Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I'm always excited when this list introduces me to things I was totally unaware of before, such as Miriam Makeba's wonderful voice and these amazing songs. Who ever could have guessed that there was so much more to music than just British rock? Favorite track: "Mbube"
Great album. Her voice is so smooth.
Fantastic album. Fantastic voice. I'm not familiar with Miriam Makeba. So far all the world music selections have been spot on. And this one was no exception. Easy 5 stars.
Top notch! Loved it. Heard it for the first time.
This is the 140th album I’m rating. Another world album. So far these have been pretty good, and I've liked them a lot more than the UK and US albums so hopefully this will keep up that world streak. Adding to my Playlist - The Retreat Song, Suliram (Indonesian Lullaby), The Click Song, Umhome, Olilili, Lakutshn, Ilanga, Mbube, The Naughty Little Flea, Where Does it Lead?, Nomeva, House of the Rising Sun, Saduva, and Iya Gaduza. Not Adding to my Playlist - One More Dance. The Click Song - This is really really good. Stuff like this makes me wish the list had more music from non-English speaking countries. House of the Rising Sun - I like this version. Very interesting and a lot more interesting than the one by The Animals. One More Dance - I hate that guy. All in all I liked 13/14 songs. Not a perfect album but this is pretty good. Listening to music from other cultures is always interesting. I wonder where all of the Asian albums are though. I've only seen African albums, and I'm pretty sure there aren't any Chinese albums. I don't think there are any Japanese albums either. When are they coming up?
This album is low-key phenomenal. An interesting and varied album that I NEVER would have listened to without this project.
If there was any reason I felt like being judgy about this album right off the bat, it had nothing to do with Miriam Makeba herself. The day my group got this album, I briefly skimmed her Wikipedia page and she seemed like a wonderful and fascinating individual. I mean, I don't think one would get the nickname "Mama Africa" for nothing, y'know? So I have no beef with her. No, no, no, for me, it all came down to that quote on the cover. Like, question for the cover maker, and it's "Aw, yeah?" Did you really think you needed to pre-emptively sell me this artist with a blurb from TIME on the cover? Is this a book? Or some "Game Of The Year" release? I'm jus'— dang, I ain't never seen nothing like that before. And I wouldn't'a hated the album just because of it, but goodness me. And of course, I didn't. I mean, this is an album babble, right? Not an album **cover** babble. Let's get on point. 'Coz... I mean, the quote isn't wrong. Far from being wrong, actually. Miriam Makeba is a beautiful singer. And it's like, I already knew African-language vocals could be amazing based on the sporadic encounters I've had with it, but being filtered through her voice... Yeah. It's incredible. Her voice is so good, in fact, that it helps distract from the fact that there's not really a whole else going on with this album compositionally. Which, y'know, maybe sparse arrangements like this are just truer to South African music than it's not (I'm certainly a dumb Canadian who wouldn't know), and I'm not blaming the album for choosing to place so much focus on Miriam's voice, but I'unno. If I hadn't been paying as much attention as I had, I think it would've been easy for all of the songs to start running together. I mean, the album plays its full hand of tricks very early on, and besides the laughing on "One More Dance", there's usually not much variety. Heck, the speaker I was listening to this album on, it sounded like nearly the entire thing was a capella. This isn't even that big of a complaint; it's just a little "huh" is all. 'Coz otherwise, yeah, it's real good stuff. And, like... It's just so nice to get another piece of so-labelled "world" music from this list again. I mean, the last time my group got something labelled "world," it was that damn Koffi Olomide album — y'know, an hour straight of music for cruise ship commercials. Between that and the Jah Wobble album my group got early on, "world" has unfairly been placed as one of my bottom three genres. And so, y'know, it's really nice to get an album this good and remind myself that I **do** really like it whenever we get music from outside the usual stops in America and the UK, to focus in on specific cultural sounds like Indian classical and this. So, yeah. An amazing voice singing this language beautifully... Even if I would want a bit more instrumental variety, I can hardly complain too much. It's just great — I hafta agree with the quote. And of course, I do hope Mama Africa's been resting in peace.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Miriam Makeba has a deeply fascinating life – just go read her Wikipedia page for a few minutes, because the circumstances that lead up to the release of this album feel like they would make for an incredible biopic. I don’t need to see Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan, I want to see someone play Miriam Makeba, and do it justice too. As far as the music itself goes, that sure feels like South African music, and a lovely showcase of it too. Peter Gabriel sort of gave a taste of this style a while back, but that has a much “bigger” feel by comparison (and several years of recording advancements, perhaps). This is trimmed down, and really hones in on her vocals as the basis, save for the intensity of the first track, which is a banger of an opener. Her vocals are fantastic throughout this whole thing, gliding on every track whilst having some stunningly strong moments. They do live up to the blurb on the cover art, though I do think this album does focus a little too much on her at times, instead of showcasing a bigger richness to the South African soundscape they’re going for. Instrumentally, I think this album does eventually stagnate into primarily a guitar/bass showcase, but when it’s showcasing a bigger range of instruments, it’s just a great, great listen. As a whole album, I think if you’re not vibing with this style within the first 5 tracks, it’s just not an album you’re gonna enjoy, because this album basically reveals all of its production tricks in those first 5. I will say this – because it reveals all of its tricks so early, even at just 35 minutes, this album does start to feel a little longer than that by around track 10 or 11. I’m not saying this should’ve been trimmed down at all, but I do think a bigger variety (or really, just a greater instrumental showcase past the first few tracks) would’ve helped the songs go by a bit faster. That’s basically why I’m at a 4.5, but I enjoyed this far too much to not bump it up. I’m really impressed by the overall clarity of these tracks; even if the version on Spotify is likely a remaster, to get that much out of these old recordings & give a proper space to let each instrument & vocalist shine (or laugh their ass off, in a weirdly psychotically charming way), then you’ve done something right. It’s a super fun album, and a well-needed dose of international flair that’s been missing from the list for a while now. Hence, the 4.5 bumped up to a 5. Good stuff, Miriam. Rest in peace.
Really enjoyable listen. No substantive notes other than "I really liked it"
What a treat. Love Suliram and Lakutshon' Ilanga in particular; love the electric guitar on the latter and Where Does it Lead. Love the words of The Naughty Little Flea. Obsessed with Charles Colman cackling all over One More Dance. Hilarious song. Gorgeous soothing album overall (though I was absolutely jumpscared by the end of Nomeva and Saduva)
Mama Africa!!!
From “Mbube” to the end I was hooked on the beauty of Makeba’s voice and the humor or seriousness of each song. Simply mesmerizing.
Loved it so much. Would listen again.
This album was just simply wonderful. I love Miriam's voice. This, again, isn't the type of music I normally seek out, but just had a blast listening to it while cooking.
Great album!
Beautiful voice, great vibe music for the house
Wow, what an awesome experience
This is one is enjoyable from the beginning. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but can’t wait to find a copy for the collection.
Really good stuff, really enjoyed it. Can't believe I'm giving 5 stars to a jazz album. Will definitely listen to again.
