Celebs’ catchphrase

For stars to realise full potential, their creativity also demands the cocky use of language. Some celebs have managed to redefine their careers through words, mottos and even slogans, writes KEVIN OGUOKO

‘Change we can believe in’ simply defines US President Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign slogan. Now his campaign strategists are busy shopping for a new slogan for the forthcoming elections.

Obama, who remains the only president to ever grace the cover of Vibe Magazine, must redefine his campaign yet again with a top of the mind catchphrase.

In local entertainment circles, popular mantra used in songs, movies or advertisements has become the hottest catchphrase in town.

Popular TV and radio personality Jimmy Gathu has popularised the Mpango wa Kando phrase. The moment he appeared on the tube scrolling his phone advising a dude about mismanagement of resources in clandestine romantic affairs, the public embraced his words more than the action. Soon it was the hottest vibe around. The public owned it and was on everyone’s lips.

Pulse takes a look at celeb slogans and mottos in recent times. Here are the funky, sexy and just plain nasty catchphrases.

Wee Kamu

Just as the series, Single Ladies sums it; “Ladies know within the first 15 minutes of meeting whether you are going to ‘get it or not”.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t want you to court them first. Local musicians have gone the whole hog.

Nonini in his younger days rode to fame with explicit lyrics on his hit single, Wee Kamu.

The song about coming over and getting dirty was popularised with the sexual innuendo catchphrase, Wee Kamu.

The slogan lay between polite and nasty.

But Bobby Mapesa certainly did get it and lifted the lid with more lewd Kamoja Tu in a begging, funny and creepy voice.

Bobby almost messed the whole Chill campaign, which was doing well with his rhyme; Ati umechill? Endelea kuchill. Hope ukinicheki na dame hautafeel.”

The Chill slogan took a blow.

Verdict: Sexy or not, it turned some heads. And I mean ‘heads’!

YOLO

“Now she wants a photo, you already know though. You Only Live Once. That’s the motto nigga. YOLO.”

That’s Drake’s line in the song, Motto featuring Lil’ Wayne. Yolo means You Only Live Once. The motto has caught up like bushfire with youngsters on Kenyan social media circle.

Now some patrons uses it whenever they are draining their hard earned salary on Ciroc vodka shots in “Westie”, shouting ‘YOLO’ after every sip.

Others have gone to the extreme of tatting it on their bodies, including celebrity teen star Jennelle Evans of MTV’s Teen Mom Series.

Verdict: Quite new and very popular. Not sure how long it will last though.

Hakuna Matata

It took an animation movie for a Swahili word to go global. The song Hakuna Matata written by Elton John was nominated for Best Original Song during the 1995 Academy Awards. What’s not so original about it was that it was used in the 1980s, a decade before, by Kenyan band, Them Mushrooms repeatedly in their song Jambo Bwana.

White tourists love the phrase.

Comedian, Katt Williams tweeted a couple of weeks ago backing Hakuna Matata. He tweeted; “F*** YOLO. Hakuna Matata is the motto N****’” Need we say more?

Verdict: Still fresh! Tattoo that!

Swag

Swag goes beyond the Gucci or the Louis Vuitton bag. As rapper Juelz Santana rhymes; “You can buy the rags, you can buy the bags, but there ain’t no sign that say they sell swag.”

After countless hit songs titled Swag, in Kenya Facebook, account names have changed to incorporate swag.

Other people are coming up with meanings yet to be defined...clearly! I mean have you heard this Kanye West’s line in the track Party by Beyonce.

“You got the swag sauce, you drippin swagooo.”

Verdict: It’s getting old.

P-Unit

Their name is a slogan by itself! Every other song by the “swagged-out” crew had an accompanying catch phrase that became nationwide slogans. Kushoto Kulia hit first.

Then there was Si Lazima, a reverse psychology term that made you do the complete opposite of what you were resisting. The T-shirts became an instant hit.

Verdict: Wako juu tu sana!

Others include Chapa Ilale and Chips Funga.