songs that make you dream of your african travels?

Shucks I was gonna say the 'Toto' song...brilliant!

We did this some moons ago on the Asia Board and it really is interesting, songs always bring back almost tear-jerking memories, ok, this one isn't Africa and I don't have the words but the song applies to travel 'everywhere' that you have fond memories of:-

Fleetwood Mac : "Everywhere"

If you have that old CD/Tape around somewhere give it a listen....pure magic!

Africa: All the songs of Miriam Makeba

tuskerdave

Agree completely with Toto, but for me it the White Zulu that reminds of my travels. Johnny Clegg is absolutely awesome. His songs dominate any rafting video you get from Bundu to remember your day on the zambezi. I think my two favourite songs of his are Assimbonanga, which is a dedication to Nelson Mandela. The other has to be Walima'mabele, talking about how drought forces the nomadic movements associated with African tribes.

Then there is always Labi siffre- Something inside so strong. Although its now accepted as the song for those facing injustice, it was originally meant for those suffering under apartheid. When i stayed with my son who was working in a small community project in South Africas northern province, this song summed up their courage and happiness despite a constant struggle!

The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The farther you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter, cos there's....

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time
You squander wealth that's mine
My light will shine so brightly
It will blind you
Cos there's......

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

Brothers and sisters
When they insist we're just not good enough
When we know better
Just look 'em in the eyes and say
I'm gonna do it anyway x 4

Something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

Brothers and sisters
When they insist we're just not enough
When we know better
Just look 'em in the eyes and say
I'm gonna do it anyway x 4

Because there's something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me, so wrong
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

Well between you so far you have my two strongest ones.

Labi Siffre's song is one of my all time favourites. He came to visit my university and did a tiny gig and I'll never forget it. And a friend was working for our student radio then so I got to be his assistant for an interview afterwards and you know what, I don't remember any of the words that were said as I was still overwhelmed by the strength of the performance.

The Toto song is another one that reminds me.

Also, strange but true, the theme music to Big Cat Diary, by David Poore.

I'll have a think on others.

hi, some interesting stuff. i have never heard of. the Toto song, all these yrs. i never really listened to the words. till i was pulling into my work place back in oct i think. i cranked it a bit. well, it gave me chills! had to go and look the lyrics up. then i knew why it gave me chills
thanks, david

The Bhundu Boys. Papa Wemba. etc.

Toto's "Africa" song has been one of my fav's for years. And on this last trip over to Africa, it was one of the songs piped in on the plane. I listened to it a half dozen times en route. It always gives me chills.

Another one of my fav's is "Born Free" sung by Andy Williams. It's from the movie of the same which is my favorite movie of all time.


"Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart

Live free and beauty surrounds you
The world still astounds you
Each time you look at a star

Stay free, where no walls divide you
You're free as the roaring tide
So there's no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
'cause you're born free

(Stay free, where no walls divide you)
You're free as the roaring tide
So there's no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
'cause you're born free."


Man...what a tearjerker!

Elsa Rules!

I totally forgot about that Born Free song!
d

Don't any of you have kids!? Songs from The Lion King transport me to Africa immediately. We saw the play in NYC last week and will have to get that soundtrack. Better than the movie with some great "African" songs. We were told that quite a few of the cast are from South Africa.

nope, no kids here. i just heard that lion king song the other day. i like that too. this is good. keep them comimg!!
d

"In the jungle the . . . the lion sleeps tonight." Don't know the title, but that's the big one for me.

Sundowner- Don't know if you have "The Lion King 2" soundtrack, but it's even better than the first one. The first track is amazing!

I absolutely LOVE the Lion King soundtrack. But it's not the Elton John songs I'm enamored with - it's the nonvocal tracks with the wildly beating drums and the dramatic chorus of African voices.

Is this what real African music is like? If so, I'll have to buy some. Or is this really just Hollywood's take on it?

I don't have any Lion King soundtrack yet - have just heard it from the kids watching the movie. And when they put the movie on I always have to stop and watch it with them!

I ordered The Lion King (1997 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING] from Amazon today. You can listen to snippets of the songs on Amazon and I love the Grasslands Chant.

travelwmn - I'll have to listen to Lion King 2. I haven't heard any of them. Thanks

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" wow that brings it back, again, brilliant, there was another one I think it was an instrumental:-

"Swinging Safari" it was 60's can just about remember it.

Does anyone remmeber that one where the video had people dreesed as African animals prancing across the plains, it was late 90's, it was a powerful song, something 'Syncrisity, something along those lines, just can't remember the name but the video was astounding.

I pulled up one we stated over a year back on the Asia Board and great to have a few ones added there too, would be amazing if we could build up a Top 10 for Afirca and a Top 10 for Asia!

Although Youssou N'Dour is from Senegal, his music brings me back to trip to Tanzania each and every listen...

I love "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and burst into it regularly. I even have that little clip of a cartoon hippo singing it with a cartoon dog dancing beside him... love it!

Hi!

For some reason, my previous message got all screwed up! I meant to say: the music of Youssou N'Dour brings me back to my trip to Tanzania each and every time I listen to it ...

My absolute favourite song by him is "Birima". You should take a listen - it's guaranteed to make you smile!

I love this thread - all of these wonderful songs are now dancing through my head as I'm attempting to make it through a long Monday-after-the-long-weekend at work Thanks!

You have taken most of my "good" ones too, but havent put this one in - not most of the song, but just the one set of lines

Paul Simon (can't remember the song title but it is on Graceland)

Joseph's face was as black as the night
the pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
his path was lit by the stars of the southern hemisphere
and he walked the length of his days under African skies....

(this is the story of how we begin to remember..... etc.)

I always picture Tanzania at night when I hear this part of the song