MUSIC: NIGERIA V. THE AFRICAN CONTINENT VIII - ASA: THE MOTHER'S DAY EDITION

In honor of mother's day (US/Canada), I present Asa's 'So Beautiful'.

I heard this song recently and was quite impressed. This is not the first song of Asa's I have heard. In fact, that title belongs to 'Fire on The Mountain'. It was an incredible song then, and it is an incredible song now. Many Nigerian bloggers have taken the time to talk about Asa (pronounced Asha) but I have waited until I heard more of what she has to offer before discussing her album.

Asa is absolutely talented and the raving reviews from her fans and music critiques alike all point in one direction - greatness. I hope that someday, Asa, and other highly talented Nigerian musicians will become regular fodder for airwaves everywhere.

The song choice for today, 'So Beautiful', is apparently written for Asa's mother. The song extols the virtue of her mother and praises her for being beautiful. According to one Amazon.com reviewer, Nse Ette, -

...the ode to her mother "So beautiful" ... [is] outstandingly sung in English and Yoruba, it is a tempo shifting acoustic ballad/Highlife tune sprinkled ever so lightly with talking drums...is so heartfelt...

The lyrics offer additional insight into the warmth of this song. For the fluent Yoruba readers amongst us, a translation (taking into account the nuanced meanings of the Yoruba language) would be greatly appreciated.

Beautiful is your name
Wonderful is what you are to me
It’s you I see in my dreams
Everyday and I pray for you
Queen of my life you are so beautiful mama
You’re beautiful

Emi n wa mama kan
Ta lori ye ye yen
Mama mi o roju ri
That’s why am loving you

Nitori omo o jiya
Ni le oko
Mama mi o roju ri
That’s why am loving you

la la la la la la la
Oh oh you are so beautiful
Oh oh you are beautiful
Oya, la la la la la la la
Oh oh you are so beautiful
Oh oh you are beautiful

Ebami kira fun mama mi
orisha bi iya o
ko o si laiye
Ebami kira fun mama mi
orisha bi iya o
ko o si laiye

la la la la la la la
Oh oh you are so beautiful
la la la la la la la
Oh oh you are so beautiful

Woman there is No one like you oh oh
Woman there is No one like you oh oh

nitori omo
o jiya ni le oko
mama mi ko ro oju ri
That is why am loving you
nitori omo
o jiya ni le oko
mama mi ko ro oju ri
And that is why am loving you

la la la la la la la o o You are beautiful

Ebami kira fun mama mi
Orisha bi iya o ko si laiye
Ebami kira fun mama mi
Orisha bi iya o ko si laiye
oya la la la la la la la
That's why tou are beautiful
oya la la la la la la la
Aiye o roju ri
And that's why I'm loving you
Aiye o roju ri
And that's why I'm loving you

To all the mother's out there, the aspiring mothers, the mothers to many who are yet mother's to no one, this song, 'So Beautiful', is dedicated to you.

God bless.

UPDATE: Blogger, Toluwa Lase, has provided an excellent translation of the Yoruba parts of this song that illustrate even further the beauty of this song so aptly named 'So Beautiful'. Please click on Comment section to read them. Thank you Toluwa Lase and thanks to everyone for their kind wishes.
Further Reading:
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent II - P-Square "Say your Love"
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent III - Infinity's "Olori Oko"
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent IV - Tuface
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent V - Ty Bello's "Greenland"
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent VI - Banky W.'s "Ebute Meta"
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent VII - Fishe's "Africa"