The Technical Awards Winners.... GMA 2004

Ghana Music Awards 2004

On Saturday February 28, 2004, about 90 persons forming the Selection Committee (SC) for this year's Ghana Music Awards met at the offices of MUSIGA to select (apart from the published) nominations, the other categories that were not made available ealier on for public voting.  Ghana Music.Com was represented on the SC. Below are the nominees plus commentary from Verus Nartey, a music journalist.
 
Music Video Directing
*OM Studios (Video Directed by Abraham Ohene Gyan)
*Felix Dakat (Video Directed By Kpapko & Rahim)
*Phamous People (Video Directed by Gerald O. Gyimah)
 
Nominees
?Oye Ohene Remix? by Obrafour [OM Studios]
?Abeiku? by Nana Tuffour [OM Studios]
?Ofie Nipa? by Okomfour Kwadee [OM Studios]
?Ahomka Wo Mu? by VIP [Felix Dakat]
?I Do? by Nana Fynn [Felix Dacat]
?Brebrebeyi? by Daughters of Glorious Jesus [Phamous People]
?Odo Colour? by George Darko [Phamous People]
 
Comment:
A few technical brains that Ghana Music.Com spoke with after the selection exercise were of the opinion that all the nominated videos (listed above) had very little to choose from "professionally speaking". One critic described Obrafour's ?Oye Ohene? remix (featuring Tinny), as ?made up of flat shots dominated by pockets of artificial effects". Nana Fynn's ?I Do?, produced by two-time GMA winning duo of Kpakpo Addo and Rahim (Feelix Dakat) may be the most expensive video among the lot- hire of crane among other cost. But the Video tries to justify the song with storyline that is almost silent, apart from the plenty wedding couples gracing the set. Same Feelix Dakat's screen-friendly ?Ahomka Wo MU? (V.I.P) attracts the eyes just because the song already sounds good. So like Obrafour's ?Oye Ohene? remix (OM Studios), you may be deceived into thinking that you loved the video meanwhile it was rather the song you enjoyed. However, V.I.P's dance steps on ?Ahomka Wo Mu? are not bad at all. Terry Bonchaka's appearance on ?Ahomka Wo Mu? video and his self-styled costume used by all VIP members may have contributed somewhat to this clip.
 
There's almost nothing special about Phamous People-produced ?Brebrebeyi? (Daughters of Glorious Jesus). My description: Three good-looking ladies with detail attention on glowing costumes and good make-up in an ?averagely? normal clip. However, same Phamous People-produced ?Odo Colour? (George Darko) is an award-winning clip. Good props, good setting, cool concept and good shots. Perhaps, Gerald needed some more time to groom the kids he used. The roles of George Darko's band members are funnily played by about 10 kids below age, 10. The two backing vocalists are occasionally seen throwing some deft body moves anytime they were aware the camera was on them. Yet any time the camera pans on any of these kids' lips you find them lyrically wanting. They either didn't have enough time to learn the actual words to the song or something else. 

My very (and I believe lots of other good video critics') favourite is Nana Tuffour's ?Abeiku? produced by OM Studios. Like all OM videos, the artificial effects nearly spoiled the fun. But this is one video that really depicts, in the real sense of the words, the storyline of the song. The concept is very superb and anytime you see it, you just want to smile (if not burst into laughter). Should this video pick the final nod, I think that the small boy, who wouldn't stop disturbing the parents even deep into the night when they were making love, needs a big pat on the back. Though shot at very good locations, Okomfour's ?Ofie Nipa?s? theme was overly depicted, and overly repeated.
 
Song Writer of the Year
Osuane Afrifa- Meye Onyame Ba
Okomfo Kwadee- Meyere Ne Mempena
Obrafour- Ntetiepa
 
Comment:
Honestly, I'm not sure how the organizers came up with the three cuts in this category as the most lyrically-correct songs of last year. Obrafour's ?Ntetiepa? stands out tall among all the three cuts. I don't need to preach to you what good the words in this song may have done to local ears. It is a well-writen masterpiece.
 
Highlife Song of the Year
Odo Colour- George Darko
W'aben- Felix Owusu
 
Comment:
Felix Owusu, like George Darko is a very big boy in this game but I think he needed to do a lot better with the promotion of this particular album. George Darko may easily run home with this one.
 
Reggae Song of the Year
Let the Music Play- Bulletman
Congo Bongo- Black Rasta
 
Comment:
Oh, so you also haven't heard of these reggae artists, let alone their songs? Reggae made in Ghana really needs to get serious if it wanted to be acknowledged at any good Awards show. Of the two cuts above, ?Congo Bongo? by Black Rasta has a typical reggae rhythm and flow while ?Let the Music Play? by Bulletman has a rocky or lovers' Rock something to the reggae flava. Your guess is as ?Black? as mine.
 
Technical Engineer of the Year
This category didn?t appear on the Selection Committee list. Asked why, Event Director, Theresa Ayoade says that unlike the previous mode of selection, the winner of this award will be the person who engineered the most award-winning songs.
 
Comment:
Using the criteria given by the organizers, it is very likely that the Technical Engineer of the year would go to either Jay Q or Hammer (of the Last 2). This is obviously JQ's turn, having done hit songs for V.I.P, King David, 4X4, Castro among others. Hammer grabs this award should Obrafour and Tinny win the most song and album awards.