This video is of Fishermen singing (as well as playing percussion instruments) while working in Ghana. I found this video after I decided to search for other "working songs" similar to the one we discussed in class. If you look closely at the men while they are pulling the ropes you will notice that they are all moving together to the rhythm of the music, which I found really interesting. (As a side note, the recording is very quiet so you may have to turn the volume of your computer up a bit more than usual to hear everything.)
As a Music Therapy major, I have realized how cherished the song Amazing Grace is to a majority of people. It is because of this that I decided to see if I could find a recording of Amazing Grace performed by Native Americans. Although I really did not expect to find a recording, I did. What I found to be the most interesting is that I can still hear the English version of Amazing Grace, even though the recording is in Cherokee. As you listen, you will have no trouble hearing the melody in the vocal line, and even recognizing the tune. I know this really is not "cool", but it does show how the Native American people have been influenced.
I found this next video while trying to find a modern day use of the Kora. The result of my search brought me to this West African Rap group, NeedOne. This group combines the use of traditional African instruments (the percussion instruments & of course the Kora!) with modern rhythms to create their songs. Their songs combine African language with some English lyrics and each of their songs address different important social issues that are occurring in Africa.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that you found another African work song. I like how the workers help make work more fun by creating their own music. I also noticed the beat of the music helped cue the workers in to when they should pull the ropes. I thought the video of Amazing Grace being sung in Cherokee was really beautiful. It shows how some Native Americans have molded their ideas with Christianity to create a new type of culture. I thought that was very cool. I also thought it was awesome to see a West African Rap group advocate awareness of the social issues in Africa through music. Good job on picking videos to share. I really enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteWow, that West African rap song is so cool! Was there anything where you found it that gave the English translation? I'm curious to know if the setting (the football match, the homes, all the children) are significant to the meaning of the words, or if they are places and things in the rappers' lives.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed seeing how Western and African cultures came together in the song. The Kora and the language were clearly African, and they also had an Eminem poster and a Tupac T-shirt in the video--so there is clearly an influence from those American artists.
I really loved listening to Amazing Grace. It's really cool how much different cultures influence one another.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed listening to the West African Rap Group too. Though I wasn't sure what they were talking about, (I'm really tempted to look it up though) that is a great way to talk about social issues.
Thank you for sharing. :)
I absolutely loved the West African rap group. I'd also love to know the English translation.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked with hospice patients in high school, I found that the song they requested most was Amazing Grace. This version was absolutely gorgeous and brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Some interesting videos, Desi. Yes, work songs are just really wonderful. And I suspect that you could "Amazing Grace" translated into just about every language in the world, had you time enough to look everywhere.
ReplyDelete