“I put a spell on you” by Nina Simone
You will fall in love with Nina Simone, not because of her vocal brilliance, but because of the intensity of the passion she exhibits in her songs. There is nothing subtle about her artistry. Her messages are usually as dramatic as they are extreme.
That being said, this song isn’t just about Nina Simone’s emotional outburst. It is also about its beautiful instrumental arrangements: lush strings, piano jabs and “shy” but very present drum patterns.
“I put a spell on you” was originally written and recorded by Jay Hawkins in 1956. This version is the most famous of about a dozen remakes, all by prominent Jazz and Blues artists.
Hats off to the “High Priestess of Soul”.
Title: I put a spell on you
Artist: Nina Simone
Album: I put a spell on you, 1965
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“Diaraby” by Ali Farka Toure
“Diaraby” is another song that cements the status of Ali Farka and Ry Cooder’s “Talking Timbuktu” as a classic recording. The 1994 album propelled Mali’s leading guitarist onto the international limelight while at the same time providing a sort of confirmation that Blues music most likely originated from West Africa and reached American shores via slaves who brought their oral traditions with them.
The genre commonly employs the “call and response” technique (often between vocals and a guitar), which is a typically African musical feature. It is unfortunate that the recording industry often refuses to categorize this type of music as “Blues” and instead opts to give it the generic “World Music” tag, which doesn’t really mean anything if you ask me……Politics….Politics.
The interplay between the two guitars is beautifully offset by the rhythm created by the percussive instrument. The vocals tell the story of a couple fighting to overcome obstacles to their love, the biggest of which seems to be their respective families (and yes I do speak the language).
R.I.P King Toure. You are forever.
Title: Diaraby
Artist: Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder
Album: Talking Timbuktu, 1994
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Ssidy is what my friends call me. I was born in Senegal of Malian parents (hence my Mali nationality). I grew up all over the place…Bamako, London, Accra, Cape Town, before I went to college in Miami and finally got a job in Sydney where I’ve been living since August 2008.
When I’m not working on The Timbuktu Project, or as a financial analyst (full-time), you can usually catch me somewhere on a football pitch or involved in anything music related. Music is everything to me. Whatever mood I am in, there is always a song that captures the moment perfectly. Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes around me will probably attest to this: I listen to all types of stuff.....possibly because no single genre holds enough songs to quench that musical thirst of mine... 