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.
He has a fascinating story. He was born rich, almost into royalty, and yet his parents rejected him for his albino skin. He was cast out, and were it not for that he probably wouldn't be the renowned and prolific musical artist that he is today. But it must be pretty sad to have been shunned by his own family, even though he is a celebrated musical artist now...
hey I think that he sounds really neat. Are you going to play some more of his in class because I liked it it. Are the songs quiet or not because there are a lot of both in most African music.
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
Sarah, most of the music on this album feels pretty mellow, but there are definitely songs that make me want to hop up and dance. I haven't so far, but I will at some point. ;)
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!
Cool! You could post links to his music on YouTube or something. That would be cool if everyone did that, so we could know what other people are listening to. Is it okay that I did that? Sorry I didn't have a chance to ask you... Is Moffou the only album you have? I can ask my dad to make you a CD (Or DVD) of his music if you want. First I should clean my room though because I have a student from Mexico coming soon...
Hi Amelia, it would be AWESOME if your dad could loan me another CD!! It's okay that you posted the links, I think. Maybe I'll post a link for Salif Keita when I comment a little later.
Cool! I am going to locate the CD he made you and try to remember to bring it in Monday. Tomorrow. The 22nd of March, 2009. Whatever you want to call it.
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.
Cool! Hannah, odd request: I am super picky about colors, and for some reason I have been posting on the sixth grade blog instead of ours, and I think this is because of the color. I really don't know though. Can you change the color possibly to something lighter and brighter? Or can I? I find that the natural-tone light green, the pumpkin-orange and the color that is somewhere between rasberries and red-wine all complement each other well. I know I am being incredibly obnoxious and picky, and I apologize for this. I am glad you are enjoying Salif Keita as well!
Is today tomorrow, or is tomorrow tomorrow? I am quite sure that yesterday was not tomorrow. No, tomorrow is tomorrow, never mind, brief confusion... Supper Fool's Choices tomorrow! Uh... No. Lumber Mule Rejoices! Unabridged Sky Violets. That sticks with the acronym. Unperturbed Ski-lift Violence. User-friendly Syncronized Velocity. Well-then. I wish I had been their to see you dancing and twirling around in circles! I am quite sure that it would have been more interesting by FAR than the five-year-old's bottom. And interesting as in enjoyable, whereas the experience in music the other day was rather shocking, and of the kind that tend to produce widened eyes and disturbed silences.
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!
Hi Hannah, is Salif Kenita simmilar to the artist tony vaca? Sorry I dont know much about african music, but salif kenita's story sounds interesting. Is he still alive?
I really think it's great that you like Salif Keita, too. Thanks for letting me borrow your bravura computer for my listening example. I know a few songs that have a mix of english and another language. For anyone who knows (do you know this song, Hannah?) there's a version of a song called Beautiful Liar by Beyonce and Shakira. For the mixy-languagey version, Beyonce sings English, and then Shakira sings Spanish. It's confusing, but cool.
Just to let you know Tony Vacca is Maddy's famous uncle. He played African Music for everyone at Stoneridge a few years ago. Maddy I think your uncle is on iTunes, unless there is another Tony Vacca out there in the wide world that plays African Music.
okie dokie thanks for tellin' me. Hannah I have another question - for posts like mine above get any points (not that I;m expecting to get any no matter what, I'm just wondering)
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.
He has a fascinating story. He was born rich, almost into royalty, and yet his parents rejected him for his albino skin. He was cast out, and were it not for that he probably wouldn't be the renowned and prolific musical artist that he is today. But it must be pretty sad to have been shunned by his own family, even though he is a celebrated musical artist now...
ReplyDeleteMy dad thinks it is great that you like him. He has danced on stage with him before.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! I should ask your dad to give me more info about him. Thanks for the comments, Amelia.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has almost everything he has ever recorded, he says he loves him so if you want some more music you could ask my dad.
