I’m listening to Salif Keita, a famous musician from Mali in Africa. He has been called “the Golden Voice of Africa.” His music is sometimes called “Afro-pop.” The album I’m listening to is Moffou (2002). So far, I’ve listened to this album three or four times. Even when the song feels quite upbeat, there’s something sad about Salif Keita’s voice. It’s beautiful, but sounds melancholy at the same time. There are plenty of drums in the music (as you’d expect from African music!), but not the typical drum set that is used in a lot of the music I listen to. There are also some instruments that I can’t identify yet. I feel like I will learn a lot by listening to Salif Keita. I already am thinking about getting another of his albums (he has 18!!). Next week, I’ll write more about his life. He has a really interesting story! I think this is going to be a great stretch for me.
First of all, I’m very happy that I’ve finally learned how to pronounce his last name. It is KAY-ta. Happy snow day! I have been reading and listening to a lot of Salif Keita info this morning.
Salif Keita is from Mali, which is in the northwest of Africa. He was born in 1949 into a noble family, the direct descendant of a king who created the Malian empire. However, Keita was born an albino, which means his skin lacks pigment. His skin is almost white, which was considered bad luck in Malian culture. In years past, tribes would kill albinos! Keita’s family and community shunned him, and he lived on the streets for his teenage years.
Keita would not have become a musician if he weren’t albino, because people of his class did not become musicians. His father was angry at him for playing music, but he felt he had no choice. His eyesight was poor, so he couldn’t study. His father couldn’t (or wouldn’t?) pay for him to learn a trade. His only two choices were to play music or become a delinquent.
Keita says that he and his father became best friends later on in his life. I think this is amazing! Okay, this is probably enough info for this week. I am still really enjoying the music. My research comes mostly from http://africanmusic.org/artists/salif.html & http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5653017
Yeah, when I hear stories about someone who went through such difficulty, it makes me grateful! But Salif Keita has made a wonderful life for himself, and he's an inspiration to so many people. And yes, Grace, I like his music. :)
So far, my favorite song is Madan. It’s a reeeally catchy tune. Whenever it starts, I spontaneously begin moving . . . bouncing in my seat or dancing around my apartment. The song uses a whole bunch of West African percussion instruments. It also has Malian fiddles & lutes (I haven’t been able to figure out if a fiddle/lute from Mali is different from usual fiddles/lutes). There’s funky electric bass and a chorus that sings. The chorus has such boisterous, awesome energy. I feel like the people are having a party and I get to join them! Yay!
I don’t know what the lyrics mean, but they’re quite repetitive. Most of Salif Keita’s lyrics are in Bambara, which is the primary language of Mali, but some of them are in French. French is also spoken in Mali because the French once controlled Mali.
Whew! I’m doing a lot of research to learn more about this music!
Hee hee Emily, I love smelling flowers! Salif Keita mainly plays guitar, but he might play other instruments, too. There are a LOT of different instruments in his music - even accordion! Famous musicians from around the world play with him.
His genre is often called Afro-pop, though a larger genre he's part of is World Music.
This week, I did some dancing while listening to Salif Keita! I just hopped up from my desk and grooved around the classroom, making up moves as I went. At one point, I spun around and around until I was dizzy. I haven’t done that in years. It’s really fun. Note to self: do this more often.
Dancing is a natural response to Salif Keita’s style of music. Usually I listen to him while I’m sitting and working, so dancing helped me understand his music better. My next experiment will be to listen to several of his songs while doing nothing else. I’m not great at staying still, so this will be a challenge.
To answer Ian, his hair is usually really short or else shaved. Afro-pop is pretty different from our popular music, though they have things in common, too. Afro-pop combines elements of western pop with traditional African music. It's pretty amazing. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say Keita is an 8 or a 9.
Amelia’s dad gave me two more CDs of Salif Keita music! They have been a great new source of variety in my Stretch Project for the past two weeks. The new CDs have more electronic sounds. I can tell a lot of these tunes were written to be played in dance clubs. Some of them even have words in English!
Sometimes I’ll put all three albums on “shuffle.” It’s interesting to hear the traditional African instruments of the album “Moffou” back-to-back with the electronic beats in some of the other tracks. I’ve learned that Salif Keita is a versatile musician who can incorporate many different styles in his work. Yay!
1. I shared my music with Charles! He really liked Salif Keita, especially the percussion. We both think the song "Africa" is totally awesome.
2. I'm so glad I chose Salif Keita as my stretch project this time around. I think my next project will be some form of jazz or blues. Some possibilities: Fats Domino, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Ella Fitzgerald.
I’m listening to Salif Keita, a famous musician from Mali in Africa. He has been called “the Golden Voice of Africa.” His music is sometimes called “Afro-pop.” The album I’m listening to is Moffou (2002).
ReplyDeleteSo far, I’ve listened to this album three or four times. Even when the song feels quite upbeat, there’s something sad about Salif Keita’s voice. It’s beautiful, but sounds melancholy at the same time. There are plenty of drums in the music (as you’d expect from African music!), but not the typical drum set that is used in a lot of the music I listen to. There are also some instruments that I can’t identify yet.
I feel like I will learn a lot by listening to Salif Keita. I already am thinking about getting another of his albums (he has 18!!). Next week, I’ll write more about his life. He has a really interesting story! I think this is going to be a great stretch for me.
wow....hey watch this..MoM hehehehe
ReplyDeletebut do you like his music?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I’m very happy that I’ve finally learned how to pronounce his last name. It is KAY-ta. Happy snow day! I have been reading and listening to a lot of Salif Keita info this morning.
