Gqompetition time: two songs, two videos - QDOT vs SHADO M

For the uninitiated, gqom is a South African dance genre that’s taking over the continent and making inroads in the rest of the world, including ILM: Prince Kaybee’s “Banomaya” was our #59 track of 2018.

Qdot all day long

See, I think the Shado M is equally amazing. That’s why I need you guys to help break the tie.

Bumping the thread with an earlier video (and mix) for “Inhliziyo Yami Ithi Hey”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5tFf7u4Ek

the groove of the Shado track is more unique to me albeit filtered thru my limited awareness of whats going on there

voted for the Shado M track, it's pretty cool to hear gqom rhythms on a mid-tempo track like that. i don't quite hear the freestyle comparison though i'd be very interested to hear something that really did try to fuse gqom and freestyle.

it's interesting to hear a Nigerian take on gqom in the Qdot track but the beat doesn't go quite as hard as a lot of the similar-feeling SA tracks and melodically it has the same problem for me as a lot of West African pop where the melodic style is too unfamiliar to me to really be able to hook me

ah you know i'm just not hearing this stuff in the way intended probably, instead of focusing on the beat i'm focusing on the extreme difference in the vocals between the two songs, and since i'm not super into the style of autotune in the qdot song, it's not really a contest for me

didn't vote

Why not vote for the one you liked best, rushomancy? (or disliked the least, whatever the case may be)

Also, I don’t think there’s an “intended” way of listening to these tracks? You’re hearing what you’re hearing and free to focus on any aspect that you want. It’s actually interesting to me to hear about the different perspectives people have.

to ufo:

Shado M: yeah, after listening to Alfred’s favorite freestyle tracks the other day I’m not so sure of that comparison anymore myself. I am definitely reminded of some (late?) 80s sound though. I was also thinking of Joyce Sims, but I don’t think it’s that either.

Qdot: the melodic style in this case is fuji-style singing, which I remember took some getting used to for me as well at first.

the groove of the Shado track is more unique to me albeit filtered thru my limited awareness of whats going on there

Musically, like that groove sounds different from more typical afropop tracks to me but for all I know it’s a style w like a 400 year history

This is where a term like “afropop” becomes confusing (or even sort of meaningless). What are “more typical afropop tracks”? Would “Gbese” count as such?

I think what makes this track unique in the South African context is that it uses a clearly gqom-derived beat for a love song, a mid-tempo ballad, with an arrangement that features a forlorn piano and everything. That’s a combination I’ve never heard before. (I can’t stop playing it, it’s already one of the year’s top tracks for me)

i dont think this is a case where its especially confusing. the groove on gbese is a typical gqom groove. the groove on shado is not

As it turns out, the sound and melody (not the beat) of “Inhliziyo Yami Ithi Hey” are based in part on a sample (?) of the intro and coda of this two year old Kwesta hit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWC9ajet0bw

Kwesta ft. Thabsie • Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe

Both of these songs are still awesome, and voting is still open!

I'm getting kinda obsessed with the Shado

I know the feeling :-)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/40406708_1087409791428240_9044592983776690176_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=f85121a51c7fe8ce99c96a2d304949ef&oe=5D1B59A5

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Fair result. I want to thank everyone who participated in this poll (my very first!)

Bonus beats:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAVDas7jpw

Isgubhu Sama Qola • Sjokojo

(I did some research >> read YouTube comments << for context for the Shado M track. Most people where happy labelling it simply “gqom” (which I think has become kind of an umbrella term for contemporary SA house genres by now, much like “kwaito” was earlier). I did come across more specific references, such as “sgubhu”, “3-step gqom” and “sjokojoko”. But if this particular track is indeed “sjokojoko”, as the title would suggest, it’s nothing like “Ithliziyo Yami Ithi Hey”. If anything, it reminds me of Angolan kuduro house. It’s very good though!)

I still love this song (and its video!) about the heart demanding a say in things. It will be high on my tracks ballot (yes, you can vote🔶 for it). A one hit wonder for the ages.

(“Gbese” came close, but I didn’t nominate it in the end)

I totally missed this poll :(

new video link for "Gbese": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t16AdQkdbC4

and for Kwesta's "Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe", source material for "Inhliziyo Yami Ithi Hey":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amNUayhiVJI

that link for "Gbese" broke again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taqiVpjzNwg

... but I came here to post the belated remix with Niniola that's on Qdot's new Alagbe album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq7kqbLsrYc