Sunday, December 11, 2005
Anthems of the week
It feels like ages since I spent an unhealthy amount of time roaming the vacuity of cyber space aimlessly. Ok, its been a little over a week but thats what we blog addicts call withdrawal symptom. The last week of class had me "in the zone" switching between one hundred odd tasks. It took large overdoses of caffeine and several snow fights to get me through the week. I am slowly but surely mastering the art of being a full-time insomniac. It ain't over; in fact I am still in the thick of it but I want to believe the worst is behind me.
Moving on, so the primary inspiration for this blog post is mama Africa and the sweet sounding music that she has borne fruit to over the years. On any given day I average anywhere between five to twenty different radio stations, most of them online. Shoutcast is up there always - gives me everything from heart racing trance to reggaeton to music straight from the streets of Ivory Coast. Couldn't ask for much more of an eclectic variety. This evening, by sheer luck I tuned into this quality African radio show that played some spectacular tunes, all of which get voted as 'anthems of the week.' They had this live rendition of Jorge Ben's "Samba Esquema Novo" by Miriam Makeba which needless to say was awesome. Two other songs were equally outstanding and warrant a post.
The first is, well, the good old classic "Yeke Yeke" by the world famous, legendary griot from Mali - Mory Kante. If you haven't heard "yeke yeke" then do yourself a favor and check it out here. Catchy isn't the world. Mory Kante's music is phenomenal and his life story should be an inspiration to us all.
And the next song is apparently the biggest African hit since "yeke yeke" which is saying a lot because "yeke yeke" came out a while ago, in the early eighties. This one is called "Premier Gaou" by this group from Ivory Coast called Magic System. I remember listening to this song while sipping on some Gulder with Jesse on bar beach in Lagos last December. Never heard it since. Sadly, I can't seem to find a copy of the song online to showcase its simplistic brilliance.
Africa never dissapoints. The variety of music that the continent produces is mindblowing. Its a pittance that they are so under represented in the international arena. Oh well, my respect goes out to the supporters, ethnomusicologists, fanatics and music makers who are keeping the true spirit of music making alive in the continent.
Moving on, so the primary inspiration for this blog post is mama Africa and the sweet sounding music that she has borne fruit to over the years. On any given day I average anywhere between five to twenty different radio stations, most of them online. Shoutcast is up there always - gives me everything from heart racing trance to reggaeton to music straight from the streets of Ivory Coast. Couldn't ask for much more of an eclectic variety. This evening, by sheer luck I tuned into this quality African radio show that played some spectacular tunes, all of which get voted as 'anthems of the week.' They had this live rendition of Jorge Ben's "Samba Esquema Novo" by Miriam Makeba which needless to say was awesome. Two other songs were equally outstanding and warrant a post.
The first is, well, the good old classic "Yeke Yeke" by the world famous, legendary griot from Mali - Mory Kante. If you haven't heard "yeke yeke" then do yourself a favor and check it out here. Catchy isn't the world. Mory Kante's music is phenomenal and his life story should be an inspiration to us all.
And the next song is apparently the biggest African hit since "yeke yeke" which is saying a lot because "yeke yeke" came out a while ago, in the early eighties. This one is called "Premier Gaou" by this group from Ivory Coast called Magic System. I remember listening to this song while sipping on some Gulder with Jesse on bar beach in Lagos last December. Never heard it since. Sadly, I can't seem to find a copy of the song online to showcase its simplistic brilliance.
Africa never dissapoints. The variety of music that the continent produces is mindblowing. Its a pittance that they are so under represented in the international arena. Oh well, my respect goes out to the supporters, ethnomusicologists, fanatics and music makers who are keeping the true spirit of music making alive in the continent.
# posted by Surya Swamy : 9:13 PM
Comments:
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Talk of insomnia!Was struck by it last week.
I think grad students can get a dual degree-one in their own dept and one in the Esteemed Dept of Insomnia.
What say?
I think grad students can get a dual degree-one in their own dept and one in the Esteemed Dept of Insomnia.
What say?
All I have to add to your comment is to share my frustration with you. I also cannot find a copy of that Magic System song! I hear it at just about every African wedding I have been too and even on my trip to South Africa! It's so fun to dance to etc. I tried to find it today online and ..well no fruit.
That was pretty insightful! What's the name of the African station you tuned into?
Also, if you liked the Ivorian songs played on the station, then you might like le coupé décalé by Douk Saga. :) [one of my favorites and the Ivorians' most famous!]
Enjoy!
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Also, if you liked the Ivorian songs played on the station, then you might like le coupé décalé by Douk Saga. :) [one of my favorites and the Ivorians' most famous!]
Enjoy!
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