Alot of people (thats you guys) have been asking me whose playing at Kirstenbosch this year and im tired of remembering all the acts off the top of my head ( i have a photogenic memory), so here’s a proper list that you can refer to whenever you miss me.

Don’t know what the Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts are all about..well let me school you first:

 

“On Sundays from the end of November until the beginning of April, musical concerts are held on the lawns at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
Bring the whole family, a picnic and a bottle of wine and enjoy some of South Africa’s best live music while the sun slips behind the mountain.”

It looks like such:

That could be you…on the right wearing the bright green pant.

What will you be listening to in the pristine setting of the garden..take your pick:

Image courtesy uncoverthecape.co.za and the website is also where you will find more info like prices, location and telephone booking numbers and where to get tickets.

Now go tell someone.

See you there.

I grew up landlocked and wary of what lurked under the dark, scum-covered surfaces of the few lakes/glorified ponds we had. If I can’t see the bottom, I’m not wading in.

However, a stretch of beach, preferably unpopulated, is a glorious thing. I think that a beach house would suit Paloma and me (and the menagerie) quite well. Fortunately, opportunity has presented itself and I am staking a claim to a stretch of prime beach for us now.

The downside is that it is in Ethiopia.

There is a thirty-file mile crack, as wide as twenty feet, in the deserts of Ethiopia. Geophysicists believe it will one day be an ocean. And oceans mean beaches and a beach is the ideal place for a beach house.

I would have to think that it’s a buyer’s market for real estate in Ethiopia.

(is there any part of that poor country that isn’t impoverished, famine-stricken, and/or at war?)

So, take a guess as to where the future beachfront property will be, purchase some land, and wait for Mother Nature and the “highly active volcanic boundaries along the edges of tectonic ocean plates” to work their magic.

I shall name our beach house Amity as homage to Chief Brody, Hooper, and Quint.

Of course, this ocean is scheduled to arrive in “a million years or so,” so that might be a problem.

Toto – Africa
from Toto IV

Is there a more enduring hit from the ’80s than Toto’s Africa? It seems to have seeped into the collective consciousness of most of the planet, including that of a Slovenian a cappella group.

Juluka – Scatterlings of Africa
from Scatterlings

Juluka, a racially mixed South African band led by Johnny Clegg, was likely the first “world music” that I ever heard and, not surprisingly, it was courtesy of 97X playing Scatterlings of Africa.

Clegg and Juluka is a fascinating and inspiring story, certainly worthy of more than a few scant words here. The interracial make-up of the band and the politics of their songs put the members in jeopardy simply to perform in a South Africa divided by apartheid.

Here’s a nice piece on Clegg from the early ’90s.

Zap Mama – African Sunset
from 7

Zap Mama was formed in Belgium by Marie Daulne, who had been born in Zaire. Weeks after being born, her father was killed in that country’s civil unrest and her family fled into the forests, taking shelter with a tribe of pygmies, before heading to Europe.

Years later, she returned to Africa and studied pygmy vocal techniques which she incorporated into the music of Zap Mama.

Enya – Storms In Africa
from Watermark

Enya is like Bjork to me in that if news broke tomorrow that either one of them were actually aliens, I think I’d simply shrug and say, “Yeah, that makes sense.” There’s just something otherworldly about her.

I was surprised to realize that I have half a dozen of Enya’s albums. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to any of them all the way through and I couldn’t name more than a handful of her songs, but they’re like dreamy little interludes when they pop up on shuffle.

The Selangor State Government is FINALLY getting it, i think!

The only way any government can stay in power is to ensure the votes are coming in to keep them. It is definitely not all the thousands at ceramahs or the exposed crimes by the previous government, it is the number of votes that would favour them.

A drive to encourage voter registration through Youth For Change Carnaval will held in PJ later this week. Registering to vote is a key first step towards that goal.

