Nutmeg Radio » Music

African Cup of Nations Music: Gabon Gets An Anthem

Miriti Murungi — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:51:24 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhpyeLPcl1U

The 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACON) is about to jump off in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in roughly 24 hours. I don’t know what to expect on the field so I won’t make any predictions. I mean I could take a couple of swings but does anyone really know what to expect out of the opening match between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Libya? We could be in for a tremendous spectacle with both sides having something to play for -- the hosts playing for pride on home soil, versus Libya playing for a nation that has recently gone through some, shall we say, explosive times.

If you’ve kept an eye on ACON qualifying or even read up on the tournament in the last couple of days, you know that many of the continent’s traditional powers didn’t qualify. But it’s the ACON, so it really isn’t that shocking. The lack of predictability is one of the tournament’s gifts. But if lack of predictability isn’t your thing, thankfully, there is still something for you to count on -- a new batch of beatery and magnificent imagery. In that respect, the ACON never disappoints.

For a taste of some of the flavor representing the 2012 tournament, try on WA WA WA for size, a track by the Zorbum All Stars -- an anthem for the Panthères du Gabon. It’s pretty hot. And hopefully it’s just a taste of future hotness to come from the motherland over the next few weeks.

Press play, and please do enjoy.

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Didier Drogba and Magic System Hit the Airwaves

Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq. — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:43:45 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=puPi1vptWW8

Didier Drogba joins his buddies from Magic System once again. This time the guys take it to the Skyrock studios in Paris. If you can’t get enough of this, try on the full Magic System video featuring Drogba and his Ivorian teammates. You are sure to recognize a few faces.

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Thinking Outside the Box with Aloe Blacc

Miriti Murungi — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:18:54 +0000

More MLS lessons. Thinking outside the box can create something beautiful. Watch what Aloe Blacc does to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xihryj8KRyw

And then the more up tempo version of I Need a Dollar:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zx-QNIGZ8Y

Special stuff, no?

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The Mos Def Swagger — “World Premiere”

Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq. — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:24:26 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w5oC1IsJc4

Who doesn’t spend time pondering how MLS should feel? I’m thinking that it should be something like this. A bit of soulful swag. And what a classy mic.

And kept the hair low and let the beard grow/
belly flat body fat like zero/
Flaco fresh and slim as King Michael/
I’m pretty like Ali, stinging butterfly flow/
from the gutter to the heights to the Eiffel/
walking through the clouds, dreaming, not an eye closed/
that ain’t a star, it’s lights from a sideshow/
poor haters they being so spiteful/
i love life, that’s why I never mind so/
I’m having a great time all the time folk/
snap the bolts off, baby, let you wig out/
quit frontin’, it’s you and me in here now/
How it feel now? It’s getting clear now/
I see your new steps, we need to work em out/
Close the door, we can get fresh n free/
Never mind how they got it, cuz it’s not like me/

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Evolution of Style: Jay-Z and the Parallels Between Music and Soccer

Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq. — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:42:15 +0000

Close your eyes and imagine Jay-Z is talking about soccer. Well, you can open them if you want to watch the video too, but open your mind to the parallels between the journeys of musicians and soccer players …

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQqwkycc6yk

Global Music Inspiration: Sway’s “Black Stars” Represents Ghanaian Football

Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq. — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:53:34 +0000

Getting back to the music, I thought I’d take you to a bit of an oldie (erm, 2008) but goodie.

Sway, a British rapper of Ghanaian background (who has previously collaborated with Liverpool’s Ryan Babel and Babel’s protégé, Perry Mystique), put together this ode to Ghana called “Black Stars.”

It’s always nice to see an artist give a shout out to his/her home. As you’ll quickly see, “Black Stars” is an anthem giving it up to all that is Ghanaian, from Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, to actors, MPs, and, of course, footballers.

On the journey through Ghanaian history and the Ghanaian Diaspora, Sway takes us to an African Cup of Nations match and references a number of footballers, including Michael Essien, Tony Yeboh, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, and Junior Agogo.

Have a listen. Did I miss any names?

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World Cup 2010 Rewind: No One Does Pre-Game Like Bafana Bafana

Miriti Murungi — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:36:21 +0000

I’ve said it before. Bafana Bafana’s pre-game might just be the most entertaining in sport outside of the New Zealand All Blacks absolutely terrifying haka.

You may have witnessed Bafana Bafana singing and dancing coming out of the tunnel for the opening World Cup match against Mexico. But you should know, that wasn’t a one time thing. Their song and dance is rooted in Zulu cultural expressions that have stood the test of time, and in many ways have transcended culture in the same way that the Haka has become more than a Maori war dance.

