∙ Inspired by the music of Nigerian star Wande Coal, Oxlade cut his first demo at age 11 with the help of his uncle, a professional sound mixer.
∙ His big break came in 2018, when he was featured on “Mamiwota,” a hit by Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez.
∙ In 2018, his dreamy “Questionnaire” was his first solo track to catch fire in Nigeria, thanks to the endorsement of renowned singer and producer Davido, who hyped him on social media.
∙ All six tracks from Oxlade’s acclaimed 2020 EP, OXYGENE, reached the Top 20 of Nigeria’s Apple Music Top 100 World Songs chart, with the infectious “AWAY” peaking at No. 2.
∙ Oxlade’s smooth jazz-tinged single, “DKT,” hit No. 8 on Ireland’s Apple Music Top 100 World Songs chart in 2020, proving his appeal far beyond his homeland.
∙ He has collaborated with several other popular Nigerian artists, including Moelogo, Jinmi Abduls, and Fiokee.
Happiness
Oxlade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boy oxlade oo ye ooo,
Echo beat (echo beat)
Happiness is free,
He no go cost you nothing to be happy,
To put on a smiling face,
Eko lo npe ibi baby oo,
He no go cost you nothing to be happy,
Torina Akunamatata condition he no matter,
Even if u be Omo alata he no matter he no matter,
Akunamatata condition he no matter,
Even if u be Omo alata he no matter he no matter,
Brother johnny, i know say owu dey blow boys and is not funny,
No more no funny ehh,
Aunty Julie, ooh i know say the matter big, ooo but don′t you worry,
Oh no don't you worry eheh,
Overthinking no dey solve problem,
(Problem!, problem!!, problem!!)
Overcalcu no dey solve problem oh nouuoo,
Overthinking no dey solve problem,
(Problem!, problem!!, problem!!)
Overcalcu no dey solve problem,
My brother i gats to tell you happiness is free,
He no go cost you nothing to be happy ooyee,
To put on a smiling face ooyoo,
Eko lo npe ibi baby he no go cost you nothing to be happy,
To put on a smiling face oyeah,
Akunamatata condition he no matter,
Even if u be Omo alata he no matter he no matter,
(Akunamatata even if you be Omo alata he no matter he no matter)
The song "Happiness" by Nigerian singer, Oxlade, is an uplifting track with the core message that happiness is free and one should not let external circumstances determine their well-being. The opening lyrics emphasize this point as Oxlade sings, "Happiness is free, He no go cost you nothing to be happy, To put on a smiling face." He goes on to use the Nigerian phrase "Eko lo npe ibi baby" which means "there's no place like Lagos," to emphasize that even in the hustle and bustle of the city, one can still choose to be happy.
Oxlade then touches on the theme of societal pressure and the need to keep up appearances, singing "Torina Akunamatata condition he no matter, Even if u be Omo alata he no matter he no matter," which means that regardless of one's level of wealth or social status, they can still find happiness. He also mentions the struggles of his friends Johnny and Julie, but reassures them not to worry and encourages them to focus on their own happiness.
The chorus of the song drives home the message that overthinking and worrying do not solve problems, and that one should choose happiness instead. Oxlade's use of Nigerian phrases and pidgin English adds to the relatability of the song and makes it appealing to a wider audience.
Overall, "Happiness" is a catchy and upbeat song that encourages listeners to focus on their own happiness and not let external factors dictate their emotional state.
Line by Line Meaning
Yee boy ox
Oxlade is introducing himself with excitement
Boy oxlade oo ye ooo
Oxlade is repeating his name with enthusiasm
Echo beat (echo beat)
There is an echoing beat in the background of the song
Happiness is free
The feeling of joy and contentment doesn't require any financial cost
He no go cost you nothing to be happy
Being happy doesn't require any financial cost
To put on a smiling face
To express happiness outwardly by smiling
Eko lo npe ibi baby oo
The people from Lagos call it 'ibi baby'
Torina Akunamatata condition he no matter
The motto 'Hakuna Matata' meaning no worries is applicable regardless of one's social status
Even if u be Omo alata he no matter he no matter
Even if one sells salt and pepper (a low-income job), the motto 'Hakuna Matata' still applies
Brother johnny, i know say owu dey blow boys and is not funny
Oxlade knows that the suffering brought by financial instability is not a laughing matter
No more no funny ehh
The situation is not a joke
Aunty Julie, ooh i know say the matter big, ooo but don′t you worry
Oxlade acknowledges that the problems are significant but reassures himself and the listener not to worry
Overthinking no dey solve problem
Worrying excessively does not solve any problems
(Problem!, problem!!, problem!!)
There are recurring problems that require solutions
Overcalcu no dey solve problem oh nouuoo
Overcalculating does not provide solutions either
My brother i gats to tell you happiness is free
Oxlade emphasizes that happiness is available to everyone
He no go cost you nothing to be happy ooyee
Being happy does not require any financial investment
To put on a smiling face ooyoo
Expressing happiness through a smile
Eko lo npe ibi baby he no go cost you nothing to be happy
People from Lagos call it 'ibi baby', and it doesn't cost anything to be happy
Akunamatata condition he no matter
The motto 'Hakuna Matata' applies regardless of one's situation
(Akunamatata even if you be Omo alata he no matter he no matter)
Even if one sells salt and pepper (a low-income job), the motto 'Hakuna Matata' still applies
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.