Eddie Murphy has a reggae song called “Oh Jah Jah” that a lot of people like. It’s not a first for the legendary funny man, who’s been moonlighting as a singer and songwriter since his ’80s hit “Party All the Time.” While his ear for music and singing voice remain underrated, Murphy continues to plug away at the craft, hopping through genres to create a diverse and often pleasant sound.
Still, whenever he puts out a song, it’s an event because, come on, it’s Eddie Murphy. He’s notoriously cryptic and reclusive, sensitive about his public perception (see awkward appearance on the SNL 40th anniversary special), and pretty hard to pigeonhole as an artist.
From his official announcement for the single:
Eddie Murphy unleashes the brand new video for his reggae single “Oh Jah Jah,” released by VPAL Music (VP Records’ subsidiary label and distribution arm). The critically-acclaimed track, which Huffington Post claims “will have you jamming” and Entertainment Weekly describes as “breezy,” peaked at #1 on iTunes Reggae Single Chart and debuted in the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard Reggae Digital Song Chart.
That’s impressive charting for a celeb who has to leap the hurdle of being considered an “actor first.” The video is stripped-down, and Murphy strums his guitar in a room with a band, but maybe that’s the only way to accept “Oh Jah Jah” on its very decent merits.