Awesome South African music, such a good singer and the songs are beautiful
9.3/10. Fun, amazing voice, legendary.
I think this other commenter summed it up well; "I have the zeal of a convert." She's got such a beautiful voice. Most of these songs are so much fucking fun. It just makes me want to get up, see Africa, and dance. Points off for "One More Dance" which was...too weird. Come on Miriam, enough with the old laughing homewrecker
Great songs and a brilliant voice!
really cool album. miriam makeba's voice is incredible and this is such a nice and sweet version of african music that has been made for a western audience. this is the exact sort of stuff that i wish there was more of on this list. the only thing on here that i think spoils the album a little bit is the track 'one more dance' which sounds like she is duetting with ed wynn's character from mary poppins. but otherwise, this is pretty stellar!
What a beautiful album. I hadn't heard of Miriam Makeba before -- and haven't really listened to much South African music otherwise -- so I am very grateful to have been exposed to this. Her voice is beautiful and the restrained instrumentation is a lovely accompaniment. "Suliram", "Lakutshn, Ilanga", "Where Does it Lead?" and "One More Dance" I especially liked, but this whole album I enjoyed thoroughly. I did some reading about Miriam and what an interesting woman and an interesting life. She was a protege of Harry Belafonte and married to Stokely Carmichael and Hugh Masekela?? Wow. I will definitely be checking out more of her music! 10/10. Excellent pull.
This album was so nice I listened to it twice... I actually really loved this! A high enough 4½ to be 5 on the app. 50s/60s world folk is kinda an untapped corner of my musical taste. My parents were very much into some of the more commercial side of 50s/60s folk. Some of the artists they'd listen would incorporate African and world folk styles music. I'm my college years I kinda poked around, but I've never really done a dive in to that rabbit hole, but I know it's there. (9.77) ★★★★½
I really like African music, it just transport me in my mind to another time/place and life. I really enjoy most of these songs, especially the ones in Xhosa. 4.5 stars
Great African music. Feels like this would have been successful during that phase of kitschy tiki bar, pacific island music phase of the 1960s. Plus it has the a prototype of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” that goes hard!
I think what I was looking for when starting this project was a bit naive, given that it’s not called 1001 Albums You Probably Haven’t Heard but Definitely Should. This album would be on that list. This I gorgeous. Not something I was likely to discover independently. A very pleasant listen.
5/5
just as much as yes was horrible music for the godawful mood i was in yesterday night miriam makeba is the perfect music for the elysian bliss i feel this evening after fucking cooking all day at work. i wouldnt say i know jazz at all but i did grow up listening to ella fitzgerald on miserably cold snowy evenings such as i find around myself again this evening + miriam makeba feels like i ran into a cool older friend for the 1st time in a while (ella fitzgerald) who had an equally cool friend of abt the same age w her (miriam makeba) with whom i immediately hit it off in the same way ^w^ she has that rare combo beautifully characterful emotionally expressive vocal quality x unimpeachable technique + control how many ppl can say that? suliram is so cozy n lovely. man its cool how african diaspora music <--> music from africa, some of this isnt familiar (+ is very cool!) but some rlly is like (pointing) oh like in jazz. not sure how much is independently developed vs how much is in conversation w each other but its nice. LINGUISTICS FACT: did u kno click consonants are only* found as an areal feature in southern/eastern africa? (* iirc theyre attested in 1 australian lang but said lang is actually a ritual/ceremonial register of the everyday lang of that community which doesnt have clicks so thats kinda different). i rmember my chorus teacher in hs made us learn some clicks for 1 song + she was very serious [gun pointing meme] make an effort...ive forgotten how tho. god she has such a nice voice. the transition btwn umhome --> olilili is very smooth kinda like theyre 1 thing, i like it. also ofc shes the star but good gravy her backup chorus are pros every one of em. love the tone + the harmonies. seriously bro lakutshn, ilanga sounds like a jazz standard. like uncannily. im not sure why this is. its very somewhere over the rainbow (positive). rlly wish i could understand the lyrics......what is it about....aww yeah mbube from music league!! liking that is why i was like okay i dont need to go spotify private sesh for this album of the day + that was 100% the right call, miriam makeba heal my spotify algorithm pls. god the backing chorus is so good in this too...the boss needs her adds the pope needs her cardinals the moon needs a shitload of stars. ghhhhhhh where does it lead is so [cateyes emoji] [kicking my feet] this is 1 of my favorite Song Moods. god her voice is SO good. this is a delight finally some good fucking food. the final verse of where does it lead gives me goosebumps. aaaaa clapclapclap. and then novema is u were up before dawn Thinking (where does it lead) --> sun rises as u decide 2 b optimistic (novema). OH MY GOD AND NOW SHES DOING HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN??? stoooopp you cant keep getting away with it. oh i love how charles coleman cant stop giggling as they sing that is so cute. he cant even finish the lines. hes like cracking up like he really is on something!! this is next level im dying.(CAN BARELY SAY IT) Y..OUR HUSBAND IS (WHEEZE) DEAD. TEE HEE!! oh the lower range in iya guduzu is such a nice lovely sendoff. despite this being a shorter album it took me extra long to get thru bc i kept listening to songs again and again. if there was even 1 flaw to this album it is that the human brain cant instantly understand lyrics in any language it hears, which is a tragedy of nature + no fault of miriam makeba &co. if i listen to only dumb ass idiot albums from here on out on this site it will be still kinda worth it for introducing me to miriam makeba. superb. sublime. 5/5 stars. standout tracks: suliram, lakuthshn ilanga, mbube, where does it lead, nomeva, one more dance, look i just listed half the fucking album. i would buy a physical copy of this record even if it somehow did not look cool which i know is guranteed false. EVERYONE CHEER + CLAP FOR MIRIAM MAKEBA OR I BLOW THE WHOLE BUILDING UP!!!!!
I have the zeal of a convert.
A beautiful and jazzy debut, full of fun and smirking nightclub joy. This feels like Miriam being brought to a nightclub to create whatever set she wanted, and her taking full advantage of the opportunity. It’s no wonder this is deemed a classic. There’s really only one weak track, “One More Dance”, that’s taken over by an overbearing duet partner who laughs the whole way through. Without context, it just fees out of place in an otherwise perfectly cohesive set. This one will be a return trip for me for sure. Belongs in the “perfect vibe” stack of albums. Really solid.
Brilliant.
la vita è troppo breve per non dare cinque stelle a questa donna, non mi sono annoiata neanche per un secondo e la sua voce è una carezza di velluto. The Click Song è splendida e Mbube è chiaramente l'ispirazione per The Lion Sleeps Tonight, veramente iconica. e ho scoperto che è anche lei che ha scritto e cantato Pata Pata, colonna sonora della mia infanzia. Mama Africa sei meravigliosa.
Beautiful, absolutely fantastic
Wonderful!
