THEWILL DOWNTOWN January 08, 2023

Imust admit that I was pretty put off by the term self-care when it became popular during the pandemic and has even become more popular since then.

The reality is the world as we — my generation and older know it has changed, and certain things such as mental health and self-care are at the forefront as part of the essentials of survival as a human being these days.

The question is: What is self-care? Simply put, it’s putting you first in a way that isn’t selfish but improves you in every sense of the word.

In the past, we waited for a time when stress levels hit avoidable highs; only then did we decide to have ‘me time.’ But studies in recent times show that we must make time out very often for self-care, and it doesn’t have to be as serious or ceremonial as taking a vacation or booking a seven-hour-long session at the spa. It could be as simple as burning incense and letting the fragrance clear your head, listening to music—whether worship or soul or even nursery rhymes. Sitting outside in nature and admiring the beauty in God’s creation or booking a massage at home. What matters is that the process helps you de-stress, boost your mood, and give you clarity, which will help you become a better person, ready to take on tasks and challenges as they come. That way, you can stop leaving bald spots on your eyelashes and head from pulling on the hairs unconsciously in a bid to self-soothe.

I’m certainly seeing the importance of doing those little things and urge you to pick from a list of things that soothe you and enjoy some ‘me time’ doing those things.

Read about the importance of self-care on our wellness page and why it is an important activity we must all endeavour to incorporate into our lives this year.

One final thought: You deserve it. Until next week, enjoy your read.

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Writer: Kehindé Fagbule Graphic Design: Olaniyan John ‘Blake’ Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’

Dorcas Akintoye

Dorcas Akintoye is a dedicated writer with more than 2 years prolific experience in writing articles ranging from food, entertainment, fashion and beauty.  She has a National Diploma in Mass Communication from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. She loves writing, listening to music and playing scrabble. She is a highly-skilled, enthusiastic, selfmotivated professional writer.

David Nwachukwu

- Contributing Writer

@ebube.nw

David Nwachukwu has always been immersed in fashion from the age of 10, watching a Dior by Galliano show on television. His work in fashion stretches across media, marketing, brand communications as well as design. As a fashion & lifestyle journalist, David has tracked key industry data for various publications including Industrie Africa, Culture Custodian, Haute Fashion Africa, and HELLO! Nigeria. A Geography graduate from The University of Lagos, David consciously aligns this background in environmental advocacy and sustainable development with the need to promote a more ethical fashion ecosystem. He currently oversees strategic communications at Clean Technology Hub.

Year NewYear New Happy Happy

Fashion Rules You Should Definitely Break in 2023

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

We all have come across several fashion rules to follow either on the internet or even in magazines. However, most of those rules are not helpful; they have problematic undertones like hyper-sexualisation and fatphobia. In most cases, those rules don’t make sense. Let's break these fashion rules as we start the new year. Below are nine fashion rules you need to break.

(1) OVERACCESSORISING LOOKS MESSY

More accessories are far better than no accessories at all. Add as many hair accessories as you want, and throw in sunglasses, even in the shade. Layer up all your necklaces and put on those chunky chains.

(2) CERTAIN COLOUR COMBINATIONS DON'T GO TOGETHER

It doesn’t matter whether you style pastel pieces or prefer bright pops of colour. Many say pink-orange, blue-black, or even brown-black combination is tacky. We’ll have you know that pink and orange is one of the perfect and fun combinations, as is blood red and butter yellow.

(3) PUT ON CLOTHES THAT FIT YOUR BODY SHAPE

It’s okay to take help from fashion guides as per your body shape if you want to, but do not let it limit your clothing choices. You are the one to decide what looks flattering on you.

FASHION

(4) CROP TOPS ARE MEANT FOR SKINNY GIRLS

You shouldn’t let your style suffer because some people are insecure. Different body shapes and sizes, including plus-size and curvy women, should wear crop tops. Rock this belly-baring clothing in style and have fun with it regardless of your body shape and size.

(5) SHOWING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SKIN

Several people may have said, “don’t show more than one part body at a time”, “show a bit of skin to look attractive”, and so on. Here's some advice: looking good is not related to how much of your skin is visible.

