The Yuletide season is in full swing and every Nigerian is in high spirits. Yes, the economy is in shambles and inflation rates have “space-rocketted”. But as the happy people we are, Nigerians still find a way to make the Yuletide season the most fun time of the year.
This is that time when everyone gets to count their blessings for the past year. They also get to make renewed hope and resolutions for the coming one. This is that time when everyone gets to take some time out to enjoy life and love. With this act comes timeless Songs. We shall be examining 5 of the most common timeless songs which dominate the Nigerian Airwaves Every Yuletide Season.
1. Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord – Boney M
This piece of musical marvel celebrates Jesus’ birth at Christmas . And no Christmas in Nigeria will ever be what it is without this song being played over the airwaves on radio, television, advertising and marketing campaigns and more.
A timeless piece of musical art, the song, is actually a cover of Harry Belafonte’s 1956 hit “Mary’s Boy Child”. The song is put in medley with the new song “Oh My Lord”. Many the world over, call it the greatest Christmas song of all time; and since 1978.
The German musical group has the song as one of their best selling singles with it recording a sale of 1.89 million units as at November 2015.
2. Odun Lo Sopin – CAC Good Women Choir
Released in 1979 by the Good Women’s Choir of the Nigerian Christ Apostolic Church, Ibadan, Nigeria. The group was led by Mrs D A. Fasoyin.
The song’s title means “the year is coming to an end”. The lyrics is a prayer asking God to see one through the end of the year without any mishap. Originally sang in Yoruba language, this evergreen song ushers in the Yuletide season in Nigeria every year. It got remixed in 2020 into Igbo and Hausa languages.
Seen as a powerful prayer song in the “ember months” this song is used by many Nigerians to ward off evil as the year grinds to a close.
According to the choir leader, Mrs Fasoyin, the song. “Is actually a CAC composition which dates back to the early 1940s. It was a hymn that was sung at the end of each year by all CAC churches but we added only two verses to the original composition so one can’t really say who wrote it but many have said that we made it famous and we thank God for that”.
3. This Year (Odun Yi) – Jaywon
Jaywon’s This Year comes as another prayer/prophecy type song that comes to play during the close of each year. From making money, to graduation and promotions, the song prophesies into the new year, willing it to come with blessings, goodness and all the good things of life.
Released in 2013, the song became an instant hit and won the award for Best Recording at The Headies 2013 and the Tush Awards. The song also landed him a deal with manufacturing giants, PZ Cussons. This allowed the firm to exploit “This Year” for promotional purposes.Also sang in Yoruba, the song comes with promises for a fruitful and fulfilling New year.
4. All I want for Christmas Is You (Make My Wish Come True) – Mariah Carey
Coming next on the list is American RnB sensation, Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you (make my wish come true). Released in 1994 as part of her fourth studio album and first holiday album, “Merry Christmas”, this song is always a fan favourite on the Nigerian and international Airwaves every Christmas.
With royalties running into more than $100 million since its release, with Carey making about $2.5 million from it every year. The song has sold 16 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling digital singles of all time.
5. Feliz Navidad – Boney M.
Another timeless songs which dominate the Nigerian Airwaves Every Yuletide Season, Feliz Navidad was first written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. German musical group, Boney M came with their cover in their 1981 Christmas album. The song’s simple and heartfelt lyrics continue to resonate with people of all ages around the world every year during the Yuletide.
The feeling is no different in Nigeria and the song gets to bring out the feeling of nostalgia and longing for simpler times in the hearts of the elderly and middle aged who were active in the 70s and 80s.
There you have it! Five of the timeless songs which dominate the Nigerian Airwaves Every Yuletide Season. We here at Trickle Media hope everyone has a blissful Christmas and a happy new year 2025!
