AM Foreign World Cup: Round 3 - Africa (Part 1)

[Stephan]

The first week of round 3, which sees us first visiting the north and then the west of Africa.

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia
Cesaria Evora - Sodade

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi
Tinariwen - Cler Achel

[nicolas]

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa 4.25
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va 5

Two great songs but I prefer the sobriety of the second to the exuberance of the first

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha 3
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah 5
No match. I don't really like Aicha sound and "Ya Rayah" is my North African favorite

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia 4.25
Cesaria Evora - Sodade 5
Rokia's song is superb, especially in the end, but here again "Sodade" is my West African favorite.

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi 4
Tinariwen - Cler Achel 4.25
Great Malian bracket. The North's desert blues beats the South, well only in music because there's a real war threatening between Northern and Southern Mali

[Dan]

At the risk of repeating some of my previous comments about these songs...

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va

Many songs in this wonderful game require repeated listening to fully appreciate their unique soundscapes. “Raqsed El Fadaa” is one of those songs. But “Vague / E la Nave Va” has been one of my favourite discoveries (thanks Henrik).

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah (my all-time #80 song)

In rounds to come I will vote for “Ya Rayah” again (and again... and again...)

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia
Cesaria Evora - Sodade (my all-time #65 song)

Beautiful song from Rokia, but Cesaria has me under a strange and wonderful spell - her music just makes me melt every time I listen to it... especially this song.

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi
Tinariwen - Cler Achel

I love Amadou & Mariam, but the brilliant blues of "Cler Achel" (which rolls like tumbleweed in a desert) gets my vote.

[Honorio]

Before beginning with Round 3 I looked back to know how my own nominations performed on the first two rounds. I originally nominated 31 songs. 19 of these nominations survived Round 1, so a (remarkable) 61%. On Round 2 my nominations did not perform so well, with 8 songs going to Round 3, anyway a (quite good) 42%. Comparing with the other posters I'm in position 2 (in a triple tie with Henrik and Stephan) way behind an unreachable nicolas with 16 nominations going to Round 3.
About the songs that I mentioned as my favourites for winning the differents sections of this (wonderful) game I've been ever more lucky. 12 of the 16 songs I mentioned passed to Round 3, so I can't complain at all.
If someone's interested I can post the list of songs of this Round 3 and the ones who nominated them.


Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa (Egypt, 1974)
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va (Tunesia, 2006)
Khorshid's surfing-on-the-Nile style is amazing but the Anouar Brahem song is so beautiful that it hurts. I'm going to have a hard time if I have to chose between this song and "Ya Rayah" on Round 4.


Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha (Algeria, 1996)
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah (Algeria, 1993)
A fratricide duel at the top of Algerian raï, the two main names of the style against each other. Two hymns about some of the most terrible problems of Muslim countries, the discrimination of women (Aicha asks on Khaled's song for "the same rights as you") and the Diaspora (Taha sings "you, emigrant, where are you going?"). My choice? The rawness of Rachid Taha, of course.


Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia (Mali, 2008)
Cesária Évora - Sodade (Cape Verde, 1992)
And now an even stronger duel, this time between two African ladies, two impressive singers that don't need to use vocal flourishes (like many female singers of today) to infuse pure emotion. Rokia begins her song with a mysterious and whispered tone (carried by the dark sound of the electric guitar) but after the introduction of the bright sound of n'goni (African lute) slowly builds to an intense vocal crescendo. Cesária's warm voice however surrounds you lazily immersing you into a sea of saudade (yearning). So hard to chose but my vote goes to the Barefoot Diva.
Stephan, the link for "Dounia" is not working, better replace it by this one


Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi (Mali, 1998)
Tinariwen - Cler Achel (Mali, 2007)
Two great samples of blues from the desert, the sweeter sound of Amadou & Mariam (with this wonderful violin part) against the arid sound of Tinariwen (with these vibrant electric guitars). I think I'm going to stay true to my own nomination.

[Dan]

If someone's interested I can post the list of songs of this Round 3 and the ones who nominated them.

I'm someone.

[Henrik]

Yes! I am someone too!

[Miguel]

Bracket 3.1.1
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha

Bracket 3.1.3
Cesaria Evora - Sodade

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi

[Honorio]

So here it is:

North Africa:
Raqsed El Fadaa (Andre)
Vague / E la Nave Va (Stephan)
Aicha (Miguel)
Ya Rayah (Honorio)

Brazil:
Zumbi (Stephan)
Águas De Março (Andre)
Mais que nada (Dan)
Taj Mahal (Henrik)

East Asia:
My Banjo and I (nicolas)
Kurumaya-san (Charlie Driggs)
Yumeji's Theme (nicolas)
Toc mai soi van soi dai (Mindrocker)

Northern Europe:
Spiegel im Spiegel (Stephan)
Sofias Flykt (Stephan)
Gervele (nicolas)
Düsseldorf (Honorio)

Western Africa:
Dounia (Henrik)
Sodade (antonius)
Je pense à toi (Michel)
Cler Achel (Honorio)

Caribbean:
Exuma, the Obeah Man (Dan)
Yo vengo aquí (nicolas)
Son de la loma (Henrik)
Expérience (Charlie Driggs)

