http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/1/407.html
Funke 'Celine Dion' plots comeback

By Our Correspondent

Most people might not easily remember her. But Funke Olayode was a hit with music fans in 1998 when she recorded and release a Yoruba version of Celine Dion's bestselling single Whatever it takes.


Funke Olayode



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With a silky smooth voice, and an overdose of effortless charm, she quickly wormed her way into the hearts of many. And it wasn't long before she got a recording deal with Atunda Entertainment. Pundits predicted that she'll go on to become a big star; the media celebrated her; just as fans asked her for more materials.

Fame was beckoning and recognition was around the corner; but instead of hugging the limelight and set herself up for a prosperous career, she disappeared from the scene and left everyone in suspense. When she reappeared in 2004, it was as a dancer in Femi Kuti's Positive Force band. During a concert at Oceanview restaurant, she appeared drunk backstage, smoked incessantly and looked a shadow of herself. She later joined the Positive Force dancers to deliver a backing routine for Femi Kuti during his performance at the Guinness Black Gold Concert.

She continued to work with Kuti, spending most of her time at the New Afrika Shrine, until she disappeared again.

But just when many thought she was gone for good, Miss Olayode has reappeared again - this time, looking like she has her mind back, and is ready to grab fresh opportunities with all her might.

In a recent interview with a magazine, E 24-7, Olayode admits she was "a disturbed loner who had a lot of problems to handle and I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to run away from myself, so I took to alcohol and smoking…" In the article, titled "Back from the brink," the singer goes philosophical about her problems, while assuring that she's now back on her feet and ready to give music another shot. The accompanying images show her undergoing a fitness routine, and she appeared to be back in her old shape.

Her present location remains however, uncertain.

LMAO @ her pic!!

which song did she sing?


lol the pic sure looks like somn britney might have taken when she was 'coming back'

Oh Funke!
I remember dhat song of hers. . .'twas played loadz of tymz on AIT!
Eyah!
luck on her combck tho!

SeanT21:

LMAO @ her pic!!

Dont laff @ her pix nau!

wooww is gud to really hear dat she is planing to come back to music.wen i heard dat she took to dancing i knw it won't favour her coz she got the voice just like ceiline dion.i wish the best

more pic

comeon now, where the hell is her publicist. This kind of pics should never be taken. Is she going to a fetch water from the stream or working out?

comeon now, where the hell is her publicist.  This kind of pics should never be taken.  Is she going to a fetch water from the stream or working out?

Person go first chop before looking for publicist. You go pay the publicist?

oh wow. where did she disappear to?

Come again?

go to sleep kid

Really?? . . .

Someone please call 911 . . . someone's about to kill Music . . .

How can a 'Yoruba interpreter' of a Celine Dion hit even be referred to as an artiste in the first place . . . I have a naggin' prob with peops ridin' on the wings of another person's hit to make their own song . . . their own first song . . . did someone say Banky W?? Shoulda been gagged before that Ebute Metta BS escaped his lips . . .

And hey, I'm hoping she's undergone some voice training sessions . . . doesn't she sound like Cossy Orjiakor

A decade ago or thereabouts when she burst on the Nigerian Music Scene, competition was zero . . . Now, with the emergence of the likes of Asa, she'd better not be kiddin'.

Bamsyle:

Really??  . . .

Someone please call 911 . . . someone's about to kill Music . . .

How can a 'Yoruba interpreter' of a Celine Dion hit even be referred to as an artiste in the first place . . . I have a naggin' prob with peops ridin' on the wings of another person's hit to make their own song . . . their own first song . . . did someone say Banky W?? Shoulda been gagged before that Ebute Metta BS escaped his lips . . .

what's wrong with calling her an artist?

oyinda.:

what's wrong with calling her an artist?
even some of the most popular hit songs in the US are spin offs of some 60s 70s 80s hit music most people in the present generation don't know much about.
I find her song creative just as I find Banky's ebutemetta creative. You know you love Banky

You gotta be kiddin' me . . . she's not an artiste!

Yep . . . in the States, it's commonplace to have songs sampled and remixed . . . Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" and Grandmasta Flash's "The Message" are examples of such sampled and remixed songs.

A portion, not the whole body, of such songs are sampled in making another song.

In this case, we're talkin' bout a verbatim interpretation of a song in another parlance . . . c'mon you can't be considered a serious artiste if you do that . . . especially when that's your debut cut.

Though he's got a good R 'n' B voice, I don't dig Banky W . . . and I ain't being ironical.

Have you heard the Yoruba version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"?? Can you refer to those dudes as artistes

Bamsyle:

You gotta be kiddin' me . . . she's not an artiste!

Yep . . . in the States, it's commonplace to have songs sampled and remixed . . . Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" and Grandmasta Flash's "The Message" are examples of such sampled and remixed songs.

A portion, not the whole body, of such songs are sampled in making another song.

In this case, we're talkin' bout a verbatim interpretation of a song in another parlance . . . c'mon you can't be considered a serious artiste if you do that . . . especially when that's your debut cut.

Though he's got a good R 'n' B voice, I don't dig Banky W . . . and I ain't being ironical.

Have you heard the Yoruba version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"?? Can you refer to those dudes as artistes

I hear you and agree with everything you say.
she is not a serious artise. but I loved her song then at the time though. copied or not. lol

St☆rStruck:

What Celine Dion song did she cover?

Pour que tu m'aimes encore.
celine recorded it in english also. the english version is called If that's what it takes

How can a 'Yoruba interpreter' of a Celine Dion hit even be referred to as an artiste in the first place . . . I have a naggin' prob with peops ridin' on the wings of another person's hit to make their own song . . . their own first song . . . did someone say Banky W?? Shoulda been gagged before that Ebute Metta BS escaped his lips . . .

Rotflmao.

A hit?
Don't ever take Nigerian celebrity journalists seriously. They have a way of embarrassing the country with their over the top description of any thing you can think of.

ROLFMAO@ pic

See how she looks like king kong

Na by God's grace that hand-weight go reach up

dani1luv:

ROLFMAO@ pic

See how she looks like king kong

Na by God's grace that hand-weight go reach up

u need help, 9ja will not encourage their own, never
some people just wanna write, it's cheap though, lol

Okay.