Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps

Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps (abbreviated as LTG) is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Fireboy DML. It was released by YBNL Nation on November 29, 2019. The album comprises 13 tracks and doesn't feature any guest artist. It was primarily produced by Pheelz, along with production from Cracker Mallo, Echo the Guru, IamBeatz and P.Prime. LTG was supported by the previously released singles "Jealous", "What If I Say" and "King".[1] It received generally positive reviews from music critics, but was criticized for being labeled an "Afro-Life" record instead of an R&B album.

Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps
Studio album by
Fireboy DML
ReleasedNovember 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)
Recorded2018–2019
Genre
Length40:00
LabelYBNL Nation
Producer
Singles from Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps
  1. "Jealous"
    Released: March 25, 2019
  2. "What If I Say"
    Released: June 14, 2019
  3. "King"
    Released: August 1, 2019

Background

LTG was initially scheduled for release on November 25, 2019, but ended up being released four days later.[2] The album's music is a brand of R&B that combines love and social issues with empirical songwriting.[2] LTG comprises 13 tracks and doesn't feature any guest artist; it amassed over 6 million streams on Spotify three days after its release.[3][4] LTG was supported by the previously released singles "Jealous", "What If I Say" and "King".[1] It was primarily produced by Pheelz, along with production from Cracker Mallo, Echo the Guru, IamBeatz and P.Prime.[5]

Composition

On the guitar-led album's opener "Need You", Fireboy DML pours his heart out to his lover and tries to make his romantic feelings known to her; the song borrows from Kola Ogunkoya's "Sweetie Baby" and is a cover of Ed Sheeran's "Tenerife Sea".[6][7][8] In "Like I Do", Fireboy DML blends R&B with lightweight melodies and tungba percussion.[7] In the Pheelz-produced track "Gbas Gbos", he infuses aspects of his personality with lyrics about realism; the song is composed of drums and guitar riffs.[7][8] "Scatter" and its accompanying music video portrayed Fireboy DML as the "life of the party"; the song is composed of an electro-funk bass line.[7][8] In the afro-house track "Omo Ologo", he draws influences from his indigenous background and is reminiscent of Zlatan and Naira Marley.[7] The mid-tempo track "Energy" features drums and ominous chants.[8] The pop-esque track "Vibration" merges EDM piano chords with guitar chords and a trumpet.[2] "High on Life" contains an Afrobeat drum arrangement and is sonically similar to "Gbas Gbos".[2]

Singles and other releases

The album's lead single "Jealous" first appeared on YBNL Nation's collaborative album YBNL Mafia Family (2018), before being re-released on March 25, 2019.[9][10] The song is composed of guitar riffs, traditional drums and percussion; it combines African harmonies with elements of country and soul music.[9][11] "Jealous" was produced by Cracker Mallo and is centered around love and the complicated feelings that go along with it.[11] It was nominated for Song of the Year at The Headies 2019 and 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.[12][13] The visuals for "Jealous" was directed by Director K.[9]

The romantic track "What If I Say" was released on June 14, 2019, as the album's second single.[14] It was produced by Pheelz, who incorporated a mix of percussion, ambient synth harmonies, and a drum riff into the production.[15] The visuals for "What If I Say" was directed by TG Omori.[15] The Echo the Guru-produced track "King" was released on August 1, 2019, as the album's third single.[16] In it, Fireboy DML declares his worth to his love interest.[17] The accompanying music video for "King" was directed by TG Omori; it contains images of Fireboy DML and his love interest in a rose petal embellished Rolls Royce, as well as images of him singing at a fashion show where models walk on a runway.[17]

On November 28, 2019, Fireboy DML released the visuals for the EDM-fueled track "Scatter".[18] The video features post-apocalyptic scenes of Fireboy DML waking up the dead with a device on his wrist and accompanying them to a dance party.[18] It also pays tribute to DC Comics character the Joker.[18] On January 13, 2020, Fireboy DML released the Clarence Peters-directed music video for "Need You", an acoustic guitar-driven ballad.[19] The video depicts the artist and his love interest attempting to escape and subsequently getting caught by an individual trying to separate them.[20]

On February 10, 2020, Fireboy DML released the visuals for "Vibration".[21] In the TG Omori-directed video, Fireboy DML is seen in a ballroom filled with dancers doing the foxtrot and mambo, as well as with a group of outdoor ballet dancers.[22]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
TooXclusive9/10[6]
Pulse Nigeria7.5/10[2]

