Picks of the Week - Driemo (and Cover Versions) (Malawi)

Today's picks include "Popo," a hit by Driemo, and three cover versions.

Shafie S. Phiri's video for the song "Popo" kind of has the feel of something an Eighties hair metal band would have turned out. But the song is irresistibly catchy and was a hit for the Malawian artist, better known as Driemo.

According to Music From Malawi, he's a Malawian singer, song writer and actor, who got his start in music in 2017 and released his first single a year later. For a few years he recorded as Smart P and then became Driemo.

At Delvin’s Acoustic Sounds, they do a lot of cover versions and mashups of multiple songs. One of these mashups includes a song from Zambia and three from Malawi. Two of the latter are from Driemo, including "Popo."

It's their most popular video and is nearly as popular as Driemo's version for "Popo." I'd put it in my top five of songs I've highlighted since starting this site.

Driemo's version of "Popo" is sung in English. Vankson boy V, a musician from Malawi who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in Malawi, does a version of the song in Swahili.

Last up is Jahz Boy's version of the song. I tried but failed to find out any information about the artist, but the song is worth a listen.