With performances by top Malaysian independent musicians such as Bittersweet, Couple, Seven Collar T-Shirt, Liyana Fizi, Robot Asmara, Reza Salleh, Ika and many more, the Youth For Change Carnival aims to draw in thousands of youths from around the Klang Valley. At the carnival, those who have yet to register to vote will be able to do so easily at attractively designed booths, while standing a chance to win numerous prizes as well as freebies. There are many other items planned at the venue designed to attract youths through music, movies and fashion and not politics.

One Man One Vote is what Johnny Clegg would say.

Event Details

Date: 7th November 2009, Saturday
Time: 12pm onwards
Venue: Rainforest, Lower Ground, New Wing One Utama
Organized by: Youth For Change

Both Revin and Jeremy spoke about it on their shows and for the millions of males out there, it wasn’t really sad news – in fact most men thought it was great news, hearing about the breakup between Danny K & Lee-Ann Liebenberg.

I overheard the station manager Ravi Naidoo, on a call with someone confirming that Danny K has been removed of the bill for Joburg Day. That was pretty dissappointing, and for a brief moment it felt like there would be a small hole at Joburg Day. 94.7 to the rescue – they have secured Just Jinger to perform, I must be honest it has been a while since I listened to Just Jinger so it is going to be an interesting moment when I hear them again.

Insider

Another list. Just felt the urge I suppose. In no particular order, here are some African musicians whose stuff I can’t get enough of (in no particular order). Not exhaustive, not exclusive, not definitive. Just for a laugh.

• Miriam Makeba (1932-2008) – South African – Mama Africa, lived much of her working life in enforced exile from apartheid era SA. Was, for many, one of the voices of protest outside. Her voice has soul, soul, sweet soul. Somehow evokes a whole generation and era. Nuff said.
• Ayub Ogada (?- )- Kenyan – was given his epic En Mana Kuoyo some time before we moved to Uganda by bro-in-law Jez – but it is now firmly embedded in my mind as the soundtrack of Kampala evenings. Mellow and yet completely compelling, this is trad Luo music given a western mix. Just wonderful. You’ll recognise some of it if you’ve seen the film The Constant Gardener.
• Vusi Mahlasela (1965- ) – South African – has a unique and extraordinary voice and is wonderful guitarist in South African folk style. His voice just has it all – pierces the heart and captures the agony, fury, life, hope, joy and reality of Africa. Just listen to Song for Thandi, or the raw Africa is Dying; or more positive, Everytime. Also, check out his cover (with Josh Groban) of Weeping, and of U2’s Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.
• Johnny Clegg (1953- ) – South African & Zimbabwean (originally English, born in Rochdale bizarrely enough, but moved to Africa as a child) – he is known as the White Zulu, and formed the first racially mixed South African band in the late 70s. Often sings in Zulu, English and even French. Some great stuff – esp the popular Asimbonanga, and one of my favourites The Crossing.
• Youssou N’Dour (1959- ) – Senegalese – draws on all kinds of different musical heritages, but clearly rooted in trad Senegal folk music (called mbalax). Hugely popular globally, and justly so… He played key abolitionist Olaudah Equiano in the 2006 film Amazing Grace. Sometimes, his voice sometimes evokes Imam’s call to prayer, piercing and resounding above the band. Many will know his duet with Neneh Cherry, 7 Seconds – but check out Chimes of Freedom or the joy of Set and you’re transported to an African minibus taxi.
• Abdullah Ibrahim (1935- ) – South African – a jazz pianist, originally called Adolph Johannes Brand. Does big band stuff, and close-up stuff, all in all, a great and unique sound. As a random pick, I just love his District Six, evoking apartheid’s infamous clearing of Cape Town’s most vibrant community (see previous post) or the exuberance of African Marketplace.

Honourable Mentions: Soweto String Quartet (aka SSQ – exactly what it says on the tin, a string quartet formed by 3 brothers and a mate from Soweto – doing classical-pop-african crossover stuff) and Oumou Sangare (from Mali).

I’ve had the joy of seeing 4 out of these 8 acts live – true joy. But all of these folks have stuff on SPOTIFY (which you must use if you don’t already) – so check them out.

We’ve been talking about this now for some time and the excitement is still building and building and practically ready to burst. I honestly cannot wait to get there, it’s going to be fantastic. Johnny Clegg, Jamali and a host of other performers including Danny K and current and previous Idol winners.