Southern Asia:
Streets of Calcutta (Dan)
Rāga Simhendra-Madhyamam (Stephan)
Na Ruk Te Hai Aanso (nicolas)
Dancing Drums (Charlie Driggs)

Eastern Europe:
Pritouritze Planinata (Stephan)
Chélipe (nicolas)
Erau zarzăarii-nfloriţi (nicolas)
Mesečina (Honorio)

Central East Africa:
Ere Mela Mela (Stephan)
Yèkèrmo Sèw (Henrik)
Lapwony (Greg)
Yègellé Tezeta (Michel)

Northern America:
Canción Mixteca (nicolas)
La llorona (Honorio)
Pedro Navaja (Honorio)
Vert (Henrik)

South East Asia:
Hudjan Mas (Stephan)
Superstar (Charlie Driggs)
That Shocking Shaking Day (nicolas)
Mou Pei Na (Henrik)

Western Europe:
Vesoul (Miguel)
La marine (nicolas)
Les bourgeois (Dan)
L'accordéoniste (Andre)

Southern Africa:
Inkomo Zodwa (Dan)
Mona Ki Ngi Xica (nicolas)
Banm Kalou Banm (nicolas)
Navuluka Mindrocker()

Southern America:
Dans mon île (nicolas)
Alfonsina y el mar (Honorio)
Oblivion (Dan)
De Ushuaia a la Quiaca (Henrik)

Australia/Pacific:
Na Moku Eha (Charlie Driggs)
Mouna Manu (nicolas)
Wiyathul (David M)
Faikava Love Song (nicolas)

Southern Europe:
Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol (Honorio)
Entre dos aguas (nicolas)
Soleá (nicolas)
Mediterráneo (Henrik)


So:
nicolas (16)
Stephan (8)
Honorio (8)
Henrik (8)
Dan (6)
Charlie Driggs (5)
Andre (3)
Miguel (2)
Michel (2)
Mindrocker (2)
antonius (1)
Greg (1)
David M (1)

[Dan]

“Vague / E la Nave Va” has been one of my favourite discoveries (thanks Henrik).

Vague / E la Nave Va (Stephan)

Oops. Should've said thanks to both of you!

So:
nicolas (16)

The words "as good as nicolas' taste in world music" have become part of my everyday vocabulary.

[Kingoftonga]

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia

Bracket 3.1.4
Tinariwen - Cler Achel

[Michel]

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa

Bracket 3.1.2
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi

[jamieW]

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa
Winner: Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va
Two outstanding songs: I really liked the continuously changing pace, mood, and rhythm of “Raqsed El Fadaa;” but I’m voting for the eerie beauty of “Vague/ E la Nave Va,” one of my favorites of the World Cup.

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha
Winner: Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah
I usually tend to lean toward more traditional sounding songs than modern, and this is no exception (although, in reality, only three years separated them). It’s a painful choice, but I slightly prefer “Ya Rayah” (what an inspiring use of strings!) to the romantic feel of the more modern-sounding “Aicha.”

Bracket 3.1.3
Winner: Rokia Traoré - Dounia
Cesaria Evora - Sodade
I love Evora’s angelic voice; but I still have to go with “Dounia,” and the gorgeous, subtle way it builds in intensity throughout, and then seems to just evaporate.

Bracket 3.1.4
Winner; Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi
Tinariwen - Cler Achel
Again, I liked the guitars and vocal accompaniment of “Cler Achel,” but it was no match for “Je pense a toi,” which (although we’re in the African bracket) reminded me of the traditional Thai vocals and instrumentation that I’ve loved for years.

[Poliuks]

Stephen, sorry to bother you, but is it possible to keep the poll open for one more day? I hope to get new headphones tomorrow and I don't want to spoil the fun of listening because of using my old, rather shitty ones.

[Stephan]

Sure thing Poliuks.

[Henrik]

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah
I'm beginning to see the power of "Ya Rayah". "Aicha" sounds light-weighted in comparison.

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia
Cesaria Evora - Sodade

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi
Tinariwen - Cler Achel
The most difficult choice this week.

[Poliuks]

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va
I found Raqsed El Fadaa much more original; this song was changing all the time, but it remained very consistent (and fun to listen to).

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah
Aicha is definitely catchy ("Aicha! Aicha!", ach, addictive), but catchy in a rather irritating way. Ya Rayah would be a strong rival for many, many better songs, so the winner is quite obvious.

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia
Cesaria Evora - Sodade
Oh no... It makes me unhappy that I have to vote against soulful vocals and beautiful, acoustic sound of Evora, but mysterious, intimate, Dounia is my favourite this week.

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi
Tinariwen - Cler Achel
It was close, but rhytm part and guitars of Cler Achell are even better than crying violin by Amadou & Mariam.

[Stephan]

My votes are for Anouar, Rachid, Rokia, and Tinariwen.

Bracket 3.1.1
Omar Khorshid - Raqsed El Fadaa - 3
Anouar Brahem - Vague / E la Nave Va - 7

Bracket 3.1.2
Khaled - Aicha - 2
Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah - 8

Bracket 3.1.3
Rokia Traoré - Dounia - 6
Cesaria Evora - Sodade - 4

Bracket 3.1.4
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi - 4
Tinariwen - Cler Achel - 6

[Honorio]

Bye, bye, Cesária, we will miss you on following rounds...