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?
Fantastic man
William Onyeabor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been telling you how sweet you're
I've been telling you how good you're
Now I want you try to tell me how I look
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me, please tell me how I look
You look so good
Fantastic man
Since I came to know you babe
I've been telling you how good you're
I've been telling you how sweet you're
I've been telling you how lovely you're
I've been telling you how nice you're
Now I want you try to tell me how I look
Look at me babe, look at me
Look at me, my girl look at me
I want you try to tell me
How you feel about me babe
I want you to tell me how I look
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me, please tell me how I look
You look so good
Fantastic man
The lyrics to William Onyeabor's song "Fantastic Man" are all about self-validation and wanting affirmation from others. The first verse establishes the singer's desire for the listener's opinion of them. They have been singing the praises of the listener, describing them as sweet, good, lovely, and nice. Now, it is the singer's turn to receive praise. They ask the listener to tell them how they look, repeating the plea over again. The second verse becomes more insistent, with the singer saying "look at me" repeatedly. They want the listener to not only tell them how they look, but also how they feel about them.
The song is ultimately about the human need for validation and affirmation, particularly from the people that we care about. We all want to be told that we are good, sweet, and lovely, and we crave that recognition from others. However, the song also touches on the idea that we can't rely solely on external validation to feel good about ourselves. In the end, the singer must find that self-confidence on their own, rather than relying on the opinions of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Since I came to know you babe
Ever since I met you, darling
I've been telling you how sweet you're
I've been complimenting you on how kind you are
I've been telling you how good you're
I've been saying how skilled you are
Now I want you try to tell me how I look
Now it's your turn to compliment me
Tell me
Please share your thoughts
Tell me
I'm eager to hear
Tell me
Just be honest
Tell me
Don't hold back
Tell me
I'm all ears
Tell me, please tell me how I look
I'm really curious about your opinion of my appearance
You look so good
You're so attractive
Fantastic man
You're an amazing person
I've been telling you how lovely you're
I've been telling you how beautiful you are
I've been telling you how nice you're
I've been complimenting you on how kind you are
Look at me babe, look at me
Please pay attention to me
Look at me, my girl look at me
Please look into my eyes
I want you try to tell me
I'm curious to hear
How you feel about me babe
What are your feelings towards me?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIAM ONYEABOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@samilgoktugakay
Since I came to know you babe
I've been telling you how sweet you're
I've been telling you how good you're
Now I want you try to tell me how I look
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me, please tell me how I look
You look so good
Fantastic man
Since I came to know you babe
I've been telling you how good you're
I've been telling you how sweet you're
I've been telling you how lovely you're
I've been telling you how nice you're
Now I want you try to tell me how I look
Look at me babe, look at me
Look at me, my girl look at me
I want you try to tell me
How you feel about me babe
I want you to tell me how I look
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me, please tell me how I look
You look so good
Fantastic man
@cherryday6655
This album is the reason I lived through the winter two years ago when my 2 best friends died and my fiancé left me.
@chrissellings
🍒☀️ How about an update? 😁
Life is like a bowl of Cherries 🍒☀️😁
Happier days?
@lechanneldemysterieuxmante1807
, I am amazed you were able to endure so much loss and pain in such a short period of time. Love and peace and calm be with you.
@anniebell6846
Hey Cherry 4 years on I hope life is better for you.
@tentaklaus9382
Plot twist: He found out his fiance was sleeping with his best friends, killed them, and she ran off through the woods never to be seen again. This song makes everything better.
@StudioMagnetique
It is such a fine reason to live. x
@nitr0junki3
What's interesting is that before I learned this song was released in 1979, I was totally convinced that it was new, from an up and coming artist. A sign of a true transcendent artist...their works are relevant in any era.
@greenepanda
as did I!! well said!. now I know where up and coming artists get it from..
@scottwilliams9802
Same! I just heard it on a college radio station this weekend. Thought it was some new shit! Can't believe 1979. Timeless!
@Exotic69420
Same oh my god!