Today, we’re diving into the “Top 11 Cheesiest One-Hit Wonders of the 2000s.” These are the tunes that had us all doing the “Yahooze” dance at parties, only to vanish faster than Nollywood visual effects. So, grab your old Nokia 3310, adjust your baggy jeans, and let’s get this show on the road!
The 2000s, let’s go back in time folks, let’s journey through the musical landscape of Nigeria and some international hits in the 2000s, a time when Alaba International Market was the music industry’s beating heart and ring-back tones were the height of cool.
Olufunmi by Styl-Plus
Kicking off our list is the song that launched a thousand lovey-dovey dedications. Styl-Plus burst onto the scene with this saccharine ode to the perfect Nigerian babe. With lyrics smoother than palm oil and harmonies tighter than NEPA’s grip on our electricity, “Olufunmi” had every Naija boy
thinking he was the next R&B sensation. The song’s cheese factor was off the charts, with lines like “You’re the sugar in my tea” making us simultaneously swoon and cringe. While Styl-Plus tried to replicate this success, they quickly found out that lightning (or should we say, love) doesn’t strike twice.
No One Like You by P-Square
Before they were breaking up and making up more times than we can count, P-Square gave us this cheesy gem. With a video that looked like it was shot on a budget of two pure water sachets and a dream, “No One Like You” had us all convinced that the ultimate romantic gesture was awkwardly
dancing in matching outfits. The twins’ synchronized moves and earnest declarations of love were so sweet they could give you tooth decay. While P-Square went on to have a successful career, this cheesy debut remains a hilarious reminder of simpler times.
Shakomo by Tony Tetuila featuring Eedris Abdulkareem
If you ever wanted to hear grown men repeatedly shout “shakomo” over a beat that sounds like it was made on a Casio keyboard, boy, do I have the song for you! Tony Tetuila and Eedris Abdulkareem joined forces to create this inexplicably catchy tune that
had us all wondering, “What exactly is shakomo, and why are we so excited about it?” The song’s nonsensical lyrics and repetitive chorus made it the perfect anthem for… well, we’re still not sure what. But for a hot minute in 2001, “shakomo” was the word on everyone’s lips.
Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em
Soulja Boy walked so that TikTok dances could run. This teen rapper burst onto the scene with a song and dance combo that was equal parts infectious and incomprehensible.
What does it mean to “Superman that ho”? We may never know, but that didn’t stop everyone from trying to master the dance. Soulja Boy may have told ’em, but after this hit, not many people were listening.
Yahooze by Olu Maintain
No list of Nigerian one-hit wonders would be complete without the anthem of aspiring “Yahoo boys” everywhere. Olu Maintain struck gold with this ode to the good life, complete with a dance move that looked like you were aggressively typing on an invisible keyboard.
The song’s celebration of sudden, unexplained wealth raised a few eyebrows, but that didn’t stop it from being played at every party from Lagos to London. While Olu Maintain may have yahoo-ed his way to the top of the charts once, his follow-up attempts left us all saying “Maga don pay?”
Nfana Ibaga by 2face (No Problem)
Another hit from the Face 2 Face album, this song helped solidify 2Baba’s place in the African music scene.
Bad Day by Daniel Powter
You know you’ve reached peak cheese when your song becomes the official anthem of rejected “American Idol” contestants. Daniel Powter’s piano-driven ballad about having a bad day was so
ubiquitous in 2005 that it probably gave people actual bad days. Its saccharine lyrics and sing-along chorus made it the perfect soundtrack for every mildly inconvenient moment.
African Queen by 2face
This is arguably his most famous song, released in 2004 as part of his debut solo album Face 2 Face. It brought him international recognition and remains a classic.
Oruka by Sunny Neji
Sunny Neji started the millennium with this ode to marriage that had every Nigerian aunty nodding in approval. With its traditional highlife sound and lyrics extolling the virtues of putting a ring on it, “Oruka” became the unofficial anthem of Nigerian weddings.
The song’s cheesy charm lay in its earnestness – Sunny Neji wasn’t trying to be cool, he just really wanted you to get married, like, right now. While “Oruka” was a massive hit, Sunny Neji’s subsequent attempts to recreate the magic left him singing the blues.
Ebute Metta by Banky W
Released in 2008, this song is a Nigerian remix of Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” It became an instant hit and helped Banky W gain widespread attention.
Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men
This infectious Caribbean anthem is the undisputed king of cheesy one-hit wonders. The nonsensical lyrics, the singalong chorus, and the iconic music video featuring dancing dogs – it was a recipe for pure, unadulterated fun (and potential confusion about who, exactly, let the dogs out).
And there you have it, folks! Eleven slices of the cheesiest, most gloriously cringe-worthy 11 Cheesiest One-Hit Wonders of the 2000s. These songs may have been fleeting in their fame, but
they left an indelible mark on our collective cultural psyche. They’re the tunes that make us nostalgic for a time when Alaba International Market was our Spotify, and our biggest worry was making sure we had enough credit to send that important text.
So the next time you’re at an owambe and the DJ drops “Yahooze,” don’t roll your eyes. Embrace the cheese! Do that keyboard-typing dance move like your life depends on it. Belt out “Olufunmi” like
you’re the fourth member of Styl-Plus. Because in the end, isn’t that what music is all about? Having fun, letting loose, and remembering a time when our biggest worry was whether our crush would read our carefully crafted text message.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to dig out my old CDs and relive the glory days of Nigerian pop. The 2000s are calling, and I must answer!
