In this month, we celebrate the importance of women. I just had one wish that was the case: THEY WOULD BE MORE FEMALE ARTISTS IN AFRICA. Yep I said it, I wish they were more female artists in Africa. Why do I say this because I have notice in Western music that I listen to sometimes, I tend to favor female voices than male voices. I mean in American Music for examples, I got the likes of Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, Ledashi, Faith Evans, Keyshia Cole, and others. I love female voices especially voices that bring that arousal effect on their singing. I love other Western artists like Joss Stone, Adele, and Natashaa Bedingfield. Natasha and Joss sounded sexy together. They need to make more music together in the near future. I favor female artists in the Western music sense. Now that should be the same case when it comes to African Music, right? Nope. Well the thing is that they are so few female artists in the African music scene and that still holds true in today's age. Why? There are some factors. Well the thing is that Africans want to keep some tradition and one of them is to have a few female artist but have music dominated by the males. That still holds today. If female artist wanted to go through, then a male had hold her hand basically to have a start in life. This is very true in Congolese Music. For examples, most people would know Grand Kalle, Franco, Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba, Nyboma, and Pepe Kalle. But the only few that really pioneered with Congolese music is Mbila Bel and Tshala Muana. These female artists had to work very hard to be seen as normal people. I feel like they should do more work to get more female artists into the music scene. Please do what you can.
I am going to now do some valuable tribute to one woman who was influenced by Aretha Franklin. This woman has endured 20 years of pain, suffering, abuse, and great success. I am speaking of Mary J. Blige. She is one artist I enjoy listening when I am a grateful for soul music. Yep Mary J. Blige is indeed the queen of Hip Hop Soul. Many female R&B artists who love hip hop ought to give huge respect to Mary J. Blige. This woman was the pioneer of combining soul music along with hip hop into one genre. We call it Hip Hop Soul. She was born in 1971 from Bronx, New York. Sadly she like many African Americans endured a single parent. She pretty much grew up with a dad though she had her real dad as a child but her dad was a abusive figure. She grew up with some struggles. But during the 1990s, she would have some great ups and great downs. Great ups were that she made a great stand with her debut album What's the 411. It had high success. This helped Mary J. Blige reach some peak as a singer. My Life also made the case of the realness of Mary as she talks about her struggles. But the great downs was that she had a famous or rather infamous relationship with K-Ci Hailey (born as Cedric Hailey) who was a member of Jodeci (a chart topping R&B youth group) and is part of the duo K-Ci & Jojo with his brother Jojo Hailey (born as Joel Hailey). There Mary J. Blige was more known for her problems. But soon Mary had a major comeback. In 2005, she released her classic album The Breakthrough with the great song "Be without you" which was a masterpiece out of Mary J. Blige. Since then, Mary has had some great success as a female artist. The unique thing about Mary J. Blige is her singing is quite soulful and it is quite unique and it is strong. When I hear Mary J. Blige sing, her singing is quite strong and dramatic effects on the song. This song quite awesome. Also Mary J. Blige was the best calibrator alongside with a rapper. A great example is her calibration with rapper Method Man. The song called "You're all I need to get by" shows the great soul singing of Mary J. Blige and dope rapping skills with Method Man. After all the best years of this woman and hearing her voice, I can say Mary J. Blige is the queen of Hip Hop Soul.
We are still in the Women's History Month and here I decided to make another post to a female artist. But this female artist is not from America. She is a popular artist in Africa (pacifically Congo). I am speaking about Mbilia Bel. She was born in 1959 from Democratic Republic of Congo (Belgain Congo). Mbilia Bel always had some musicial abilities in her. She began her music career as back singer for Abeti Masikini and Sam Mangwana. But Mbilia Bel really got her fame started when she was discovered by Tabu Ley in 1980. She would soon become Tabu Ley's valuable duet partner. Mbilia Bel's first record was "Mpeve Ya Longo" which is Kikongo version of HOLY SPIRIT. This song made Mbilia Bel go to major stardom. Then she got another song called Eswi Yo Wapi. That song was her banging record. But her career highlight was the song Nairobi which was very popular in Kenya that even Kenya president at that time allowed other songs to be played there. Also the man who composed the song Tabu Ley. What a genius song. Thanks to Mbilia Bel value to Afrisa International helped this band become a challanger (truly) to TPOK Jazz of Franco. We witnessed the duo competition. We had Franco & Madilu vs. Mbilia Bel & Tabu Ley. This made a perfect Congolese Music Scene. But Mbilia Bel's relationship soon faded when she had a baby with him and Faya Tess joined Afrisa. This probably led Mbilia Bel leaving Afrisa in 1988 and began her solo career. But Mbilia Bel's solo career has had mixed results. Her popular albums are Welcome and Phenomen. She had calibrated with some people like Rigo Star, Lutumba Simaro, and Pepe Kalle. She released her latest album in 2010 called Diva. It had some guests like Dally Kimoko, Beniko, and Nyboma. I love Mbilia Bel, and I apperciate her voice and I just wish more people knew Mbilia Bel.
