Any one here like Alpha Blondy?

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So?

― cybele (cybele), Saturday, 9 October 2004 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

hi cybele!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 9 October 2004 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

hi cybele.

and, no, i never really liked him much, for some unknown reason really. but i only have a best of...tell me about him.

― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 10 October 2004 03:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to love Alpha Blondy but sort of lost interest a few years back, not sure why as I still enjoy hearing his songs when they come on. Have Jerusalem and a best of and don't really feel the need to get any more.

― H (Heruy), Sunday, 10 October 2004 11:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Kind of like what H said: I had a best of that I listened to really frequently for a couple years, but then I just got tired of him. I almost never hear his songs, so I'm not sure how I'd react to hearing one come on the radio or something of that sort. I think maybe some of it is just too sweet for me. There's a sweetness--I wish I had a more precised term for what I'm talking about--in a lot of African popular music that I find kind of offputting, and reggae already has something similar at times. I guess a good example of what I mean would be "Cocody Rock."

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Sunday, 10 October 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess I prefer a little musical edge in my reggae, because it's already a musical form that is so laid back.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Sunday, 10 October 2004 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll agree with you there, Mr. Scientist. I was listening to the new Steel Pulse and that's my complaint about that album too...absolutely no edge. I like Alpha Blondy's lyrics, but I think that it's important to remember that he was a Bob Marley fan first, reggae artist second.

― cybele (cybele), Sunday, 10 October 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

didn't he write a song about yitzchak rabin? that's pretty classic.

― Symplistic (shmuel), Monday, 11 October 2004 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

named an album after 'im.

― cybele (cybele), Monday, 11 October 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

true dat re Alpha and Bob.

and there is a new Steel Pulse? same members? actuallay my bro told me a few months ago he was going to se e'em and that was my same question.

― H (Heruy), Monday, 11 October 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

come to totally tuesday tomorrow cybele!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

There's a sweetness--I wish I had a more precised term for what I'm talking about--in a lot of African popular music that I find kind of offputting, and reggae already has something similar at times.

My favorite reggae pairs ultra-sweet singing with rough, sloppy instrumentation.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 02:36 (twenty-one years ago)

But there is very little rough, sloppy instrumentation in reggae. You're more likely to find rough, sloppy singing--e.e. Tenor Saw, Yami Bolo, Tojan...

― cybele (cybele), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 03:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I knew I'd get called out on that one. I don't mean that the musicians hit a wrong note or are out of time, but that it's, you know, dirty.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

IOW, the playing wasn't sloppy. The musicians just weren't playing any old thing, without regard to how it fit into the whole. They knew exactly what they were doing, and what they were doing (in my favorite stuff) was being funky, in the original meaning of the word. But really, the BEST is when it's both the singing and the instrumentation are simultaneously beautifully sweet AND funky.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

rough bottom sweet top

― bulbs (bulbs), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, I take your point--it's like the difference between Steel Pulse and Luciano. There's just something more real about Luci.

― cybele (cybele), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to listen to some of my old Alpha Blondy tape in order to comment, but when I played it, it didn't sound right. I don't remember him having an especially high voice. Have I just forgotten? Anyway, I think my favorite song the last time I was listening to him was "Brigadier Sabari."

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

seven months pass...

Apartheid is Nazism is mindfuckingingly great

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Friday, 13 May 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

now with extra ings for your dininging pleasure

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Friday, 13 May 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

eight years pass...

so what's the deal w/ this guy? my first exposure to his music was today!

― Mordy , Sunday, 16 February 2014 20:57 (eleven years ago)

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