Anyway I have to stop and do some actual work now, but if you are as interested as I am, then get to Highveld.co.za for more information or visit computicket to book your place. I have heard rumors that ticket numbers are low, so if you want to secure yourself a spot at the event, you better book before all the tickets are gone.

Cheers
Insider

“The Shotguns. The name is in honour of my [Warren's] flesh and blood and that’s where these songs come from…my own flesh and blood-it’s marrow music-it’s got a heartbeat to it that’s going to be around for a while. I had the unexpected arrival of my first born son earlier this year – so it seemed like the most obvious name to go for…a shotgun baby you know. It was important for us was to stick with a name that would never change and that suited us and our music.”

The Shotguns dub themselves as a band “filled with old heads and wise souls, hot heads and open hearts…a band that has a crazy, relentless passion for backing themselves and their work.”

The band met when Warren and Stuart (the drummer) “played in a band in Cape Town together called Soulja. Stuart and Mark (the guitarist) had played in bands together before that; as for Merwe (the bassist) “well, it’s a long and complicated story.” Warren says laughingly “I found him in a gutter in downtown Bellville, passed out with an empty bottle of Kilipdrift in his hand. I took him under my wing, fed him by means of a straw for a month or two – he then did the designs for one of the Soulja album sleeves [and the rest is history]…”

The band “all listen to pretty much the same music” but as for their influences “it comes down to Rock n Roll and the odd slice of reggae-major influences would be Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Led Zepellin, The Stones, The Beatles, Johnny Clegg, Brenda Fassie and ourselves obviously.”

Warren, Merwe, Mark and Stuart all started out making music for different reasons, Warren says “I was about 13 when I started playing guitar and I started writing my own songs when I was about 15 – but seeing Springbok Nude Girls one night in 1998 really put some serious fire under my ass and made me realise what I wanted to do- I moved to Cape Town the next year and got involved more seriously in music. Mark and Stuart also started playing at a very early age. Mark actually started playing because he was told he couldn’t even hum in tune, let alone play a guitar-so he went out and bought himself a guitar and proved the powers that be wrong. Merwe started playing because him and all his mates like Snake (of Fokofpolisiekar fame) felt they needed to curb suburban boredom I guess…”

The band have just finished the post production on their album, Dust To Dust. Warren explains “We gave it about a month’s post production. We’re just waiting for the DVD to be completed in edit and we’ll then package it and swing it around as hard as we can…we’re already working on new material and will record an EP towards the later part of this year. We’re hoping to do one or two London shows with the Fokof and aKing boys – which will be a cool way to close the year. There’s a definite plan for The Shotguns to do a South African tour in April next year – which will be really cool.”

As to what they would like achieve in the music industry their “main aim is to get a decent label behind us, a decent booking agent and publicist and play gigs every night and make great albums for the next decade at least.”

Warren’s favourite thing about performing is “when you know that you’re nailing the songs the way they’re supposed to be nailed – because that directly translates into the crowd giving that energy back to you.”

Working at Abbey Road and with Chris Bolster was “a lifelong dream come true. We did the recording of the album in Studio 2 – where all The Beatles hits were recorded, Pink Floyd have worked in there, Oasis…the list goes on – so it’s a very special space. It’s still got all the original fittings; the room has amazing acoustics, it was awesome to say the least. Chris Bolster has worked with the best bands in the world, so was a bit ‘windgat’ – but probably knows how to operate that room better than most ,so all in all we left with what we went there for – which was to give the songs the credit and quality they deserved.”

Recording Dust to Dust was “an intense process to say the least. We tracked all the songs in two days – we would have loved to spend a few weeks in there – but a real Rock n Roll budget of an independent band doesn’t really allow that. So we played for 12 hours straight each day. But we did enough takes to choose from (some songs were done nine or ten times – so we could choose the real gems) and got to do all the vocals over at Abbey Road. I’ve never really given enough love to the vocal tracks on my previous albums and I think it shows on this one: We’re really happy with how it’s all come out and I know in my heart I’ve done the vocal melodies justice – which is important closure to have as an artist.