Loved this album. What a voice. I've always enjoyed the South African artists who have become popular in the West (Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soweto Gospel Choir, etc.). I know of Miriam Makeba, but mostly for her activism. For some reason I never really explored her music that deeply and only knew her most popular songs. Her voice is smooth like butter and she effortlessly adapts to different styles — from South African folk songs to Indonesian lullabies (Suliram) to American jazz/soul (House of the Rising Sun, Where Does it Lead?, etc.). The music and the backing vocalists are great as well — really enjoyed the blues/jazz influenced folk sound and the mix of uptempo dance songs and slower ballads. The only low point on this album is One More Dance — Charles Coleman sounds like he's drunk off his ass and the laughing throughout the song is cringe-inducing. The version with Harry Belafonte is much better. 4.75/5 — docking a bit for the awful Coleman song, but that's not really Miriam's fault.
Would not naturally be a favorite of mine, but albums like this are why I’m doing this project. I had never heard this album before, but I loved it. It was authentic, unique (in the context of most of these albums), and she had legit chops when she needed them.
great dinner album
How did I ever miss this!? Wonderful powerful talent. Just what I needed today.
Mbube! Huge history, on that one! Love folk music, great for lifting the spirits. Incredible taste of South African culture. I always love when the cultural notes come down from 1001AG. Will definitely be keeping this in the back for traveling.
Such a beautiful voice and album. Enjoyed the cultural language sung in this album, very sweet sounds.
4.5/5 Makeba's exceptional voice transcends language and culture in a both beautifully sweet and fantastically powerful performance. If only the quality stretched to the very end of the record, then the album would be something special. Charles Colman's bizarre, goofy laughing feature is something I won't be able to get out of my head any time soon though. The Retreat Song 5/5 Suliram 5/5 The Click Song 5/5 (FAV) Umhome 4/5 Holilili 4/5 Lakutshon' Ilanga 5/5 Mbube 4.5/5 The Naughty Little Flea 5/5 Where Does It Lead 5/5 Nomeva 4/5 House of the Rising Sun 4/5 Saduva 3/5 One More Dance 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Iya Guduza 3/5
This is why I got involved in this, something so extraordinary that I'd never normally listen to. Break the cycle of westernized anglicized music and melt away with this. The only sad part is it was far too short...
She sang during my high school years so I'm not familiar with her songs, though I recognize the name. The song Mbube has parts that aver similar to Whimaway.
This was great, the only issue i ever really have with these albums of soul (sort of) singers from african nations that were granted funding and platforms for albums throughout the 60s and 70s is that they had to pander to a western audience through inclusions of western canon standards. It's not always a bad thing because usually the singer is a big fan of this music themselves, but there is definitely something lacking in most of the non-African tunes on this album, maybe a passion or personal connection that doesn't feel as strong and I think the album suffers for it unfortunately. That being said this doesn't apply to all of the performances and majority of the record was a joy to listen to. But also was the laughing song supposed to sound so sinister because that was SCARY.
What a voice. Thoroughly enjoyable 50's Afropop.
Listened to this three times in a row. First time it wasn't grabbing me and I got distracted then part way through I realised I was really enjoying it in the background so when it finished I have it another go from the start. Later I was telling my wife about it and she thought it sounded interesting so we listened to it together.
Wow, I'd never heard of Miriam Makeba, but this is really great stuff. Nice mix of '60s jazz and traditional African music. Some very catchy tunes on here. My favorites are "The Click Song" and "Iya Guduza".
Such a powerful voice, so dynamic in expression and control as she goes from belting with such intensity to a smooth soft delivery in a matter of seconds, quite impressive. The first thing I thought about stylistically was Harry Belafonte, then a short search and I see they’ve collaborated together on many occasions. I should know a lot more about Miriam Makeba, I’m ashamed to say I don’t, especially as I read of all her accomplishments and struggles. As I listen to her sing I’m reminded of the power of music and performance over lyrics, even the songs that I don’t know the language I’m still moved and understand the emotions being conveyed for the most part thanks to Miriam’s insane vocal abilities. For me this is a perfect end of the day wind down album. I give it a solid 4.
I was excited to see this album today. Of course I know about the legendary Miriam Makeba but never sat down to listen to an album front to back. The tracks were mostly traditional songs; I was somewhat familiar with a few, but with most I was not. Since presumably she didn't write these songs, I won't evaluate the songs themselves as works of art, only her vocal performance of them, and the production. I find no fault with either. I feel this album’s aim was to simply showcase the voice of a gifted singer. The instrumentation and production simply had to give her a platform and not get in her way, let her do her thing and shine. Compared to some of the other albums on this list using a lot of ambitious songwriting and sonic experimentation, this is was a simpler goal to achieve (though no less worthwhile) and I think they did achieve it. The instrumentation was so spare, sometimes non-existent, and the recording was so simple and clear, giving Miriam nowhere to hide, not that she needed to, showing easy virtuosity with her beautiful, dynamic voice. I can't remember the last time I listened to an a cappella recording, and I found it to be an interesting and rewarding experience, just experiencing the excellency of a lovely human voice singing a traditional song. I often like to ponder musical family trees, and how various musical influences get passed down through time. I thought it was neat to hear so many shades of American music in some of these songs, like some of the melodies sounded so bluesy, or some of the arrangements evoked doo-wop style, stuff like the Four Seasons. American music clearly owes so much to African music. Miriam is one of those generational and cultural icons, like Edith Piaf, who both represent and transcend their time and place. My kids enjoyed listening to this with me and I could see having this type of music on as a pleasant backdrop for daily life.
This one I'm probably going to be pretty biased on. The first time I listened to this album I was about 6 years old. I was a child in Trinidad always looking through my parents music cassettes and vinyls. Among the names I would come across were Neil Diamond, Charlie Pride, Oscar De Leon, Abba, Roger Whittiker, Stevie Wonder large assortments.of classical music like Berlioz, Brahms, and Chopin and in there in the mix was Miriam Makeba. I grew up hearing her voice on vinyl a lot. The house would fill up with her voice. I was really glad to see her pop up on here as I have not listened to her music in quite some time. My dad.was a huge fan of hers, I can imagine not just because of her incredible voice but probably because of her background of digging her heals in against apartheid. Most of the songs on here brought back nostalgia. I can't tell you how many times I listened to the 'Click Song' and tried so hard to imitate the Xhosa language and get the click sound on the right word or vowel. It was impossible! I don't think there was really a miss on any of the songs. Listening to this stuff as an adult I am amazed at how powerful Miriam's voice is, it cuts through like an axe then at the same time she can restrain herself to sing quietly but still with a great tone. I remember laughing really hard at the One More Dance song because of the guy laughing in the song. The Retreat Song may actually be one of my favorites along with The Click Song. With it being released in 1960 I imagine this had to have been the first time many people throughout the world would have been exposed to indigenous South African language and culture. A great album.
No lo volvería a escuchar solo, pero me gustó bastante. Le pongo un 4 y le doy la última estrella por el cool african bonus.
Wonderful find on here.
Mama Africa at her very best. What a voice!
