Once Upon a Time (Tiwa Savage album)

Once Upon a Time is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage. It was released on July 3, 2013, by Mavin Records and 323 Entertainment.[1] The album was made available for purchase on iTunes a day before its official release.[2] It features guest appearances from Don Jazzy, Flavour N'abania, Leo Wonder, Iceberg Slim, Sarkodie and General Pype. Don Jazzy, Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun and Tiwa Savage executive produced the album, along with contributions from Warren Oak Felder, Sauce Wilson, Harmony Samuels, GospelOnDeBeatz, Del B, Raydar Ellis and Spellz.[3] The album was supported by seven singles—"Kele Kele Love", "Love Me (3x)", "Without My Heart", "Ife Wa Gbona", "Folarin", "Olorun Mi" and "Eminado". Once Upon a Time was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2014.[4][5]

Once Upon a Time
Studio album by Tiwa Savage
Released	July 3, 2013
Recorded	2010-2013
Genre	Afropop R&B pop soul
Length	77:00
Label	Mavin Records 323 Entertainment
Producer	Don Jazzy (exec.) Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun (exec.) Tiwa Savage (exec.) Warren Oak Felder Sauce Wilson Harmony Samuels Del B GospelOnDeBeatz Raydar Ellis Spellz
Tiwa Savage chronology
Solar Plexus (2012) Once Upon a Time (2013) R.E.D (2015)
Singles from Once Upon a Time
"Kele Kele Love" Released: November 4, 2010 "Love Me (3x)" Released: October 10, 2011 "Without My Heart" Released: December 5, 2011 "Ife Wa Gbona" Released: October 8, 2012 "Folarin" Released: December 13, 2012 "Olorun Mi" Released: June 3, 2013 "Eminado" Released: October 8, 2013

Background and recording

Once Upon a Time was initially scheduled for release in 2011, but problems with clearance made Savage pushed back its release date.[6] The album comprises 21 tracks, including two bonus tracks.[7] Tiwa Savage named the album Once Upon a Time in order to portray the positive stories about her life. She wanted to motivate other upcoming artists by telling them that, once upon a time, she was a little girl in Isale Eko who dreamt of being a star.[6] During an interview with Berklee College of Music's Brenda Pike, she hinted to possibly recording songs with Chuck Harmony, Warren Oak Felder and Sosick. Moreover, she said the album would embody pop, R&B, soul, and yoruba sounds.[8]

On May 26, 2013, Savage revealed the album's cover and track listing during a private album listening party held at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.[9] Guests in attendance included Banky W, Waje, Tunde Demuren, Eku Edewor, Dolapo Oni, Tosyn Bucknor, Noble Igwe, Osahon Asemota, Nwachukwu Uti, Linda Ikeji, DJ Spinall, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Lynxxx, N6, Ice Berg Slim, General Pype, IllRymz and Franca Asindi.

Singles and other releases

The album's lead single "Kele Kele Love" was released on November 4, 2010. The accompanying music video for the song was shot and directed in Los Angeles by Jerry Chan; it was also co-directed by Savage and Tee Billz.[10]

The album's second single "Love Me (3x)" was released on October 10, 2011. The music video for "Love Me (3x)" was shot and directed in Los Angeles by Sesan Ogunro.[11] Savage won Best Vocal Performance (Female) and Best R&B Single for "Love Me (3x)" at The Headies 2012.[12]

The album's third single "Without My Heart" was released on December 5, 2011. It features vocals by Don Jazzy and peaked at number 37 on Afribiz's Top 100 music chart.[13][14] The song's music video was directed by Mark Hofmeyr.[15] It was nominated for Best African Act Video at the 2013 4Syte TV Music Video Awards.[16] The music video was also nominated for Most Gifted Female Video at the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards.[17] Furthermore, the song earned Savage and Don Jazzy a nomination at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[18][19]

The album's fourth single "Ife Wa Gbona" was released on October 8, 2012. It features vocals by Nigerian singer Leo Wonder and peaked at number 66 on Afribiz's Top 100 music chart.[13] The music video for "Ife Wa Gbona" was directed by Bolaji Kekere-Ekun.[20] It won Best Highlife and was nominated for Best Use of Costumes, Best Indigenous Concept and Video of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA).[21]

The Spellz-produced track "Folarin" was released on December 13, 2012, as the album's fifth single.[22] On June 3, 2013, Savage released the album's sixth single "Olorun Mi". Its music video was directed by George Guise.[23] Savage told Ebuka Obi-Uchendu of Channels TV's Rubbin' Minds the song pays tribute to the Dana Plane Crash, Goldie Harvey and Justice Esiri.

