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Essence (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Essence
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Wizkid featuring Tems
| album = Made in Lagos
| released = 30 October 2020
| recorded =
| genre =
* Afrobeats
* R&B
| length = 4:08
| label =
* Starboy
* RCA
| writer =
* Ayodeji Balogun
* Temilade Openiyi
* Uzezi Oniko
* Okiemute Oniko
* Richard Isong
| producer =
* Legendury Beatz
* P2J
| chronology = Wizkid
| prev_title = Ginger
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = B. d'Or
| next_year = 2021
| misc =
}}
"'Essence'" is a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems. It was released on 30 October 2020, as the fourth single from Wizkid's fourth studio album, 'Made in Lagos'. "Essence" was produced by P2J and Legendury Beatz. The "sensual" song sees the duo express their desire for each other. A music video was released on 9 April 2021, shot in Accra, Ghana. "Essence" is the first Nigerian song in history to chart on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and the 'Billboard' Global 200.
name="Billboard"> The song received a nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Performance.
Background and composition
After the song garnered popularity, Tems said that although she was "happy" with her first recording of the song, she felt her verse could have been better. However, Wizkid and his team thought her vocals were great and ultimately kept it. Tems recalled hearing the song "in the most random places", while in Los Angeles.
"Essence" is an Afrobeats/Afro-pop and R&B song. Lyrically, it sees Wizkid and Tems yearning for each other's physical connection; deemed a "flirtatious" song, the artists deliver "tongue-in-cheek showboating". As observed by NPR's Sidney Madden, the song features Tems singing the chorus about how only her lover can give her the feeling of "lust and obsession and worship that she deserves", with the lyrics "You don't need no other body. You don't need no other body".
Critical reception
Henrietta Taylor of Nigerian publication 'DST' lauded the collaboration, writing: "The Nigerian artists make a formidable duo in the glossy Afrobeats single, with the more established Wizkid giving rising-star Tems a platform to give listeners a glimpse of her knock-out vocals". Praising the chorus as "the hook that keeps on giving", NPR's Sidney Madden opined that the song was not immediately appreciated, due to COVID-19, writing: "this song didn't really get the justice or even the fair playing field it deserved because we were all inside, we were all quarantined. But now that concerts and outdoor picnics and anywhere where the communal experience of music is appreciated is coming back, this song is going to be everywhere, and it's going to continue to go up". Calling the track a perfect mix of Afropop and R&B, 'Pan African Music' said the duo "present an ode to lust" as they "embody sexual desire, advocating a sense of reciprocity". Regina Cho of Revolt deemed the song a stand-out from 'Made in Lagos', calling Tems's verse "sensual". GRM Daily's Courtney W called it a "silky, smooth" offering. Conversely, 'NME' called the track "expendable".
In 2021, "Essence" was ranked as the number one best song of 2021 by American magazine Rolling Stone.
Other
"Essence" was included in Spotify's Song of the Summer playlist in June 2021, and in Barack Obama's favourite songs of 2020 playlist.Music video
The music video was released on 9 April 2021. Directed by Director K of PriorGold Pictures, and produced by Leke Alabi Isama, it was shot in Accra, Ghana. It was the fourth video to be released from 'Made in Lagos'. The visual sees Wizkid and Tems lounging in the streets of Accra, while Wizkid is later seen riding in a car with two women. The video was considered "colourful" and "scintillating", with GRM Daily saying, "The visuals perfectly coincide with the track's blissful feel and include colourful fits, scenic shots and good vibes". 'Rolling Stone' said the artists "glow, Wiz bare-chested and draped in diamonds, Tems in slick braids and flowing garb".
Justin Bieber remix
{{Infobox song
| name = Essence
| cover = Wizkid - Essence (remix).png
| alt =
| caption = Cover of the Justin Bieber version
| type = single
| artist = Wizkid featuring Justin Bieber and Tems
| album = Made in Lagos (deluxe edition)
| released = 13 August 2021
| recorded =
| genre =
* Afrobeats
* R&B
| length = 4:23
| label =
* Starboy
* RCA
| writer =
* Ayodeji Balogun
* Justin Bieber
* Temilade Openiyi
* Uzezi Oniko
* Okiemute Oniko
* Richard Isong
| producer =
* Legendury Beatz
| chronology = Justin Bieber
| prev_title = Stay
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Don't Go
| next_year = 2021
| misc =
}}
A remix of "Essence" featuring additional vocals from Canadian singer Justin Bieber was released on 13 August 2021, and appears on the deluxe edition of 'Made in Lagos'.
Accolades
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Awards and nominations for "Essence"
! scope="col" |Year
! scope="col" |Organization
! scope="col" |Award
! scope="col" |Result
! scope="col" |Ref(s)
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" |2021
| rowspan="2" |All Africa Music Awards
|Best African Collaboration
|
| rowspan="2" |
|-
|Song of the Year in Africa
|
|-
! rowspan="3" scope="row" |2021
| rowspan="3" |African Entertainment Awards USA
|Best Collaboration
|
|rowspan="3" |
|-
|Best Video
|
|-
|Song of the Year
|
|-
! rowspan="4" scope="row" |2021
| rowspan="4" |Soul Train Music Awards
|Best Collaboration
|
|rowspan="4" |
|-
|Video of the Year
|
|-
|Song of the Year
|
|-
|The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award
|
|-
! scope="row" |2022
|Grammy Awards
|Best Global Music Performance
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |2022
|iHeartRadio Music Awards
|Hip Hop Song of the Year
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="row" |2022
| rowspan="2" |NAACP Image Awards
|Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
|
|
|-
|Outstanding International Song
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |2022
|3Music Awards
|African Song of the Year
|
|
|-
!scope="row"|2022
|BET Awards
|Best Collaboration
|
|
|}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
* Wizkid vocals, songwriting
* Tems vocals, songwriting
* Justin Bieber vocals, songwriting (remix only)
* Legendury Beatz
** Uzezi Oniko songwriting, production
** Mut4y songwriting, production
* P2J songwriting, production
* Heidi Wang assistant engineering (remix only)
* Benjamin Rice engineering (remix only)
* Colin Leonard mastering
* Leandro Hidalgo mixing
* Josh Gudwin recording, vocal production (remix only)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
Notes
References
Category:2020 songs
Category:2021 singles
Category:Wizkid songs
Category:Justin Bieber songs
Category:Nigerian afropop songs
Category:Nigerian rhythm and blues songs
Category:RCA Records singles
Category:Songs written by Justin Bieber
Category:Songs written by Wizkid
Category:Tems (singer) songs
Category:Songs written by Tems (singer)
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