Wow. Incredible from front to back. Damn near a religious experience. This captures so many different sounds and sounds truly timeless. I feel touched by this album
I learned about this one because of that craptastic Makeba song that was all over the internet last summer but this is a great one. Her life as an anti apartheid activist in South Africa is in itself incredible but as a singer she’s untouchable. First song hits out of nowhere and immediately you feel the power of her voice. What struck me right away was the non-drum percussive sounds that accompany her impressive vocals. The second track flips to a gentle lullaby which is just as good as the punchier track before it. I don’t speak Afrikaans but the music is beautiful enough to make me tear up. The Click Song starts with her introducing the story of the song and it’s like listening to your favorite teacher. The album is short with 14 tracks, but I think this is her debut so the songs are also short to fit them onto a vinyl record. Old ass RCA Victor shit lol. The production is very good for something that came out in 1960! Seriously just stop what you’re doing and treat yourself to this record and learn about her life. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Well, this is nice. Soothing. Peaceful. I don't know the language in some of the songs, but I'd hope Miriam wouldn't pull one over on me and sing about kicking rabbits or anything nefarious like that. Rabbits are cute, they don't deserve that. I'm not saying something's intrinsic cuteness is tied to whether it's kickable or not, because snakes freak me out, I wouldn't call them cute by and large, but I wouldn't want one to be kicked, either. This has some good beats, but, again, don't beat up animals. Unless it's a life or death thing. But even then, a bear wants to kill me, who am I to stop a bear? If I don't have my bear repellent on me, that's my fault and I'm just not fit to survive.
This is great! I love almost all music I've heard that originates from Africa. Miriam mixes traditional Afro beats with western jazz and pop to create something (at the time) wholly unique. Her voice is beautiful across all tracks. Even her rendition of House of the Rising Sun (a song I absolutely HATE!) is an incredible and moving interpretation. I can see why she is well known for making "world" music more accessible to the US.
I was transported.
Awesome 60's singer! Loved the origin of Lion sings tonight, beautiful sound, top notch.
Not my cup of tea but that bass was great
This is what heaven sounds like.
Absolutely love this. It's just gorgeous in places, fun in others. Just makes me smile and feel warm. I know her a little from her Collab album with Harry Belafonte, which is also well worth checking out. An interesting life for sure, always an activist, married Stokely Carmichael of the black panthers, was also briefly married to Hugh Masakela another great South African musician. Tbh I want to hear 1001 albums from the 50s and 60s as it seems to force the editor into more interesting choices.
This is one that grows on you. Multiple listens, surely, unlock new subtleties, reveal nuances.
This is an excellent album by an artist I have never heard of before. THIS is what this list is for, not endless promotion of mediocre british musicians. 5/5
Love this album! Had heard a couple of her songs before, but not a whole album. The flow is perfect!
Beautiful vocals, a unique and effective variety of song styles, and an amazing artist history to go with it. If you are unfamiliar with Miriam Makeba do yourself a favor and read up on her career and life in general.
BANGER BANGER BANGER BANGER BANGER
I don't know what she's singing, but Miriam Makeba's eponymous album is sad, happy, kind and patient. I don't toss the word beautiful around too much, but there is no better way to describe the tune of this songbird. 5/5.
Not for me
Enjoyed listening to the entire album during my office hour!
This is absolutely exceptional. My first five star that I had never heard beforehand. What an amazing voice. Jesus.
New favorite that led me down an entire genre I knew nothing about. It was fun, eye opening, and wow she can sing. No skips, and a few repeats.
This is a really cool album, and many of the songs are in African dialects, rather than English. "The Click Song" is really fun Also enjoyed Mbube, which is the original "Lion Sleeps Tonight," and a fantastic cover of "House of the Rising Sun."
Wow. Albums like this are what make me glad to be participating in this list. This felt like a real discovery for me. I loved this album. It’s so full of heart and is just beautiful. Also, One More Dance is hilarious.
Cultural significance 5
5/5. I'm usually disconnected from albums that are not in English, just due to nature of understanding, but I don't need to know what Makeba is saying to feel that emotion and power from her vocals. Instrumentation is simple, to let her shine. The songs in English are dark and brooding mostly, despite the lyrical content. The uplifting non-English songs are beautiful and calming, I feel welcome in her voice, I don't know how to describe it.
Doesn't have my favorite song of hers, Pata-Pata, but I really like this kind of music.
Absolutely a gem. What a cool person and her music is lovely!
Listening to this while commuting in a dense and freezing Seattle fog was surreal. And anything that establishes Timon and Pumba as frauds halfway through the record gets an automatic five stars from me.
Amazing.
Beautiful!
Tykkäsin. Ei välttämättä lenkille, mutta muuten ehdottomasti kuuntelulistalle.
Glorious
Kinda loved it. Would listen to this album more
Absolutely stunning. She has such power and control and her emotive range is so freaking wide. Didn't take notes on individual tracks but just really enjoyed relaxing into her voice.
What an incredible album! I really wish the Europeans weren't such dickheads to Africa so that their music and culture could flourish a lot more, it's so unique and beautiful. The rhythms are so fun it feels like it was made to be danced to. And to me the harmonies sound very spiritual, not sure if they're meant to be or if that's just how I perceive them based on my cultural experiences but either way they're fire.
Beautiful. Had me hooked from the start.
Mais uma opção extremamente interessante para escutar música africana. Vocal envolvente e instrumental magnético.
so far im loving it the vocals of makeba wow
I admit I'm probably rushing to a 5 because something different, but I really enjoyed this start to finish. Sounds great all round.
The best kind of throw back.
Lovely album and if nothing else took me down a fascinating rabbit hole on "Mbube/The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
I was anticipating this one. This project has revealed a fondness for African music I was not aware that I carried, and this project only solidified my love for Paul Simon. So imagine my delight upon finding an African musician who has toured with Simon! I was immediately captivated. Makeba's voice is delightful, powerful, and passionate. There's a quiet intimacy, but unlike many other albums with sparse use of instruments, this doesn't feel cold, but warm. So very warm. There's many other albums that feel more impressive on a technical scale, larger in scope, but Makeba's voice quite literally carries you through fourteen lovely little songs. It helps that this album isn't a beefy one. Many of these songs are short and sweet, breezing from one to the next onto its conclusion. When I opened this album, I intended to save it for later, only for me to realise that my plan had failed seven songs in.
Wonderful voice, wholesome vibes album, and beautiful languages. I don’t think I ever would’ve listened to this if not for this gen, and I’m so glad I got the chance to.
Miriam Makeba was incredibly influential in the spheres of music and social activism. Her music walks the line between South African and Western forms without truly fitting into either. She is happy to sing in Xhosa or Zulu with western backing band creating a more overtly African music than later western musicians who were influenced by African music would go on to do. This is appealing because here, the control is being given to the African musician instead of the western musician. Makeba's voice is smooth, controlled, and expressive. This was truly a great album to be exposed to.
really cool!!!
This is the kind of thing I had hoped this entire list would be like! This was great. Wish I spoke the language but the wiki was helpful context.
