"Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: A Cameroonian singer/songwriter and saxophonist composed and recorded this dance classic while in France in '72. It was not well received there but DJ David Mancuso accidentally ran into a copy of the single at a Brooklyn record shop. He started playing it at The Loft, his dance club, widely regarded as the birthplace of disco. The song is considered a seminal milestone in the development of the dance genre. Its popularity grew exponentially peaking at #21 in '73 and remaining in the Top 100 for 9 weeks. A subsequent generation was exposed to the tune when Michael Jackson sampled it in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" on "Thriller" ('82) and yet another generation grooved to it in 2007 when Rihanna used it in "Please Don't Stop the Music". Artist? Song? Answer: "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango "The Lion of Africa". Emannuel Nelle Eyoum from Doula, Cameroon, is considered the father of Makossa in the 50s. It translates into "contortion or sway". It is the most-sampled African song in history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0CeFX6E2yI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMvPTFzgVU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMvPTFzgVU

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Surf City" by Jan and Dean.

OK, (two) girls and (one) boys (hint, hint!), back to the 60s: Brian Wilson penned this surf classic in '60 as "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home". He "gave" it to Jan Berry and Dean Torrence who altered it and gave it its well-known name. Their '63 recording topped the pop charts for 2 weeks and peaked at #3 on the R&B charts (!). First surf song ever to hit #1 on Billboard. Through Dean's efforts, Huntington Beach, CA has been nicknamed after this song and at least 65 of its businesses incorporate the title in their names. Covered by The Ramones and by The Go-Go's. Answer: "Surf City" by Jan and Dean. As Belinda Carlisle would have it, "Two boys for every girl!"! We had the privilege of seeing Jan & Dean live in '79 opening for McGuinn, Clark & Hillman at the Valley Forge Music Fair - what a thrill it was! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERrwjR4ZlfI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP5pjan45ZA https://w
Read more

Carrickfergus.

OK, boys and girls, let's go way back: This Irish folk ballad was written in the  macaronic  form by 18 th  century Ulster poet  Cathal   Bui  Mac  Giolla   Ghunna . Originally titled "Do  Bhi  Bean  Uasal " ("There Was A Noblewoman {Lady}"), the original version was lighthearted, whereas the English translation is nostalgic and melancholic. The title refers to an ancient city NE of Belfast. A favorite of the Irish in Custer's 7 th  Cavalry. Played during John F. Kennedy, Jr's funeral in '99. Classic versions by Van Morrison, Paddy Reilly and Joan Baez. Recently re-popularized by Celtic Woman and Charlotte Church. Answer: "Carrickfergus". What a beautiful tune! I especially like Joan Baez's version. Years ago we were at a pub in Killarney and they had a wonderful troubadour entertaining.  I requested "Carrickfergus" and he sang it so perfectly.  The musical prowess of the Irish never ceases to amaze and delight me.  Some time
Read more

Greenfields by The Brothers Four

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s:  The members of this acoustic folk quartet met as college students at the University of Washington - Seattle in '57.  They were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.  Their biggest hit came in '60 with a Miller/Dehr/Gilkyson composition that was first recorded by The Easy Riders in '57.  Their second single, it is a poignant, somber and moody ballad.  #2 on Billboard, it remained in the charts for 20 weeks.  It received two Grammy nominations.  Covered by The Vogues in '69.  They performed at JFK's Inauguration and have sung for four Presidents at The White House.  They have been dubbed "America's Musical Ambassadors to the World" and continue to perform to this day.  Group?  Biggest hit?  Green Fields - Brothers Four (CD Quality) - YouTube "Greenfields" by The Brothers Four.  The name of the quartet refers to their fraternity brotherhood. It was not one of my faves when it first came out but it happe
Read more