Kizz Daniel’s recently released single “Al-Jannah” is a sonic masterpiece—beautiful, moving, and soul-stirring. Featuring the vibrant rap of Odumodublvck and the emotive vocals of Bella Shmurda, the track is a touching tribute to lost loved ones, steeped in longing and spiritual hope. It is part of his newly released EP Uncle K: Lemon Chase, which dropped on May 30, 2025.
But while the song’s energy, melody, and message deserve every round of applause, it’s time we ask a necessary question: should grammatical accuracy be sacrificed at the altar of artistic expression?
The chorus of “Al-Jannah” goes:
I wish I can fly
I wish I can take off
I wish I can touch the sky
Smile on my face
I wish I can talk to you
One more time my friend
But e bad pass
I’ll see you for Al-Jannah
As a political and entertainment journalist—and more importantly, as someone who respects the integrity of language—my concern is with the repeated phrase: “I wish I can…” Grammatically, this usage is incorrect. In standard English, when expressing a wish about the present, the verb following “wish” must shift into the past tense. The correct construction should be: “I wish I could fly,” not “I wish I can fly.”
Some listeners may argue that Kizz Daniel is simply using colloquial English or poetic license, and perhaps that’s true. But even in colloquial creativity, clarity matters. When you blend standard English with broken structures, it blurs the line between intentional stylistic choices and linguistic confusion—especially for young, impressionable audiences.
Compare this to the iconic 1996 track “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly. The line “I believe I can fly” is grammatically accurate because it expresses belief—something regarded as possible or achievable. “Believe” is a verb that naturally pairs with present-tense modal verbs like “can.” Hence:
“I believe I can fly” – Correct, because belief implies confidence or potential.
In contrast:
“I wish I can fly” – Incorrect, because “wish” deals with unreal or hypothetical scenarios, and therefore requires the past form “could.”
This is not merely grammatical nitpicking. Artists are, in many ways, lecturers. Their lyrics, consciously or not, contribute to the informal curriculum of society. Their fans—especially students of English and communication—often mirror their expressions. If a line becomes a catchphrase, it enters public consciousness. Shouldn’t it also meet basic grammatical standards?
It’s important to stress that this observation does not dim the brilliance of “Al-Jannah.” The song remains an artistic triumph, rich in emotion and spiritual depth. But as we celebrate the power of music to heal and uplift, let’s also encourage songwriters to respect the structure of the language they use—especially when that language is English, and when the delivery is not framed explicitly as slang or dialect.
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Ultimately, words matter. And when they are sung by voices as influential as Kizz Daniel’s, they matter even more.
