Okyeame Kwame argues why popular songs today don’t create stories through their lyrics.

In response to assertions made by seasoned broadcaster Tommy Annan-Forson that contemporary songs are devoid of narratives, Ghanaian singer Okyeame Kwame has shared his thoughts. Tommy claimed that he rarely listens to songs published recently because they lack substance in an interview with Kwesi Kyei Darkwah on CTV. Since there is nothing to comprehend, I hardly ever listen to our [contemporary] music. Really, there is nothing to comprehend. The music is blabber. “There’s no plot,” he declared. On Facebook, Okyeame Kwame commented on Tommy’s submission, saying, “I want to assume he meant “pop” music.”

Since we are now in the visual-audio era rather than the audio-visual period, this assertion is highly contentious. He pointed out that the stories are delivered through films, “visualizers,” TikTok dances, and abstract, straightforward music. He added that while there are other ways to help achieve the same impact, popular music nowadays pays less attention to storytelling. The story behind the songs are now thoroughly expressed through the usage of background elements. In other words, pop music does not tell stories through lyrics. It’s deliberate. They leave room for the audience to interpret the music in their own way, allowing them to participate through social media reactions (dancing, skits, speeches, etc.).

The reason for this phenomena is that we are no longer in the audio-visual period, but rather the visual-audio era. Let’s approach art with equal regard for the artists and the viewers. We can completely understand the “why” in this way,” he continued. Tommy Annan-Forson claims that music has a narrative quality. He claimed that he tells a tale about himself and the audience when he performs country music. “I know the audience will enjoy a certain country music when I play it because it makes my heart skip a beat or beat faster. It has a compelling plot that touches both you and me,” he remarked. Therefore, in order to guarantee that customers receive high-quality music, the ace broadcaster has taxed DJs, radio presenters, and musicians.