Entertainment
Reaction To Tyla’s ‘Water’ Live Performance Sparks Comparison Debate With Ayra Starr [Watch]

South African music star Tyla has performed her hit song ‘Water’ for the first time on live television with the video generating reactions on social media.
The footage of the South African diva performing the smash song at the BIANCA 2023 program was uploaded on Wednesday by ‘Charts Africa’ on X (previously known as Twitter), with a certain reaction drawing comparisons to Nigerian superstar singer, Ayra Starr.
Fans took to comparing the style of music and dance moves deployed by both singers with others disapproving the comparison.
Tyla, 21, and Ayra Starr, 21, previously worked on the song “Girl Next Door” in May, and Tyla expressed her delight at collaborating with the Afrobeats sensation.
I absolutely loved working with Ayra Starr on our new single, ‘Girl Next Door,’” Tyla said in a press release. “She’s such a talented artist, and I feel like our energies really came together to create something special. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”
On Wednesday, Charts Africa posted: “Tyla performing #Water for the first time on live television.”
READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Tems, Ayra Starr, Asake Earn 2023 BET Award Nominations
The comparison, however, strted when @_dhemii said:
“Tyla is who Ayra Starr thinks she is.”
@anthony_fedora replied:
“Ayra Starr is exactly who she thinks she is, g** with that downplaying another person in other to elevate another.
“You can admire Tyla without trying to put an equally beautiful and talented Ayra Starr down.”
@AbiodunRaphiat alao said: “Nigerians and their insecurity attitude, why are you comparing your artist to SAans artists. Always looking for rivalry in everything,
Tyla is not copying your Ayra star
Tyla is a queen on her own 👑 and she’s gonna shine for a very long time.”
@smilenelisa commented:
“Y’all are so weird Ayra Starr is one of the few artists that has always hyped Tyla before she blew up don’t try and pit these two talented ladies against each other, anyway stream Girl next door by Tyla ft Ayra Starr.”
@pinkyswearand1 posted:
“Two bad bees can co-exist and we love them equally . Tyla is who she thinks she is and Ayra Starr is also who she thinks she is and personally I and a whole lot of other people love them like that.”
Tyla is who Ayra Starr thinks she is.
— D3M1👨🏾💻🩺 (@_dhemii) October 11, 2023
READ ALSO: Burna Boy, Ayra Starr’s Songs Make Obama’s Summer Playlist
@BryanJustin7 posted a video of Tyla and Aura singing together with the caption: “Tyla & Ayra ♨️”
@Ellsx_ said:
“Ayra and tyla are like the same to me lmaoo just different skin tones and accents. African baddies 😮💨”
‘Water’ by Tyla
Tyla recently made Billboard Hot 100 history which is her first career entry on the chart as she becomes the youngest South African musician to appear on the list which is the most popular music ranking chart in the US, published weekly.
The viral hit song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, after trending for several weeks on TikTok as Water is the first solo song by a South African musician to appear on the chart since jazz legend Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass 55 years ago.
Tyla & Ayra ♨️ https://t.co/CROX7q1o4G pic.twitter.com/FAxepYtEPG
— Bryan🤘🏽 (@BryanJustin7) October 11, 2023
The TikTok dance challenge has also popularised the South African Bacardi dance routine to a global audience.
“Tyla debuts at number 67 on this week’s Hot 100. It is her first career entry on the chart,” US music and entertainment magazine Billboard, which compiles the list, said on Monday, ahead of the release of the week’s list.
Tyla also reacted to the news on X, formerly Twitter.
“I’m a South African girl born and raised in Johannesburg. This is crazy,” she said.
READ ALSO: Singer Ayra Starr Makes Billboard ’21 Under 21′
Released in July, Water started gaining popularity in August when Tyla, whose full name is Tyla Laura Seethal, started sharing TikTok videos of herself dancing to it.
The song fuses a mix of genres, including Afrobeats, pop, R&B, and Amapiano, a South African style of electronic dance music.
Water has so far surpassed 3.6 million views on YouTube and attracted 10.7 million monthly Spotify listeners for Tyla.
