Scintillating Juju percussion and tender guitar riffs open the song. The giddy groove on Yung Ace’s latest hit, ‘I Don’t Care’, shines through the raspy Gan Gan (Yoruba talking drum) progressions. “This kind love, I never see before (baby)/ Your eyes dey call, I no fit to ignore (my baby),” his vocals pierce through the song, with a rousing melisma.
The acclaimed Nigerian singer and producer, known for hits like ‘Fall (with Oxlade, Nviiri The Storyteller and Quamina)’, and ‘Don’t You Go (with Bella Alubo)’, among others, returns with the same vibrance that dotted his 6-tracker EP, Pawn, released earlier in the year.
Produced by Yung Ace, the song brims with a rich euphony of Yoruba Juju music and stellar audio engineering. It samples King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall’s 2017 Juju bop, ‘Legacy Part 1’, retaining the complex polyharmonic progression that powers the original. It’s one of the most captivating Kwam 1 samples, after
Yung Ace’s use of a backing choir, especially for the chorus, “Olomoge…”, strengthens the song’s wedding party-esque groove. His charismatic use of the call-and-response technique around the hook as he sings, “I don’t care/(All of my money ko gba ko je),” also heightens the song’s cadence.
The song’s piano and guitar improvisations, especially around the bridge, are, arguably, among its strongest pleasure points, as their filler-effects layer the composition with strong catharsis. During his recent performance of the song at Falz’s recent UK Tour, the rich chordophonic elements stood out with a placebo effect, as they layered the performance with ample opportunities for filler improvisations. Those crowd-controlling moments are treasure troves that celebrate Ace’s clever choice of infusing these improvisations within the song. The entire composition is lush with a tempered pace that connects the listener to an instant dance party, with ad-libs and scat singing tightening its tension-and-release.
The dance jive also thrives with strong replay value, especially with its catchy lyrics.
Yung Ace’s code-switching lyricism sautees the song with enough ethnic flavour that when paired with his melodramatic ‘Juju-style’ delivery, the pop-fusion glides with easy recall.
With the song’s crescendo simmers without any actual switch
Overall, the song feels like a warm cup of chamomile tea, brewing with strong harmonies and a euphoric aftertaste. It’s among Yung Ace’s most exciting pop fusions in recent times, and it positions the talented bard as a voice to watch out for.
Born Sokan Oreoluwa Samuel, Yung Ace debuted professionally in 2014, after winning The Coke Studio competition at the University of Lagos. His earlier releases like “Kokoro (with Teni)”, “Kilode (with Dice Ailes)”, “Adura remix (with Ola Dips)”, spotlighted him as a fast-rising artiste to watch out for. His debut EP, “Orin”, cemented his status as one of the most vibrant newcomers, soaring with his unique fusions and relatable themes.
