Beka Barz’s latest single, “Wannabe,” is a fascinating piece of pop.
It’s a song born from a familiar story of heartbreak, but it’s told with a fresh, modern perspective.
The artist, who also produced and engineered the track, takes the iconic Spice Girls anthem and flips it on its head.
Where the original was a declaration of friendship and loyalty, B3K’s version is a sharp, witty response to betrayal.
The new lyric, “If you wanna be my lover, then don’t get with my friends,” is a simple but effective twist that immediately sets a different tone.
The production of the song is a story in itself. B3K, an independent artist, collaborated with a beat maker from Zimbabwe named EliQr64.
The two artists worked together remotely, communicating through WhatsApp. What’s particularly interesting is that their collaboration was based on a shared feeling for the music, rather than a common language.
This cross-continental partnership gives the song a unique energy, a fusion of different cultural and musical influences that you can feel in the final mix.
The music video, directed and edited by B3K and filmed by Aimee Buffong of Four Reel, adds another layer to the story. It’s a light-hearted take on the song’s theme, featuring actor Go Punk and rapper Madi G.
The video captures the song’s playful yet assertive tone, and the behind-the-scenes story of the final scene, where Beka Barz pushes Go out of her car, adds a touch of spontaneous humour to the project.
“Wannabe” is a song about empowerment. It’s about taking a painful experience and turning it into something creative and positive.
The track has already found support from BBC Radio, with airplay on 1Xtra and Asian Network, which is a testament to its broad appeal. It’s a song that will resonate with anyone who has ever had their heart broken, but it’s also a song that will make you want to dance.
Beka Barz has taken a classic and made it her own, and in doing so, she has created something that is both familiar and new, a song that is both a tribute and a statement.
This is a song that feels like a conversation with a friend, a story shared over a cup of coffee.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best art comes from the most unexpected places, and that a little bit of humour can go a long way in healing a broken heart.
