Inspired by a Shakespearean classic tale of two lovers and the real-life adaptation of the romance between them, “Romeo & Juliet” by singers and partners Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele has, over the months since its release in late January, evolved into the year’s signature ballad beloved by multitudes, as heralded by the single reaching 1 million views on YouTube only ten days after its release. With the song’s latest achievement being a Metro FM Award for Best African Pop Song, making Aphiwe the youngest ever winner of the accolade, the grip the single has had on the hearts of its listeners has not slackened.
“This song came out of nowhere,” Naledi Aphiwe said, offering her insight into the making of the song. “I think this speaks on the musical chemistry I have with Kinglee and Mawelele. We were just bouncing off of each other’s ideas until we finished the song. It was a fresh idea, and we didn’t have a particular song that was on our mind when we made this one. Everything was just authentic.”
“Romeo & Juliet” cover art | SUPPLIED
At the surface, the soothing afro-pop track, produced by Lee Ntsako Tivani, is a traditional duet that sees the lovers lavish one another with reassurances and affirmations of love as a buffer against detractors and naysayers doubting the status of the relationship. The common denominator the song shares with its Elizabethan namesake is the blatant defiance the lovers clothe themselves with, protecting themselves from the elements of negative words of those who want nothing more than to see their love crumble to pieces.
Sprinkled with Gen-Z youthfulness and mature performances done in Zulu, “Romeo & Juliet” has become a refurbished and much livelier interpretation of the Verona-set tragedy which has captivated millions.
Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele | SUPPLIED
“We were gunning for a chilled type of song, but the reception was beyond our expectations. This time I just wanted to just cool down and just tap into a different topic. You remember last year I released “Ngiyabonga” which was a very spiritual,” Naledi said, speaking of the change in musical direction and the reception that song has received from the masses.
The single’s music video, featuring the both of them transposing their love to the silver screen, currently sits on 4.6 million views on YouTube, with the collective audios of the song on YouTube reaching an accumulated total of over 5 million views. “Romeo & Juliet” has also experienced success on Spotify, amassing close to 6 million streams on the platform and debuting at #4 on the Spotify Daily Chart with a little over 50 000 opening streams.
Watch “Romeo & Juliet”:
