If R2Bees Wins ‘Artiste Of The Year’ Then Charter House May Redefine That Category + My Predictions For The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2013

Tomorrow Saturday May 18 at the Conference Centre in Accra, winners of the fourteenth edition of the Ghana Music Awards sponsored by telecom giant Vodafone will be announced.

One category which has come under the radar ever since the nominations were outdoored is the overall award on the night, Artiste of the Year. This is because the artistes who appear favourite to pick that category are the most boring on stage. Due to having good year with several hits songs, R2Bees has been tipped to pick many awards on the night including the ultimate award.

But what will be the stumbling block between them and the top honour on the night is their bad stage performance. According to the definition of the category, the artiste who deserves to win must have the audience appeal and must have garnered enough popularity in the year under review.

Whenever they are called upon to perform, the audience make noise to welcome them but they leave the audience disappointed due to their poor stage performance. Sometimes their performances get so bad. Extremely bad that “patrons regret paying to watch them”.

To win the Artiste of the Year award is not solely about having hit songs, it goes far beyond that. There are two sets of musicians; the one whose song is best listened to and not necessarily to go and pay to watch and the other set is the musician whose song can be both jammed to and listened to and is always a delight to watch on any stage.

R2Bees falls into the first category. Over the years, the Artiste of the Year category has been won by artistes who are a delight to watch on stage. It has been won by great artistes in the history of the country. When that category is mentioned names such s Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi, Lord Kenya, Sarkodie, VIP, Kwaw Kese among others comes to mind.

I do not see R2Bees picking the Artiste of the Year award at the expense of VIP and Kwaw Kese. Also in the category are D-Black, Cwesi Oteng and 4X4.

In an unlikely situation that they win because people voted for them, then Charter House mmay redefine that category.

Below are my predictions for the awards:

Artiste of the Year:

R2Bees have had a good year with banging hits. No doubt, but like I stated above winning this award is not solely about having banging hits, it’s about your stage performance too. VIP and Kwaw Kese will cut for me. If I’m forced to pick, then I will go for Kwaw Kese.

Vodafone Song of the Year:

D-Black’s Vera track created lots of excitement and became a household name when it was released. It might not win due to its release time, I don’t think he’s favourite any more. Life by R2Bees will be a strong contender. However I will stick my head out for ‘Aluguntugui’ by Keche. It will be totally unfair if it doesn’t win.

Best Collaboration of the Year:

Becca’s international collaboration with Nigeria’ MI on ‘No Away’ didn’t get the popularity it needs to win this one. A lot was spent on the song and video but nothing was spent on its promotion.

‘Ka No Seyaa’ by Herty Bongreat & Trigmatic and ‘Azonto Fiesta’ by Appietus, Sarkodie & Kesse will be tough but I will give it to ‘Bye-Bye’ by Asem & Kwabena Kwabena.

Don’t rule out ‘Sika’ by Okyeame Kwame & Kesse.

Hip Hop Song of the Year:

I must say that all the songs here deserve to win exception of ‘Pizza & Burger’ by Sarkodie & Jayso. The song didn’t get enough rotation. I will narrow it down to ‘Makaa Maka’ by M.Anifest and ‘Bayla’ by R2Bees. I will pick ‘Bayla’ by R2Bees which got all the excitement in an Azonto era.

Hip Life Song of the Year:

The Ghana Music Awards is somehow a popularity based award and all the songs here are very popular. I will narrow my favourites down to ‘Aluguntugui’ Keche and ‘Azonto Ghost’ by Bisa but I think ‘Vera’ by D-Black Ft Joey B should win this one.

Gospel Artiste of the Year:

I have not been following gospel music and I have no excuse for that. This is like staking lotto, you believe you will win but not too sure.

God knows that my favourite is Nicholas Omane Acheampong but I’m very certain Herty Bongreat will go home with this one.

Afro Pop Song of the Year:

“She dey do me Antenna” should pick this one without any competition. I don’t see any credible competition for him. Antenna by Fuse ODG will do for me. I hope his fans voted for him though.

Hip Life/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year:

My favourite is D-Black. I pray he wins it. My other favourites are R2Bees and VIP.

Gospel Song of the Year:

‘God Dey Bless Me’ by Cwesi Oteng belongs to the elites, which I’m not part of.

Nicholas Omane Acheampong‘s ‘Zaphanat Panea’ is very popular among a cross section of Ghanaians who will not necessary waste their money to vote for him. They will prefer to enjoy and dance to it.

Cwesi Oteng’s God Dey Bless Me is grabbing attention among the elites who can appreciate the song by voting but as to if they will vote for him to win is another problem.

I will place my last cedis on ‘Zaphanat Panea’ by Nicholas Omane Acheampong.

The way Herty Bongreat is lobbying, I won’t be surprised if she wins it with ‘Ka No Seyaa’ by Herty Bongreat Ft Trigmatic. But you know my favourite right?

African Artiste of the Year:

Wizkid is nominated and he’s coming to the awards right? So I expect him to win. Iyanya, P-Square, Davido, Flavour and D-Banj all deserves to win.

Best Group of the Year:

I think Keche had a good year with their ‘Aluguntugui’ song. R2Bees is the favourite for this one. However I will place my last GHC1 on VIP.

Highlife Song of the Year:

This one is a serious fight between ‘Odo’ by R2Bees and ‘Love of my Life’ by Afriyie Wutah. If I have my way I will give it to Afriyie Wutah but the reality is that R2Bees’ ‘Odo’ will win hands down.

No surprise at all. ‘Odo’ is a beautiful song except for Paedae’s weak rap.

Highlife Artiste of the Year:

This is the weakest category in this year’s awards. However I think Afriyie should go home with this one.

New Artiste of the Year:

This is one of the categories that you knew who will win when the nominations were announced. It’s straight to Kaakie. I believe in miracles but not in this category.

Reggae Dance Hall Song of the Year:

I will narrow it down to ‘Go Go Wild’ by Eazzy Ft Jupiter, ‘Toffee Pon Tongue’ by Kaakie and ‘Time Bomb’ by Samini Ft Wizkid.

I tip Kaakie to beat his role model Samini for this one.

Album of the Year:

I don’t know what ‘Solid Ground’ by Asem is doing in this category.

However I will narrow it down to ‘Something Else’ by E.L., ‘Mr. Versatile’ by Okyeame Kwame and ‘The Revelation’ by D-Black.

D-Black’s album is my favourite but E.L. will pick this one.

Best Male Vocal Performance:

When Afriyie picked this award two years ago as a member of Wutah, the group broke up. Will R2Bees break up if Muggez wins it? If I have the chance I will give it to Afriyie.

Best Female Vocal Performance:

I think Efya will win it again with ‘Best In Me’.

Best Rapper:

This is a straight fight between M.anifest, Edem and Okyeame Kwame. I will stick with the Best Rapper Alive- Okyeame Kwame.

Now here we have it. There is a reason why this is called a prediction.