Now I am making my new post on something else. This subject comes back to female artist since this month is about them. Why put four pictures together in one post. What do they have common? They were all known female artists who were influenced by Aretha Franklin. I made a post about Aretha earlier this month (Aretha Franklin Importance). Now I have four girls I say had Aretha's sound. I am speaking of Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and late Whitney Houston. These four female artists are very loved artists but clearly had some influence from Aretha Franklin and they applied her voice in their own way. Mary J Blige brought more the soul aspect with often her emotional state. She made songs where she was angry and she sang her soul out. Her strong soulful singing was clearly helpful it was able to make her quite a unique character. She is someone who had more the soul element that made her music known. Whitney Houston was someone who just loved to sing and she clearly used Aretha's voice to bring just singing element to her music. Everyone knows her rendition of Dally Parton's song "I will always love you", and she just brought her strong voice out and it became her known legendary song. Whitney Houston was someone who loved to sing whenever she was in the mood to sing. Celine Dion had a more opera like singing when comes to combining with Aretha's voice. Many people describe her voice as so angel like. That is because of her song for the Titanic fil soundtrack, "My Heart Will Go On". Her voice sounded perfect in that song. She has a more raunchy soft soul voice combining Aretha's influence in her singing. Mariah Carey has a more soulful but a verstile voice which also involves a whistle register which made her very famous. Mariah Carey's vision of love carries this example as Mariah brings her voice and then does the register whistle. She did that a lot during her career. These four girls all had influence from Aretha Franklin. Which one is better? That is up to you. You need to make your own choice. It will be interesting what people will say.
This is a day that I may be more happier. Doing better and getting better academicly speaking. Things are getting better for me as I am goin in the right course. Thanks to my parents, now I am in a great path which only makes me more happier than ever. To get it started, I am starting with a song that many Franco fans now should probably know somewhat. I am speaking of the great song that is a unique Franco song. This song is the one that Franco would follow up in the later 1980s. That song I am talking about is Fabrice. This song I am speaking of is the first version of Fabrice. The original song. There was three Fabrices that Franco did in the 1980s. This song is the original version. It is just simply called FABRICE. This song is about fashion as the other two. But on this one, Franco here praises people with he thinks are valuable fashion. He mentions name. He even mentions Fabien which is a great name. I have a personal connection to that. Fabian was my grandpa who was a Congolese Activist who loved Congo with all of his heart. I share his vision big time. He also mentions others even Verkys who had his own band LE VEVE. He also mentions Simaro, Ndombe, and also Josky. This song is very unique singing wise too. We have some great vocals of Ndombe Opetum, Lola Checain, and Wuta Mayi. These three men were perfect together with Franco's great lead vocals. I mean that is great. Better guitar team as well with Gege Mangaya, Mpupi Decca, and Papa Noel. This song was great because Franco's great 5 minute solo. It is one of Franco's perfect solos I have seen for a while. Genius song. People need to hear this song big time.
I was signing a tune being alone and some moron wanted me to stop singing because I was really TOO LOUD supposely. That is a totally moronic. I did not sound that damn lod. I t makes me laugh big time. Really this moron asked me to stop singing because I am not like everyone else and I do things my way not THE GROUP WAY. As I said, most of my colleagues are bunch brainwashed morons who are so narrowminded and don't apperciate life that much at all.