Since we’re on the topic, instead of getting nostalgic looking at videos I’ve already seen, why don’t I just share a few moments from Bafana Bafana pre-game festivities that I love watching.

In this first video, English Premier League fans will recognize Everton’s Steven Pienaar up and about, and West Ham’s Benni McCarthy, not so much. Those who just picked up on Bafana Bafana during the World Cup may also recognize Bafana Bafana and Kaiser Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and the 2010 World Cup’s first goal scorer, the man with perhaps the coolest name in soccer, Siphiwe Tshabalala. If you don’t recognize anyone, don’t fret, you can simply enjoy the vibe. Everybody wins with this video. It’s like a Montessori School.

When I was in college, I spent a spring semseter studying at the absolutely stunning University of Cape Town (UCT). While abroad, and needing to find a soccer outlet to stay sharp, I ended up playing for UCT, which was an amazing opportunity to immerse myself in South Africa’s soccer culture (which is a story for another time). That’s when I first started grasping the vibe that we see when Bafana Bafana gets together, a vibe that pulsates through much of South African soccer culture. Everything from the way teams warm up to the singing and dancing is as much about South Africa as it is about soccer. That’s the beauty of it.

Moving on to video two. Here’s another Bafana Bafana video, this time before a game against the tiny, but incredibly beautiful, island nation of Mauritius.

As you can tell from the locker room, the game is in a much more humble environment than the previous video, but still the energy remains high. EPL fans may recognize Portsmouth captain Aaron Mokoena. Those with a more keen eye may also be able to pick out Brazilian coach Joel Santana standing out like a sore thumb, but still awkwardly enjoying himself. There’s also a player getting his ankle taped who looks like he’s at a party. And the trainer doesn’t seem a bit worried. Perhaps he’s just used to it.

I don’t think it’s just me, but these songs make the hair on my neck stand up. Well, they would if I had hair on my neck capable of standing up.

As I said earlier, these songs are not just about soccer. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been out with South African friends in South Africa and had late nights end in song. They can develop so spontaneously that one minute you are having a conversation, and the next the entire room, friends and strangers alike, is clapping and singing in rounds, leaving you wondering how everyone knows what part to sing.

Similar sounds were part of the soundtrack to the anti-apartheid resistance movement. But the music can also be found at bars late at night and in Bafana Bafana locker rooms before games. Our late nights were slightly different because we had to go to work/school the next day, whereas Bafana Bafana in this next example is about to play Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Other than that minor difference, the vibe is exactly the same.

Caught in the recent FIFA tornado, South Africa 2010, the first World Cup on the African continent, is being overshadowed by budget and legacy questions. Certainly, these concerns are legitimate. But we shouldn’t overlook the genuinely local moments that couldn’t have been provided by any other host. We should remember while we complain about empty venues and vuvuzelas, that there are many aspects of the South African experience worth appreciating, if not celebrating, simply because they are unique.

Looking forward, we should remember that beautiful moments can be missed when we focus too much on the negative. At a minimum, you should try to keep the ratio three parts negative to one part positive. It’s a lesson I need to work on adopting when it comes to FIFA and World Cup hosts.

And with that, I’ll leave you with my favorite entrance ever by a World Cup team. Of course, it’s Bafana Bafana making their way from the locker room to face Mexico on June 11, 2010. Enjoy.

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The Asamoah Gyan Dance: Origins Revealed

Clive Longbottom-Fellow, Esq. — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:41:17 +0000

It’s possible that Asamoah Gyan’s stellar performances in his first Premier League season have been overshadowed by Bolo Zenden’s equally impressive old man dancing. But all of you can rest assured that Bolo won’t be stealing Gyan’s spotlight forever. Why? Because Gyan is just too talented.

In the African game, success on the field inevitably intersects with the music industry. Benni McCarthy, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue and others know that when you make it big, you have to be in a music video. Gyan, under his stage name, Baby Jet, now has the video under his belt, which I believe automatically puts you in the running for African Player of the Year.

African Girls is the name of Baby Jet’s foray into the industry, a collaboration with Ghanaian artist Castro the Destroyer. Yes, Castro the Destroyer. That’s his name. As the video reveals, Gyan’s now popular, celebratory dance was not off the cuff. These things take time, practice, and not being Bolo Zenden.

Check out the video for African Girls below. It’s rather uninspiring, but at least you can see Baby Jet working on his craft well before he revealed it to English Premier League audiences … and Bolo Zenden. Enjoy. Or at least pretend to enjoy.

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American Soccer Music 2.0: From All Fours to Upright

Miriti Murungi — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:06:41 +0000

“USA! USA! USA!”

Yes, I get it. You’re American. Me too.

