Essence (song)

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"Essence"
Wizkid - Essence (remix).png
Remix cover
Single by Wizkid featuring Tems
from the album Made in Lagos
Released9 April 2021
Genre
Length4:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Wizkid singles chronology
"Ginger"
(2020) 		"Essence"
(2021)
Tems singles chronology
"Damages"
(2020) 		"Essence"
(2021)
Music video
"Essence" on YouTube

"Essence" is a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid, released on 30 October 2020 as the 11th track from his fourth studio album, Made in Lagos. It samples Loleatta Holloway's "Love Sensation"[1] and features Nigerian singer Tems, who wrote the song alongside Wizkid. "Essence" was produced by P2J and Legendury Beatz. The "sensual" song sees the duo express their desire for each other. A music video was released on 9 April 2021, shot in Accra, Ghana. "Essence" is the first Nigerian song in history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200.[2][3] Another version with an additional feature from Canadian singer Justin Bieber was released on 13 August 2021.

Background and composition[]

After the song garnered popularity, Tems said that although she was "happy" with her first recording of the song, she felt her verse could have been better. However, Wizkid and his team thought her vocals were great and ultimately kept it. Tems recalled hearing the song "in the most random places", while in Los Angeles.[4]

"Essence" is an Afrobeats/Afro-pop and R&B song.[5][6] Lyrically, it sees Wizkid and Tems yearning for each other's physical connection;[7][8] deemed a "flirtatious" song, the artists deliver "tongue-in-cheek showboating".[5] As observed by NPR's Sidney Madden, the song features Tems singing the chorus about how only her lover can give her the feeling of "lust and obsession and worship that she deserves", with the lyrics "You don't need no other body. You don't need no other body".[9]

Critical reception[]

Henrietta Taylor of Nigerian publication DST lauded the collaboration, writing: "The Nigerian artists make a formidable duo in the glossy Afrobeats single, with the more established Wizkid giving rising-star Tems a platform to give listeners a glimpse of her knock-out vocals".[5] Praising the chorus as "the hook that keeps on giving", NPR's Sidney Madden opined that the song was not immediately appreciated, due to COVID-19, writing: "this song didn't really get the justice or even the fair playing field it deserved because we were all inside, we were all quarantined. But now that concerts and outdoor picnics and anywhere where the communal experience of music is appreciated is coming back, this song is going to be everywhere, and it's going to continue to go up".[9] Calling the track a perfect mix of Afropop and R&B, Pan African Music said the duo "present an ode to lust" as they "embody sexual desire, advocating a sense of reciprocity".[6] Regina Cho of Revolt deemed the song a stand-out from Made in Lagos, calling Tems's verse "sensual".[10] GRM Daily's Courtney W called it a "silky, smooth" offering.[11] Conversely, NME called the track "expendable".[12]

Other[]

Essence was included in Spotify's Song of the Summer playlist in June 2021,[13] and in Barack Obama's favourite songs of 2020 playlist.[14]

Music video[]

The music video was released on 9 April 2021.[15]and Directed by Director K of PriorGold Pictures, and produced by Leke Alabi Isama,[16] it was shot in Accra, Ghana. It was the fourth video to be released from Made in Lagos.[12] The visual sees Wizkid and Tems lounging in the streets of Accra, while Wizkid is later seen riding in a car with two women.[12][16] The video was considered "colourful" and "scintillating", [5][7] with GRM Daily saying, "The visuals perfectly coincide with the track's blissful feel and include colourful fits, scenic shots and good vibes".[11] Rolling Stone said the artists "glow, Wiz bare-chested and draped in diamonds, Tems in slick braids and flowing garb".[8]

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Essence"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 30
Global 200 (Billboard)[18] 28
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 91
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 15
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 3
UK Afrobeats Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 16
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[27] 40
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[28] 15
US Rolling Stone Top 100[29] 11
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[30] 1

Release history[]

Release history and formats for "Essence"
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various 3 October 2020
[10]
United States 29 June 2021 Urban radio [31]

References[]

  1. ^ "Wizkid feat. Tems's 'Essence' sample of Loleatta Holloway's 'Love Sensation'". WhoSampled. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Wizkid's 'Essence' Enters Hot 100". Billboard. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. ^ "New Around the World: Wizkid & Tems Spotlight Nigeria on Global 200". Billboard. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  4. ^ Bassey, Ekaete (12 June 2021). "I could have done better on Wizkidxs Essence Tems". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Taylor, Henrietta (12 April 2021). "WizKid - Essence feat. Tems [Video]". DST. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "WizKid and Tems embody sensuality on "Essence"". Pan African Music. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Wizkid And Tems Release Scintillating Video For "Essence"". The Guardian (Nigeria). 9 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Mankaprr, Conteh (9 April 2021). "Wizkid and Tems Lounge and Glow in 'Essence' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Madden, Sidney (8 July 2021). "Our Songs Of Summer For 2021". NPR. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Cho, Regina (9 April 2021). "Wizkid and Tems unleash official video for "Essence"". Revolt. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b W, Courtney (9 April 2021). "Wizkid & Tems Deliver Silky Vibes In Visuals For Big "Made In Lagos" Cut "Essence"". GRM Daily. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c Richards, Will (11 April 2021). "WizKid shares video for new Tems collaboration 'Essence'". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  13. ^ Shafer, Ellise (29 June 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo, Rauw Alejandro and BTS Lead Spotify's Song of the Summer Predictions". Variety. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Barack Obama 2020 Playlist". Wonderland Magazine. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  15. ^ BN TV (9 April 2021). "New Video: Wizkid feat. Tems – Essence". BellaNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Bartee, Richardine (9 April 2021). "Wizkid, Tems release highly-anticipated video for 'Essence'". Grunge Cake. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Wizkid Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Wizkid Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems – Essence" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  21. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 33". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Afrobeats Chart Top 20 – Week of 31 January 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Wizkid Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Wizkid Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Wizkid Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Wizkid Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Rolling Stone Top 100". Rolling Stone Top 100. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Wizkid Chart History – World Digital Songs Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
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