AFROMUSION VIDEO REVIEW: WRITE FOR ME, BY PAAPA

March 24, 2013
Paapa , the brainchild behind Paapa Music, has recently released the video for the track “Write for Me”, which is the first track off of his Songs for Kukua album. Shot in Portland,Oregon, by FifGen films, the “Write for Me” video is a complex video, which garners various interpretations.

Signed with Skillion Records, Paapa is a talented Ghanaian musician whose creativity shines brighter and brighter in every song he creates. With songs entitled “Dear Grace”, “Jesus Cries”, “Solar”, and “Stronger”, the raw talent that Paapa exudes is incomprehensible. Songs for Kukua is Paapa's sophomore album, following his Solar album. Paapa is talented not only musically but mentally. His ability to think outside of the box and do what is unique and new is what sets him apart from other musicians as a whole.

In the newly released video, “Write for Me”, the video is as complex as the mind of the song's creator,Paapa. The video starts with a scene of a man writing a letter- it is unclear who is writing the letter. However, what is clear is that the letters are addressed to 'Paapa', therefore we know Paapa will be receiving letters, a stack of them. As Paapa starts singing, the listener is aware that he has just received a scholarship, and he will be moving to the dollar ship in order to pursue those dreams, because he feels that his dreams may not be possible if he stays with Kukua. Who is Kukua? What does Kukua represent- a person, a place, or a thing? Kukua is the personification of something but I will leave you to figure it out. The song sounds like a love song but yet he is telling Kukua that his dreams are not possible with her. As he sings about his doubt of Kukua, the song details Kukua's response. Kukua replies, with tears in her eyes,“ Please don't leave me, if you stay, we will find a way, so don't leave me, if you stay we will find a way, I promise you.” While hearing the reply of Kukua, the viewers see letters being thrown away, but yet the letters keep coming, at the same rate in which they are being ripped and thrown away. Who is sending the letters? How are they getting to his house? How many letters are there? What message is stated in the letters—these are all the questions that go through the viewers mind .

As the song progresses, Paapa praises the beauty of Kukua, calling her a “queen”, but acknowledges that Kukua's cedis and pesewas can not afford his dreams. Meanwhile, the letters keep appearing under Paapa's door, and Kukua pleads with Paapa to stay, stating that she cannot bear to lose another piece of her, because she has already lost too many. While pleading with Paapa to stay, Paapa receives another mystery letter ( at the 2:02 mark)which states, “Now that I got your attention, you are going to receive the exact cedi note I received 18 years ago today. As soon as you finish reading this, you will hear a knock on your door .. knock, knock, knock”. There is also a cedi enclosed in the letter- Ghana's currency. Right as Paapa is singing “alone”, he receives his framed 1 cedi, from a mystery woman who has appeared at his door. The symbolism is quite strong, between the word “alone”, the one cedi, and the words” Lets your dreams sail” written on the cedi bill, which is the same shade as the sweater Paapa is wearing. Right as Paapa is singing the words “ leave”, it is clear that the cedi that was included in the letter he just opened has “left” the table and is magically in the frame he is now holding. It is clear that Paapa is still fighting with the decision he made to leave, struggling with Kukua's pleas to stay. In terms of the mystery girl at the door, she appears to just be a messenger, but notice that she is wearing a green jacket- it has symbolic meaning. As the video wraps up, Paapa can be seen walking out of his apartment , with his bags in hand—while Kukua is still promising that if he stays ”we will find a way, I promise you”. It is clear that Paapa is going to leave, no matter what. What is not clear is whether or not he has the framed cedi in his packed bags. What is not clear is who is writing the letters, although it is signed “You”. Is it “ you” as in Paapa or “you” as in Kukua. The video which began with the shot of a man's hand writing a letter, now ends with that same hand writing a letter—either the same letter or a different one- but the words are exactly the same. As the viewers see another letter being addressed to Paapa, and dated March 2031, the crumpled cedi returns. Is that the same cedi he received in the letter or is that the cedi that was in the frame? Why is it crumpled, isn't he supposed to take it with him wherever he may be going? What is the significance of March 2031? As the song concludes, Paapa is seen leaving, walking down a green field. The green symbolizes many things – greener pastures, a place that can afford his dreams, the green U.S dollars, the dollar ship he referred to earlier in the song. The “green” represents “new opportunity”. Remember that the girl at the door was wearing a green jacket as well—she too represents “new opportunity” because she brought the framed cedi with the note that stated, “ let your dreams sail.”. As the song ends, Kukua changes her words. Instead of singing, “please don't leave me”, the song ends with Kukua singing, “ if you leave, please write songs for me, and come back to me”.

That's exactly what Paapa has done.

“Write for Me” Video: