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By Rita Okoye
“Halleluyah Eh” by Pastor Paul Emmanuel is a song from the spirit of God that takes you into a deep worship and you can’t explain what happens while you worship with this song, and this time around, it was a remix featuring Mike Abdul.
Hallelujah Eh is a no holds barred thanksgiving song thematically. Its lyrics are straightforward but meaningful, based in Christian appreciation, but sung with a warmth that enables them to be used in corporate and individual listening.
Especially, Mike Abdul delivers and one thing that is very noticeable in his delivery is his Yoruba praise He also turns to a rhythmic chant in Yoruba, which gives a certain level of tangent and authentic quality and feel to the track. When Pastor Paul Emmanuel imparts the spiritual tenor, Abdul adds colour and cadence, and the listeners are lured into a collective expression of praise.
Production-wise, the song is a total sonic brilliance to its credit produced by the ace producer, Olalekan Sanni (Kanix) in collaboration with Pastor Paul Emmanuel himself. You can hear Kanix’s touch in the layering of instruments, cure, uncluttered, and instinctual. Every layer in this track is precise in its intent and placement, heightening the poignancy of the message. The other thing that stood out is the delicate use of the Shekere in the song.
Not at all like the wide-eyed gospels that percussion drives into the heart at maximum pelt, here the Shekere is used almost as an undercurrent, soft, persistent, light and comforting; it lends the rhythm an endearing lightness without pulling too much attention away from the vocals. It’s this kind of subdued and nuanced production choice that shows Kanix’s maturity as a producer.
The combination of contemporary gospel accompaniment and the use of indigenous instruments offsets old and new. The synths and backing harmonies lend a slick, almost urban gospel edge to the song and the percussive touches (notably the Shekere) add rooting in African worship tradition.
The production serves each singer well: Pastor Paul Emmanuel’s calm, collected vocal holds the piece down, while Mike Abdul’s playful, spirited lines drive the song forward and brighten it up.
Ultimately, Hallelujah Eh is less about musical gymnastics and more about intent. Not because it’s overwhelming, but because it creates an atmosphere of gratitude that is both intimate and communal.
Kudos to Kanix and Pastor Paul Emmanuel for creating a sonic environment in which subtlety and power can coexist, something sorely lacking in today’s gospel production.