(6) FAKE BRANDED STUFF LOOK CHEAP

Who cares about the brand you wear as long as the styling and outfit make you feel good and comfortable? Moreover, adequately styled outfits can never look cheap.

(7) SNEAKERS ARE ONLY FOR THE GYM

The right pair of sneakers can take you way beyond the gym. It's clear that when styled with dressier pieces, sneakers can add a modern twist to an outfit not comprised solely of sweats.

(8) ONLY WEAR ONE BOLD COLOUR AT A TIME

A bold, saturated hue can look strong when paired with another bold, saturated hue. If you wear an emerald green blouse, don't be afraid to wear those fuchsia suede heels or carry that bright yellow leather clutch, it will look super-modern and striking.

(9) NO SHORT OUTFITS AFTER

We all agree that women of a certain age shouldn’t wear certain things. Telling women that they shouldn't wear a mini skirt just because she is 40 is absurd. Make sure you pair the short outfit with chic staples to make it more gorgeous.

Odun Ogunbiyi

Boluwatife Adesina

Kola Oshalusi

Gift Eghator

David Nwachukwu

Roz Amechi

Ameyaw Debrah

Dorcas Akintoye

Alistair Englebert Preston

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

BY NWAEZE OGWU

“So when do I get to meet him? It's about time, don't you think?” Clara said. “Calm down, babe. You will in due time. We have to make sure the timing is right,” I responded. “And when will that be, ten years from now?” She was being sarcastic again. Sometimes I wondered why she was eager to meet Josh. I wasn’t worried she would take him away from me; well, not quite. It started to get a bit uncomfortable that she was more excited about our relationship than I was about the whole thing. And like a mind-reader, she stole my thoughts right out of my head. “I know what’s going on here, Funmi. You think I want him for myself, don’t you?” Clara said as she walked towards the bed where I sat, looking me straight in the eye with a sensual smile as she bit her lower lip. I denied it. “No, I don’t. I think we should pace ourselves.” But she wouldn’t let it go. “I have known you since secondary school, Funmi; I know when you are insecure, and this? This, right here, is insecure-Funmi. But you don't have to worry about that”, she said as she sat across me, bringing her face closer to mine while she gently pulled my hair back, moving my head up slightly to give her full access to my mouth. “I’m all yours”, she continued, “and the three of us are going to be very happy.”

Her lips captured mine very gently and slowly as if to assure me of her love, and then we began to undress each other. Her lips traced every curve of my body; I couldn’t hold still anymore as she kissed and licked every inch of me. Parting my legs, she teased me with her tongue and then came back up. I started to wiggle beneath her, yearning for more of what she had to give me.

The animal in us couldn’t stay caged anymore as our lower bodies rubbed back and forth. The primitive act took over with our lady bits grinding against each other, faster and faster, until electric shocks of pleasure rippled through our bodies as we peaked to

Clara was fast asleep when my phone began to ring. It was Josh, my boyfriend. Staring at my phone, I was unsure whether to pick up or decline his call. Even if I picked up, I’d be unsure what to say. He is very well aware of my sexual preferences, so he knew about Clara, but like me, he was worried she was spending more time with me and would soon take me away from him. What can I say? Clara and I have known each other for over ten years, so there’s bound to be a closer relationship. But I was beginning to see now that it was time to introduce them, time for our ‘three-way’ relationship to be more trusting because he, too, was eager to meet her.

Was I worried about stares when we all decide to go out on a date? Absolutely. There aren’t any openly bisexual trios in the world, but no one would know. We could be a couple and their friend hanging out. ‘That’s it. That’s the explanation,’ I thought to myself. Confident, I sent Josh a message saying I would organise dinner for us three the next day, and then I fell asleep.

Clara was beyond excited when I broke the news in the morning and couldn’t stop talking about it all day. We left early to wait for Josh at the restaurant; truthfully, I was nervous.

We were having shots at the bar when Josh arrived. Clara spotted him first— they both knew what the other person looked like— and the smile on her face said it all. I looked at Josh, and he was smiling too. No need for introductions, so we kissed hello and walked to our table for dinner.

I could see both of them giving each other ‘the look’, so I had to say something. “You two have ignored me all evening; is this the plan?” “No, it certainly isn’t the plan, Funmi,” Josh said as from underneath the table, he moved his fingers up my dress and kissed me passionately. “The plan,” he continued, “is, I’m going to pay for our meals, and then we are all going to my apartment where we can get to know one another better.”

