Album Review: Fungai Nengare - Songs About You

The local industry is filled with many big explosive tracks from various leading genres but at certain moments one needs to calm down and listen to music that speaks to the soul. This is where such artists such as Fungai Nengare, Prayersoul, Kevin Munetsi, Tariro Negitare come to the fold, these artists have so much soul in their music. Today will be concentrating with Fungai Nengare, he has released a new album titled Songs About You and will be sharing my views and thoughts on the album. For those who do not know him, he is the guy that gave us the lovely track; Because Of You feat DJ Naida 

From the title you will know that this is more of a personal album, dedicated to that special somebody in you life. The album contains 12 tracks and as usual will be doing a track by track review of the album.

1. Songs About You

Something about this track reminds me of Lionel Ritchie's Easy Like Sunday Morning, I bet Fungai is a huge fan of that track and it's one of the inspirations behind this track. The production is done very well and Fungai was superb on the vocals. This track is a dedication to your partner for being an amazing partner, you just feel like singing for them showing your appreciation. 

2. One Of A Kind

Some titles give away the song and the title of this jam does exactly that. On this track Fungai is saying to his woman that they are one of a kind, their relationship is one of a kind. Every relationship is unique in its way and this song is celebrating that uniqueness. Fungai delivered a lovely vocal performance. The production is done well and the song is sounding lovely.

3. Singing Our Song

Love the production here, the track is structured in a very catchy way, the track in overall is sounding good. Fungai was good on the vocals, blending well with the instrumental. The track is more about motivating that other person in your life to be proud of who they are, urge them to not lose hope and shine like the star they are. One of the primary purposes of a relationship is to have someone who lifts you up when you feel down and someone who pushes you to be the best version of yourself.

4. Number 1

This is one of those tracks that just win you over from the onset, the lovely instrumental already prepares you for the lovely vibes that are going to follow. The production is done very well and the track is sounding lovely. The title of the track gives the track away, its about reassuring your lady that she is you number 1. It's always important to tell your partner that they are the best, even if you show them in other ways, they love to hear it once in a while. 

5. Easy feat Synik

Fungai teamed up with Synik for this super soulful jam, the production is done very well and the track is sounding very good. This track talks about a situation whereby a guy is fed up with the girl whom he is dating because he has now realized that the lady is not in love with him but she just takes advantage of him and wants him for what he can provide. Such a relationship is full of stress, pain and heartaches. The artists delivered solid performances and also showed a lot of chemistry, their styles complimented each other very well.

6. Like I Love You feat Noxy

This is one of those fairy-tale kind of songs, a perfect soundtrack to your romantic fantasies. This song is about the magical feeling of love at first sight. Knowing that you want, need and love someone from the very first sight. The artists delivered a super lovely performance, complementing each other very well. The production also does a superb job in adding to the magical feel. 

7. November

Love the structure of this track, the vocals, the guitar work and Fungai's vocals are all on point. This is one of those tracks that just wanna make you fall in love, its so lovely. It's nearly impossible to be able to play this track just once, have found myself repeating it over and over again. It's a track you have found the lady you want and cannot wait for her to be yours. You can't wait till she is all yours and you get to spend time together.

8. Ndaramba feat Reverb 7 & Tina Masawi

Fungai teams up with partners in crime, Reverb and Tina on this house jam. Reverb was definitely in charge of this track and he did quite a good job, it's sounding nice. No-one wants to be left alone by their partner, you want to be with them every moment that is possible and this track is about that feeling. The artists delivered good perfomances. 

9. Memories

The hardest part about a breakup are the memories that you remain with, the person will no longer be there but the memories you had together will remain haunting you. The more and deeper the experiences you had the harder that breakup will be and all that you will want to do is apologize so you get back together with your partner. On this track is Fungai getting haunted by the memories if his ex and he is trying to get himself closure and decide whether he should move on or keep holding on to the memories. He delivered a lovely and powerful performance. The production is again done well.

10. Musikana Akadai

This is a track you will be singing when you have finally met the lady that turns your world around, that lady whom you thought only resides in your dreams. The instrumental is lovely, uptempo and consists of some superb guitar work. Overall production is done superb. Fungai was very good on the vocals. Sing this for you lady and I bet she will give you the biggest smile and cutest laugh, if you do so unenge wamufonyora for life (might just have given Fungai a perfect script for the visuals of this one)

11. Ubuntu

This is the definition of a lovely jam, the decision to take the soulful house path was a superb decision. The production is done exquisitely well, the guitar work is lovely, and the saxophone which caps of the track is on point. Fungai was at his soothing best on the vocals, leading the song very well. The track talks of the importance of the people around you, the community that you grew up and live in for it makes you who you are. You are who you are because of the people around you. Super Lovely jam.

12. Amina

This is a lovely playful jam from Fungai. He borrowed from a childhood hymn that many can relate to and put it on this uptempo instrumental. The guitar shines on this track, it leads the track and Fungai really showed his guitar skills on this jam.

Stream the album: Songs About You on Spotify

Buy the album: iTunes

So ya that's it for Songs About You. This is a feel good soulful album, it's one of those album that is perfect for that drive with your lady or when you chilling just the two of you. Love is the main theme, infact its the only theme throughout the project, well with a title such as Songs About You it's quite obvious. The album is straight to the point and easy to comprehend as evidenced by how on many tracks the title tells the song off before you even listen. Love is not supposed to be complicated (even though relationships are) and the album follows on that simplicity. It also embodies the playfulness in a relationship with tracks such as One Of A Kind and Amina.

Fungai Nengare was lovely throughout the album and he sounded more like a John Legend/ Lionel Ritchie hybrid. The few collaborations on this album are well selected and they all sound lovely, with the one with Noxy creating a perfect karaoke song for couples.

In overall I've enjoyed listening to this album, it makes you realize feelings you had forgot you had. Despite sounding very lovely the album does not  really offer a new angle to the genre, it more like just takes advantage of the already proven arrangements and also some of the tracks feel like song with different words.

My Overall Rating: A, B, C, Poor

What are your thoughts on the album???

Proud_Zimbo