Spirit (Kwesta song)
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Spirit
| cover = Kwesta Spirit artwork.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kwesta featuring Wale
| album =
| released = {{start date|df=yes|2017|10|12}}
| recorded = 2017
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Hip-hop
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=13}}
| label = *Sony Music Entertainment Africa
- Urbantainment
| writer = *Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi
- Olubowale Victor Akintimehin
- Neo Makwa
- Daniel Keith Jones
- Richard Anthony Earnshaw
- Mark Bamford{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibbidi.net/single/kwesta/spirit|title=Spirit (feat. Wale) - Kwesta | Lyrics, Live, Songs, Tour|website=VIBBIDI}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.traxsource.com/title/1219083/these-tears-remastered|title=Spiritchaser, Est8 - These Tears - Remastered|website=www.traxsource.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kineticmusicgroup.com/news|title=News|website=Kinetic Music Group}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/bmw-responds-to-kwesta-for-using-song-without-permission-/|title=BMW South Africa Responds to Using Kwesta's Song Without Permission on Latest Advert|date=22 September 2020|website=OkayAfrica}}
| producer = Makwa 6eats
| chronology = Kwesta
| prev_title = Ngud'
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Diamonds and Gold
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Wale
| type = single
| prev_title = Saint Laurent
| prev_year = 2017
| title = Spirit
| year = 2017
| next_title = Staying Power
| next_year = 2018
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|wFi-BqmTRrw|"Spirit"}}
}}
}}
"Spirit" is a single by South African rapper Kwesta featuring American rapper Wale, released on October 12, 2017 through Sony and Urbantainment.{{cite web|title=Hear Kwesta and Wale's New Song, 'Spirit'|url=http://www.okayafrica.com/listen-kwesta-wale-new-song-spirit|website=Okay Africa|publisher=Damola Durosomo|accessdate=21 January 2018}}{{cite web|title=We Can't Get Over Kwesta's New Single With Wale -- Even Celebrities Are With Us|url=http://m.huffingtonpost.co.za/2017/10/13/we-cant-get-over-kwestas-new-single-with-wale-even-celebrities-are-with-us_a_23242437|website=TheHuffingtonPost|publisher=Duenna Mambana|accessdate=21 January 2018}}{{cite web|title=Kwesta drops hit single Spirit in collaboration with US rapper Wale|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2017-10-12-kwesta-drops-hit-single-spirit-in-collaboration-with-us-rapper-wale/|website=SowetanLive|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}} The song was written by Kwesta, Wale, and Makwa who also handled the production.
The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa.{{cite web|title=Kwesta and Wale go platinum in SA|url=https://www.channel24.co.za/The-Juice/News/kwesta-and-wale-go-platinum-in-sa-20171201|website=channel24|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}{{cite web|title=@KwestaDaKAR #Spirit Has Gone Platinum!|url=https://www.slikouronlife.co.za/blog/10974/kwestadakar-spirit-has-gone-platinum|website=SlikourOnLife|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}{{cite web|title=Kwesta's #Spirit goes platinum|url=http://www.sabreakingnews.co.za/2017/11/28/kwestas-spirit-goes-platinum/|website=SA Breaking News|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}{{cite web|title=Kwesta's 'Spirit' Single Hits 'Platinum'|url=http://hypemagazine.co.za/2017/11/28/kwestas-spirit-single-hits-platinum/|website=Hype Magazine|date=27 November 2017 |publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}
Composition
"Spirit" samples the 2011 South African number 1 hit record "These Tears" {{Cite web|date=2020-09-22|title=BMW South Africa Responds to Using Kwesta's Song Without Permission on Latest Advert|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/bmw-responds-to-kwesta-for-using-song-without-permission-/|access-date=2020-09-29|website=OkayAfrica|language=en}}{{Citation|title="Ringer" It Just Got Normal (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2093722/soundtrack|language=en|access-date=2020-08-18}}{{cite magazine|title=Beyond Drake: We Asked 12 Tastemakers Around the World About Their Country's Song of the Summer|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8473654/songs-of-the-summer-around-the-world|magazine=Billboard|publisher=|accessdate=21 May 2019}} as performed and written by South African House group Spiritchaser.{{cite web|title=10 popular 2017 tracks that have sampled others|url=http://yworld.co.za/magarticle/10-popular-2017-tracks-that-have-sampled-others/40948|website=Y World|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}
Music video
The music video was released on Kwesta's Vevo account on 11 January 2018. It was directed by Skeem Saam{{'}}s director Tebogo Malope in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, Kwesta's birthplace. The video shows Kwesta and Wale performing to a crowd of fans, driving in a Lamborghini in a tunnel and popping alcoholic beverages.{{cite web|title=WATCH: Kwesta's 'Spirit' video tells a true story about our culture and the people|url=http://www.yomzansi.com/2018/01/12/watch-kwesta-spirit-music-video|website=|date=12 January 2018 |publisher=YoMzansi|accessdate=21 January 2018}}
IOL wrote:{{blockquote | The music video showcases real people in the township with beautiful cinematography by the director and brilliant editing of said images.{{cite news|title=WATCH: Kwesta releases imagery filled #SpiritMusicVideo|url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/music/local/watch-kwesta-releases-imagery-filled-spiritmusicvideo-12700263|website=IOL|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}}}
The music video features a cameo by American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer, Jidenna and Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina.{{cite web|title=WATCH: Kwesta's Spirit music video is a love letter to South Africa|url=https://m.channel24.co.za/Music/News/watch-kwestas-spirit-music-video-is-a-love-letter-to-south-africa-20180112|website=channel24|publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}{{cite web|title=Watch: Kwesta's Spirit music video is golden trophy for South Africa!|url=http://www.entertainmentsa.co.za/entertainment/music/watch-kwestas-spirit-music-video-golden-trophy-south-africa/|website=Entertainment SA|date=12 January 2018 |publisher=|accessdate=21 January 2018}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017)
!scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" | South Africa (EMA)
|1 |
Accolades
"Spirit" was nominated at 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards.{{cite web|title=Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards - the full list of nominees|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/amp/entertainment/2018-08-14-mzansi-viewers-choice-awards-the-full-nlist-of-nominees/|work=Sowetan LIVE|date=14 August 2018}}
{{Awards table}}
|-
|2018
|
| Favourite Song Of the Year
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Africa |type=single|award=Platinum|number=1|relyear=2017|certyear=2018|artist=Kwesta|title=Spirit|access-date=April 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Country ! Date ! Version ! Label ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| South Africa
| October 12, 2017 | Original | |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|wFi-BqmTRrw|Music video}}
{{Authority control}}