Our Streaming Culture

Evolution of Arts and Entertainment Consumption

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Since we all can remember, the arts and entertainment industry has always been lauded as one that has experienced consistent growth. Technology has changed a lot, and it goes without saying. Once upon a time, before cloud spaces took on a meaning other than ozone layer conversation, before streams were not mistaken for anything apart from a water body, things were done differently. Those were the innocent days of unabashed piracy when most Nigerians consumed films in assorted DVD collections and music from vinyl and mixtape CDs. Our first interaction with digital streaming as a concept was downloading songs from bootleg websites that slap their producer tag haphazardly on the track as though they helped create it. Things are a lot different nowadays. Today, with the internet’s availability and a monthly subscription, anyone can easily access content globally, which has changed the game tremendously. But to what degree? Are there cons to the obvious pros? What does the year hold for the entertainment industry as far as quick exportation of indigenous Nigerian content through streaming goes?

The Double-edged

War on Piracy

For so long, the entertainment industry in Nigeria fought a long hard battle against piracy. Copyright infringements became normalised as pirated copies of films (during the home video era) and songs were readily available even on the day of release. With no inkling of how to curb this epidemic that prevented creators from their maximum revenue, streaming services came just in time to phase out VCDs and DVDs.

On the movie front, the battle against piracy seemed to have been damned as a lost cause as stakeholders within Nollywood became bereft of lasting solutions. Although it was a similar conundrum for the music industry, the war on piracy was more complex than with films. As digital on-demand song streaming and download became commonplace, directly replacing physical CDs,

it quickly became a tool that aided the propagation and reach of the industry. Despite earning nothing from bootleg websites and losing revenue because of them, music artists never really raised the alarm against piracy to play the long game—use it as a quick, free distribution and marketing tool.

Streaming Impact on Nollywood

One of the most significant effects of the movie streaming market was on the DVD market, which saw a sharp decline in popularity and profitability due to the widespread adoption of online content. The rise of media streaming caused the downfall of many DVD rental companies, especially in Lagos, Nigeria. Over in the United States, shortly before its breakup from video streaming, Netflix’s DVDby-mail service boasted more than 16 million subscribers, a number that has now dwindled to an estimated 1.5 million subscribers, all in the U.S., based on

Vinyl Record of Chief Ebenezer Obey

calculations drawn from the company’s limited disclosures of the service in its quarterly reports. On the other hand, their streaming services have 223.09 Million Subscribers as of the third quarter of 2022.

The Nigerian film industry is revered globally as one of the most valuable in the world. Regarding the quantity of production, Nollywood has always been in the top 3 conversations alongside India’s Bollywood and America’s Hollywood. Since the 2010s, however, the number of released Nollywood productions has significantly reduced as filmmakers shifted the focus to the production quality required by the two most likely destinations—the cinemas and digital streaming platforms. Today, the film industry as we know it has been able to churn out truly world-class productions because of the streaming culture.

Impact on Music And The Streaming Farm

For the music business, the past half-decade has seen a resurgence. Revenue from recorded music sales has increased each of the last seven years, following the decades-long lows

in income in the early 2010s caused by online piracy and shifts away from physical record sales. This sudden and rapid growth has been driven by the popularity of streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. During the pandemic year, 2020, streaming services yielded $13.4 billion globally,

making up 62.1 percent of total music industry revenue. The music industry’s shift towards an on-demand streaming model has been heralded by many as a positive change. Streaming subscriptions allow music fans to listen to more music than ever before and, in most cases, are more affordable than purchasing full albums (the average paid streaming service subscription costs about $10 per month, and many offer free, ad-supported versions of their service). There is no doubt that the Nigerian music industry has benefited immensely from this.

The rise of Afrobeats is very synonymous with the popularisation of streaming culture. It is no surprise the role of technology as a surefire amplifier. That is not to say the music industry wasn’t doing just fine with exporting its best offerings because it was. However, the speed at which it is happening nowadays is unprecedented. Music promoters, for instance, have since had their work cut out as they no longer have to keep track of how many physical CDs are burnt for the distributor and the usually tedious inventory that follows. Before digital streaming, it was almost impossible to survive in the industry as an independent artist.

