A blossoming star, folks about town in London started to take notice and she was soon performing at local talent shows. Cementing her fate as an infectious musical force Savage went on to sing backup for Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), Kelly Clarkson, Blu Cantrell, Andreas Bocelli and has shared the stage with the likes of Sting, 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Robbie Williams, and Destiny’s Child to name a few.
On the business end Tiwa set her own 323 imprint with entrepreneur Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun and currently signed to Sony ATV as a songwriter. Savage will embark on a solo career and will release her debut album in early 2011. She has also collaborated with Chuck Harmony (Rihanna, Mary J. Blige), Warren "Oak" Felder (Chris Brown and Jennifer Lopez), and producer So Sick (Da Grin) just to name a few, on her debut. Weaving an eclectic collision of influences on her record, the Nigerian native says her album will blend "songs in my native language Yoruba and some straight up R&B soulful pop records."
An avid songwriter since the age of 15, she has recorded with industry heavyweights such as Babyface, The Underdogs (Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears), Brian Kennedy (Jennifer Hudson, Kid Sister) and Red One (Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue) led to Savage writing hits like Jaicko's "Oh Yeah," which features Snoop Dogg, Kat Deluna's "Push Push" featuring Akon and with production by David Guetta, Fantasia's "Collard Greens & Cornbread," from the album Back to Me, records on Letoya Luckett’s upcoming album and with background vocal credits on Whitney Houston’s album “I look to you.”
Although being a songwriter for such prominent artists was a great opportunity and experience, writing for herself has been more rewarding. "I have political songs like 'Middle Passage,' which is about the struggles of African men in a foreign country," says the scholarship recipient and graduate of Berklee College of Music. A beautiful, naturally gifted songwriter, electrifying performer with a voice that is as sweet as honey, Tiwa Savage is ready to share her music wit the world.
Ileke
Tiwa Savage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gospel on the beat
Ah eh oya lets go
He's liking my pretty face
And everything else from my waist down
Ayanyanyanyan Ayanyanyanyan
Like iyanyan says
Ororororo Ororororo
I know what to do
I I I I I I I do
E don tay wa di do do do
E don tay wa di do do do
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Ileke idi moni ko jubadi
Bebedi oya ka jubadi
Tojufoye jubadi
Omotola jubadi
Akindele jubadi
Funke jubadi
Ehn jenevive oya ka jubadi
Ilekedi moni ko jubadi
Linda ikeji ati uche my padi di
Omawunmi wa jwka parti
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Bebedi
He's liking my pretty face
And everything else from my waist down
Ayanyanyanyan Ayanyanyanyan
Like iyanyan says
All the boys are just living my waist down
Ororororo Ororororo
I know what to do
I I I I I I I do
E don tay wa di do do do
E don tay wa di do do do
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai
Tiwa Savage's song "Ileke" opens with her name being announced by Gospel on the beat before she dives straight into the narrative of the song. The opening lines "He's liking my pretty face and everything else from my waist down" is Tiwa talking about a man who is attracted to her physical appearance rather than her personality. The chorus of the song is a repetition of "Yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai yai" and also "Ilekedi moni ko jubadi," which does not have a specific meaning; rather, it is an expression of the excitement that comes with dancing and letting loose.
Tiwa's ability to make music that reflects her identity and experiences is evident in "Ileke." She talks about how all the boys love her waist down, likening herself to a beautiful object that men desire. The lines "I know what to do, e don tay wa di do do do" depict Tiwa as someone who is confident in herself and knows what she wants. She is not shy about expressing her sexuality and the power that comes with it.
Overall, "Ileke" is a song about the celebration of the female body and the freedom that comes with being confident in one's own skin. Tiwa Savage creates a fun, upbeat melody that is sure to get people dancing and enjoying themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
He's liking my pretty face
A person is attracted to my physical appearance
And everything else from my waist down
He is also drawn to my body below the waist
Ayanyanyanyan Ayanyanyanyan
I'm aware that the male gaze is on me, as if guided by the words of the musician Iyanya
Like iyanyan says
Referring to the popular musician Iyanya, whose songs often celebrate women's sexuality
All the boys are just loving my waist down
The artist knows that the men around her are fixated on her physical features
Ororororo Ororororo
She is not surprised by this attention
I know what to do
She understands how to appeal to men and how to handle the attention she receives
I I I I I I I do
She is confident in her own ability to navigate social situations and take control of them
E don tay wa di do do do
This has been going on for a while now
Eh eh its tiwa savage
The singer Tiwa Savage is the one performing this song
Gospel on the beat
The beat is produced by Gospel, a music producer
Ah eh oya lets go
This is a call to start the song and get the audience excited
Ileke idi moni ko jubadi
A piece of jewelry called ileke is not just an accessory, but an indicator of wealth and status - and men are impressed by this
Bebedi oya ka jubadi
The line is an invitation to dance and celebrate together
Tojufoye jubadi
The singer is calling out to everyone to join in the celebration
Omotola jubadi
A reference to Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, a Nigerian actress - an example of someone who exudes glamour and success
Akindele jubadi
A reference to Funke Akindele, another successful Nigerian actress
Funke jubadi
Another reference to Funke Akindele
Ehn jenevive oya ka jubadi
A call for Genevieve Nnaji, another successful Nigerian actress, to join in the celebration
Linda ikeji ati uche my padi di
A shout-out to blogger Linda Ikeji and writer Uche Pedro, who are seen as successful and influential women in Nigeria
Omawunmi wa jwka parti
The singer Omawumi is invited to join in the party as well
Bebedi
An exclamation meant to energize and motivate the people dancing and enjoying the celebration
Contributed by Kaitlyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.