According to The Net.ng, "Applaudise" means to be in a state of joy.[1] The album's lead single "Mr Oreo", formerly titled "Mr Orio", was released commercially on iTunes on 4 June 2014. The song was originally on the Made Men Music Group collaborative album, "The Evolution (2014) and was produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by Selebobo.[3] The music video for "Mr Oreo" was released on 23 September 2014 and shot and directed by Mega Boi in Brooklyn, New York City.[4] The album's second single "Gift" features Nigerian singer, producer, songwriter and record executive Don Jazzy and was released unannounced on 24 January 2015. The music video for "Gift" was released on 6 March 2015 and shot in South Africa by an uncredited director.[5] The third single off Applaudise is "Nakupenda (I Love You)" and features Diamond Platnumz. The song was produced by Mr. Chidoo and released on 19 February 2015. "Nakupenda (I Love You)" was first leaked under the title "Nakupenda (Remember)" on 17 February 2015.[6] The music video for "Nakupenda (I Love You)" was directed by Patrick Elis on 1 June 2015.[7] "Applaudise", the album's title track, is the fourth and final single off the album. It was produced by DJ Coublon and released on 19 April 2015.[8] The music video for "Applaudise" was released on 13 July 2015 and directed by Aje Filmworks.[9] "Okamfo" featuring Lil Kesh was released as the album's fifth single on 19 September 2015, coinciding with the release of the album.[10] The sixth single off Applaudise was released on 31 August 2016, titled "Yoga". It features Victoria Kimani and was produced by DJ Coublon.[11]
Critical reception
The album received mixed reviews from critics. Pulse Nigeria's Joey Akan's review of Applaudise praised the album for its fusion of traditional African sounds with contemporary pop, capturing the essence of joy and celebration. Akan noted that the album, while not aiming for timeless status, perfectly encapsulates the current state of Nigerian pop music, highlighting tracks like "Macoma" and "Okamfo" for their diverse influences. He concluded that the album is "made for the moment, for the money, and for the clubs," giving it a rating of 3/5.[12] Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs reviewed Applaudise as a directionless album that prioritized danceable beats over substance, with guests and Iyanya himself delivering tepid performances. While praising songs like "Wambi" and "Macoma," he concluded, "For this record, Mr Mbuk gets no applause. Just knocks."[13] Oris Aigbokhaevbolo of Music in Africa’s review of Iyanya's Applaudise highlights the artist’s shift from R&B to a dance-focused sound, with tracks like "Macoma" praised for their production quality. According to Aigbokhaevbolo, "The album suffers from a lack of originality and coherence in lyrics," noting that while the production team excels, Iyanya’s vocal performance and lyrics fall short.[14] A review from the duo from Should You Bump This, Sho and Tunde, states that the album is “watered down and poor,” criticizing the production quality and lyrical content throughout. According to the review, "The good songs have already been put out as singles," and they suggest that Iyanya “needs to go and hit that reset button.” The album receives a low rating of 1.5 out of 5, reflecting their overall disappointment.[15]
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