ReplyDeleteSalif Keita is from Mali, which is in the northwest of Africa. He was born in 1949 into a noble family, the direct descendant of a king who created the Malian empire. However, Keita was born an albino, which means his skin lacks pigment. His skin is almost white, which was considered bad luck in Malian culture. In years past, tribes would kill albinos! Keita’s family and community shunned him, and he lived on the streets for his teenage years.
Keita would not have become a musician if he weren’t albino, because people of his class did not become musicians. His father was angry at him for playing music, but he felt he had no choice. His eyesight was poor, so he couldn’t study. His father couldn’t (or wouldn’t?) pay for him to learn a trade. His only two choices were to play music or become a delinquent.
Keita says that he and his father became best friends later on in his life. I think this is amazing! Okay, this is probably enough info for this week. I am still really enjoying the music. My research comes mostly from http://africanmusic.org/artists/salif.html & http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5653017
He has a sad story.
ReplyDeleteYa thats really sad ... wow i have a new look on my life
ReplyDelete:( that's sad
ReplyDeleteYeah, when I hear stories about someone who went through such difficulty, it makes me grateful! But Salif Keita has made a wonderful life for himself, and he's an inspiration to so many people. And yes, Grace, I like his music. :)
ReplyDeleteYour music sounds Hannah. What isturment does he play?
ReplyDeletewhat did you just say emily
ReplyDelete???
ReplyDeleteanyhow hannah whats your favoret song???
ReplyDeleteWhat do mean by sicsesful
ReplyDeleteWhere are you hannah?? wake up and smell the flowers?
ReplyDeleteLOL, Emily.
ReplyDeleteWhat genre is he
ReplyDeleteSo far, my favorite song is Madan. It’s a reeeally catchy tune. Whenever it starts, I spontaneously begin moving . . . bouncing in my seat or dancing around my apartment. The song uses a whole bunch of West African percussion instruments. It also has Malian fiddles & lutes (I haven’t been able to figure out if a fiddle/lute from Mali is different from usual fiddles/lutes). There’s funky electric bass and a chorus that sings. The chorus has such boisterous, awesome energy. I feel like the people are having a party and I get to join them! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI don’t know what the lyrics mean, but they’re quite repetitive. Most of Salif Keita’s lyrics are in Bambara, which is the primary language of Mali, but some of them are in French. French is also spoken in Mali because the French once controlled Mali.
Whew! I’m doing a lot of research to learn more about this music!
Hee hee Emily, I love smelling flowers! Salif Keita mainly plays guitar, but he might play other instruments, too. There are a LOT of different instruments in his music - even accordion! Famous musicians from around the world play with him.
ReplyDeleteHis genre is often called Afro-pop, though a larger genre he's part of is World Music.
Does he have an Afro
ReplyDeleteDoes he sing
ReplyDeleteIs it like pop in the USA or is it a different
ReplyDeleteHannah will you do me a favor.Can you tell me is salif keita a 10 or a 1
ReplyDeleteYou mean how old he is?
ReplyDeleteOr is that how much she likes him from 1-10?
ReplyDeleteLet me get this strait... djkittyconnor is connor, {i hope i spelled your name right} and pastafazu is Emily...
ReplyDeleteGrace is the wildfire is Grace M., Graceloveschocolate is Grace P., MINIPHELPS Is T.C., SIDEWINDER is Colin,and Ue2bigguy is victor. Right?
ReplyDeleteThis week, I did some dancing while listening to Salif Keita! I just hopped up from my desk and grooved around the classroom, making up moves as I went. At one point, I spun around and around until I was dizzy. I haven’t done that in years. It’s really fun. Note to self: do this more often.
ReplyDeleteDancing is a natural response to Salif Keita’s style of music. Usually I listen to him while I’m sitting and working, so dancing helped me understand his music better. My next experiment will be to listen to several of his songs while doing nothing else. I’m not great at staying still, so this will be a challenge.
You got it, Margot!
ReplyDeleteTo answer Ian, his hair is usually really short or else shaved. Afro-pop is pretty different from our popular music, though they have things in common, too. Afro-pop combines elements of western pop with traditional African music. It's pretty amazing. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say Keita is an 8 or a 9.
What have you done to add variety to your stretch project? Check out my post to see what I did.
ReplyDeleteAmelia’s dad gave me two more CDs of Salif Keita music! They have been a great new source of variety in my Stretch Project for the past two weeks. The new CDs have more electronic sounds. I can tell a lot of these tunes were written to be played in dance clubs. Some of them even have words in English!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I’ll put all three albums on “shuffle.” It’s interesting to hear the traditional African instruments of the album “Moffou” back-to-back with the electronic beats in some of the other tracks. I’ve learned that Salif Keita is a versatile musician who can incorporate many different styles in his work. Yay!
Cool!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Grace! ;)
ReplyDeleteHave you shared your music with someone hannah??
ReplyDeletehas your experince changed over the corse of the strech project?? :)
ReplyDeleteHow was the stretch project looking back on it?
ReplyDeleteHey Hannah!
ReplyDeleteHow many points do I have?
VIRGINIA!!! when did you get here?
ReplyDeleteanyways so what is your 2nd fav
cus i really want to listen to some of your music
ReplyDeleteOkay, to wrap up:
ReplyDelete1. I shared my music with Charles! He really liked Salif Keita, especially the percussion. We both think the song "Africa" is totally awesome.
2. I'm so glad I chose Salif Keita as my stretch project this time around. I think my next project will be some form of jazz or blues. Some possibilities: Fats Domino, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Ella Fitzgerald.