Good music has a way of transcending all ages, remaining poignant and relevant to contemporary circumstances and issues many decades after. Back in 1984, when Veno Marioghae, one of Nigeria’s rising divas sang ‘Nigeria Go Survive’, a funk/pop song detailing Nigeria’s vast human and natural potentials vis a vis the troubled polity, she held strongly that Nigeria would survive somehow. It was in the days when the military held the nation by the jugular and despite the oil wealth, the economy virtually stagnated. Released by Tabansi Records, Nigeria Go Survive was a big hit back in the 80s through the 90s. Though not much is heard about this Isoko, Delta State born beauty again especially since her marriage to one Mr. Mbanefo who purportedly whisked her abroad, her song remains relevant to prevailing socio-political and economic issues.

That was the song the six bands literally rejuvenated inside the Star Fame Land , venue of the on-going Star Quest, a music reality television show yesterday. Though some of the members of these bands were not born when this music ruled the airwaves, they performed it with the accustomed artistry of the original singer. It was Juke Box that set the ball of yesterday’s performances rolling, followed by the Spotlight Crew that was innovative enough to turn Nigeria Go Survive into a fast tempo, afro beat song. Nigerians love afro beat, thanks to its progenitor, the late iconoclast, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. And the live audience showed this much as they cheered the band endlessly. If the audience thought that was the best they would get, they pardonably underestimated the other bands. Sapphire Blue turned the song into a traditional Igbo song and inadvertently got the audience throwing their white handkerchiefs in the air a la Igbo traditional dance. Oxygen went a notch further, making the audience rock and sway without much prompting and ending their song with the rendition of the national anthem. The audience joined them. Hurricane, predictably, was in good form too. But Ace Vibes was even more superb. It rendered the song in Makossa. Thereafter, the bands performed Back to Life, a serially remixed evergreen song by Soul 11 Soul, an 80s British band.

In another two days, three bands would be on their way home. Though nothing can stop this from happening, what you can stop from happening is seeing your favourite band evicted at this stage of the competition because it is going be a sad departure for the ambitious members of the bands. What to do? To keep your preferred band in the house and in strong contention for the ultimate prize, keep the votes coming in. It is just N10 per sms and the more you vote, the brighter the chances of your band to be at the grand finale of the 2010 edition of Star Quest. Those who have gone all the way know that it is a wholesomely life changing experience. Ask The Pulse, D’Accord, The Jewels and KC Presh. They know.