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
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!
I think that you chose a really good strech project I think I might want to buy that album. I've learned a lot about Salif Keita just from reading you're comments!
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.
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!
Hannah, I'm getting a little bored of hearing TMBGs.It was great at first, but now it is getting dull.(the same songs over and over again) What should I do?(I know that there are only two more weeks left, but still)
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.
i did not u r are doing like 3 Strech Projects
ReplyDeletehi what type of music does salif play/sing???
ReplyDeletenow laetitia has bad gramer there not werds nerds
ReplyDeletep.s i dident mean that
wabhnjsdfvgbhesdxh njdrcfgvhj no this is bad grammer!
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
Salif Kieta is a good choice hannah!
ReplyDeleteI know i changed my name but i really wanted to so plz get used to it
ReplyDeletebut too used to coz i might change it again!
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!
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!
I think that you chose a really good strech project I think I might want to buy that album. I've learned a lot about Salif Keita just from reading you're comments!
ReplyDeletehe must have owsom music♥
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah. You are the best music teacher in the world and you should really check out my Blog called all about me
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.
Thanks, Laetitia! I will check out your blog soon. Jade, I'm glad you're getting interested in Salif Keita. ;)
ReplyDeleteHannah, I heard one of their songs on the radio and I liked it and I think I would buy it in a store
ReplyDelete--
Ben
Yay, I'm glad that both Jade & Ben would try Salif Keita at some point!
ReplyDeleteI am intrested in that too.
ReplyDeleteMabye I could do that for nexst years stech progect it sounds like a good one for me.
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!
Hannah, when I listen to Phil Collins I'm usually eating dinner or getting ready to go to school in the morning.
ReplyDelete--
Ben
I thought that that was nice of Amelia's dad to let you use the CDs. Hannah, when are you sharing your music if you didn't already.
ReplyDeleteHannah, I'm getting a little bored of hearing TMBGs.It was great at first, but now it is getting dull.(the same songs over and over again)
ReplyDeleteWhat should I do?(I know that there are only two more weeks left, but still)
I shared my music with my friend Timmy. I think he did not like it that much.
ReplyDelete--
Ben
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.