The song I was singing to was the grand slam song called Fabrice Akendi Sango. That person who made the song is Grand Maitre Franco. This song is the 3rd Version of Fabrice. This song was done in 1988 (maybe November 1988, I guess). There are two other versions which are Fabrice Two (5 Ya Ans Fabrice) and the First Fabrice (1980). But this song has more interesting guitar sound. Also on this version unlike the other two, Francodoes do some narrating in the song. This song talks about a person in the high class (I mean Cardinal, CEO, and etc) and how they need to dress and how they can look nice. I bet people with big money may need this song to have better fashion. At Francodoes offer that to them. This song is one of the many classic songs of Franco because he understood life and how he reminded people that life is hard and you need to be grateful for what you have and how you can learn to be better. I take to note big time. RIP Grand Matire Franco.
I had a very good weekend. I am in a great mood with some good homework being done. Also I felt this week, I feel more inclined to hear msome great Congolese Music. I say this so I can be my normal self. To get that started, I am going to give you a classic song from Franco. Yep, I mean Grand Maitre Franco. He made three series songs of the name. No, I am not speaking of Marip but I am speaking of the name Fabrice which is another way to say Fabric. Franco made three versions of Fabrice. Each of them are classic in its own way.
But the one I am covering on this post is Fabrice 2. Fabrice 5 Ya Ans. This Fabrice song sort of a political and also a social song. This song Franco talks about clothings and its effect on the whole Africa. Based on Franco's mood, I can say that Franco is thrilled when he injects Africa Mobimba. Don't forget that we have perfect melodies voices of Josky Kaimbukuta, Madilu System, and Ntesa Dalienst. Also, Franco's lead vocals are so perfect in this song. I like this version because it is 12 minutes. Also don't forget we have 4 minute great solo of Grand Matire Franco. Franco's solo was a rockin legend. Franco was fierce on his guitar and sounded perfect on his guitar.
I had a great day which is totally weird for me. It is so weird for me. It was a great day for me. Today I did some driving lessons and I did a good job making these turns to the left and I drove in a normal speed. Sadly good times always have its con. I found out that some people called the police and thought I was so drunk apparently. That was a dumb accussations. I got some heat for going two lanes though I had no idea that I was driving on two lines. But those are a footnote. The really bad thing that occurred is what leads to my actual post. The thing that got me more mad and in major rage is hearing the shitty version of this classic song while I was driving. The song was raped and it was totally fucked up big time. The song I am actually speaking of is the song called Mbondo from Lipua Lipua. This version I heard in the car was totally fucked up. This song was sounding like total mess. It soudned like someone raped the song and made the whole sound whorish. Damn you idiotic producers. So stupid is it. Also the vocals sound like they had major sex with lots of women and the sound would screw up their voices. Weird. Lipua Lipua was a great band and it had made great songs but these moronic producers decided to make a shitty version and make the song a big mess. The song sounded horrible. That is what made the day so shitty. I told my dad that this song was not great and he suggested FIND THE BETTER VERSION. I will now share the song I was ranting about. But this post I put is the great song in great quality
This month is Women's History Month and I should done this on my first post but I did not. Forgive me for that. I am now going to dedicate some great female artists of the whole world to the history month. If there is one artist that is so legenedary but has not exactly got her dues is no other than Aretha Franklin. Many people seem to think that Aretha Franklin is overrated because her song RESPECT gets played way too much. Well I make my view on the Queen of Soul. Actually Aretha Franklin is somewhat underrated artist. Here is why. If you see, many people consider other female artists as pioneers but refuse to make Aretha Franklin as a pioneer. If you ask most people, if they knew a old artist who they do they know? The answers are often Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Janis Joplin, and the likes of them but it is extremely rare for people to mention Aretha Franklin as a pioneer of music of females (That is unless you refer to the black community who dig soul music a lot). Why do you ask? Well it is not that complicated. Not many people get why Aretha is so legendary. Many people seem to believe that she is a major one hit wonder probably because of the overuse of her great song RESPECT. But Respect is not just another song. It has a message which was that a woman like her deserve repsect for being a woman. At that time during the late 1960s, women were being discriminated and were not allowed to do anything. Thank Jesus that has changed. As one person said, "It is a man's world, It is a man's world. But it would be nothing without a woman". Let me put in French and Lingala, "Ezali la monde du l'homme, Ezali la monde du l'homme. MaisIlne serait rien sans l'femme." That is true whether brainless man get it or not. Respect was a Aretha song that pretty much played a factor in getting women being able to work and do stuff for a living not just a man. Aretha Franklin made many great songs especially the song Chain of Fools which I already talked about here (Aretha Franklin Classic Song). The song showed Aretha Franklin's great ability ro sing well and do other ways to make her singing as perffect as possible. This is no wonder Aretha had a great voice then. But Aretha sadly suffered from the same issues. I mean labels who are evil. She fell out with Atlantic Records in 1973 which led to her major decline during the 1970s. Changes also occured. Female facts like LaBelle, Diana Ross, and others were having more success than Aretha Frnaklin. 1980s was Aretha's great decade as she made great songs as well as great albums leading her to promise of continued success. But in 1990s, once again Aretha fell because of age we can presume. This time it was artists like Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Whitney Houston, and soon Celine Dion grew to ruin Aretha's star and she was another artist in the block. But despite Aretha not being Aretha she used to be, she still has a great voice and conintues to perform. Do not get me wrong, Janis Joplin, Diana Ross, and Patti LaBelle are great artists in their own right and they made an imapct and open doors for female artists but none of them as great as a singer and none are unique as Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Aretha brought her own sound in the music and it has touched many lives. She really connected with the Civil Rights Movement better than other female artists. Plus this woman's song Respect will never be forgotten for a long time. My point is that Aretha Franklin needs more respect for her hard work and her years of making songs that were not only relatable but had a great message behind it. Aretha Franklin did everything she could to make great music. People need to get to know Aretha Franklin, you will see how unique she is.