The album name, Dust to Dust “is a good reflection of a certain point on the human life cycle – some things die and get put to rest, others grow and develop. Emotions, feelings, things, people, life all chucked into that cycle and at the end there is surely another beginning and at the beginning there is surely another end.”

They filmed the entire recording process and ending up with The Abbey Road Sessions DVD. Warrens explains that “filming the sessions just seemed like the obvious thing to do – it’s really going to bring the entire package to life and helped burn the experience into our own memories – as it was all too intense to sit back and enjoy it while it was all unfolding. The Director of the filming process – Craig Moore and myself go back a long way, so he knew exactly what we wanted and worked around it all.”

The band chose to upload raw and unproduced actual takes from the recording process and decided not wait until they were worked on as “We had worked relentlessly for almost a year in our practice studio and had never had anything to show for it…So felt compelled to leak something out to the public – it was also necessary as we were about to start playing live shows, so we needed to give people a little taste.”

There wasn’t actually time to get really crazy in studio- although there was “talk of doing a few Rock n Roll things. Abbey Road was all about work. Warren jokingly adds “we certainly did bend it when we left the building if you know what I mean…” Ultimately they are all “really proud of the entire album – but the two tracks that deserve a mention are “Camden Rock” and “First you too Late” and the first single off the album will definitely be a song called “Other Girls”.

They all take a long time to get ready before a gig (as they “wear suits”) but it’s a race between Mark and Merwe as to who takes the longest. None of them work on musical side projects as “this is a big enough beast for now” as to whom talks the most rubbish, it is Stuart -but “it’s rubbish that makes a whole lot of sense.” Merwe is definitely the messiest. His nickname is “Varkie.” As for the craziest thing that has happened at a show Warren takes the high road and says “no comment – you wouldn’t be allowed to print it and we’d get into too much trouble.”

My interview first appeared here on Moral Fibre.

So here’s another album from my wife’s past, reflective of her youth spent in South Africa. 

Clegg was apparently the coolest, most righteous dude in apartheid RSA and my lovely saw him at the local arts festival somewhat regularly.

Meanwhile, over here in Australia, I recall seeing videos of said frenetic pale bloke with a Seinfeld mullet on one of the more adventurous music video shows (was it The Noise? Or perhaps Rock Arena?) . 

Clegg left his impression on me, as he sang in Zulu and English and was fronting a mixed race band. 

This here album is an action-packed collection of his big hits.  While we remain pretty unaware of his efforts down here, a bit of Wiki-ing reveals that he was a huge star in France and other parts of Europe, and that the most poppy of his tracks (Scatterlings of Africa) appeared in Rainman.

This is an upbeat, enjoyable listen.  The songs have catchy rhythms and the lyrics I can understand are stridently political and brave in the context of an increasingly edgy police state.

It doesn’t quite have the power of his countryman like Vusi Mahlasela, but it’ll keep getting played in our place.

File under:  On our dream team

Ekipa Przekroczyć granice jest w ferworze walki i ostatnich przygotowań do podróży. Zamiast mówić, że kupują właśnie sprzęt, leki na malarię i ciepłe majtki, w ramach przerywnika powiem o tym, czego jeszcze o Kilimandżaro poniekąd chyba nie mówiliśmy.

Kordian z dramatu Słowackiego narodził się na nowo stojąc na Mont Blanc i postanowił romantyzm przekuć w żarliwy patriotyzm (swoją drogą, czy podobnych przeżyć doświadczyła Anna?). Mickiewicz, na widok morskich fal widzianych ze szczytu krymskiego Ajudahu poczuł, że koniecznie musi rozważyć pasje i namiętności serca poety. Innymi słowy – szczyty zmieniają ludzi. Góry inspirują twórców niezależnie od szerokości geograficznej.

W związku z czym mam dla Was kilka muzycznych propozycji, które bardziej… lub mniej bliskie katharsis, towarzyszącemu przebywaniu na 5985 metrach, na pewno bez Kilimandżaro by nie powstały.

