Johnny (Yemi Alade song)
| "Johnny" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Yemi Alade | ||||
| from the album King of Queens | ||||
| Released | 14 October 2013[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:54 | |||
| Label | Effyzzie Music Group | |||
| Songwriter | Yemi Alade | |||
| Producer | Selebobo | |||
| Yemi Alade singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Johnny" on YouTube | ||||
"Johnny" is a song recorded by Nigerian singer Yemi Alade. It was released on 14 October 2013 as the lead single from her debut studio album King of Queens (2014). The song was a hit in several countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The music video was directed by Clarence Peters and shows how the title character, "Johnny", cheats and lies about his relationship with several women in the clip. As of 1 November 2025, the video currently has 177.1 million views on video sharing website YouTube. "Johnny" was leaked over the internet prior to its official release. In August 2025, Billboard ranked "Johnny" #15 on their list of the 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time.[2]
Background
Yemi Alade recorded "Johnny" in Enugu while on a nationwide media tour. The song tells the story of a cheating lover and was inspired by a real-life experience she unintentionally wrote during the recording session.[3][4]
Music video
The official music video for "Johnny" was released on 4 March, 2014, premiering on Vevo and her official YouTube channel.[5] Directed by Clarence Peters, it opens with a skit from comedian Bovi (later included as the first track off her debut album King of Queens), playing a reality show host that exposes unfaithful partners.[6] It follows Yemi Alade as she discovers that her lover, Johnny, (played by Nigerian actor and model Alexx Ekubo), has been cheating on her with multiple women, portrayed by Beverly Osu, Saeon, and Ajemina, among others.[7] The video also includes cameo appearances from Dil, Selebobo, and more.[8] In January 2019, the video surpassed 100 milion views on YouTube.[9][10]
Accolades
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Headies | Best Pop Single[11] | Nominated |
| Song of the Year[11] | Nominated | ||
| Nigerian Music Video Awards | Best Indigenous Concept[12] | Won | |
| Video of the Year[12] | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Extra Video[12] | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | MTV Africa Music Awards | Song of the Year[13] | Nominated |
| COSON Song Awards | Hottest Song on the Street[14] | Nominated |
References
- ^ "Johnny - Single by Yemi Alade". iTunes. 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ "The 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time: Full Staff List". Billboard. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ Q, Super (14 October 2013). "Get Familiar: Yemi Alade – Johnny [Prod by Selebobo]". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Offiong, Adie Vanessa (27 June 2015). "I'm Close To Bagging A Grammy - Yemi Alade". Daily Trust. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "Yemi Alade - Johnny (Official Music Video)". YemiAladeVEVO. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Alonge, Tinya (4 March 2014). "Video: Yemi Alade – Johnny". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Akan, Jonathan (4 March 2014). "Yemi Alade - Johnny". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "NEW VIDEO: Yemi Alade – Johnny". Jaguda. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "Yemi Alade's Song Johnny Hits 100 Million Views On YouTube". allAfrica.com. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- ^ "Yemi Alade's Music "Johnny" Reaches 100 Million vmViews on YouTube". Galantmedia. 2019-01-29. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- ^ a b Ochugba, Mary (10 October 2014). "The Headies unveils 2014 nominees". Business Day. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ a b c Sotubo, Tyler (27 November 2014). "Winners List - The Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2014". Tooxclusive. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Showemimo, Adedayo (11 June 2015). "Nigerian music stars dominate MTV MAMA 2015 nominees list". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ Akan, Joey (26 October 2015). "COSON Song Awards 2015: Wizkid, Davido, Asa, Tiwa Savage, make nominations list". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 13 December 2025.