Released October 8, 2013 Recorded 2013 Length 03:42 | Format Digital download Genre Afropop | |
Label Mavin Records
323 Entertainment | ||
"Eminado" (meaning Good Luck Charm) is a song by Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage featuring Don Jazzy. It was released as the seventh single from her debut studio album, Once Upon a Time (2013). It peaked at number 2 on MTV Base's Official Naija Top 10 chart from March 7 through March 13, 2014. It was ranked 10th on Vanguard 's list of the top ten hit songs that made 2013.
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Upon its release, the song was met with generally positive reviews from music critics and consumers. On the contrary, the music video was criticized for bearing close resemblance to Tumi and the Volume's "Asinamali" video.
Background and controversy
"Eminado" was recorded in 2013. The song literally translates to Good Luck Charm. In an interview with Vanguard newspaper, Tiwa said that Don Jazzy created the sound and name of the song. She went on to say that rehearsing in the studio resulted in the formulation of the song's concept. The accompanying music video for "Eminado" was shot and directed by Clarence Peters. It was uploaded onto YouTube on November 4, 2013, and ran for 4 minutes and 29 seconds. After the song was serviced to radio stations across Nigeria, Tiwa Savage kept her fans, who had to wait nearly two months for the video, in suspense. Jim Donnett complimented the video's fashion styling, coordination and color theme.
In January 2014, a copyright infringement was levelled against Clarence Peters after the release of the "Eminado" video. He allegedly stole the vintage nature of the "Asinamali" video, which was released by Tumi and the Volume to honour the artistic works of Seydou Keïta. Tumi took to Twitter to slander Peters. He urged his fans to shine a light on the issue. Savage's then-manager and husband, Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun, said he and his wife never knew that the video's concept was adopted from another video, and were surprised as everyone else.
Accolades
"Eminado" was nominated in the World's Best Song and World's Best Video categories at the 2014 World Music Awards. At the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, the song was nominated for Hottest Single of the Year. The music video for "Eminado" won Most Gifted Female Video and was nominated for Most Gifted Video of the Year at the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards.
Live performances
Tiwa Savage performed "Eminado" at a farewell concert for Nelson Mandela in January 2014. Tiwa Savage also performed "Eminado" during the 2014 Star Music Trek tour, which commenced on March 29, 2014 and ended on May 31, 2014. On March 7, 2014, the singer graced the Golden Tullip, FESTAC music festival stage. On June 28, 2014, Tiwa Savage performed "Eminado" alongside Sarkodie and Mafikizolo at BET's "Music Around the Globe" presentation. In September 2014, the singer performed the song at the 2014 edition of Africa Unplugged alongside Davido and Diamond Platnumz. Tiwa Savage performed "Eminado" at Nigeria's Independent Day show in Warri alongside Ja Rule, Ashanti, Davido, Flavour N'abania, Oritsefemi, Yemi Alade, Patoranking, Olamide, Wizkid, Iyanya, Dr SID, Harrysong, Ice Prince, Daddy Showkey and Seyi Shay.