Zacznijmy od Diwy Afryki, Miriam Makeba. Choć sama pochodziła z południa, to na pewno pałała wielką miłością do najwyższego szczytu swojego kontynentu. Kill that savage lion before the lion kills you!

Zaraz potem dość świeży przykład. Zespół Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble z Holandii powstał, aby nastrojowym połączeniem brzmień jazzowych i elektronicznych ilustrować klasykę kina niemego. Nieznany mi jest powód nazwania grupy tak a nie inaczej (jest jeszcze pokrewna formacja z Mount Fuji w nazwie). Ukryte sensy polecam odkrywać indywidualnie.

W popie, już trochę sędziwym, bo z końca lat 70tych, też słychać naszą górę. Na przykład w nagraniach zespołu Toto. A po nich pozostaje już tylko zarzucić nogę na głowę jak Johnny Clegg, pokręcony ambasador RPA w UK oraz UK w RPA. Oczywiście gdy już staniemy na szczycie, tak jak sugeruje i on.

To na pewno tylko wierzchołek góry – jeszcze innej, bo lodowej – tak więc zachęcam do szukania na własną rękę. Do usłyszenia!

Wasz PR- i KO-wiec

Jan

Zainal Abidin, my favourite local singer, and his environmentalist friends intend to set up a political party which concentrates on environmental and humanitarian issues.

“We don’t want to rule the country. What we want is just one seat in Parliament to make a difference and the necessary noise to make a change in such issues,” he said at the launch of the Climate Change Convention 2010 themed “101 ways to save and make a change”, to be held from May 19 to 22 next year in Langkawi.

Formerly a lead vocalist with the band Headwind, Zainal is best known for his environmental anthem Hijau (‘Green’). Featured in Zainal’s self-titled solo debut album, the song helped set him apart from his peers with its green agenda.

Personally, this is great news to me. Always been his fan, and I like what he is fighting for. No political masters to serve, just making sure the country is a better place to live. Get it on, Zainal!

Greenman, perhaps this is what you have been waiting for??

Hijau would have been perfect but I have it on before. Here’s another green song that Zainal used to sing when he went green almost 2 decades ago.

I told you guys, it’s coming and 94.7 have put together a spectacular website for this year’s (2009) Joburg Day. I orginally thought the event would be hosted at the Coke Dome but they have opted for Riversands Farm in Fourways.

The line-up looks really good and it should prove to be an exciting day of fun. I’m not much of a music fan but this is one of those events that even if you are not really a music fan, you want to be there just because of the atmosphere and your friends – in fact, that’s kinda the theme with 94.7 this year.

You, Your Friend & Great Music is their tag line, and I guess that’s what I am looking forward to. The event is in October but as soon as I saw the website up I immediately called my buddy and started booking out the 17 October.

If you want more information click here I managed to get a screen shot of what the guys in the Online Department have put together for the event, please excuse my novice skills at photoshop.

Joburg Day Website on highveld.co.za

Event Details:

Date: Saturday 17 October
Venue: Riversand Farm in Fourway
Price: R200

Catch you later!

Emails starting flying around this week about Joburg Day, if you are not awake of what it is – the question you need to ask yourself is where the hell have you been?

Joburg Day is a showcase of SA’s best talent. 94.7 put the line-up together and it looks to be great. Although this may change here is a basic guide to who will be playing:

Prime Circle, Jamali, Jason Hartman (Idols 2009), Sasha-Lee Davids (Idols 2009), Jody Williams (Idols 2008), Johnny Clegg, Dr. Victor & the Rasta Rebels, Zibra & Giraffe and Jesse Clegg.

I know that is a rocking line-up, the only advice I have is – GO Get the tickets before it’s sold out. I’ll be there this year somewhere, post a comment and maybe I’m make an appearance.

Once Highveld lets out the news I will post all the details here for you, I’m guessing in the next day or two.

Johnny Clegg & Savuka – The Crossing – Osiyeza (for Dudu)

Vir ‘n Vrydagnag en Saterdagoggend hier in die Ooste, een van Johnny se bestes!