A wonderful vocal texture. Its basically a world jazz vocal album, and her voice just sounds great. Where Does It Lead kills. House of The Rising Sun is a great cover. The laughing on One More Dance is charming, and her voice soars. What a fabulous album.
I thought this might have been a bit too much to start with, but it's just right. Still sounds fresh and exciting even though it's over 60 years old.
Beautiful voice.
Rating benefitted from it being a Friday album, but I kept coming back and listening throughout the weekend. Amazing covers and humorous songs mixed with beautiful music.
Absolutely magical album. My first 5/5
This was probably the most interesting thing i got so far, and i absolutely loved it
This is not an album I would have come across any other way, but I'm SO GLAD I did. Her voice is so beautiful and is incredibly comforting and soothing. It didn't matter if she was singing in English or other languages, upbeat or more serious - each song captured me in a way I was not expecting. I don't feel this way about many albums, but I didn't want it to end!
like it
Probably wouldn't end up in my collection but I can see why it's part of this collection. Makeba has a powerful and beautiful voice that reminds me of Nina Simone. A wonderful world music album.
Sensational. Xhosa is such a beautiful language.
A beautiful voice and a huge force for change in South Africa at the height of apartheid.
a perfect summer album personal favourites: [Where Does It Lead?] [Olilili] [House of the Rising Sun] [Lakutshn, Ilanga]
Amazing, like judy garland
A beautiful album to say the least. The vocals are effortlessly gorgeous with equally amazing music to accompany them. Favourite songs: The Retreat Song, Lakutshn Ilanga, and House of the Rising Sun. I love her voice — it is so smooth and claming and sets the mood of the album perfectly.
VERY good I really loved this
canzoni molto belle, voce perfetta, canzoni diverse e che trasmetotno emozioni bello
Beautiful
What a voice! This album is such a treat to listen to. Beautiful melodies, great musicianship, and perfect singing. I’ll listen to this again for sure and more of Miriam Makeba’s albums.
Would never have a reason to come across this if not for the list. Loved it.
Takes me back to the 60s, South West Africa, parties, dancing. I LOVE Miriam Makeba
Will definitely be coming back to this album
Wonderful! A terrific voice and variety of styles. Very very enjoyable. More please!
Classic slice of time, incredible voice and unique narrative perspective. A la Ella Fitzgerald. Naughty Little Flea top 10.
Fresh and sweet
These are fantastic songs. I liked e.g. the guitar in Saduva.
i hope shes a 4! No this is probably a 5 star album.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Paul Simon can stay home, we got Miriam now
Brilliant, and exemplifies why I was keen to do this: I would probably never have listened to this album otherwise. The click song and a couple of the covers were the only ones I recognised on first listen, but I loved pretty much every track. Wonderful
First time listening to this one. Love her voice and the influence was huge.
that was a super cool album 10/10 I don’t know how she’s able to sing The Click Song but that was impressive af
Maravilhoso!!!!!!!
Wow, I was blown away by her voice! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Miriam Makeba before. Really emotes in her singing.
Miriam Makeba is the self-titled debut album by Miriam Makeba (aka Mama Africa) released in 1960. She brought African music to a Western audience, and popularized the world music and Afropop genres. Miriam has nice and warm voice! The most interesting songs for me: Suliram, The Click Song, Holilili, The Naughty Little Flea, One More Dance.
Loved it. Worthy of a Jain song dedicated to her.
Very positive album. Smile all the songs!
Beautiful singing voice
Amazing.
really nice voice, and really nice music with a twinge of cynicism in places most joyous
This is absolutely beautiful.
WOWOWOW!!! i read up about her and i love her lmaooo her voice is amazing and lover her stuff and this album was pretty good! i wanna show my future kids her songs :)
Great african vibe, super fresh!
She’s awesome.
Magnifique album, très heureux d'avoir découvert cette artiste.
Amazing voice and awesome afro-American album. Variety is great and the click songs are unique. I don’t even mind not understanding half of the album that isn’t English.
Must've been a blast of fresh air in it's day. I've heard later stuff from her and liked it. A book end to Belefonte at Carnegie Hall. Good stuff.
Some parts literally brought me to tears and other parts (the Charles Colman duet) made me cringe. But overall this is a very beautiful record
Beautiful.
This is exactly the kind of music I’m doing this for. An excellent album, hugely influential and what an interesting artist!
Yes to this. No substantive reason, just yes. Lovely voice.
No idea what she's singing about, but her voice is beautiful and dynamic.
Theree isss a hoiuusee in new orleeaaansss
8/10 It's always exciting when a "world music" album pops up on this list - it's what I was hoping for when I started this list, and it's a nice diversion from the endless new wave, britpop, and Beatles (to say nothing of their endless derivatives). It's an interesting album that largely seems to follow western music conventions, with some notable deviations. I particularly enjoy Mbube (which is a cover of the song that eventually became a massive influence on the music of the Lion King), The Naughty Little Flea, and One More Dance - the latter two being songs with a bit of a sense of humor to them. That being said, the whole album is pretty good and certainly worth listening to.
4/5 muy nice
It's beautiful. Excellent production. It's very nice to listen to. It doesn't light my heart on fire, however.
Charles Coleman almost ruined this album his part was just so weird. But Miriam was incredible with her beautiful voice and singing and I loved her style
Good album. I can see where the Lion King folks swiped their shtick. This is better than that. Like a lot better than that.
another first listen. i am woefully undereducated in african genres, so this is a nice opportunity to hear more. her voice is lovely. Mbube makes me feel like Lion King just ripped it off, or perhaps it is a love note to the whole genre. i will have to look into that further. either way, its really cool to hear. favorite tracks: Umhome, Olilili, Mbube, Saduva
Not at all what I expected, what a lovely voice and album. One more dance was unsettling, but not because of Miriam. Highlights: mbube!
this was a lot of fun! reminds me a lot of ladysmith black mambazo, which I guess is not surprising. 4/5.
I like the background hiss
Unbelievable vocal skill. I can tell this is an amazing album. But, it's not something I would listen to regularly
What a golden voice.
Muy bueno y diferente
Möjligen råkade jag vara på precis rätt humör, men detta var mycket trevligt!
these are the album i love to get from this website. i would've never listened this album otherwise, but it's absolutely magnificent. i feel happier after listening to this, and that's all that matters sometimes.
Classic song Mbube <3
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: The Click Song, Mbube, Nomeva, House of the Rising Sun This was a pleasant album and a nice change of pace from what I've been getting from the List the last couple of weeks. Short and sweet, beautiful voice, and some familiarity with certain songs though popular media. One More Dance was a little weird. I can't tell if Charles Coleman laughing was deliberate or just goofing around on the track.
Saw her sing on Paul Simon's Graceland tour, outstanding. Never heard this before. Googling reveals that this album was recorded in NYC and mentored by Harry Belafonte. Excellent studio musicians and she is great of course. An interesting sidenote is the inclusion of Solomon Linda's "Mbube" which is the song that was adapted into "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Uncredited for many years, he is credited as "J Linda" on the record. The Chad Mitchell Trio sang on that track too. Which makes me think more people knew at the time than has been reported that this was not a folk song but someone's composition. The Tokens version came out the next year. If you ever want to go down to dark rabbit hole, you can read the evolution of that song. Terrible stuff! But Miriam Makeba most certainly would have known the original and that someone else wrote it. I wonder who she told.
