What’s in an album name?

What’s in an album name?

Peter Tinashe Kaviya

May of 2007 saw Barbadian singer Rihanna release her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad, the album  received seven Grammy Award nominations and one win in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category for Umbrella at the 2008 ceremony.

Of interest was how Rihanna changed her image and her stance after the 2007 album, once an American sweat heart, Rihanna changed her image, and adopted an image that received more critics than admirers.

Could the album name Good Girl Gone Bad a reflection of a persona the Barbadian star had adopted.

The year 2016, has seen the local musical fans being treated to choice when it comes musical releases.

The year has seen sungura maestro Alick Macheso breaking his five years silence with a six track offering Tsoka Dzerwendo with the artiste saying he named the album as a reflection of his musical journey.

The release of Macheso’s album was followed by announcement from top artistes of their scheduled releases passing the year 2016 as one of the most competitive ones in recent times.

While Leonard Zhakata has released his album Mutunga Dzose, and Andy Muridzo released his 15 track album Ngarizhambe; lanky performer Jah Prayzah is set to release his next effort Mdhara Vachauya on August 12 and Oliver Mtukudzi will also release Eheka Nhai Yahwe later this year.

Dendera crooner Sulumani Chimbetu is also believed to be finalising his offering tilted Havasikutiziva .

The names of these albums have become talking points with some suggesting their controversial and suggestive and sending messages across to “rival” camps.

Could these album names be a reflection of the competition in the industry?

Prominent producer Munyaradzi Viya popularly known as Munya Vialy though agreeing that the names could be misinterpreted as suggestive; believes that artistes are inspired by current surroundings when naming an album or song.

“I think when an artiste is naming a song he looks at the situation around him or a song on the particular album. I guess the artiste will be narrating the situation that one will be going through at the time he/ she will be working on the album,” said Munya Vialy.

“An artiste can also name an album with a track that they think is favorite on the album, as is the case with Jah Prayzah forthcoming album, the album actually carries a track titled Mdara Vachauya.“

Music fans seem to believe that Jah Prayzah titled his album Mdara Vachauya in response to Andy Muridzo’s Ngarizhambe.

This notion stems from the two artistes are believed to be feuding.

It also believed there is bad blood between the 3^rd Generation and Dendera Kings camps despite Sulu and Jah Prayzah hosting a Friends Forever Concert in a bid to quill the speculation.

Award winning journalist, Garikai Mazara suggests that while album names could seem suggestive it will be farfetched to say they are figurative since the artistes are from different genres.

“I think if you look at the album titles in the context that they are being released within weeks of each other, there is a temptation to derive connotations from the titles, especially given the tight competitive space the musicians are working in, that said, it would be stretching our imagination a bit because the musicians are from different genres, which somehow removes the perceived competition,” said Mazara.

“Zhakata, for example, if his album title is meant to mean something, then it has to be in relation to the whole music landscape, and not just one or two artistes.”

The award winning scribe said he felt that the content on an album should matter more rather than the name, citing that yesteryear artistes named their albums according to the content.

“To me the content of the album matters more than the name and in years gone by, musicians would give titles to their albums, which titles were not figurative, for example, Devera Ngwena, Vol 1, 2, etc. the reasoning was that the content was able to speak for itself,‘’ said Mazara.

Music teacher and Black Spirits bass man Enock Piroro believes that albums must be named in line with the theme of the whole album and content.

“All musical compositions are driven by a certain message; many artistes have declared that their albums are on many topical issues like social commentary, love or even peace, it is the message of the album that defines the theme of the album as a project or product. I believe the album name should be able to summarise the theme and should be influenced by the theme. Artistes should come up with album names that mirror the theme on the album,” said Piroro.

It remains to be seen if we will talk of the 2016 releases in the same manner as the aftermath to Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad? But nevertheless, the albums will surely be a topic of debate in many sectors.