Johnny Clegg – the well known South African artist – described as “the energetic, passionate human being who has become one of South Africa’s greatest musical exports” is coming to Israel !!!

Johnny Clegg is one of South Africa’s most celebrated sons. He is a singer, a songwriter, a dancer, anthropologist and a musical activist whose infectious crossover music, a vibrant blend of Western pop and African Zulu rhythms, has exploded onto the international scene and broken through all the barriers in his own country. In France, where he enjoys a massive following, he is fondly called Le Zulu Blanc – the white Zulu.

Over three decades, Johnny Clegg has sold over five million albums of his brand of crossover music worldwide. He has wowed vast audiences with his audacious live shows and won a number of national and international awards for his music and for his outspoken views on apartheid, his perspectives on migrant workers in South Africa and the general situation in the world today. Johnny Clegg’s history is as bold, colourful and dashing as the rainbow country which he has called home for more than 40 years.

All I can tell you, is that Hillary and I will be there. She has no choice in the matter. She keeps thinking she can Americanize me, HA HA I will Africanize her!!

Perhaps you’ve heard it… and perhaps you have not.

Regardless, I definitely recommend listening to this song… and looking into its history. Inspiring.

Asimbonanga (Mandela) — Johnny Clegg & Savuka. <–YouTube : ]

I love it, and if you’re open minded and enjoy inspiring songs/stories… you’ll love it too.

Today South Africans go to the polls to elect their new parliament, which in turn will elect the president. It’s a foregone conclusion that the African National Congress will win a majority; the only question is whether they will repeat their two-thirds plus majority of 1999 and 2004. Of interest will be also how the smaller parties, especially the ANC-breakaway Congress of the People will fare, and whether the ANC will lose, as expected, the regional government of the Western Cape (the province that includes Cape Town).

But I did the political thing on Monday. To mark the South African elections, let’s have some randomly chosen South African pop music. I covered the SA jazz angle a couple of months ago with this mix (did anyone like it?).

.

Farryl Purkiss – Better Days.mp3
An appropriate title for today, even if the certain election of the misogynist homophobe Jacob Zuma is not a cause for extravagant optimism (though he can’t be much worse than Aids denialist, Mugabe-supporting Thabo Mbeki) . I’ve pushed the fare of Durban’s Farryl Purkiss in the past. This track, from his wonderful eponymously-titled 2006 album, is absolutely beautiful, in the singer-songwriter vein. He cites as an influence Elliott Smith, and at times sounds a lot like him, as well as the likes of Iron & Wine, Joe Purdy, Sufjan Stevens and Calexico. I have a hunch that Purkiss might have listened also to ’70s folkie Shawn Phillips (who, incidentally, now lives in South Africa) and the majestic Patty Griffin. I wrote about a Purkiss gig I saw in July 2007 (here), where I took the photo on the right; oddly, I have missed all his subsequent gigs in my area. Purkiss on MySpace.

.

Josie Field – Every Now And Then.mp3
The same year, the lovely Josie Field had a radio hit (singles aren’t widely sold in SA, so charts are based on radio airplay) with this excellent song. I’m waiting for Natalie Imbruglia or somebody like that to cover it. Her debut album apparently sold 7,000 copies, which in her genre in South Africa is a very respectable number. With figures like that, I don’t know why anyone with Field’s obvious talent would bother to release albums in South Africa. (Homepage)
.

Bright Blue – Weeping.mp3
A real South African classic from 1986 which I think had some influence on the anti-apartheid struggle by way of conscientising young white South Africans. The song is about apartheid-era president PW Botha’s antics and features the strains of the then-banned struggle hymn Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica. Strangely the state-owned radio stations played Weeping prodigiously. Songs had been banned for much less (a year previously, all Stevie Wonder music was banned from the airwaves after the singer dedicated his Grammy to Nelson Mandela).