Last year, music artist, BNXN (formerly known as Buju), in a vicious back and forth with his colleague, Ruger, impugned him of doping his digital streams. In one of his social media posts, BNXN accused Ruger of using streaming farms to illegally grow his streaming numbers, which led to more royalties and other benefits.

“There are streaming farms in Nigeria now. A room where your label bosses pay money to get your songs up by automation, no real fans, no real people, just a facade. Y’all make the people who really work for this bleed, and your day is coming,” BNXN said.

Streaming farms are services created to illegitimately boost the number of times a song is listened to through the use of software Bots or using many phones. After the brawl and exposure of the streaming farm, top Nigerian music journalist, Joey Akan discusses the blackmarket-esque operation in a series of tweets.

“Apple Music Top 100 has become a marketing tool for Nigerian musicians, not an independent curation of the country’s listening habits. Apart from bragging rights and screenshots, people rig streams to climbing up there for the public attention it brings to the record.”

Speaking on why labels use streaming farms, Akan said: “That marketing firm that offers you a range of streaming numbers for money or guarantees you the number 1 spot. What do you think they do? Move from house to house and ask people to politely click on your music? Or break the bank on ineffective ads? Everyone goes to the farmland.”

We Are Late to The Party

Over the past couple of years, the creative industry has welcomed all sorts of campaigns from digital streaming platforms. It is clear to see why entertainment powerhouses come to pitch their tents here. From Amazon Prime’s launch of a localised version of its

Ruger and BNXN Going Head To Head Right in the Middle of Their Brawl

streaming service to Spotify’s get-together of creatives, last year especially fanned the flames of the inherent streaming war that has seen them (streaming platforms) in a perpetual digital tussle for our attention since the pandemic hit.

It is a streaming economy globally, not just in Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria is quite late to the party. Last year, Disney+ announced an expansion into 42 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with South Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt making the list. On paper, it seems logical that an obvious market like Nigeria would be first in line for this kind of development, but the situation is more complicated than that.

Although Nigeria’s economy is arguably bigger, it is unstable, has outdated infrastructure, and has low purchasing power. On a global scale, only South Africa—of all African countries—makes Netflix’s top 50 countries, with over 350,000 subscribers. Nigeria did not make the list, with Malta rounding it up at 30,200 subscribers. The gulf in orderliness between Nigeria and South Africa is not worthy of a whole paragraph; it is visible to the visually impaired. They have the most advanced TV rating system in Africa, allowing companies to track consumer behaviour more accurately, and their economy, although not the largest, is more stable. It also helps that they have a better download speed, according to cable.co.uk, at 28.62 Mbps (Nigeria is at 15.37 Mbps average download speed) which means a faster Internet connection.

Currently, three global streaming services have made their debuts in the African market: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ joining an already saturated pool of local players such as MultiChoice’s Showmax, Arise TV’s Arise Play, Access Bank’s Accelerate TV, VideoPlay, and Safaricom’s BAZE. According to projections, Africa is expected to hit 26 million video-ondemand subscribers by 2026, which explains why we are seeing an influx of streaming platforms coming into the continent. Alas, it is a classic capitalistic ‘scratch-my-back-Iscratch-yours’ bargain.

An Arise Play Original - BODMAS

(1) To Create a Better Relationship With Yourself

The most important relationship you can ever have throughout your lifetime is one with yourself. One of the ways to foster a healthy relationship with yourself is by maintaining a positive state of mental health, and self-care is a crucial aspect of achieving this.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PRIORITISE SELF-CARE IN 2023

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

Many people struggle to prioritise self-care because of the misconception that self-care is selfish. It really isn’t. Self-care does not mean you care less about your loved one, nor should you choose yourself over your loved one. Self-care is all about you being mindful of your own needs. When you practice self-care, you produce positive feelings, which boosts your motivation and self-esteem, giving you the increased energy you need to support yourself and your loved ones.

(2) To Help Set Boundaries And Priorities

Putting yourself and your well-being first when necessary will go a long way in generating a positive domino effect in several aspects of your life. When you practice self-care regularly, you create a positive tone and a new level of respect for yourself. Engaging in self-care sets boundaries and the tone for how you wish to feel and be treated.