"Eminado" was released as the album's seventh single. In the aforementioned interview with Vanguard newspaper, Savage said she and Don Jazzy came up with the song's idea while rehearsing in the studio. The Clarence Peters-directed music video for "Eminado" was released on November 4, 2013.[24]

Savage dedicated the song "Written All Over Your Face" to her fiance for the role he played in her life. "Written All Over Your Face" was criticized for having lewd and explicit lyrics.[25] The Moe Musa-directed music video for "Wanted" was released on May 27, 2014.[26] The release of the video triggered an angry backlash among critics.[27]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
TayoTV	8.75/10
Hip Hop World Magazine
Nigerian Entertainment Today
TooXclusive

Once Upon a Time was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today awarded the album 4 stars out of 5, praising Savage's songwriting skills and commending the production team for bringing "depth and range to the album's production."[28] Ronke Adepoju of TayoTV assigned a score of 8.75/10, applauding Savage for "showing her versatility by working with different artistes from different genres".[29] Adepoju also opined that Savage "managed to pull it off with the minimum help possible."[29] Hip Hop World Magazine granted the album 4 stars out of 5, acknowledging Savage for "producing an album that accommodates her songwriting skill and pop ambitions."[30]

In a less enthusiastic review, Ogaga Sakpaide of TooXclusive gave the album 2.5 stars out of 5, adding, "Despite the involvement of different production "heavyweights" on the album, the total body of work lacks an actual identity." Sakpaide also stated that the record is "lacking the organic sound an album should possess."[31] Wilfred Okiche of YNaija extensively said, "At 21 songs, there are just too many fillers, too much autotune, too much Don Jazzy and an over dependence on the gloss. One has to dig deep to find the real substance. It plays like Ms Savage is just pandering, surrendering to market dictates while throwing a bit of her true self in between."[32]

Accolades

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2014	Nigeria Entertainment Awards	Best Album of the Year	Nominated
	The Headies	Best R&B/Pop Album	Nominated

Track listing

Once Upon a Time – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Once Upon a Time"	Tiwatope Savage Marcus McCauley Rahima Balogun Zakira Ousley	—	1:54
2.	"Wanted"	Savage Tiffany Fred	Warren Oak Felder	3:30
3.	"Ileke"	Savage Tunji Balogun	GospelOnDeBeatz	4:00
4.	"Middle Passage"	Savage	Raydar Ellis	5:01
5.	"Olorun Mi"	Savage	Sauce Wilson	3:52
6.	"Why Don't You Love Me"	Savage	Don Jazzy Altims	3:56
7.	"Fela Interlude"	Fela Anikulapo Kuti	Sauce Wilson	1:23
8.	"Love Me (3x)"	Savage Richard King	Harmony Samuels	3:39
9.	"Eminado" (featuring Don Jazzy)	Savage	Don Jazzy	3:50
10.	"Folarin"	Savage Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe	Spellz	4:11
11.	"Oh Yeah" (featuring Don Jazzy)	Savage	Don Jazzy	3:24
12.	"Shout Out" (featuring Iceberg Slim and Sarkodie)	Savage Olusegun Olowokere Michael Owusu Addo	Spellz	3:50
13.	"Written All Over Your Face"	Savage Tiffany Fred	Warren Oak Felder	3:31
14.	"Get Low"	Savage	Sauce Wilson	3:46
15.	"Ife Wa Gbona" (featuring Leo Wonder)	Savage Leo Wonder	Sossick	4:48
16.	"Eji Ma Fia"	Savage Trafik Chioma Omeruah	Spellz	5:05
17.	"Baby Mo" (featuring Flavour N'abania)	Savage Chinedu Okoli	Del B	3:34
18.	"Stand as One" (featuring General Pype)	Savage Olayiwola Ibrahim Majekodunmi	Spellz	4:28
19.	"Thank You"	Savage Aluko Timothy	Don Jazzy	2:33

Once Upon a Time – Bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
20.	"Without My Heart" (featuring Don Jazzy)	Savage Fred Balogun Michael Collins Ajereh	Warren Oak Felder	3:53
21.	"Kele Kele Love"	Savage	Harmony Samuels	3:42
Total length:				77:00

Samples

• "Wanted" samples a line from Damian Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock".[33] It also contains a sample of Ini Kamoze's "World a Music".[34]
• "Fela Interlude" samples Fela Kuti's "Lady".[35]
• "Without My Heart" samples the instrumental of Lumidee's "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)".[36]

