Cobhams Asuquo Sounds Odinary In Ordinary People

Uzo Chikere

Music producers the world over hardly make good music in their names. This appears to be the case with ace music producer, Cobhams Asuquo as he recently stepped out to do his own king of music bearing his name not as a producer but a recording artiste.

Cobhams chose the perfect emotional and faith-based song to interpret in visuals. But emotional visualisation needs to compel the heart, and ultimately rule it. But is not be in this instance.

Though, he is by any standard a modern day genius, a great hit music maker, an aesthete with a keen ‘eye’ for quality and desperate perfection, in his first ever music video, Cobhams  Asuquo failed to offer one basic ingredient: enthralling emotional connection even as there is so much spectacle.

Ordinary People is a faith-based song calling out to our deeper parts, as well as inspiring people to connect with the good inside of them, and ultimately God. The video was shot by Eric Haviv, a proven film director of Fugo Studios who stunned the world in 2011 at the Cannes Film Festival with his ‘Pray’ film.

Cobhams went for the best hand in the game, and his choice was not a disappointment. Cobhams Asuquo got a video with the best of cinematography, exquisite angle shots, aesthetic locations, and all round beauty.

Despite that the project is characterised by an overwhelming abundance in beauty, as an ardent follower watches, it becomes more evident that it continues a work bereft of enthralling emotional connection.

The viewer is gently ushered into a classic piano scene. Cobhams, well-suited, playing his best music-making instrument (the Grand Piano), and belting out the opening lines of the song. What is seen is class, elegance, beauty, finesse, and professionalism. The creative location is key in all of this and it has it all.

As the scenes begin to unfold, on the minute mark the viewer is taken slowly into the lives of ordinary people doing the simple things in life that really matter. Then the pedestrian traffic around Cobhams gets a huge boost. The activity comes at the right time throwing dynamism into the mix. The only part that gets an injection of emotional pull is the scene at 3:34 mark, where a man shows generosity to a kid who offers a service of love. Others scenes attempt to add weight to it all, and some of it does the job.

You get the feeling that something more is lacking. Is it a scene of tears, or sorrow? Is it one of fear and ultimate triumph? It is just lacking!

And that’s the only part of the video that has more to be left. But it’s amazing how all the other parts become a credit to both Cobhams and Eric Haviv. This video is a first for the talented singer, songwriter, producer, creative man, and for a debut, it never gets better than this.