(3)

To Make Everyday Less Stressful

When you consistently show yourself the love you deserve, the daily stressors that may come up will become less significant and problematic. Selfcare is a sure way to reduce the stress that may arise from endless work, school schedules, or the various expectations that may show up in your personal life.

(4)

To Reset Your Mind And Body

One major advantage of self-care is that it resets the mind and body buttons when needed. Our mind is constantly dealing with different emotions and situations, but engaging in self-care will help lift your mind and make you feel better.

(1) WASHING YOUR FACE

One of the critical steps of your skin care regimen is cleansing. To keep your skin healthy and glowing, it is necessary to cleanse your face with a face wash twice a day. Apart from helping your skin get rid of impurities, and dirt, among other things, it will also prevent your pores from clogging. It is important for you to use a cleanser that suits your skin perfectly. You can use oil-control cleansers to remove excess sebum and prevent acne and breakouts.

THE BEST SKINCARE ROUTINE

For Men With Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

BY DORCAS AKINTOYE

There are different kinds of skin, including dry/ sensitive skin, oily/acneprone skin and anti-ageing skin; all these skin types require different skincare routines and methods. No matter the nature of your skincare challenge, whether it is sensitivity, premature ageing, or hyperpigmentation, there are specific needs for every skin.

Oily and acne-prone skin is the most common concern among men. This is so because men generally have larger pores and oilier skin. In this article, we will be focusing on oily, acne-prone skin.

If you have oily and acne-prone skin, there is no need to worry; we’ve got you covered with the best skincare routine.

Oily and acne-prone skin needs hydration. It will be more effective if you pair your required SPF with it. You can search for an oil-free moisturiser with an SPF of 30 or higher. You can also use a lightweight, non-greasy moisturiser to counter your skin's

(4) USE A TONER

If you have oily skin, you can use a toner to remove impurities, maintain pH balance, and prevent extra oil secretion. Use a toner after shaving or cleansing to soothe your skin.

(3) EXFOLIATING CLEANSER

Always make sure to wash your face with an exfoliating cleanser every morning. For more effective results, it is recomended that you wash your face with a cleanser containing AHA or BHA because the ingredients can dissolve dead skin and unclog pores. They also help in promoting a brighter, healthier and clear complexion.

(5) MAKE USE OF A FACE MASK

Face masks are one of the best ways to replenish your skin with antioxidants, keep excess oil in check and make your skin look radiant and nourished. You can go for clay masks to remove excess oil from your pores. Endeavour using a face mask once weekly to deep-cleanse your skin.

Akah Nnani

In one of the most stellar performances in all of 2022, one-time DOWNTOWN Cover, Akah Nnani, reminded the world what he’s made of in Bolanle Austen-Peter’s Man of God Although Akah is not a new face on our screens, having become a fan’s favourite since his vlog and TV days, it only took him last year to land his first lead role. We think he will shine so brightly this year, and it will be more quality than quantity as the man himself revealed that he doesn’t star in as many movies because he is very selective with the kind of jobs he accepts.

LOOKOUT, HERE THEY COME!

6 Faces we Expect to See More of This Year

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Nollywood has witnessed unprecedented growth; it doesn’t take much foresight to have been able to call that. Although some might point out that it is of quantity rather than quality, no one can belittle this industry. Between going to the cinemas to watch some of our favourite blockbusters and catching the top-rated miniseries on streaming platforms, snuggled up in bed, we were treated to an impressive buffet of movie and film assortment last year. The year that started

on a relatively weak foot with the forgettable Chief Daddy 2, climaxed in the very end with our parodied version of an American high school thriller, Far From Home, and eventually, Ijakumo and Battle on Buka Street, both of which made their ways to cinemas in the UK and USA, saw a flurry of motion picture releases. And with that came many actors doing justice to their assigned characters. Here are six actors we think will build on the spotlight they earned last year with more recurring roles on our screens this year.

Genoveva Umeh

Nigerian-born British actor Genoveva Umeh will look forward to building on the spotlight she earned last year. The actor, who made her Nollywood debut in 2019, has gone on to feature in a handful of productions between the big screen productions and short films, albeit mostly incognito. Last year, however, she got more eyeballs on her than ever before. Her performances in two of Netflix Naija’s biggest miniseries, Blood Sisters and Far From Home, were clear indications of what’s to come. And we think she will finally land a lead role this year.

