Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Angélique Kidjo was born in Cotonou, Benin, but like many modern African artists, she's gone her own way, using traditional music to forge her own personal hybrid of African, European, and American pop. On this album Kidjo pays tribute to the people who inspired her career, including her mother, Miriam Makeba, and American R&B artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Otis Redding. And while the tunes Kidjo tackles may be familiar, her arrangements turn them inside out and shed new light on their African roots. "Cold Sweat" gets a take that salutes the Afro-beat of Fela Kuti, who used Brown's funk for his own music. The rhythm-heavy track swings like mad, with Kidjo's powerful vocal climbing the scale and weaving in and around the backbeat. She bases her version of "Mbube" (better known in the U.S. as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight") on the singing of Makeba, and uses the original Zulu lyrics. A simple acoustic guitar and percussion arrangement gives Kidjo room to show off her impressive range and emotional skill. Kidjo used to make up words to the American songs she couldn't understand, and sings Yoruba lyrics to Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember." Its Memphis-meets-Cotonou approach is intensified by the female backing vocalists and Kidjo's wailing high end. Bollywood tunes were also a big part of Kidjo's upbringing. On "Dil Main Chuppa Ke Pyar Ka," a hit by Mohammed Rafi, Steve Gorn drops a flute solo that recalls a Zulu pennywhistle into a Congolese rhythm track. Kidjo's originals include "Kelele," a sprightly highlife tune, and "Afia," a re-Africanized samba written with Brazilian guitarist Vinicius Cantuaria.
© j. poet /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Executive Producer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist - Bella Bellow, Composer
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Carlos Santana, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist - Roy Hargrove, FeaturedArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Curtis Mayfield, Composer - Bono, FeaturedArtist - John Legend, FeaturedArtist - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist - Mackay Davashe, Composer
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Zelma Redding, Composer - Joe Rock, Composer - Otis Redding, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Composer, Producer, Recording Producer - Angelique Kidjo, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronnie Shannon, Composer - Dianne Reeves, FeaturedArtist - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Naushad, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist - Shakeel Badayuni, Composer
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Sidney Bechet, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Vinicius Cantuaria, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Pee Wee Ellis, Composer - JAMES BROWN, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - John Barry, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - solomon Linda, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Producer, Recording Producer - Traditional, Composer - Angelique Kidjo, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Composer, Producer, Recording Producer - Angelique Kidjo, Composer, MainArtist - Naima Hebrail, Composer
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Jean Hebrail, Composer, Producer, Recording Producer - Angelique Kidjo, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Album review
Angélique Kidjo was born in Cotonou, Benin, but like many modern African artists, she's gone her own way, using traditional music to forge her own personal hybrid of African, European, and American pop. On this album Kidjo pays tribute to the people who inspired her career, including her mother, Miriam Makeba, and American R&B artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Otis Redding. And while the tunes Kidjo tackles may be familiar, her arrangements turn them inside out and shed new light on their African roots. "Cold Sweat" gets a take that salutes the Afro-beat of Fela Kuti, who used Brown's funk for his own music. The rhythm-heavy track swings like mad, with Kidjo's powerful vocal climbing the scale and weaving in and around the backbeat. She bases her version of "Mbube" (better known in the U.S. as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight") on the singing of Makeba, and uses the original Zulu lyrics. A simple acoustic guitar and percussion arrangement gives Kidjo room to show off her impressive range and emotional skill. Kidjo used to make up words to the American songs she couldn't understand, and sings Yoruba lyrics to Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember." Its Memphis-meets-Cotonou approach is intensified by the female backing vocalists and Kidjo's wailing high end. Bollywood tunes were also a big part of Kidjo's upbringing. On "Dil Main Chuppa Ke Pyar Ka," a hit by Mohammed Rafi, Steve Gorn drops a flute solo that recalls a Zulu pennywhistle into a Congolese rhythm track. Kidjo's originals include "Kelele," a sprightly highlife tune, and "Afia," a re-Africanized samba written with Brazilian guitarist Vinicius Cantuaria.
© j. poet /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:47
- Main artists: Angélique Kidjo
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Razor & Tie
- Genre: World
© 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings. ℗ 2010 Razor & Tie Recordings.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.