She has a beautiful voice but this loses a point for the incessant laughing through "One More Dance"
What. A. Voice. Never heard her off of her before…Will look out some other tracks now. Only 2 misses for me: house of the rising sun, One more dance
Gorgeous voice, very cool lady. Loved listening to this
Loved the African songs...and wish it was a whole album full of them.
old style - very nice vocals
Nice!
Lowkey polyrhythmic.
This is the sort of thing that makes me happy I signed up to this challenge! Wonderfully refreshing stuff. I’m trying to listen to more and more stuff from across the globe, so this was an excellent addition to my rotations.
Loved it! Never heard of her, and the genre of music is pretty new to me. One or two dodgy tracks but the rest are just great
her voice is beautiful!! i’m just unsure if her husband is ok
Black history. Black power. Importante culturizarse y saber los contextos de este tipo de álbumes
An unexpected delight. Will explore more.
really enjoyable
Beauty of an album. This was new to me and I will be checking out the rest of the catalogue.
It was a lovely listen
I had never heard this one before. Really fun, standout album. It was neat to hear some stuff from South Africa.
Gorgeoussssss vocals
Really enjoyed this album. It was my first non-English album on the list and it was an absolute treat. Makeba has a beautiful voice and I would love to explore more of her work in the future.
Very lovely. "The Click Song" was phenomenal.
Quite good and lively.
Very fun and bright
a very fun interesting flavor of world music!
Beautifully comforting
Historically and politically massively important, and there are some belting tracks on here, particularly the ones that use Xhosa or isiZulu. That's right up my street though, and are exactly the sort of thing I'd listen to time and time again. To my mind, as an album it's let down by the English tracks which tend to be slower and more crooning. I understand why they needed to be included back when this was produced, and although I hope we'd be braver today with something like this, I'm not sure everyone would be. That's the only thing stopping this getting 5 stars. An easy 4 though.
She has an incredible voice and was pleasantly surprised by the playfulness of the album having read about her anti-apartheid views and reputation as a protest singer. Also nice to have 'world music' for a change.
Enjoyable album ... this recording was obviously tailored to the international commercial market, and the constraints that puts on what is possible artistically are unmistakable and felt throughout. The energy level lifts dramatically when we get to Mbube, easily the best song here; it's not an accident that that song became famous. Interesting that it's called Mbube here and Wimoweh elsewhere. I'm curious what else she was able to achieve, perhaps in the 70s, when the market shifted toward deeper engagement with the specific sounds of individual cultures.
I wish I knew more about the history of Miriam Makeba's career. I imagine that it was beyond unusual for an African artist, let alone someone from apartheid South Africa who speaks Xhosa. Not too many years before this, Yma Sumac's truly weird and cinematic music was wowing the white lads' lounge kink fantasies... was Miriam Makeba's music sold in that category? I love her music and the strength, pride and good cheer it projects.
This was a fun discovery, I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. South African music with a heavy focus on Miriam's vocals which are great which range high energy to soft and emotional. Its very pleasant to listen to even if I'm out of the lyrical loop most of the time and mostly gives off a positive vibe that makes you feel comforted.
Þetta fannst mér alveg frábær plata. Ótrúlegur listamaður að hafa getað breitt út svona tónlist árið 1960. Mikilvæg í baráttunni gegn Apartheid líka.
Brilliant voice, feels like Miriam might be another of those artists that is hugely famous in their home country without breaking out into wider acclaim (or more likely I've just not heard them). Recorded in a way that really captured the live feel and suited the great vocals. Loved naughty little flea the most, a sound full of sunshine, grinned the whole way through. Despite all this praise, I'm not sure I would be listening again and again, its not a genre that demands attention (from me at least). That said, as background music for eating I'm definitely putting this on.
I've never heard of this artists & not familiar with any of the songs but I enjoyed the album.
1,001 whiplash is getting Korn one day and then Miriam Makeba the next. This is a great 1960s world music selection from a South African artist. Pleasant, playful ("The Naughty Little Flea"), with an interesting mix of languages (I don't think I've ever heard music incorporating click consonants before), and still a little familiar at points ("Mbube" and "House of the Rising Sun"). Glad to have been exposed to this.
7/10… afro jazz / weltmusik / *1960
Day823 - she has such a beautiful clear voice. the click song was my favorite. it must have been a contractual obligation for every artist back then to cover the house of the rising sun
It’s sounds like some Disney songs, has different genres and represent the main culture of South Africa where is miriam
Admittedly I thought this one was a 2 for the first couple tracks...interesting enough but sort of boring. But from "The Click Song" onwards I was surprised and delighted again and again. "The Naughty Little Flea" sounds like something a mother would sing to her kid if she was an awesome mom."Mbube" was clearly the inspiration for "In the Jungle" (as I'm sure a million others will note, but I make a point not to look at the other reviews until I've done mine). By the time I heard the guy cracking up on "One More Dance" I was smiling. This records a charmer, and while I can't see having it in heavy rotation, I will be revisiting it again here and there.
This album was incredible and not something I would have listened to on my own at all. Her voice was ethereal and so soothing. Beautiful music. Great woman as well.
4/5 This woman has such a wonderful voice, this entire album was such a treat to listen to. I felt like I was listening to lullabies sung by an angel. Knowing she was also a great person and activist makes me very happy to listen to her.
She has a great voice and even though I have no idea what she is singing about, it sounds good and is interesting. No idea what is going on in One Last Dance though. Charles Coleman is laughing his ass off and Miriam is still singing beautifully and keeping it together. Does fit with the vibe of the rest of the album. This was 1960 though and at that time most artists were known for singles instead and LPs were usually collections of singles and filler so this track might have been there as filler. Overall great. 4/5
Hadn’t heard of this album going in, entering with a free mind. Enjoyed the cover of House of the Rising Sun and Naughty Flea song. Overall pleasant album to build things to on a sunny day.
I imagine this has some sort of cultural or historical significance, but I just don't really enjoy South African music. That being said, this was definitely is the best South African album I've ever heard. Pleasantly surprised, and it reminds me a lot of Billie Holiday. And hey, it was short! The fact some songs don't even crack 2 minutes shows that Miriam Makeba was an OG punk.
Very nice surprise. 60’s crooner with a twist. Someone should write a book about Mama Africa.
Another surprise! I loved this album! 4/5
Miriam Makeba - Mama Africa and of course Len Houmous Papa New Guinea. 4.2 4/14 Umhome
африканские мотивы и джазы хорошее комбо
- This is very pretty - what a gorgeous voice. And, she sounds like she was an amazing person. - Her voice is definitely more interesting than the instrumentation, which doesn't really stand out. - It feels a bit dated, but still modern for 1960. I guess I'd say it is more background than foreground, but it has moments where it comes alive.