Let me get started on a post about my idol Grand Maitre Franco. This song says many things about the personality of Grand Maitre Franco. He made some great final records. This one stands out to me big time. This song was dealing with rumors and issue that Franco had deal with as a musician especially his final years (late 1980s). There were tons and tons of rumors of Franco doing stuff and stuff. Franco must have gotten annoyed. Sadly though Franco was on poor health. Franco made a song dealing with those complex problems on the song called LES RUMEURS. This song dispatched rumors about many things especially about his health basically that he was saying that he is not dead but alive. But Franco's voice did not sound that great. To be fair, Franco was sick so that is not his fault. He even mentioned the Mobutu Regime in this song which I bet Mobutu was not happy at all hearing this song though he was a big fan of Franco. He also dealing Congo (Zaire)'s issues with gossip. This song is one of Franco's best records in his final years before his demise in 1989. This song is just a great song in general. People need to hear this song. It is a great classic song in my view. I will do what I can to keep Franco alive.
I am having such a great weekend because I am so happy right now. I had found a song that I can get out of my stubborn head of mine. This song is so good that now I am going to share it.
The song that I can not stop playing for myself is the song called KOMBE DILU. The song comes from Dilu Dilumouna with Empire Bakuba. This song is a classic song and I enjoy it. Better it has one person: PEPE KALLE. He sounds so angelic and has no flaw when he sings this song. I am stunned how good Pepe Kalle sounded in this song. Dilu Dilumouna sounded good too. But Pepe Kalle was the reason why this song is so classic material to me. We had a perfect sebene with the help animations of Desouza and other people. KOMBE DILU proved how great Pepe Kalle's voice was and how he was able to sound in flow as the song went on. Pepe Kalle's lead vocals were so perfect because it proved the greatness of Pepe Kalle. Pepe Kalle knew how to make this song unique. Dilu Dilumouna was good too and he managed to make his own mark. But with Pepe Kalle, the song was legendary. Check the song here
I am sorry for making a post this week. The last weekend and this week has been a absolute disaster. I have had the worst time in school with more people mad at me than ever. Then fights with my family add more conflicts on forums just adds to a complete disaster week. During this bad week, I was discussing with some of "my colleagues" about something and they decided to bring up a topic: GUITAR. So we were talking about instruments. One instrument that is general is meant for men is guitar. I was playing a fake saxophone because I find that instrument fascinating and it would be cool if I ACTUALLY KNEW HOW TO PLAY IT. Anyway, I said that let's say I have a girlfriend (which I will in the feature) and she knew how to play guitar and I did not. Why do I say this if you ask? Well because it said that guitar was only meant for men not women. But that sterotype has been broken which is a good thing. Now days more female are wanting that guitar. That is a good tihng. But one thing about me: I don't exactly care for Guitar but I don't hate it either. I have always found it fascinating because when women play guitar especially attractive ones, then I am so happy myself. The problem is it would look bizarre to see my girlfriend know how to play guitar and not me. Also I will be considered which leads to me to this question: Should I play the guitar? Here is why I should do guitar? 1) I love this instrument 2) I dig acoustic guitar 3) Electric Guitars are fascinating 4) It has a good sound 5) I can make my hands work Here is why I shouldn't do guitar? 1) I don't think this can be always great 2) It can be another way to be arrogant 3) It seems I only do it for the girls 4) I want to be like Grand Maitre Franco The big reason I may not want to play is because then I want to be better than Grand Maitre Franco. See as I said no one can ever reach his level and this can be so true to me too. Because of that, I probably not want to play guitar but then again my girlfriend could be a huge guitar expert and if that is the case, I will have to know how to play guitar.
