| "Bank Alert" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by P-Square | ||||
| Language | ||||
| Released | 15 September 2016 | |||
| Genre | Afrobeats | |||
| Length | 4:13 | |||
| Label | Square Records | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Peter Okoye[1] | |||
| P-Square singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Bank Alert" on YouTube | ||||
"Bank Alert" is a song by Nigerian pop duo P-Square. It was released on 16 September 2016 and was recorded in Igbo and Pidgin English and samples lyrics from "Iyogogo" by Onyeka Onwenu.[2] It was released as a free download on 15 September and the next day, the accompanying music video was released on YouTube.[3] By 22 September 2016, the music video for "Bank Alert" received over one million views.[4] In October 2017, Paul Okoye said on Twitter that "Bank Alert" was his first solo music video, describing the video shoot as his first solo effort after P-Square's split.[5] A gospel version of the song was released in 2017.
Composition
[edit]A reviewer from OkayAfrica described it as a "catchy song built on light guitars, bubbly synthesizers and a shuffling beat."[3]
Music video
[edit]The music video for "Bank Alert" was directed by Clarence Peters and Jude Okoye with cameo appearances by Phyno, Harrysong, Kcee, Onyeka Onwenu and Mr. Ibu among others.[6]
Critical reception
[edit]Upon release, "Bank Alert" received mixed reviews, as critics found it catchy and appealing to fans but criticized it for being unoriginal and generic. Joey Akan of Pulse Nigeria saw "Bank Alert" as a neo-highlife song about wealth and romance that showed no artistic growth following their publicized reconciliation. He concluded, "You need to hear this—just because it’s Psquare. Any other thing you expect to hear is not present".[7] Chidi Chima of TheCable deemed the single reminiscent of "Iyogogo", and concluded, "while Psquare has improved on its infusion of sounds, the twin brothers have declined in originality."[8]
Wilfred Okiche of 360nobs said "Bank Alert" follows their usual formula of flaunting wealth with an upbeat sound, adding "it is just like they never left."[9] Aribaba of Jaguda rated the song a 2/5 and wrote that P-Square "arrived at the same point they left" with a "bang average generic song" that was likely to become popular despite its simplicity.[10]
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Hottest Single of the Year | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Music Video | Nominated | |||
| COSON Song Awards | Best Song in Melody | Nominated | [12] |
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 15 September 2016 | Digital download | Square Records |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "(Nigeria) Top 10 Biggest Songs of 2016 - ROGMA". ROG Music Africa. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ Jasper Efe (16 September 2016). "P-Square – Bank Alert". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ a b Killakam (16 September 2016). "P-Square Return With New Single 'Bank Alert'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ Taofik Bankole (22 September 2016). "1 million views in 5 days for P-Square's 'Bank Alert' show they are still a force". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ ""Bank Alert" was my first solo music video – Paul Okoye of P-Square". BellaNaija. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Chidera Zinno (17 September 2016). "P-Square return with colourful new video for 'Bank Alert'". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ Joey Akan (16 September 2016). "Psquare have the weakest reunion on 'Bank Alert'". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Chidi Chima (17 September 2016). "TCL Review: Sampling again defeats originality, more 'Bank Alerts' for Psquare". TheCable.
- ^ Wilfred Okiche (22 September 2016). "360Review: P-Square – Bank Alert". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ Aribaba (16 September 2016). "Review: P-Square – Bank Alert; An Underwhelming But Familiar Reunion". Jaguda. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ Damola Durosomo (11 July 2017). "Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Jidenna and More Nominated For 2017 Nigeria Entertainment Awards". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "COSON Awards 2017: List Of Nominees Released". Vanguard. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2025.