Instagram/@akonAkon made a statement that shook the whole music world with his announcement telling that he will switch from pop to country music. Among his revelations about storytelling in music and the reasons why of such a surprising genre shift, he talked about the newks.
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The post saying, “Great songs live forever. It’s just about how you tell the story,” was released together with a very communicative video that muffled this bold announcement. Akon, the singer, was heard approving the ambitious project by saying, “Yes, for sure,” when asked if he was going to change all his songs into the style of country music. He communicated the idea that he was aware of people’s skepticism when he continuously said, “I don’t know about this one” but at the same time he was very eager to take the risk.
Akon reminisced about his own controversial turning point and asked the audience whether they had forgotten that before “Locked Up” nobody wanted to hear anything about the life in prison. “People probably thought it easy to sing about being locked up,” he mused. “But about it… you gotta give it a chance, you know what I mean?” He was already so enthused and could not hold off presenting the final product when it would be ready.
Fan response was huge and the majority quickly made their opinions known, mainly asking the artist’s switch to a different style. One of the audience summed the feeling of astonishment very well by saying, “Oh snap. I didn’t know you were crazy like that Akon! You got me intrigued!” This single utterance is the surprise and interest of the audience amalgamation that most listeners probably experienced when they were informed about the event.
Even though the decision was very debatable, there were some who backed up Akon nevertheless. Among them, one listener said, “Country is one of my favorite genres too, so I can’t wait to hear it.” This comment implies that perhaps the switch made by Akon will gather different listeners with different musical tastes, bringing the old R&B and pop to a completely new audience.
Nevertheless, not every comment was pleasant. One person said, “That young dude should be quiet while the OG speak,” pointing out how the conversation in the video was moving. The resulting small ‘war’ in the comments saw one person supporting the young participant with, “that young dude made a lot of sense,” implying that even the way the news was delivered has caused a discussion.
Amidst the debate about the country music, fans stepped up and announced how long they had been admiring that was the case. One of the messages in Portuguese when translated says, “I’ve always loved you Akon,” which testifies to his global fanbase whose support remains regardless of the artist’s choice of musical direction. Another one simply stated, “Great song definitely lives forever, undisputed fact,” which was perfectly in line with Akon’s earlier comment on timeless music.
The announcement is among the most surprising career changes in recent music history. Akon is the owner of a collection of international hits like “Smack That,” “Lonely,” and “Don’t Matter” – all of them being strictly R&B, pop, and hip-hop thus completely opposite to country music. This means that he sees himself first of all as a composer who can then go anywhere.
What makes it even more thrilling is the fact that Akon’s album of musical risks has always been very prosperous. Each year he would mix African sounds with Western pop, he would make a jump to another genre, and yet he would keep his music programming under a constant deejay. The country episode does signify a further step forward in his career and, fortunately, this time it is a full-length feature rather than just a one-off.
“What a legendary move now,” one of the comments would explain, suggesting that, whether being skeptical or supportive, the fans have recognized the boldness of the act and still continue to discuss it. Akon has planted the seed of curiosity about how country style remakes will sound and he is already urging that the result could be “what you least expect”.
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It is uncertain whether Akon’s country versions will gain as much iconic status as the originals, but the news has already triggered a debate about the artist’s legacy and musical direction. The creative risk-taking of the artist is still what defines his career and it does prove that great songs can live on – in surprising new versions. Colby O’Donis and Akon have previously collaborated, showing his versatility with different artists.
