Happy Thanksgiving to my readers in the United States! And what better way to celebrate the holiday than with a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid?
‘Essence’ is a duet with fellow Nigerian vocalist Tems in which the two flirt over Afrobeat rhythms. The version that sits at #11 on this week’s Hot 100 (one slot behind Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’) also features a verse by Justin Bieber.
‘Essence’ peaked at #9 on the Hot 100, becoming the first ever Nigerian song to reach the chart’s top ten. Some fans are bothered that Bieber’s contribution helped push the song into the top ten, believing it might have made it there on its own without the white boy’s help.
I’m sure Wizkid and Tems are cool with Bieber’s assist and the increased exposure it gave them. Personally, I’m impressed with Bieber’s staying power. The man has put songs in the top 20, as either the primary or featured artist, for more than a decade.
Ohh naa naa
Omo je ka shi ge ge woah
Ohh naa naa
Omo ge wa j’ogede
Ohh naa naa
Girl, I no go let you go
Ohh naa naa
Omo je ka shi ge ge woah
[Verse 1: Tems]
Say I wanna leave you in the mornin’
But I need you now, yeah, yeah
I find you, I give you all you needin’
I know you what you like
[Chorus: Tems & Wizkid]
You don’t need no other body
You don’t need no other body (Woah, woah, woah)
Only you fi hold my body
Only you fi hold my body (Woah-woah, woah-woah)
You don’t need no other body
[Verse 2: Wizkid]
Say na me dey mess up your mind
And na me dey make you free up your mind
Say your body talk to me nice
Say na my love, you dey need for your life
Yeah our love no be lie
See yeah we dey together yeah day and night
Yeah, if I leave you go kpai
Yeah, if you leave I go kpai (Oh, oh woah)
I’m strokin’ your body, baby
Lovin’ your body, baby
As you’re whinin’ your body, baby
So crazy
Lovin’ your body, baby
Gyal iwo ni temi
I just wanna let you know, oh woah
Hope every day that I dey by you
[Chorus: Tems & Wizkid]
You don’t need no other body
You don’t need no other body (Woah, woah, woah)
Only you fi hold my body
Only you fi hold my body (Woah-woah, woah-woah)
You don’t need no other body
[Verse 3: Justin Bieber]
I prayed for this moment
I would be by your side
And I don’t wanna forget
Those lonely nights
Ooh, so tell that you gon’ ride with me
Tell me that you’ll never lie to me (Mm-hmm)
I just wanna make you proud of me
Want you lovin’ every side of me
I love the rhythm of your heartbeat
The way you pushin’ up on me
I can tell that you want me
Let me show you how it’s gon’ be
[Chorus: Justin Bieber & Wizkid]
You don’t need no other body
You don’t need no other body (Woah, woah, woah)
Only you fi hold my body
Only you fi hold my body
You don’t need no other body
[Bridge: Tems & Wizkid]
Baby, baby
Everybody used to say
No one loves you like this
No one wants you the same way
Love ’til the mornin’
My head wan’ to turn from your lovin’
I just wanna get you beside me (Woah-woah, woah-woah)
Gave you all you need, gave you all you need
Gave you all, you give me all you need, give you all you need, gave you all
Make ah give you all you need
Every touch you need, give you all
Make ah give you all you need, baby
Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
You don’t need no other body
You don’t need no other body (Woah, woah, woah)
Only you fi hold my body
Only you fi hold my body (Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah)
You don’t need no other body
[Outro: Wizkid]
Baby girl I want you there
Girl I want you there
Promise to treat your love fair
Woah-woah, woah-woah
When we touch our world connect
Woah-woah, woah-woah
Said this love, have no regret
Woah-woah, yeah-yeah
Meet Me In Montauk 
I suspect these fans would have argued in the 80s that Lady Black Mambazo would have made the US charts without an assist from Paul Simon.😀
Happy Thanksgiving!