.
Juluka – Impi.mp3
Juluka’s frontman Johnny Clegg — the “White Zulu” — did a great deal for the struggle by integrating himself into Zulu culture, with sincerity and respect for Zulu culture. His groups, first Juluka and then Savuka, where multi-racial at a time when that was virtually unheard of. I have seen many concerts by Clegg’s groups, including a fantastic one in London’s Kentish Town & Country Club. Invariably, these were incredibly energetic. As a live performer, Clegg was not far behind Springsteen. The highlight always 1981’s Impi, which would send the crowd wild, especially when Clegg did those high-kicking, floor-board shattering Zulu wardance moves.

.
Brenda Fassie – Vuli Ndlela.mp3
Recently a contestant in South Africa’s Idols show was favourably compared to the late Brenda Fassie. Such compliments are not offered lightly, not by sensible people. Fassie was a superstar, throughout Africa. People have compared her to Madonna (minus Fassie’s drug abuse, violence, lapses into madness, financial difficulties, lesbian affairs, and premature death). The comparison flatters Madonna. Fassie was a superstar but yet still one with the people, of the people. She showed that talent and charisma trumps vacant beauty. Vuli Ndlela was Fassie’s huge dance hit from 1998, an infectious number that by force of sheer energy compensates for some regrettable production values.

.
Freshlyground – Castles In The Sky.mp3
Despite rumours of an impending break-up, Freshlygrounds remain South Africa’s most popular group. The multi-ethnic group transcends boundaries of race and genre. The group’s first hit, 2002’s Castles In The Sky, is a good example of veering between genres. This remixed version received the airplay; the original is a slightly African-inflected pop song which Everything But The Girl might have sung. The superior remix adds to it a House feel which turns the song into a slow-burning dance track. (Freshlyground homepage)

.
Niki Daly – Is It An Ism Or Is It Art.mp3
In 1984, artist and author of children’s books Niki Daly had one of the more bizarre South African hits with this song, doubtless inspired by the likes of Bowie, Roxy Music, Gary Numan and Thomas Dolby. A great slice of mid-80s new wave. Like so much of great South African songs, it made no impression on the international charts. At least one of his books, Not So Fast, Songololo, is a children’s book classic. Many of the Capetonian’s books published in the 1980s promoted interracial relations, thereby helping to instil a mindset among those who were then children (and are now young adults) that colour ought not be a social barrier. Read more on Daly’s books.

.
André de Villiers – Memories.mp3
I have posted this before, and it proved a very popular song. When the link went dead, I received a few requests to please re-upload it. Memories, by a Cape Town-based songwriter of folk and gospel material, scored a lovely South African TV commercial for Volkswagen, perhaps my all-time favourite ad. I suppose it has special appeal for those who are experiencing the nostalgic musings that accompany middle-age. (André de Villiers’ homepage)

.

Next week is the 15th anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic election (obviously, racially exclusive elections should not be called democratic). If the above proves to be of any interest at all, I will mark that day with another eight randomly chosen South African songs. And if anyone has tried unsuccessfully to download the Mandela soundclips I posted last July, I’ve reuploaded them.

Juluka was one of the first “world music” bands that I listened to.  I absolutely love how they incorporate south African music and rhythms into a western pop framework.  The music is great, and the lyrics will teach you a lot about what it was like to live in South Africa.

The two main members of Juluka, Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu, were good friends who started the band in South Africa during apartheid.  Mchunu is Zulu, Clegg is white, and the band was quite controversial in South Africa.  Reportedly, band members were jailed and beaten by South African authorities for their diversity, as well as for their lyrics, which were often critical of apartheid and their government.

But their music got out, and they had a decent hit with this track, especially in Europe.  Their music certainly opened my eyes to a region I didn’t know much about, and for that I’m eternally grateful to them.

Music can be a big window to the world, if you look in the right places.

Godmorgon läsekretsen! Dagens morgonbön:

Ta plats i världen, sådan den nu är….

It´s your world so live in it!

Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om morgonbön, Johnny Clegg, tillit

A perfect introduction, let’s listen to music, dance and enjoy this song with nice pictures…just play and turn the volume up !

Quoi de mieux pour introduire l’Afrique du Sud : de la musique, de la danse et des belles images. Clique sur Play et monte le son !