Written by The World Cup might be over, but the summer’s just getting started. And Orisha Sound — the duo of singer and instrumentalist Orisha and producer Shel-K — have just released a classic summer dance anthem, with a banger of a video to match.
A call for inclusivity and equality, ‘Take the Place Ova’ (featuring chart-topping artist Oceana) was written for Russia 2018 — a notably successful event in terms of the harmony between different groups of supporters. But Orisha’s new video isn’t a mere cash-in on the well-regarded tournament. The band were actually present in Russia for the World Cup, performing their new single in fan zones and bars and touring Eastern Europe while working to promote reggae music in general.
And Orisha Sound are definitely in an authoritative position to be talking up the genre. Orisha has worked with reggae icons from Jimmy Cliffe to Sly and Robbie, as well as the likes of Stevie Wonder, Snoop Lion (surely everyone’s favourite Snoop Dogg phase) and Flo Rida. Meanwhile, Shel-K has produced records for Beenie Man (who appeared in Orisha Sound’s hit single “World War Three”), as well as top Jamaican acts like Gyptian and I-Wane. Oh, and you might also recognise him as the face of Wray and Nephew rum.
Their new track has a positive, Caribbean vibe: a fun, infectious beat and distinctive, polyrhythmic edge that veers from samba into piano house and back again. It was unsurprisingly something of a floor-filler in Russia: the addictive singalong “can’t stop, won’t stop” hook and “If we just take de place over” chorus bring a carnival atmosphere. It’s one to sing alone, and with the crowd.
The new video is the perfect celebration of this upbeat, imaginative and unabashed new tune. According to Orisha and Shel-K, the single reflects “a new, worldwide generation of tolerant, open minded and liberal people who are simply waiting their turn to take the place over — and make it better”.
YouTube hits for ‘Take The Place Ova’ are currently soaring way over the 120,000 mark, and the song is set to make waves across continents with its uniquely internationalist bent and vivid evocation of such a triumphant world cup. Recent interviews on BBC Breakfast and with the Jamaica Gleaner have seen the duo in full force — showing that there’s much more to reggae than Bob Marley.
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Last modified: August 29, 2018
