- Audio CD (30 Oct 1989)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Real World
- ASIN: B000007VZT
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 143,001 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Nasikitika |
| 2. Karola |
| 3. Kipenda Roho |
| 4. Sauti Ya Mnyonge |
| 5. Kifo |
| 6. Usingizi |
| 7. Muziki Asili Yake Wapi |
| 8. Pamella |
| 9. Dole |
| 10. Mariam Wangu |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Remmy Ongala is a household name in Tanzania, and his fame has spread worldwide with Songs for the Poorman. Born in Eastern Zaire (Congo), he was once a member of Kenya's fabled Orchestre Makassy, and his own sound is a blend of Congolese soukous with the lighter, funkier sounds of Kenya and Tanzania. Ringing guitar lines and loping bass lines counterpoint Ongala's soulful vocals on eight songs concerning serious topics such as poverty, injustice, death, and, of course, human passion. Both danceable and intelligently listenable, his music is validation for a culture where music is an integral force in everyday life. --Derek Rath
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am no writer, nor am I musical. But, anybody who loves seeking out different kinds of stuff from around the world, this is definitely a "Must-have". I happened on this one simply because I liked the sound of Remmy Ongala's name. It was money very well spent. It's real foot-tapping stuff, gets you singing along despite the fact that I have no idea what he's saying! And it's not repetitive, which makes it listenable. On the cd cover it tells you what the songs are about.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read only today of the death in December, aged 63 after a decade of illness, of the irreplaceable Remmy Ongala. I went home and played this stupendously good album, and wanted to recommend it to as many people as I could.
Remmy recorded this one in 1989, and it`s almost 70 minutes of mounting excitement, ebullience and scintillating musical transcendence. I`ve only heard a few of Remmy`s albums - and only those on the Realworld label - but this is the one that sounds the most perfectly realised, the most representative of the man`s lyrical concerns and musical brilliance. It`s exultant music, each track lasting no less than 5 to 9 minutes, time enough for the musicians to weave their colourful webs of glorious joy, with Remmy singing his heart out. And oh, those guitars...!
This wonderful man didn`t acquire the worldwide reputation he deserved, never as famed as, say, Fela Kuti or Youssou N`Dour. He said his music was not only to make people dance but also to think, and his lyrics (summarised in the sleevenotes) are indeed thoughtful, as well as witty, and invariably on the side of the underdog. Remmy was a true man of the people, and one can hear this in his music, even while not understanding the words. You know when someone is singing from the heart to the heart. In fact, he wrote about topics that upset the powers that be in his adopted Tanzania - including a plea to men to use condoms, a stance certain African leaders might do well do adopt.
If you want to hear what the music of East Africa can sound like, get hold of this uplifting, beautifully recorded CD, clear a space - you`ll want to dance - and play as loud as you can get away with.
RIP Remmy.
Remmy recorded this one in 1989, and it`s almost 70 minutes of mounting excitement, ebullience and scintillating musical transcendence. I`ve only heard a few of Remmy`s albums - and only those on the Realworld label - but this is the one that sounds the most perfectly realised, the most representative of the man`s lyrical concerns and musical brilliance. It`s exultant music, each track lasting no less than 5 to 9 minutes, time enough for the musicians to weave their colourful webs of glorious joy, with Remmy singing his heart out. And oh, those guitars...!
This wonderful man didn`t acquire the worldwide reputation he deserved, never as famed as, say, Fela Kuti or Youssou N`Dour. He said his music was not only to make people dance but also to think, and his lyrics (summarised in the sleevenotes) are indeed thoughtful, as well as witty, and invariably on the side of the underdog. Remmy was a true man of the people, and one can hear this in his music, even while not understanding the words. You know when someone is singing from the heart to the heart. In fact, he wrote about topics that upset the powers that be in his adopted Tanzania - including a plea to men to use condoms, a stance certain African leaders might do well do adopt.
If you want to hear what the music of East Africa can sound like, get hold of this uplifting, beautifully recorded CD, clear a space - you`ll want to dance - and play as loud as you can get away with.
RIP Remmy.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a great soukous album, the songs are often more free and expanded than that the more 'poppy' Kanda Bongo Man and the like.
the guitar work mezmerises throughout the album with the shimmering melodies weaving throughout Remmy's vocals.
I cant decide wether i prefer this or his album 'mambo'....
buy both and decide for yourself!
the guitar work mezmerises throughout the album with the shimmering melodies weaving throughout Remmy's vocals.
I cant decide wether i prefer this or his album 'mambo'....
buy both and decide for yourself!
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