Lolade Okusanya

In another religious drama, Lolade Okusanya introduced herself to a much wider audience than ever. Her eponymous role in Toyin Abraham’s last month release, Ijakumo, delivered on its promise as she carried a significant portion of the film with stride. She will be looking to add to her growing sheet call that saw her feature in two productions last year, including a bit-part role in The Man for the Job.

Tobi Bakre

Since soliciting Nigerians’ votes on the popular reality TV show, Big Brother Naija in 2018, Tobi Bakre has been mostly under the radar in film, TV and music, where he has tried his hands. Last year, however, he made a significant statement on Jade Osiberu’s blockbuster Brotherhood, which has since alerted thespians of his presence in the industry as we expect what he has in store for 2023, starting with his projected lead role in Amazon Prime Video’s first Nigerian Original, Gangs of Lagos coming out later this year.

Michael ‘Mike’ Afolarin

Having shone brightly in last month’s Netflix miniseries, Far From Home, Mike Afolarin may not feel awful if people kept calling him “Ishaya Bello.” We reckon that will stick for a while, no thanks to Mike’s deftly execution of the character. The series, which got Nigerians talking for a while, feels quite… different, like something out of a fantasy, but those are the most difficult roles to play, and Mike played the lead role as though it was tailor-made for him.

Bimbo Ademoye

Bimbo Ademoye joins this list despite her immense work rate that saw her feature in over 20 projects last year on both the big screens and streaming platforms. Although her performance in Anikulapo gave her the most prominent platform to date to display her talent, you could get the sense that she hasn’t exactly ‘exploded’ just yet. We tip her to make that leap this year.

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

I Wanna Dance With Somebody

MOVIE REVIEW: TREASON

WATCH OF THE WEEK

IWanna Dance with Somebody is as generic a musical biopic as one is likely to find.

A by-the-numbers, slightly fictionalized chronicle of the rise and fall of pop singer Whitney Houston (Naomie Ackie), the film struggles to find a reason to exist beyond providing fans with an opportunity to listen to some of her most popular songs.

Saddled with an unimaginative screenplay by Bohemian Rhapsody writer Anthony McCarten, there’s not much director, Kasi Lemmons can do to bring Houston to life. Instead, she’s confined to recreating moments while her lead actress gives a performance that’s more imitation than innovation.

McCarten appears to have taken his Bohemian Rhapsody template and tweaked it to fit Houston’s life. The movie is linear and follows a trajectory that offers no surprises to anyone who lived through most of Houston’s public career. There’s also a sense that characters have been softened and made more agreeable, which is what can happen when so many of their real-life counterparts are still alive. It’s almost as if Bobby Brown, Cissy Houston, Clive Davis, and Robyn Crawford had to sign off on the screenplay before it was allowed to proceed.

The story is constructed like a bell curve, with the first half providing a sketchy overview of Houston’s rise to fame while the second half shows her decline and death. The first hour is considerably better than the second one. Most of the music, including the songs that form the backbone of the singer’s legacy, occurs during that portion. The second hour, which prioritizes drama over tunes, is a familiar-but-depressing account of Houston’s publicized slide into drug abuse, domestic discord, and irrelevance. The lack of depth prevents this aspect from having more than a cursory impact, however. One wonders whether the movie would have worked better had it stopped in 1994 and served as a celebration of Houston’s early career.

The best parts of I Wanna Dance with Somebody are the musical re-creations.

(That doesn’t qualify as an especially astute observation.)

Actress Naomie Ackie, who looks enough like Houston to pass for her, gamely lip-syncs to the original vocals. What’s disappointing, however, is the lack of coverage. Few of Houston’s songs are presented in full (those with the most complete renditions are the title number and her massive hit from The Bodyguard, I Will Always Love You), with a few only getting name-checked or represented by short snippets. In much the same way that McCarten’s script for Bohemian Rhapsody put a re-creation of Queen’s iconic Live Aid show at the end of that movie, Houston’s memorable 1994 AMA performance is lifted out of chronological order and placed just before the end credits.

