"Away" is a song by Nigerian singer

Oxlade Oxlade is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (born 1993), English professional footballer * Allen Martindale Oxlade (1882–1932), Australian rugby player * Aubrey Oxlade (1882–1955), Australian cric ...

, released as the only single from his first extended play ''Oxygene'' (2020). The song was produced by Nigerian record producer Spax. It was ranked at number 23 on ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

''s list of 50 Best Songs of 2020, and ''TurnTable''s Yearly Top 50 chart of 2020. As of August 2021, "Away" has received over 7.9 million streams on Spotify. On 11 December 2020,

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included the song in their list of 20 Best Nigerian Songs of 2020.

Background

After having a minor breakthrough on

Blaqbonez Emeka Akumefule (born 29 January 1996), known professionally as Blaqbonez, is a Nigerian rapper and singer signed to Chocolate City. Blaqbonez is popularly known for his distinct rap style as well as his creative ingenuity. In 2019, he was prof ...

2018 record "Mamiwota", he was approached by Bizzle Osikoya, who secured him a management and distribution deal with The Plug. He released "Away" on 20 March 2020, as the lead single off his EP Oxygene, through The Plug Entertainment. The record was produced by Spax. On 7 November 2020,

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

posted the song on his

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story, few minutes into the post,

Asa Asika Asa Asika (born 14 August 1990) is a Nigerian talent manager, best known as Davido's manager, also the co-founder of The Plug (subsidiaries; Plug Entertainment, Plug Live, The Plug Music, Plug Films, Plug Publishing, and Plug Sports) and The Bloc ...

shared it on a tweet "

just posted Oxlade", and Nigerians reacted to the tweet.

Music video and synopsis

On 13 April 2020, he released the official music video to "Away", shot and directed by

TG Omori ThankGod Omori Jesam (born 8 June 1995) known professionally as TG Omori or Boy Director, is a Nigerian music video director and cinematographer. Early life ThankGod Omori Henry, hails from Cross River State, Cross-River State in Nigeria. O ...

. According to Oxlade, T.G asked him to sit on his lady’s lap to personify the popular saying, "behind every successful man is a woman". Tami Makinde of

The Native ''The Native'' (stylized in all caps) is a Nigerian-based music magazine publishing in Lagos. Founded in 2016, ''The Native'' focuses primarily on music, style, and art, championing the sounds and culture of tomorrow, today. History ''The Na ...

stated, "Majority of the scenes in the video emphasises the importance of a woman in a man's life".

Composition

"Away" was named to ''

'' list of the 50 best songs in 2020. Elias Leight, who reviewed the song for the list, praised the lyrics' simplicity and the song's beat, and wrote that "Nigerian singer Oxlade allows just two indulgences — a pretty vocal arc before the repetitive rush of the chorus, plus a succinct guitar solo during the outro — and both are welcome."

Commercial performance

During its debut week, "Away" peaked at number two on

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in Nigeria. On 30 December 2020, it debuted at number twenty three on the TurnTable Yearly Top 50 chart. "Away" is Oxlade's most popular record with over 7.9 million Spotify streams as of August 2021.

Background

Music video and synopsis

Composition

Commercial performance

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References