LTG received positive reviews from music critics. Oluwatobi Ibironke of TooXclusive granted the album 9 stars our of 10, concluding its "happy party music is the laughter, the soulfulness of his [Fireboy DML's] love lines causes the goosebumps, while the troubles of his heart evokes the tears".[6] Motolani Alake of Pulse Nigeria awarded the album 7.5 stars out of 10, calling it "formidable" and commending Fireboy DML for "justifying his talent and burgeoning reputation with an anthem for love season".[2] Conversely, Alake criticized him for labeling his music as "Afro-Life" instead of R&B.[2] Debola Abimbolu of Native magazine characterized LTG as a "pop project whose mission is to improve the mood of any listener" and commended Fireboy DML for finding the "sweet spot between partying and romance".[7] Emmanuel Esomnofu of NotJustOk praised Fireboy DML's voice and romantic tendencies, saying he's "confessional and exuberant – delivering overwhelming doses of emotion, as he promised with the title".[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Adedamola Adefolahan.

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Need You"Pheelz3:41
2."Vibration"IamBeatz3:18
3."Scatter"Pheelz2:44
4."Jealous"Cracker Mallo3:36
5."Energy"Pheelz3:33
6."Like I Do"P.Prime3:52
7."Gbas Gbos"Pheelz2:33
8."King"Echo the Guru2:45
9."Omo Ologo"Cracker Mallo2:22
10."High on Life"Pheelz2:30
11."Feel"Cracker Mallo3:14
12."What If I Say"Pheelz3:33
13."Wait and See"Pheelz2:46
Total length:40:00

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's back cover.[5]

  • Fireboy DML – primary artist, writing, mixing (track 8)
  • Olamide Adedeji – executive producer
  • Pheelz – production (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 13), mixing/mastering (tracks 4, 10)
  • Cracker Mallo – production (tracks 4, 9, 11)
  • Echo the Guru – production (track 8)
  • P.Prime – production (track 6)
  • IamBeatz – production (track 2)
  • STG – mixing/mastering (track 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13)
  • Redemption Beatz – mastering (track 8)
  • Godwyn – acoustic guitar (track 1)
  • Emmy – photography
  • Dayo Cyrus – graphics

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Various November 29, 2019

References
  1. François Renoncourt (21 November 2019). "Fireboy DML, an urban romance". Pan African Music. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. Motolani Alake (December 1, 2019). "'Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps' is a commendable debut by Fireboy". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. Tami Makinde (November 6, 2019). "Fireboy DML Announces his debut album 'Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps'". Native. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  4. Nonni Wyldwolf (December 2, 2019). "News:- Fireboy DML's Album "Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps" Hits 6Million Spotify Streams In 3days". Nigerian Sounds. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  5. "Fireboy DML Reveals Tracklist Of His "Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps" Album". November 6, 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  6. Oluwafemi, Taiwo; Oluwatobi Ibironke (December 2, 2019). "Fireboy's Gift Is No Fluke – "Laughter, Tears, Goosebumps" Album Review". TooXclusive. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. Debola Abimbolu (December 4, 2019). "Essentials: Fireboy gets vulnerable for debut project, 'Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps'". Native. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  8. Emmanuel Esomnofu (November 29, 2019). "Fireboy DML's 'Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps' Finds Success In Its Emotional Strength – Album Review". NotJustOk. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  9. Debola Abimbolu (March 26, 2019). "Watch the Cinematic Music Video for Fireboy DML's "Jealous"". Native. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. "Jealous - Single by Fireboy DML". Apple Music. March 25, 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  11. Joey Akan (August 29, 2019). "The New Guard of Nigerian Musicians". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  12. Gbenga Bada (October 20, 2019). "Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13th edition of music award". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  13. Damola Durosomo (January 13, 2020). "Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Rema, Teni & More Win Big at 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  14. "What If I Say - Single by Fireboy DML". Apple Music. June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. Debola Abimbolu (June 14, 2019). "Fireboy DML shares music video for romantic new single, "What If I Say"". Native. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  16. "King - Single by Fireboy DML". Apple Music. August 1, 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  17. Debola Abimbolu (September 17, 2019). "Fireboy DML brings Lover Boy feels to new video, "King"". Native. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  18. Debola Abimbolu (November 29, 2019). "Fireboy DML starts a Post-Apocalyptic Party in the video for "Scatter"". Native. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  19. Dennis Ade Peter (January 14, 2020). "Fireboy DML shares music video for new single, "Need You"". Native. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  20. Damola Durosomo (January 14, 2020). "Watch Fireboy DML's New Music Video for 'Need You'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  21. Dennis Ade Peter (February 10, 2020). "Fireboy DML drops engaging visuals for latest single, "Vibration"". Native. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  22. Damola Durosomo (February 11, 2020). "Watch Fireboy DML's New Music Video for 'Vibration'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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