Water has also ranked on other music charts in the US and UK, including the Billboard Afrobeats and R&B charts.
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Entertainment
‘There Was No Blueprint For Me’ – Wizkid Claims
Nigerian singer Wizkid has sparked controversy after claiming that he had no blueprint while coming up as an artist, despite having emerged through ace singer Banky W’s imprint.
The Ojuelegba crooner made the statement in a snippet of his upcoming HBO documentary Long Live Lagos.
“There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself,” he claimed.
His comment sparked debate on social media, with many insisting that it not only downplayed Banky W’s impact on his career but also disrespected the great Nigerian musicians who paved the way for the new generation of artists.
READ ALSO:Wizkid Is Married – DJ Tunez Reveals [VIDEO]
Wizkid, however, admitted elsewhere in the documentary that Fela Kuti inspired him to pursue music.
“Fela Kuti was instrumental to why I believe I could really make music,” he said.
Some of the reactions on X include:
Franko_Nero wrote: “I still vividly remember the day that Bankole [Banky W] announced on a show that he wants to introduce a boy wonder, a germ in the making. Today, this ungrateful child is claiming otherwise. If Banky knew that today would come, I am sure he would have chased him far away.”
READ ALSO:Why It Would Be Difficult For Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy To Collaborate – Music Executive
Arhcent said: “This guy is erasing the role Banky W and EME played in his career. The person Banky picked from school into the studio is saying ‘I had to build a structure for myself.’ God sees all.”
Duke of Isoko wrote: “If he never built a structure, Banky probably wouldn’t have noticed him. This dude came out with his own style of music, dressing sense, etc., but I understand that English is a problem in this place.”
Sir Dickson opined: “People are debating this with reference to Banky’s impact in his life. There is no real context to that. I believe he was speaking about his style of music. He reinvented himself. Wiz has never denied Banky’s impact, nor can he. Let’s calm down.”
Entertainment
‘I Am Not Shy, I’m Just Laid Back’ – Olamide Addresses Misconception
Famous Nigerian rapper Olamide Baddo has addressed the misconception that he is shy.
Speaking in a recent interview with Ada’s Room, Baddo explained that he isn’t shy but laid back.
“One thing I wish people could understand about me is I am not shy, I am just laid back,” he said.
READ ALSO:Olamide Clarifies Seniority Debate Between Him And Wizkid In Music Industry
The host asked: “What is the difference between shy and laid back?”
Olamide responded: “Shy is when you don’t have the confidence and the charisma to stand people or look them in the eye or have conversations with them.
“But being laid back is you just don’t want to be bothered. People think I am shy but I am not.”
Entertainment
Why I Stopped Going To Church – Actress Ariyiike Dimples
Nigerian actress and media personality, Ariyike Owolagba, popularly known as Ariyiike Dimples, has revealed why she stopped attending church.
Featuring in a recent episode of the Open Up podcast, the movie star shared that she stopped going to church for three years after a church elder questioned her fashion sense.
She stated that the elder told her she would go to hell for wearing a pencil skirt to church, which the elder considered indecent.
READ ALSO:Why I Don’t Drink, Smoke – Actress Sunshine Rosman
The actress said she was frustrated by the experience and quit church.
“In my community church, you see only elderly people. You barely see the young ones. The young ones have gone to other churches. It was too serious. Yes, you can have your doctrines, but there is a way you can simplify it for young people and take them in without judging them.
“The reason I stopped going to church was because I wore a pencil skirt to church and an elderly woman said I will go to hell fire. I was shocked and felt wrongly judged so I stopped going to church for 3 years. And thankfully, I was already out of my parents’ house.
READ ALSO:Why I Don’t Drink, Smoke – Actress Sunshine Rosman
“The woman reported me to my dad. I had to take picture of the skirt and send to my mum to prove that I wasn’t dressing indecently. But my dad believed in the ideology of a community raising a child. So, I chose to avoid the community church so that they won’t see me,” she recalled.
Ariyiike Dimples, however, added that she is still a practicing Christian despite quitting church.
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