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My Thoughts on 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | And We’ve Been Doing this for 15 Years?

VGMA 2014
VGMA 2014

I hate to review Ghanaian events and this is simply because my out of the box experience and expectations far out-run what is mostly delivered. And the unsustainable argument ‘this is a Ghanaian standard’ has been overused so do not invoke it this time again—it doesn’t work.

My revulsion becomes even higher if there are ‘no obvious financial constraints’ and when after many years, organizers cannot bring themselves to catch up with the existing global excellence. Who repeats the same mistakes over and over—-except Charter House and Ghanaians…

The 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards was not completely catastrophic but considering the many years that the event has been hosted, Charter House could have given us something deserving of applauds. This, they could have simply achieved by drawing the lines where they were supposed to be—and not allow artistes and certain people to run the show like their personal outdooring event.

The Stage Design

Watching this from home, the stage reminded me of the early discotheque days, with lights which were often—though not true, considered as having a possibility of inviting epilepsy. It was not therefore shocking when several people on social media kept talking about how those lights could possibly blind someone.

It was an award show and not a rock concert. We understand these lights add some sort of ‘beauty’ to stage performances but I felt they were too much, too bright and served as take-away instead of add-on.

I do acknowledge there is not much of flexibility out there when it comes to stage designs and as such, mounting platforms in Ghana, in our tight and somewhat fixed auditoriums comes with the greatest conundrum of our time but we have control over what we put up there—and these lights must be cut down.

Remember it was Ghana Music Awards and not Ghana Rock Concert with the 80’s appeal!

Artistes Performances

This was where many of us kept asking; what is going on and who was in charge of time. Must every Ghanaian artiste perform at the Ghana Music Awards and by this I mean, the number of performers and the time they spent on stage trying their luck with the live band or lip-synching their way through became a pain instead of the projected thrill.

Look, at such awards night, the performance list should be cut to a maximum of 5 and these selected few should be those who could set the place on fire, musically. We couldn’t provide great entertainment and I would be worried if we were asked to be in-charge of fire extinguishers so I mean, those who could have thrown out some decent but electrifying performances.

And it seems Charter House knew those who could have rocked the stage but simply ignored them—and decided to try their luck by overfeeding us with poorly cooked food. Let me be forward with this, Shatta Wale should have performed and if he wanted to fly a Private Jet to the Conference Centre, he should have been given that because patrons would have gotten their money worth.

And those of us who watched it FREE would have traded our good night sleep for something well-meaning. Forget Shatta Wale’s absurd ethics and demands; he should have been brought in—-even if it meant that Davido and Iyanya were to be cut off. After all, the latter was a complete disappointment.

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There Shall Be Major Reforms/Reviews/Changes in VGMA Come Next Year – 2015

VGMA 2014
VGMA 2014

Despite all the critiques at this year’s VGMA nomination list with some pundits pointing at evidence to disqualify some artistes or songs, the board has concluded that they shall not review the nomination list; yet, they shall make changes in the award scheme come 2015.

On Monday 31st March, 2014 GhanaCelebrities.Com got in touch with Nii Ayitey Hammond who is the Chairman of the VGMA Board and asked him if the board will still review the nomination list.

In his own words, he opined “as I speak with you, the board has not decided to review the nomination list; so that is what we stand by” Mr. Hammond said. According to Mr. Hammond “so far none of the evidence brought before the board are strong enough to make us disqualify any artiste or song in the nomination list.

All that they have said or presented represents opinions; their opinions for that matter. The board does not deal with opinions but facts. Real facts! Any person who presents real facts shall be considered by the board.”

On Tuesday 1st April, 2014 when GhanaCelebrities.Com’s story was reviewed on Neat 100.9 fm’s ‘Entertainment Ghana,’ hosted by Kwasi Aboagye, PRO of Charterhouse confirmed GhanaCelebrities.Com’s earlier publication on Monday. Ending, George assured “Kwasi, next year, there will be major reforms in VGMA. There will be definitely major changes next year.”

On Wednesday 2nd April, 2014, when the same story was discussed on Channel R’s ‘205 Total Entertainment,’ this time round, board chairman, Mr. Hammond confirmed the board wont review the nomination list – 2014, but, “we shall review things in the VGMA come next year.”

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2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Nomination | Check The Full List Out!

Eazzy1
Eazzy

The 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards nominees have been announced and the controversial song-Tonga was not disqualified, as some expected. Interestingly, Kwabena Kwabena’s Adult Music also sailed through, securing nominations under the categories-Highlife Song of the Year, Best Collaboration of the Year and others...

Sarkodie, Eazzy, R2Bees, Guru, M.anifest, EL and Joey B (the man who brought us Tonga) have all been nominated for this year’s Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year.

Castro, Kwabena Kwabena, Sonnie Badu, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Samini and Guru will compete for the all important and top award-Artsite of the Year.

Check the full  nomination list below…

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Ahead Of 2014 Ghana Music Awards, Kwabena Kwabena Says ‘Adult Music’ Has No Profanity

Kwabena Kwabena Album Launch (1)
Kwabena Kwabena

Considering the fact that R2Bee’s ‘Agyei’ was disqualified from competing in last year’s  Vodafone Ghana Music Awards due to its sexual connotations and innuendos, many think it will be unfair if Kwabena Kwabena’s hit song-Adult Music sails through…

Knowing what lies ahead of him, Kwabena Kwabena has launched a bid to create an over-reaching impression that the song which was labelled +18 should not be treated as ‘Agyei’, saying, there isn’t any element of profanity in the song.

On the face of it, profanity can be both explicit and subtle—and considering the fact that the song was classified as +18, we think Kwabena Kwabena will have a lot of convincing to do if he wants to distinguish his situation from that which R2Bees suffered.

We think Kwabena Kwabena is right for saying the song has no explicit profanity. But profanity can come in different forms, including subtle…

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According to Graphic Showbiz;

he song is now virtually on air at all times without regard to its strong lyrics and sexual undertones and Kwabena Kwabena says he does not regret that Adult Musik is now free for all.

“I am quite comfortable with the manner most radio stations play my music. Yes, the title of the song suggests that they are for adults but I don’t really get worried when I hear it being played on air at times when I know most children are likely to be listening”, he told Showbiz last Tuesday.

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