Personnel

• Tiwatope Savage – primary artist, writer
• Michael Collins Ajereh – executive producer, featured artist
• Tunji "Tee Billz" Balogun – executive producer, writer
• Warren ‘Oak’ Felder – record producer
• Sauce Wilson – record producer
• Harmony Samuels – record producer
• Gospel On D Beatz – record producer
• Del B – record producer
• Raydar Ellis – record producer
• Spellz Magik Boi – record producer
• Sossick – record producer
• Chinedu Okoli – featured artist, writer
• Leo Wonder – featured artist, writer
• Olusegun Olowokere – featured artist, writer
• Michael Owusu Addo – featured artist, writer
• General Pype – featured artist, writer
• Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe – writer
• Richard King – writer
• Chigul – writer
• Altims – writer
• Trafik – writer
• Marcus McCauley – writing credits
• Rahima Balogun – writing credits
• Zakira Ousley – writing credits

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	July 2, 2013	CD, Digital download	Mavin Records, 323 Entertainment
Nigeria	July 3, 2013

References

1. "Tiwa Savage - Profile". RVO Media. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
2. "iTunes - Music - Once Upon a Time by Tiwa Savage". iTunes. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
3. "ALBUM REVIEW: Tiwa Savage – Once Upon A Time". tooxclusive. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
4. Abimboye, Micheal (31 May 2014). "Pop duo, Skuki, reject Nigerian Entertainment Awards nomination". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
5. Ochugba, Mary (10 October 2014). "The Headies unveils 2014 nominees". Business Day. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
6. "My fiance wiped away my shame – Tiwa Savage". Vanguard Nigeria. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
7. "Exclusive Photos from Tiwa Savage's Album Listening Party". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
8. "Tiwa Savage Biography, a Nigerian singer". Nigerianmusicnetwork. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
9. "BN Exclusive: All About Tiwa Savage's "Once Upon a Time" Album Listening Party in Lagos! Photos of Lynxxx, Waje, Banky W, Eku Edewor, Bez, Uti Nwachukwu & More STARS". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
10. "New Video: Tiwa Savage – Kele Kele Love". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 12 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
11. "VIDEO PREMIERE: Tiwa Savage – Love Me, Love Me, Love Me". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
12. "The Headies (Hip Hop World Awards 2012) Winners List". Hiphopworldmagazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
13. "Afribiz Charts - Top 100". Afribizcharts. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
14. "Tiwa Savage ft. Don Jazzy – Without My Heart". NotjustOk.com. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
15. "New Music: Tiwa Savage feat. Don Jazzy – Without My Heart". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
16. "2013 4syte TV Music Video Awards launched". Citifm Online. 6 October 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
17. "2013 Channel O Music Video Awards: First Photos from the Nominees Announcement + Complete List of Nominees". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
18. "Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2013 -View Full Nominees List". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
19. "Nigerian Entertainment Awards: Nadia, Dumelo and Sarkodie win". ghanaweb. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
20. "Tiwa Savage Feat. Leo Wonder – Ife Wa Gbona". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
21. "NIgerian Music Video Awards (NMVA 2012 ) Full Winners List". tooxclusive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
22. "New Music: Tiwa Savage – Folarin". Bellanaija. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
23. "VIDEO: Tiwa Savage – Olorun Mi". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
24. "VIDEO: Tiwa Savage ft. Don Jazzy – Eminado". Notjustok. 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
25. "Tiwa Savage: Once upon a time". Msn Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
26. "PHOTOS/VIDEO: Tiwa Savage's Most Raunchy Video Finally Out". Osun Defender. 28 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
27. Owoseje, Toyin (28 May 2014). "Tiwa Savage Wanted Video: Singer's Super Sexy Promo Causes Backlash". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
28. "Album Review: Once Upon A Time is a sweet fairy tale". The Net Nigeria. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
29. "REVIEW: Tiwa Savage - Once Upon a Time". TayoTv. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
30. "Tiwa Savage - Once Upon A Time (Album Review)". Hiphopworldmagazine. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
31. "ALBUM REVIEW: Tiwa Savage – Once Upon A Time". tooxclusive. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
32. "Album review: On 'Once upon a time', Tiwa Savage isn't quite sure what she wants to be". YNaija. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
33. "ONCE UPON A TIME ( THE ALBUM) – TIWA SAVAGE: THE MOB'S TAKE…………". citrusmusiclive. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
34. "ALBUM REVIEW!! TIWA SAVAGE'S R.E.D IS SOMEWHAT INFERIOR TO HER DEBUT ALBUM". Simply African Music. January 13, 2016. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
35. "Tiwa Savage "Once Upon A Time" Album Listening Session: My thoughts on the album, Her fashion & the event". that1960chick. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
36. "Direct Sample of Drums". WhoSampled.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.

External links

• Once Upon a Time at Discogs