That’s where we started. Armed with knowledge of our country of residence and an ability to abbreviate, we launched the USA chant on unsuspecting eardrums. Unsure of what else to say, other than perhaps, “Ref, you suck,” or other expletive-ridden versions like, “Ref you [insert expletive] suck,” we pushed the USA chant to its limits, alternating between stiff chants and Jersey Shore-esque fist pumping while repeating the same three letters over and over again. And I’m glad we did it, lest we be confused with our neighbors to the north. You know, the ones with the socialized medicine.

After a long and tedious memorization process, it makes sense that we continue to hold on to our original anthem. Sure it’s time that we begin to broaden our musical horizons, but we should also never forget where we come from. But even as we remain with one foot firmly rooted in the musical Stone Age, it’s hard to ignore that our sounds are steadily progressing, which is praiseworthy considering we are still barely adolescents, at least from a supporter perspective.

South Africa has vuvuzela orchestras. Brazil has distinct samba rhythms. England has irony. And at some point, we’ll have something. But what might that thing sound like?

As the purveyors of so much fine contemporary music, from hip hop to jazz, soul, country and soft rock, there is no shortage of music to consider. So here are a few half-baked ideas.

Perhaps there’s room for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to bring their distinct sounds into our soccer specific stadiums.

Or maybe even a half decent drumline.

Tell me jamming to some live music like this and getting your syncronized dance on in the crowd wouldn’t be the coolest thing ever. Other nations would sweat us. It would be distinctly American and instruments would be involved. Everybody loves instruments. It could be like a little Mardi Gras every week … without the vomit and gratuitous brawling.

Or.

How about DJs assuming the conductor role in various sections of the crowd? We could even have guest DJs. Biz Markie could do a set followed by Pete Rock, each guiding the crowd through cultish selections. CDs could be sold.

Or better yet, local DJs from each city could guide supporters through selections of local music. For instance, Philly might get some fine cuts from DJ Jazzy Jeff. DC could have a bit of Latin music, Go-Go, and classic rock. LA could have a fine selection of techno and Miley Cyrus. And Seattle could play Nirvana for two hours. The possibilities are endless, except of course for Colorado where they would have to make up some type of indigenous music. Perhaps a unique type of poetry. Or maybe they could just recruit Alexi Lalas to do something like this. I mean what’s more Colorado than … this.

Our options are limitless. But what about Clint Dempsey music you ask? Pass. I have no interest in Clint continuing to tread on my eardrums. Unless he’s interested in a duet with Lalas. That just might be worth the price of admission.

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Shakira’s Remake of “Waka Waka” Hurts My Soul

Miriti Murungi — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:35:43 +0000

I’m sure by now many of you have heard Shakira’s “Waka Waka”, a white-washed remake of an old Cameroonian song by Zangalewa masquerading as a World Cup anthem. As I’ve heard Shakira’s version throughout the tournament, I’ve been quite confident that puppies somewhere have been dying. And then something odd happened. I started humming “Waka Waka” everywhere and I’ve been hating myself ever since.

Shakira’s version grew on me through repetition in much the same way that national pride manifests itself in unsuspecting youth. When it’s the only thing available, you can’t help but sing along, especially when alternatives are not provided. But there is an alternative to Shakira’s “Waka Waka”, and the part that pains me is that Zangalewa version 1.0 is not that much different from the the reincarnation, which begs the question: Is Africa so marginal and unattractive to consumers that it needs foreign artists to sing African music to make it commercially viable? It seems like the same people who made the World Cup music decisions are the same ones selecting coaches for African teams.

The problem is that Zangalewa should be, and could have been, a household name after the 2010 World Cup. But instead, Shakira is singing their music and receiving all the exposure from a catchy song that was simply retouched to create version 2.0. And as usual, once the festivities are over, Shakira goes home, and the world remembers that great African artist, Shakira, and her catchy Waka song.

Other than financially, I’m not even sure this was a great musical moment for Shakira. It seems she’s in that “expand as an artist” stage. I’ve met too many people who liked Shakira back in the day and long for the return of her undeniable talent. Count me in that group. It would be nice if she could re-focus and get back to what she does well, rather than Ricky Martinizing her career at the expense of already marginalized artists.

Without question, Shakira is a global star, but this is Africa’s World Cup. That doesn’t mean that only Africans should be involved, but at a minimum, why not let Africans sing African songs? Why not truly introduce the world to music that they rarely get a chance to hear? If the powers that be really wanted to introduce the world to new music, I think the World Cup just might have been the right marketing opportunity.

Anyway, check out “Waka Waka” in its original version, the way it was originally supposed to be absorbed by eardrums. Then listen to Shakira’s remake. And with that, I’ll leave you to your thoughts …

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