Shake Body
| "Shake Body" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Skales | ||||
| from the album Man of the Year | ||||
| Released | 6 May 2014 | |||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label | OHK | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Raoul John Njeng-Njeng | |||
| Producer(s) | Jay Pizzle | |||
| Skales singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Shake Body" on YouTube | ||||
"Shake Body" is a single released in 2014 by Nigerian artist Skales. Released on May 6, 2014, the Jay Pizzle-produced track served as the lead single from his debut studio album Man of the Year (2015), following his signing with Baseline Music after parting ways with Empire Mates Entertainment (EME).[1] In 2025, "Shake Body" experienced a comeback in popularity after a viral TikTok video featuring Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal reignited interest in the track, leading to a return to charts, international attention, and a European tour for Skales.
Background
[edit]Following his departure from Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment in 2014, "Shake Body" became Skales’s breakout single and helped him gain mainstream attention. In interviews, he stated that the song was initially turned down by several industry figures, though fellow afropop artist Olu Maintain expressed interest and offered to buy it for ₦1.5 million which Skales declined. Although he was uncertain about the song’s potential, it became a regular part of his performances and contributed to increased bookings.[2]
Music video
[edit]The music video for "Shake Body" was released on 22 July 2014. Directed by Stanz Visuals and filmed in Lagos, Nigeria, It was officially unveiled during a press conference where Skales also announced his signing to Baseline Music. To promote the release, Skales launched the "Shake Body Lucky Fan Competition", which allowed fans to upload videos of themselves dancing to the song for a chance to win $10,000. According to Baseline Music manager Howie T, the video was intentionally choreographed to inspire fans to replicate its dance moves.[3] By February 2015, the video had already hit a million views on YouTube.[4]
2025 resurgence
[edit]In early 2025, "Shake Body" unexpectedly returned to prominence after a TikTok video posted by 16-year-old Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal went viral. The clip, which featured Yamal and fellow players Nico Williams and Samu Omorodion dancing to the song during the 2025 Copa del Rey tournament, amassed over 180 million views and 16 million likes.[5][6] The video helped popularize a dance trend that was later picked up by other FC Barcelona players, influencers, and fans across Europe. As a result, the song re-entered streaming charts globally, debuting at #98 on the Spotify Global Viral Songs chart and trending in over 30 countries including Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy.[5]
In addition to the viral video, the resurgence was also propelled by DJ remixes—most notably by Dutch DJ Onderkoffer—which Skales later officially released on streaming platforms.[7] The remix contributed to the song’s biggest single-day streaming numbers, with over 213,000 Spotify streams recorded.[8]
Accolades
[edit]| Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | 2015 | Hottest Single of the Year | Nominated | [9] |
References
[edit]- ^ Adebanjo, Oluwafemi (6 May 2014). "Skales - Shake Body". Notjustok. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Omosola, Friday (21 May 2025). "How 'Shake Body' gave Skales second shot at fame, as singer trends in Spain". Premium Times. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Sotubo, Tyler (22 July 2014). "VIDEO: Skales – Shake Body | $10,000 Fan Giveaway". tooXclusive. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Showemimo, Dayo (18 February 2015). "Skales' 'Shake Body' video reaches 1m mark on YouTube". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Alake, Olumide (2025-04-27). "Copa Del Rey: Video As Skales Meets Lamine Yamal, Performs Shake Body at Barcelona Celebration Party - Legit.ng". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Agubata, Damilola (13 May 2025). "Skales' 'Shake Body' smashes new Spotify record, debuts on Global Viral Songs chart". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ Atume, Philip (2025-05-13). "Skales' 'Shake Body' Goes Global Again On Spotify". Rhythm FM. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ O'Neill, Danielle (15 June 2015). "The Nigeria Entertainment Awards Announce 2015 Nominees". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 9 June 2025.