What is so interesting to me as a person is that I have always been asked or told about this. I was asked this: WHY AM I NOT EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING? Well, there are numerous reasons why I am never excited for anything.
Let me make it simple. As I indicated on my previous post here (HAPPY BEING DIFFERENT), I a very different from most of my colleagues. I am really different from them. I have very little to no friends. Also don't forget that I am very unpopular and I have been called so many names. Plus there is nothing to be excited about really.
Here is when I am ACTUALLY excited about something. I am excited when I can spend time with my family. Great example is when I have my birthday, I don't demand a big party but a simple party with my family. I am excited when I get to spend time with my daddy because that is where good things occur with me. I am excited when I speak to notable personnels. I am excited when I get to play with my siblings because life is too short and I need to have them have joy to have me have joy too.I am excited when I can be alone and hear great music and show music to you guys. Those are the things that I am actually excited about.
One thing I never get that excited about is meeting my colleagues. Why I do say this? Well to be honest, most of my colleagues are dumb and narrow minded. See I am very unpopular because I am so differnt from them. One particular example, is that most of my colleagues say that mental people are the worst people but I have deep compassion for them. In fact I would rather be with them then most of my moronic fool colleagues.
Being different and having my own identity is a essiential thing of being a human being. This is why I am a happy person being lonely. That is why.
Anyway I will leave my post with a great song from Theo Blaise Kounkou. He made a great song. Check it here Mwana Djambala
Well I have notice that being into many kinds of music can be a bad thing. Well at least according to my mom. I am not sure whether her view is right or not. Well yesterday at my house, I was not playing either a Congolese or American Music. I was paying a song from Mali which happens to be Arabic music. The band was Rail Band with now popular legend Mory Kante. You can see him in my earlier post here Mory Kante Life. This song is where Mory Kante sounded so unique in that song. He brought his inner passion out with this singing. But apparently one family member of mine was not too happy. That was my mom. My mom was whining that the song was TOO ARABIC. It was funny to hear. My family members were whining about how I seem not to apperciate my roots with hearing some Colombian, Peurto Rican, Mali, and Guinea music. Though I am a open minded person, there is a con listening to many music. The con side is that people will think that I don't apperciate my roots because I expand my music listening from Congolese and American music to let's say Colombian. My mom will think that I am too wild and don't seem to find my place. But the truth is that we live in a global world and I think I should be able to expand myself which can help break down cultural barriers. But the problem is that we are used to our things that we can not understand why it is important to open ourselves to other people.
This week has had some very boring adventures. Most of my classmates talk about just worthless junk that I DON'T CARE FOR. Worse, some of my classmates are angry for no reason and I can't even speak to those idiots because they will threaten to ruin my life later on. Better, more people are mad at me because I refuse to be like them. I am so happy that I don't conform to groups esepcially stupid ones and trust me they are stupid ones. Well since I have pretty much no friends, it is a great thing because now I am going to share you a beauty of a song that I cannot get enough of. The song I am talking about is called Mobembo. This song comes from my favorite person name Pepe Kalle. He is the person who made this dynamic song. He sang the song alone and he did a great job doing it. Here Pepe Kalleis likely talking about how tough love can be. His singing amazed me. You can somewhat tell that Pepe Kalle was growing some important confidence which was incredible. Pepe Kalle was showing how strong as a singer he could be. Pepe Kalle sounded different in this song than he does in the majority of his songs. Pepe Kalle was like a cool flow man who was able to just sing a way I have never seen it before. Pepe Kalle showed how great of a singer he was. Though this picture was taken 10 years after this masterpiece came out, this picture says everything about Pepe Kalle's mood in this song. Pepe Kalle was a happy confident mode. That is what makes Pepe Kalle a unique person and that is why I call him the voice of Zaire. Pepe Kalle is a unique character and it will take years before another person can be like Pepe Kalle.