Based on her work in I Wanna Dance with Somebody, it’s difficult to determine whether Naomie Ackie is a good actress. The majority of her performance consists of her mimicking Houston’s body language, lip-syncing to her songs, and imitating her public image. It’s an excellent example of re-creating her mannerisms, but it doesn’t leave much room for real acting. Stanley Tucci presents Clive Davis as a Teddy Bear who always has Whitney’s best interests at heart. Ashton Sanders’ Bobby Brown is a bad boy with a good heart who still loves Whitney when she dumps him (any instances of alleged physical abuse are not to be found). The only somewhat villainous person in the movie is Whitney’s father, John (played with unsmiling sternness by Clarke Peters) – who happens to be dead in real life and is, therefore, not around to contest his portrayal.

Of the spate of recent biopics featuring musical stars, this is one of the worst, if not the worst. That has nothing to do with the subject or her impact on history and everything to do with the hum-drum nature of this overlong, undercooked production. Even though I Wanna Dance with Somebody clocks in at nearly 2 ½ hours, there’s a sense that a lot may have been cut out (which would explain some of the ugly transitions and bizarre entrances and exits of certain characters) – an argument that a more interesting, less straightforward approach might have benefitted the project. For those with an interest in Houston’s life, a documentary will do a better job. For those seized by the nostalgic desire to re-hear her music, there’s YouTube. I Wanna Dance With Somebody fills no niche because it doesn’t do anything especially well.

An espionage story is like a garden of vines, growing fast and constricting in concentric patterns around the necks of everyone involved. Treason, the new Netflix limited series about dangerous doings in Britain’s MI6, keeps the panic rising and the tension mounting.

It is cleverly plotted and well-acted. But it rarely makes you care enough to feel you absolutely must keep watching and find out how these people wiggle out of their crises or who lives and who dies. It’s a nicely constructed plot mechanism without much soul beneath its flashy, busy surface.

Created by Matt Charman, who co-wrote the underrated Steven Spielberg Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies, Treason gets its emergency rolling immediately. The head of MI6 (Ciarán Hinds, always a welcome presence) is poisoned, enough to debilitate but not kill him. As his second in command, Adam Lawrence (Charlie Cox) takes charge; he is a baffled player in a drastically changed game, ready to do what’s necessary to keep his country safe. He has, in fact, been badly compromised by a Russian spy, Kara (Olga Kurylenko), who has manoeuvred him into the top spot for the purpose of doing her bidding.

It’s a promising premise that sprouts increasingly complicated subplots as it goes. Adam’s wife, Maddy (Oona Chaplin), served in the military with a CIA agent (Tracy Ifeachor) who sees Adam as an imminent threat. Kara is looking to torpedo the political

campaign of a candidate for prime minister (Alex Kingston) and seeking information that only Adam’s hobbled boss has on file.

There’s more, of course; in this world, one potential scandal always begets a few more. This is part of the genre’s fun, and Treason is just that, in fits and starts. It creates the “trust nobody” atmosphere that gives all good spy yarns their aura of menace.

But Treason is so slick and slippery that it forgets to create a place to stand, either thematically or emotionally. Each episode moves deftly, supplies some choice reveals and then disappears into the ether. This may seem like a strange criticism, but it feels very much like a TV series, its thrills more ephemeral than resonant, its drama more titillating than timeless.

This is the case with many (though certainly not all) Netflix series, especially compared with what’s happening at other leading streaming outlets. Netflix products are generally entertaining and clever. But it leaves you a little hungry when you’re done watching, and it’s hard to shake the feeling it could be much better.

Nothing wrong with entertainment, of course; sometimes it’s all you want. But a show like Treason could easily reach higher, and it’s frustrating when it doesn’t. You can enjoy the ride even if you wish for a more fulfilling destination.

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)

Asake - Ototo .jpeg

Tiwa Savage,Asake-Loaded Won Da Mo

Knucks - Los Pollos Hermanos Metro Boomin_ Future_ Don Toliver - Too Many Nights

KAYTRANADA_ H.E.R. - Intimidated (feat. H.E.R.)

Young Jonn - Xtra Cool

Childish Gambino - Feels Like Summer

BNXN fka Buju - Traboski