Oliver Twist (D'banj song)

"Oliver Twist" is a song by Nigerian singer-songwriter D'banj. The track was first released in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2012, as the first single from DB Records' compilation album, D'Kings Men (2013). For the chart week dated 26 May, "Oliver Twist" debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart—marking the musician's first chart appearance and first Nigerian song to ever debut on the chart.[1] Lyrically, the song expresses D'banj's crave for more women, relating to how the fictional character Oliver Twist asked for more gruel.

This article is about the D'Banj song. For other uses, see Oliver Twist (disambiguation).

"Oliver Twist"
Single by D'banj
from the album D'Kings Men
Released11 May 2012
(Release history)
Recorded2011
GenreAfrobeats, dance
Length3:54
LabelMo' Hits, Mercury, G.O.O.D Music
Songwriter(s)Dapo Oyebanjo, Don Jazzy
Producer(s)Don Jazzy
D'banj singles chronology
"Mr Endowed (Remix)"
(2011)		 "Oliver Twist"
(2012)		 "Sister Caro"
(2012)
Music video
"Oliver Twist" on YouTube

Track listing
Digital download[2]
No.TitleLength
1."Oliver Twist"3:54
2."Oliver Twist" (Zed Bias Bounce Remix)4:23
3."Oliver Twist" (Sneakbo Remix)4:01
4."Oliver Twist" (Sunship Remix)3:29
5."Oliver Twist" (Ruff Loaderz Remix)5:44

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review, stating:

As such, his first release on these shores is a confident debut. "I have a confession," he admits over a hypnotic, afrobeat-meets-hip-hop riff, before reeling off a list of famous ladies he wouldn't mind getting better acquainted with – including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj ("her yansh is bigger," after all). Given it's near-impossible to resist the hip-shaking melody and bum-wobbling hooks, we can't imagine he'll have much trouble winning them over. [3]

Music video
A still from the music video, depicting D'banj and Kanye West; the latter of whom is one of several to make a cameo.

A music video, directed by Sesan Ogunro, to accompany the release of "Oliver Twist" was first released onto YouTube on 19 March 2012.[4][5] The video itself runs for a total of three minutes and fifty-five seconds and sees the artist, D'banj, performing the track in an empty studio designed as a run down home. It is performed in the key of G# Minor throughout the entire song. A member of D'banj's live set (David Vujanic) makes an appearance dressed as Oliver Twist, whilst the CEO Dancers (three female dancers) perform to the track. In August 2013, the music video surpassed 21.5 million views making it the Nigerian song with highest number of views on YouTube at the time.[6] As of September 2020, it has more than 53 million views. The video features cameos from D'banj's GOOD Music label mates Big Sean, Pusha T, GOOD Music producer Hit-Boy and the label's founder Kanye West; whilst Mike Dean, Bricka Bricka, Eddie Kadi, Sneakbo and Keisha Buchanan of MKS fame also make cameos.[5]

Accolades

The music video for "Oliver Twist" won Most Gifted Male Video and Most Gifted Video of the Year at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards.[7] The song won Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Pop Single at The Headies 2012.[8] D'banj received the Best Male West Africa nomination at the 2012 Kora Awards for Oliver Twist.[9] Furthermore, the song was nominated in the Hottest Single of the Year category at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[10] It was also nominated for World's Best Song and World's Best Video at the 2014 World Music Awards.

Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Results
2014 World Music Awards World's Best Song Nominated[11]
World's Best Video Nominated[12]
2012 Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Male Video Won
Most Gifted Video of the Year Won
The Headies Song of the Year Won
Best Pop Single Nominated
Kora Awards Best Male West Africa
(for Oliver Twist)		 Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Hottest Single of the Year Nominated

Charts

Chart performance

"Oliver Twist" made its first chart appearance on the chart week dated 26 May 2012—where it debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart; as the second highest new entry after The Saturdays "30 Days" (#7).[1] The track also debuted at number two on the UK R&B Chart for the same charting week.[13] "Oliver Twist" spent only one week inside the UK top 10, falling four places to number thirteen on its second charting week—and as of the week dated 20 August has spent thirteen consecutive weeks inside the top 75.[14]

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 18
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 66
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 55
Romania (Airplay 100)[19] 1
Scotland (OCC)[20] 12
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[21] 24
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[13] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[1] 9

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 11 May 2012[2] Digital download Mercury

See also

References
  1. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  2. "D'banj – 'Oliver Twist' (Remixes) – Digital EP". iTunes (UK). Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  3. Robert Copsey. "D'Banj: 'Oliver Twist' – Single review". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk.
  4. "D'banj presents 'Oliver Twist' music video". bellanaija.com. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  5. "'Oliver Twist' by D'banj – Music Video". YouTube. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  6. "D'BANJ's 'OLIVER TWIST' SURPASSES 20MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS". Hip Hop World Magazine. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  7. "Nigeria Dominates The Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 (View Winners' List)". Notjustok. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  8. "The Headies (Hip Hop World Awards 2012) Winners List". Hip Hop World Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  9. "Exclusive: Chris Brown to attend 2012 Kora Awards in Abidjan + nominations for Fuse ODG, Ayisoba and others". ameyawdebrah. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  10. "2012 NEA Awards Nominees… Wizkid, Brymo, Tiwa Savage Grab Multiple Nods". Jaguda. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  11. "Nomination for worlds best song". World Music Awards. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  12. "Nomination for worlds best video". World Music Awards. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  13. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  14. "The Official Charts Company – Oliver Twist by D'Banj Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  15. "D'Banj – Oliver Twist" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. "D'Banj – Oliver Twist" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. "D'Banj – Oliver Twist" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  18. "Irish-charts.com – Discography D'Banj". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  19. "Official Romania chart". Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201224 into search.
  22. "British single certifications – D'Banj – Oliver Twist". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
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