The South African Music Thread!
 

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I can't stand Die Antwoord.

I tend to gravitate towards Northern African music tbh but even then I don't explore much.

Those Marais tracks were not what I expected and make me wonder how apartheid plays into all of the region's music, but still nice. Do you have any recommendations for good artists or regional genres?

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I don't just dislike Die Antwoord, I think they're pure garbage with no redeeming qualities. Sadly, they're the ambassador of music for South Africa in some sense.

Kind of shameful that I know nothing else from South Africa.

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Hey! I'm excited to see a thread dedicated to South African music; as a country, they have an extraordinary fertility of music and musical styles.

^ I'm going to take you at your word, GGrace, and post a couple of links if you don't mind. Those Maias and Miranda songs are interesting, with that genuine, original, crackly 78 sound - you'll find more of that in a thread I started when I was, with great enthusiasm exploring South African Jazz:-
http://www.musicbanter.com/jazz-blue...ican-jazz.html

And here is a post that was made ages ago about modern South African music. Surprisingly, the link still works, so thank you, zeppy111:-
http://www.musicbanter.com/743648-post260.html

And here's a favourite fun song:-

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^ Well, I'm happy that someone else is interested in SA's music, but I know that too many recs can be overwhelming. In fact, although I downloaded zeppy's file, I haven't listened to many of the tracks yet.

Nonetheless, here are yet more clips, this time from three of the big names of SA music, from about the 60s through to 90s era:-

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..... I imagine your dad might recognize these names ;)

EDIT: Well researched, GGrace, on that album that included the Soweto Stokvel Septette. That was very interesting, about the name Soweto - I had no idea where it came from!

Also, anyone interested in house music
Durban-style should check out the still
going strong gqom music scene there.

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The album before Work for All, which was called Scatterlings,
was so incredibly overplayed in the States that there was a
palpable hatred for this band (and, later, Savuca) that I think
caused them to fall off the radar soon afterwards and
people I knew who had a scattering of interest in
mbaqanga were glad to see Clegg and Co. gone.
They gravitated more towards Hugh Masekela,
Lizzy Mercier Descloux, and the Mahotella Queens.

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I was trying to think of who for a while, but I'm drawing a blank. It might be someone I never even knew was South African.

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^ That's a nice clip, Gunmouth. Strange that the poor guy should die right after we'd been talking about him. :(

On a different note, haha, Amampondo is a band who mix a bit of jazz with a traditional sound. Their trademark is a steady marimba percussive groove. Whether you find it hypnotic or a little long-drawn out depends a lot on your mood I think. Anyway, this is one of their better tracks, imo:-



BTW, Amampondo means "people of Mpondo" so it's a word for a particular social group, as well as a guy's name and a song - so no one should feel bad if they get confused. I haven't checked, but if it's a city, a style of music and a brand of jeans too, I won't be surprised.

I'm looking forward to checking out the tracks in this thread when I finally get in front of a computer. I like quite a bit of South African music myself.

^ That'd be good, Janszoon - if you are true to form, I bet you'll be pointing us to some obscure artist in a sub-genre we've never heard of ;)

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^ Yes, that's got some nice sax about one minute in. :)
^ Someone who fits this description might be Manfred Mann; born in Johannesburg, but moved to England in his 20s because he didn't like aparthied. Angel Station is a pretty cool album by his Earth Band:-

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HELP! What is the name of this love song that was popular in South Africa in 2014?
 

I'm sorry I don't know how to use forums, I am just desperate to find the name of this song!
It was a popular song that teenagers and kids would aux from their phones and it played on the radio in our taxi often. It is a love song, kinda retro/blues-y, but not in english (maybe afrikaans?). And the music video is a boy and a girl kind of just playing around, very cute. The locals told me it was basically just a love song!
If you have any idea of what this song might be, please help me!!

Judas Priest - Painkiller

Abstract Truth, a South African jazz/folk/prog/rock group. 2009 reissue of their 1971 album "Totum" with bonus tracks from their 1970 debut album "Silver Trees."


Abstract Truth - Totum (1971)

^ This is a wonderful recommendation! A solid album with lots of long instrumental passages and some cover songs that have been very well-selected. A pleasant surprise for me was a version of Oxford Town; Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is so packed with classics that this short song is often overlooked, and Totum's version is strong enough in itself that you don't start hearing the original in your head as you listen to the cover.

Thanks, Psy-Fi :thumb:

Hello my Dears, long time no see. :)

Music of SA is a really interesting and complex issue since we've got so many sources of the music from many places, not always related with Africa by itself. Many artists have been noted here already, so for now two other which were not mentioned yet.

Nico Carstens - accordionist and vocalist (sometimes), known not only for his albums and live concerts, but also his performances in South African movies. Here's one of his greatest hits: "Zambezi":



Ladysmith Black Mambazo - male choir from KwaZulu-Natal region, which started to play back in 1960 until now. Related with isicathamiya music. Check below how it sounds like:

Wow! Sir_Cactoos! I didn't expect to see you here again. Welcome Back :wavey:

I've never heard of Nico Carstens, but Ladysmith Black Mazambo are much better known of course. They shot to international fame because of their contribution to Paul Simon's Graceland album. Not entirely sure why, but after mentioning LBM people always refer to the Mahotella Queens as well. So there we go: I've followed the rule too.

Thomas Chauke is apparently a popular guitarist in SA, bringing that particular light, bright African electric guitar sound to some traditional songs. Here's one that's pretty nice:-

i just like to listen this song.Its just awesome.i love to listen this song "Sun-El Musician "Akanamali" ft. Samthing Soweto."

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what, are you from South Africa? Kun je me dan verstaan als ik nederlands tegen je praat?
This is awesome btw

I'm a pleb, so the only South African music in my collection so far is Batsumi.

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maakt niet uit, ik begrijp het wel :) afrikaans klinkt zo grappig als je nederlands gewend bent

Oh, regtig? dis goed! Ek was bekommerd dat jy nie kon verstaan nie...

En ek het dikwels gehoor dat afrikaans klink vir nederlanders rowwe.

GunmouthGrace, the Polyglot.

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Guys, I think your keyboards are broken.

Dutch is a broken language for broken people