ReplyDeletehey
ReplyDeleteI think that he sounds really neat. Are you going to play some more of his in class because I liked it it. Are the songs quiet or not because there are a lot of both in most African music.
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.
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
Whoa, cool, Amelia!! I would love to borrow some albums from your dad!
ReplyDeleteSarah, most of the music on this album feels pretty mellow, but there are definitely songs that make me want to hop up and dance. I haven't so far, but I will at some point. ;)
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!
Cool! You could post links to his music on YouTube or something. That would be cool if everyone did that, so we could know what other people are listening to. Is it okay that I did that? Sorry I didn't have a chance to ask you... Is Moffou the only album you have? I can ask my dad to make you a CD (Or DVD) of his music if you want. First I should clean my room though because I have a student from Mexico coming soon...
ReplyDeleteHi Amelia, it would be AWESOME if your dad could loan me another CD!! It's okay that you posted the links, I think. Maybe I'll post a link for Salif Keita when I comment a little later.
ReplyDeleteSo Hannah you like your music?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds really interesting.
Cool! I am going to locate the CD he made you and try to remember to bring it in Monday. Tomorrow. The 22nd of March, 2009. Whatever you want to call it.
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.
Cool! Hannah, odd request: I am super picky about colors, and for some reason I have been posting on the sixth grade blog instead of ours, and I think this is because of the color. I really don't know though. Can you change the color possibly to something lighter and brighter? Or can I? I find that the natural-tone light green, the pumpkin-orange and the color that is somewhere between rasberries and red-wine all complement each other well.
ReplyDeleteI know I am being incredibly obnoxious and picky, and I apologize for this. I am glad you are enjoying Salif Keita as well!
I plan to change the colors of ALL the blogs tomorrow, Amelia!
ReplyDeleteSWEE--EEET!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, wait.
Is today tomorrow, or is tomorrow tomorrow?
I am quite sure that yesterday was not tomorrow.
No, tomorrow is tomorrow, never mind, brief confusion...
Supper Fool's Choices tomorrow!
Uh... No.
Lumber Mule Rejoices!
Unabridged Sky Violets. That sticks with the acronym. Unperturbed Ski-lift Violence. User-friendly Syncronized Velocity.
Well-then.
I wish I had been their to see you dancing and twirling around in circles! I am quite sure that it would have been more interesting by FAR than the five-year-old's bottom.
And interesting as in enjoyable, whereas the experience in music the other day was rather shocking, and of the kind that tend to produce widened eyes and disturbed silences.
P-R-E-T-T-Y C-O-L-O-R-S!!! OOOOOOH!
ReplyDelete(My facial expression is one of enraptured fascination, and mildly psychotic glee.)
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!
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!
Hi Hannah, is Salif Kenita simmilar to the artist tony vaca? Sorry I dont know much about african music, but salif kenita's story sounds interesting. Is he still alive?
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah,
ReplyDeleteI really think it's great that you like Salif Keita, too. Thanks for letting me borrow your bravura computer for my listening example. I know a few songs that have a mix of english and another language. For anyone who knows (do you know this song, Hannah?) there's a version of a song called Beautiful Liar by Beyonce and Shakira. For the mixy-languagey version, Beyonce sings English, and then Shakira sings Spanish. It's confusing, but cool.
Just to let you know Tony Vacca is Maddy's famous uncle. He played African Music for everyone at Stoneridge a few years ago. Maddy I think your uncle is on iTunes, unless there is another Tony Vacca out there in the wide world that plays African Music.
Hannah sorry to bother you with this question but when do we end the stretch project?
ReplyDeleteIf you're there.
ReplyDelete:-D
ReplyDeleteHee hee, sorry, Cadence! The project is over pretty much NOW, 'cause I'm doing my final grading.
ReplyDeleteokie dokie thanks for tellin' me.
ReplyDeleteHannah I have another question - for posts like mine above get any points (not that I;m expecting to get any no matter what, I'm just wondering)
buhbye!
Okay, 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.