, Beyoncé and Snoop Dogg amongst others.

Aṣa soon signed to the 'Naïve label'. Partnered by Cobhams, and with the new involvement of Christophe Dupouy, she produced a magnificent debut album, ASA a 12 track album with chartstopping tracks. R&b rubs up against pop, with reggae also making an appearance on 'Fire On The Mountain', the first track released from the album, an impertinent and barely-disguised metaphor for an ignorant and indifferent world. "Jailer", another highlight of the album, reinterprets the old adage “you reap what you sow”. This emblematic song with its irresistible refrain opens the album by denouncing modern slavery in all its forms.

Ok Ok
Aṣa Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just went life is getting better
You face cold storm in weather
Just know even last for ever
You see, the same are you love with all my heart
But the take it entered all apart
And now I don't know what I should believe

OK OK my life is moving but demons are fighting

OK OK tears are turning out but demons are fighting
OK OK aah

I have to fight so many battles
The end doesn't really matter
'Cause I know even last forever
I know how, I feel pain when they try to bring me down
But slow as this world is turning brown
I know even last forever I know

OK OK my life is moving but demons are fighting
OK OK tears are turning out but demons are fighting
OK OK aah

OK OK my life is moving but demons are fighting
OK OK tears are turning out but demons are fighting
OK OK aah

Is OK
Ooh keeps going on
And all the people moving on

It's all right
All right OK

Overall Meaning

Asa’s song “OK OK” speaks to the struggles of life and the perseverance needed to overcome obstacles. The opening lines refer to the experience of things seemingly going well and then facing sudden difficulties - “just when life is getting better, you face cold stormy weather”. The chorus repeats the phrase “OK OK” which is often used to dismiss concern or downplay an issue, but in this case the phrase is used to acknowledge the presence of struggle and pain. There is a recognition of the demons that are fighting within oneself, and the tears that are being shed. Despite the pain though, there is a positive outlook that even though things may not always be easy, they can last forever.

The song conveys a message of hope and resilience, encouraging listeners to keep fighting through their battles. The lyrics show that even when things seem difficult and painful, it is possible to acknowledge the pain and also believe in the possibility of things getting better - “I know how I feel pain when they try to bring me down, but slow as this world is turning brown, I know even last forever I know”.

Overall, “OK OK” is a song that speaks to the realities of life - that there will be struggles and difficulties, but that it is possible to keep going and hold onto hope for a better future.

Line by Line Meaning

Just went life is getting better
Life can be unpredictable and chaotic, with ups and downs.

You face cold storm in weather
Challenges and difficulties are an inevitable part of life.

Just know even last for ever
Despite the hardships, remember that tough times never last forever.

You see, the same are you love with all my heart
Hold on to the things and people that you love, and cherish them with all your heart.

But the take it entered all apart
Sometimes, things fall apart unexpectedly and we are left to pick up the pieces.

And now I don't know what I should believe
Uncertainty and confusion can arise when something we believed in or valued falls apart.

I have to fight so many battles
Life is a constant struggle, with many challenges and obstacles that we must overcome.

The end doesn't really matter
In the grand scheme of things, the outcome of a particular situation may not be as significant as we initially thought.

'Cause I know even last forever
Despite the struggles and difficulties, we must remember that some things last forever, such as love and inner strength.

I know how, I feel pain when they try to bring me down
Negative people or circumstances can be hurtful and challenging to deal with, and can cause pain and upset.

But slow as this world is turning brown
Even when the world around us seems to be falling apart, we must remain patient and resilient, and trust that things will eventually get better.

Is OK
Everything will eventually be alright, even if it doesn't seem like it right now.

Ooh keeps going on
We must keep pushing forward, even when times are tough.

And all the people moving on
Everyone else is also dealing with their own challenges and difficulties, and must keep moving forward too.

It's all right
Despite the struggles and difficulties, everything will ultimately be alright.

All right OK
It's important to accept and make peace with the challenges we face and trust that things will work out in the end.

OK OK my life is moving but demons are fighting
Despite making progress in life, there are often internal struggles and personal demons that we must confront and overcome.

OK OK tears are turning out but demons are fighting
Emotional pain and turmoil may arise when we try to confront and overcome our demons.

OK OK aah
Expressing that the internal struggles can cause pain and difficulty.

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY

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