Great find
Stunning voice, really enjoyed it
I enjoyed this, I’ve been listening to a lot of 1970’s Ethio-Jazz and Afro-funk on a Sunday morning so this hit at the right time! Great listen and I’ll definitely try to explore more of her music!
I knew that “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was taken from “M’bube” but never listened to the original until now. This is the debut album by the South African artist and activist, from 1960. There are some traditional African songs here along with some English ones. I’ll give this one four stars partially because it’s totally different from the other music we hear, and partially because it’s a fun record to listen to.
As well as thoroughly enjoying the music itself, I found this very moving to listen to. Here is someone who became caught up in politics and was exiled from their homeland, all because they wanted to sing. I thought the blend of musical styles was beautiful.
The click song was a lot of fun
Darling, go home! Your husband is DEAD.
I could get into this. Just pretty pleasant to listen to. Thank you Miriam Wasn’t sure what to make of One More Dance?? he was just laughing so much about her husband dying
Lovely lovely voice
What a pleasant little surprise. I can't not comment on the similarity between the opening track and the Lion King song. She has a helluva voice, and the African vibe was just right - clearly present, but I didn't feel bludgeoned by it. Influence 4. Quality 4. Intangibles 4. Hits 2. I likes it 4.
Brilliant voice and what I believe to be an excellent representation of popular music from the 50s and 60s in Johannesburg. It was nice to listen, but I will probably not put it in any kind of rotation unless I plan to visit Johannesburg.
This was a wonderful start to my day. A smooth beautiful soundtrack to my sunrise. I can't say I love the whole album, but it hit me at the perfect time.
Really enjoyed it! Especially the 2 minute cover of House of the Rising Sun!
gorgeous!! beautiful storyteller and beautiful voice. i really enjoyed all of it and wish it was longer. I also loved hearing fragments of songs that became so classic and ubiquitous that I just subconsciously think of them as authorless, but apparently they are from Miriam and her impact is just so wide without my even realizing! Fav tracks: The Click Song; Lakutshn, Ilanga; The Naughty Little Flea
Album #30, Miriam Makeba, Miriam Makeba ⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a treat. A genuine new discovery from an artist I’d never even heard of before. I didn’t know the name Miriam Makeba at all. A quick glance at her wiki shows she led a pretty incredible life, so I’m looking forward to doing a proper deep dive. The page for this album is sparse, but I know it’s her debut from 1960. I’m not very familiar with music from that time, especially anything coming out of Africa, so this felt like a proper discovery. The whole record is basically a vehicle for her voice, and what a voice it is. She’s funny, sweet, occasionally a little bit sexy, and genuinely beautiful throughout. The instrumentation is sparse, but it really suits the material. I’m not usually into flamenco style Spanish guitar, but it works here, especially on the more sombre tracks. The authentic African rhythms and vocals are the real highlight for me. Even more than her covers of traditional American songs like “House of the Rising Sun”, which I still enjoyed. I’m also a sucker for backing vocals. It’s usually female backing vocals I gravitate towards, but here it’s baritone male singers and it fits perfectly. This is exactly why I’m doing this list. There are bound to be gems I’ve never even heard of, and this is definitely one of them. Looking forward to hearing more.
What a voice. In other news, she's an important figure of the 20th century that most don't know about.
Album No. 0162 on my list. I had heard the name Miriam Makeba before and I knew that she was from South Africa, but I had only a rough idea about what music she performed. I have to say that even though it's not necessarily my favorite style, this is a pretty good album! Very unique style, even though it nicely blends into "Western" jazz and soul music so that it was very accessible to me with the little understanding I have about South African music. Good songs, incredible voice. I also like the mixture between English and Non-English lyrics. Sounds pretty good despite its age as well. I 100 % get why this album must have been pretty influential and why it landed on the 1001 album list. I'm glad I'm participating in this 1001 album journey, because I would probably never have discovered this great album otherwise. This is really why I'm doing it. Not all songs were very memorable to me, but at the same time, I didn't encounter a really bad one either. All songs have a certain level of quality to them (even "One More Dance" which is a bit annoying is still interesting because of the dialogue between a man and a woman it represents). I'll add "Suliram", "The Click Song", and "Mbube" to my playlist. Very glad I discovered this. 4/5 stars.
Always great to get an album on this list that you would never have listened to in a million years. Makeba has a very beautiful voice, and it was really great to hear the original 'Mbube'. Nice combination of tunes, but I definitely have to dock a point for Charles Colman though.
Mukavan letkeää menoa, rytmikästä vaikka ei aina ole perkussioita mukana. Hyvä levy
278/1001. Her legacy, sotory and influence is much more greater that can be heard from this album. That can be even seen from the album's wiki page, which is basically empty. There is some sort of cautiousness at display here. Perhaps it would be quite wrong to blame her for sounding too western or not exotic enough - that would just enflame the otherness, and after all she was a cosmopolitan mover already in the early 60s. But what if most of the music just sounds dated? Meaning - I don't consider it a classic which has stood the test of time, but rather an album which just pinpoints one era? The latter is of course valuable as well, and there are classic songs here, which helped to make it easier for music from non-western cultures to emerge. But is it due to this album alone? Not in my opinion. However, for the songs, the interpration and legacy and the fact that albums defying the western canon are quite scarce here, a four.
I wnjoyed this album a lot. Was that one song the influence for "lion sleeps ttonight?"
Never heard of Miriam Makeba so I like being exposed to new music. This is pretty good, I'm glad I listened to it but not sure I would ever put it on.
Beautiful voice and a nice sparse album
Lovely and bright easy-listening
This is a lovely album. Beautifully sung.
Like almost everything about this. The one song with the bloke laughing all the way through was fucking horrible.
Pleasant and positive. Happy vibes.
Loved her voice, and learned more about South Africa!
not really my thing but my mom would've loved this
Generator got me on an African kick rn and I am not complaining.
good, good fun.
Nice and soothing
Some songs sound a bit like disney trying to make foreign music, but most of it charming and joyful
oh wow stimm. ha sie auscho ghört aber nie mega viel. super super geile erste song wow. suliram meh lamsam aber super schöni disney bgvs. the click song isch huere funny dass de so heisst. aso nai trurig. aber es goht um hochziit? solo acapella au schön. holilili uuuh wieder chörliii one more dance isch uuuuuhuere funny hahahaha. aha und house of the rising sun banger sie singt so schöööön.
Voice like honey, mad lines about a flea scratching your back - what an absolute balm to the batshit 2026 world we live in. This is the 1960s music I want to listen to; it sounds great, it's got good danceable beats and smooth vibes, it's got some man giggling about your dead husband (?). This is a great album, one I would not have come across otherwise (call me uncultured) - but one I am glad to have listened to now.
Nice to mix things up a bit! And it's a real nice one to boot, you can see why her voice has always been talked about as one of the best. Soothing vibes then joyful dancy vibes, fun for the end of a long week! Shout out to the wacky song about a flea. Scratch, scratch me back! The weird duet about a dead husband is very odd but I like it.
