Recorded Live at the Hammersmith Apollo, London in 2012. Muyiwa’s song ‘Hey Ya’ was born from the 100 year Azusa street celebrations in Los Angeles California in 2006.
When asked the story behind ‘Hey Ya’. Muyiwa had this to say…. ‘I was in LA broadcasting from the 100 year celebration of Azusa street, while there it had all the leading names from around the world from EA Adeboye to Brian Houston from Hillsongs, also had diff Christians from diff parts of the world and different streams. One of the days I walked into a room and I could hear was ‘Hey Ya Ya, Hey Ya’ and it was American Indians all dressed up as they would in American western and they were chanting Hey Ya Ya saying these things about Jehovah and then responding with ‘Hey Ya Ya’, then I said to myself I am going to take this back to London, write a song about it and say things about God ‘Who is he that gave His life so you and I can be set free? Jesus Christ the son of God, He’s the King of kings and Lord of lords and end it with Hey Ya Ya, Hey Ya Ya, Hey Ya Ya, Hey Ya Ya, Hey Ya Ya hey OOH’
Muyiwa Olarewaju is a British Singer Song writer Broadcaster, the one who is more than most helping to popularise the form and bring it to a wider audience by mixing it up with elements of world music (from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia), soul, R&B and pop.
He is also an experienced performer, broadcaster and presenter. In 2009 he became the first-ever international act to perform on America’s popular entertainment channel, BET, for the prestigious annual Celebration Of Gospel show. He is presenter of the Turning Point programme to an estimated global audience of 70 million and Sounds of Africa plus Jewels of Africa on Airlines like Lufthansa, Kenyan and more. With his group Riversongz he sold out Indigo2 at the O2 in London, and the Apollo with 5000 people the first UK gospel act to do so, and he has played at the largest gospel music event in the world, The Experience, attracting a 500,000 strong audience.
As a broadcaster, he has a late-night show on London’s Premier Christian Radio, the station has an audience of 1.3 million listeners nationwide. He is also Station Director of Premier Gospel and has won numerous awards, including Best Presenter at the Oasis Awards (2006), Best Radio Show and Best Contribution to Gospel Music at the Gospel Music Awards (2009).
Hey Ya’ catchy melody and tone will facilitate an atmosphere of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord. Muyiwa trusts that this video will bring sunshine into your day, make you dance and shout out loud that God is Good. So get your dancing shoes and let us ‘Hey Ya’
Watch Video below;
