Timeless marks Davido’s pinnacle of musical accomplishment.
On the 31st of March 2023, Afrobeats megastar Davido released his highly-anticipated fourth studio album, ‘Timeless.” His new album announcement broke the internet, sending millions of fans into a frenzy.
The album marks a sonic comeback for the “Skelewu” crooner, but this time with a more mature touch. Through this album, Davido reveals another facet of his artistry, demonstrating his performance growth and development.
After months of anticipation, the album is finally here; let’s look inside.
The theme of the album
Davido’s latest album, ‘Timeless,’ explores love, pain, joy, and his journey as a megastar across various genres, including highlife, Afrobeats, dancehall, and amapiano.
The album reflects on the concept of time, with Davido expressing gratitude for his fans’ support during difficult times. He reminds listeners that there is a time for everything, whether grieving, healing, laughing, dancing, speaking, or silence.
“There is a time for everything,” he says. “A time to grieve and heal; a time to laugh and dance; a time to speak and silence. We all have the choice to do this in our own time.” Noted Davido on a theatrical trailer he shared on Tuesday.
At long last – WE are back. The journey from my last album to this album has been a whirlwind to say the least. I recall sitting & staring over the ocean not too long ago, wondering if I could get here again, after all I’ve been through… but with your love & support, we made it. pic.twitter.com/hX2l5MvEjj
— Davido (@davido) March 30, 2023
The Tracklist for Timeless is as follows:
In his new album, Davido uses the music genres that have influenced his career for the past 11 years.
Most of the songs have Afrobeats sounds, while some also have R&B and Rap effects from his childhood, like the songs “In The Garden Ft. Morravey”, “Bop Ft. Dexta Daps”, and “U (Juju) Ft. Skepta”.
He brings them all together by working with tested producers whose composition adds a much-needed sophistication to the project. Yet, despite all this, his style, technique, approach, and thematic preoccupation remain the same.
The album starts on a high note, with a fun fair mid-tempo rhythm– ‘Over Dem’ aided with exotic horns on which he thumps his chest Davido, saying, “Over dem all. If dem want to turn Goliath, I will be David for life. Oluwa dey my side,” he choruses in the song.
He establishes himself as the David to every Goliath, figuratively challenging those against him and reaffirming his position in the industry.
‘In The Garden’ is a mid-tempo track with log drums blended with chords for a softer Amapiano form that depicts the exchange of promises between two people who have vowed to take each other seriously.
The song features the singer-songwriter, Morravey, his new signee from Port Harcourt. Here Davido continues with the romance lyrics.
With ‘Unavailable’, Davido tunes out all the naysayers, rumour mongers and generally those who don’t like him. Layering bare his imperfections, noting that he is not a pastor, meaning he never claimed to be holy.
In the song ‘Bop,’ Davido teams up with Jamaican sensation Dexta Daps. The dancehall record showcases Davido’s versatility. The song features infectious rhythm, melodies, and vibrant uplifted with Dexta’s Caribbean imprint rhymes.
Also read: 16 Of The Most Addictive Songs You Should Listen To Right Now
‘E Pain Me’ is a song that is an outburst at unrequited love. The song has a simple Afrobeats arrangement with a simplistic delivery. In this track, Davido continues the romance streak, but this time with a tinge of betrayal.
‘Away’ is a club banger with its verses, chorus, and Magicsticks’ stellar production combined to make it one of the highlights.
— Celebvibestar (@Vibextaz) April 2, 2023
The song’s opening lines, the eighth in the album, goes, “I know they want to see me fall.”
The exploration of Ragga and Konto in ‘Precision’, ‘Kante’, and ‘For The Road’ delivered some goods.
In the song “Kante,” Fave contributes a mighty chorus that uplifts the track. At the same time, Davido showcases his talent by delivering memorable lyrics that will stand the test of time.
Fave’s artistic prowess is evident as she seamlessly blends her vocals with Davido’s, all while bouncing effortlessly to the beat created by Damie.
‘Na Money’ and ‘No Competition’ bring the project a new artistic sophistication and sonic depth. ‘Na Money’ is a Highlife track produced by 1da Banton that embodies the cultural essence of the music found in Nigeria’s palm-wine joints.
The song’s decision to feature Cavemen and Angelina Kidjo may indicate the artist’s intention to create a more profound musical experience. Regardless, their contributions to the music successfully achieve the intended purpose. Ms Kidjo also brings her magic to the track with her unique and timeless voice.
‘No Competition’ features YBNL singer and songwriter Asake. His presence on the track adds an element of excitement. Although the two artists could have opted for a more commercial sound, they deliver a flawless performance on a milder beat, with Davido praising his partner. The song is all about females, beauty, love and the works.
In the song ‘Juju’, Davido caters to UK audiences with a Swing sound, featuring the iconic Grime King Skepta, who seamlessly flows alongside him while interpolating the famous lyrics of African rap royalty, Ice Prince.
‘Picasso’ is a slow-burning track that boasts exotic instrumentals highlighted by horns. Although the song compares a woman’s body to a work of art, more is needed to satisfy some listeners. However, Logos Olori impresses with a performance demonstrating his inspiration from one of Afrobeats’ greats.
For those seeking a reflective track, ‘LCND’ is a beautiful song where Davido is most sincere and emotionally vulnerable. Produced by Young Willis, the track sees him reflecting on his loss and yearning to live on his terms.
The album invokes emotions in listeners, asserting the timeless nature of Davido’s artistry and acknowledging the divine presence of his deceased loved ones, which would be a fitting and reflective ending.
Final Notes
With production from notable Afrobeats producers and a dominant Amapiano theme, Davido‘s ‘Timeless’ album strives for longevity.
Although the album has a short runtime of 17 tracks, it makes for an effortless listen, even though he could have removed some songs.
Although lacking thematic depth, ‘Timeless’ is one of Davido’s most musically accomplished albums, with its overall quality being praised. In summary, the album showcases Davido’s growth as an artist and an individual.
It is left to see whether the album will indeed be timeless.
I love this album. The songs are dope