Owes more to jazz than soul, but enjoyed the combination of influences 4*
Very cool, liked the emotion and the “community” feel to these tracks.
Muy interesante, había escuchado de ella antes pero no conocía de cerca su trayectoria.
This is why I started doing this, I absolutely loved this album. ‘Mbube’ is fucking great I can’t believe I’d never heard the original before. I enjoyed every song, Miriam Makeba is so fun to listen to.
This was a total surprise, this is completely not my thing, but this lady had a great voice, there were a couple of weak tracks, but I enjoyed most. I really liked the Mbube track, good to dance to. I won't be rushing out to buy the album, but I certainly will not avoid in the future.
This is a lovely album! I was really taken back by her voice. Even the music, which normally isn't something I would gravitate toward, I loved hearing it. It's uplifting but has some quieter tender moments throughout too. I will definitely save this one off for future listens. Biggest Hit - The Click Song Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - Lakutshn llanga Hidden Gem - Nomeva
Another wonderful discovery from this project. Enjoyed this immensely. What a beautiful voice. I agree One More Dance does not fit and detracts from the rest of the album a bit but this quirky album is a breath of fresh air. 4.5 /5
Enjoyed listening, new music for me
Very pleasantly surprised
Afraid I’d never heard of Miriam Makeba, how I’ll never know. I loved this
Enchanting rhythms and a beautiful voice. Blew me away the first time I heard it and still love it now.
Pretty fun & lively listen. Gives you a glimpse into traditional African music from the 60's from who I can only assume was a very influential artist in her native country in Miriam Makeba. Hearing 'Mbube' was fun too, a cover itself but later famously coivered by the Tokens as 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'.
Wow! She appears to be the catalyst of lots of trends in the 60s.
What a beautiful surprise this turned out to be. I had zero idea about the massive legacy here, which feels crazy now that I’ve heard it. The music is incredibly infectious and full of life. Just a lovely, warm listen from start to finish. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - The Retreat Song - Suliram - The Click Song - Mbube
Really pleasant surprise as I don't normally listen to anything like this. Loved her voice and the blues influences in here. Super cool to hear 'Mbube' and to get some context for 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' (even though Miriam's version is a cover). 4⭐️
One thing I've come to realise about myself in the course of listening to 500 or so albums from this site, is that my enjoyment of songs strongly depends on how nice the vocals are. So many albums on this list have people shouting, screaming, talk-singing, mumbling, or just with irritating voices, and that fully puts me off a piece of music from the get go, even if I like the instrumental parts and the lyrics are interesting. So it's so, so refreshing to hear someone who can really sing and just has a conventionally lovely, strong, sweet voice. This album also has quite a joyful vibe to it that makes it hard to listen to without smiling. Great stuff
I loved the version of house of the rising sun.
Prachtig, in hou ervan. Zal het vaker gaan draaien.
Really lovely album this. Didn’t like One More Dance particularly but her voice is incredible and the songs are broad and interesting.
Yeh man, great stuff.
Brilliant!
I am on my second listen 🎧! On my first listen the first song 🎵 shocked me but mom and I are thoroughly enjoying the album although we cannot understand the artist at times 👯♀️. I added a few songs to my personal playlist on the first listen 👂 ❤️.
A powerful singer with a strong message.
click!
8 Best vocals award so far more African music pls
Lovely arrangement of blues and african song writing and rythmns against a late 50s early 1960s pop sound. I think this album was really worth the slop on this list. I'm not a total hater of the project here but a lot of the time its a junk album or something lackluster. This really made me smile today.
It's always a joy to broaden the musical horizons and listen to music from different cultures, and there's a unique beauty to the voice of South African singer-songwriter Miriam Makeba. Her debut album is full of tracks that show off her unique voice, with lyrics switching between English and her native Xhosa tongue, and utilises the band of famous American singer Harry Belafonte to add serene beauty to the songs. Makeba was the first singer to bring African music to a Western audience, so this album is trailblazing in that respect, but it also emerged at the height of the darkest period in South African history. The Apartheid movement had exiled Makeba to the US and, through her songs and profile as a musician, expressed plenty of opposition and condemnation of the white-minority South African government enforcing institutionalised racial segregation in their country, something that resonated with African-Americans who were facing their own battles for civil rights. This is probably an album where the sociopolitical significance of it trumps the actual quality of the music, but the traliblazing quality of Makeba is warranted given her impressive, relaxed vocal chops and the creation of something new and unique for Western audiences to sink their teeth into. Best songs: The Click Song, Olilili, Mbube, Suliram
Lovely
great voice, not very dynamic but the music is good. i was borderline on giving it a 5 up until charles couldnt stop laughing on one more dance. it really detracted from an otherwise interesting song and dropped it a full point for me.
I know nothing about Miriam Makeba, but the limited amount I read today is pretty incredible. I kinda want to read her autobiography now. As for this album, it's lovely—minus the two irritating novelty songs, "The Naughty Little Flea" and "One More Dance"—and it's the reason I'm doing this project. "The Retreat Song" stands out for me, especially how she comes out swinging with her vocals. I'll definitely check out more of her stuff.
this was really cool to listen to!
What great voice!
This artist had an amazing voice and I would like to hear more of her material. Plus it's always nice to discover, and find that I like, an artist I never heard before. I don't think I will add this album to my collection, but I may well listen to it again sometime.
Cool music, could not find that particular album though.
I nearly always seem to give "world music" a 3/5 which is a bit of a cop out. However this one stands above most, in part because The Click Song and Mbube alone are gems. Glad I've listened to this one.
I like this way more than I thought I would.
Think it’s great great showcase of jazz/classical voice. 3.5
Enjoyable listening...however, One More Dance would have been much more entertaining (and perhaps funnier) without dude laughing all the way through.
Lovely surprise!
refreshing
beautiful voice and musical arrangements
This was so interesting and lovely.
It’s interesting to hear so much alignment with the music of the Caribbean, and yes I know the reason. This is nearly the same genre as Harry Belfonte. No matter the reason it’s fascinating to hear how music travels, adapts and maintains. These tunes are objectively danceable and beautiful. As is her voice.
Miriam Makeba's debut album was a delightful surprise! Her voice is so expressive, graceful and beautiful, even though I don't understand a non-English word. Warm and engaging, a pleasant listen.
Fun album! More of this and less 300 albums by the same 50 British artists no one has heard of please! 8/10
I love how the description makes it seem like people in the US had no idea there was music in Africa until this album came out. Not that I don’t believe it! “World Music” has always been a sad and hilarious label. There’s the US, the UK, and then “The World”. Anyway, the record is pretty cool.
What a voice!
Only knew Pata Pata before (the BBC Soul Music on that song is really worth listening to). Glad to expand. Wonderful music. Although would love a version without the crying laughter on One More Dance. That takes it down a whole star.
What a joy. How can someone from such a tough, challenging hard environment sound so calm and beautiful
This is the shit I signed up for. Great great stuff from 1960.