Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Wonderful introduction to traditional African music, arranged and sung with grace. Makeba's vocal is amazing wether singing Xhosa clicks or more western style tracks. There's great jazz backing throughout. The vocal does become overpowering at times and some song choices could be better.
This album was something unique and pretty cool! The singer is great and the backup vocals are great complements and make interesting environments for songs. There’s an intriguing African flavor and culture to it while it remains very accessible. Songs range from fun/joyous to sparse and beautiful. Instrumentation is fairly minimal but sets the stage for the vocals nicely.
I want to listen to it more.
What a voice! Lush African arrangements and backing voices lift this one til it's closing minutes. You got some great covers and folkloric themes throughout so it's never a dull moment. Part of what I love about music is the ability it has to take you to other regions and times and teach you about different human experiences through that transportational element. This album is definitely up there in that capability.
Schöne World Music
Very impressive album. Her voice is exceptional. Favorites are the songs not in English particularly the ones with clicking in them
A couple great songs. The rest isn't half bad either! 5/5: One More Dance, The Naughty Little Flea, House of the Rising Sun 4/5: Suliram, Where Does It Lead, One More Dance is so great and funny. Suliram is such a nice song. I have no idea what she's saying but the melody is fantastic. 3.75
I fell for it almost instantly, it's so damn pleasant and surprising. She inspired millions and this is proof that you just can't beat the genuine article. Anyone who "borrowed" from this sounds generic in comparison.
4 stars, groovy and soulful, she has a great voice.
Powerful stuff. Miriam Makeba’s eponymous album is a strong introduction into the legend’s talent. Multiple languages, wide range, exposed vocals - overall, a very impressive recording. She is credited with being one of the first artists to bring African music to the global stage and she does an incredible job. Her rendition of “House of the Rising Sun”, while very different than that of the Animals, is chilling, moving, and thought provoking.
Amazing voice, great songs.
Great music and singing, I love the Gwen Davis song Where Does It Lead.
It was cool to hear what I assume is the traditional version of “Suliram” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Surprising this album is from 2012. Initially would have guessed the 50’s. I like it. 3.7
Her voice is amazing. Suliram may be the most beautiful song ever. 4.2
I love to discover new artists and this is one that I liked and was totally new for me.
Great voice. Enjoyed the jazzy feel to the album. Especially enjoyed The Click Song and Where Does It Lead.
4+/5
Typically I find it hard to connect to international sounds, but I did find this to be quite accessible and as a bonus it's a short album Miriam Makeba's self-titled album, released in 1960, is a captivating showcase of her extraordinary vocal talent and the rich musical tapestry of South Africa. The album blends traditional African rhythms with jazz and folk influences, creating a sound that is both vibrant and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Makeba's voice, with its soulful expressiveness, takes center stage, particularly in tracks like "Pata Pata." The album is not only a musical triumph but also a significant cultural statement, introducing global audiences to the diverse musical traditions of Africa. "Miriam Makeba" is a timeless classic, earning a well-deserved 4/5 for its cultural importance and musical excellence.
very enjoyable, she has a gorgeous voice. particularly enjoyed one last dance as a man can't stop laughing while he tells her that her husband is dead lol
I had to cringe when I saw the genre for this online was "Ethnic" as it reminded me so much of the "Ethnic" food aisle in the supermarket in the 1970s and 1980s which usually would be salsa, tortillas, maybe soy sauce... Ugh. Evaluating this on its own merits, it's a pretty amazing recording for the time, really well produced, easy to hear everyone and all the instruments. It's always hard when lyrics are in a language you don't understand, but conversely, it's easy to appreciate the beauty, conviction and energy of the performance.
She is a pretty good singer. I like it quite a bit. Mbube seems to be where those fuckers stole the "In the Jungle" melody from. Overall pertty enjoyable. A low 4/5
Gewoon vrolijke Afrikaanse muziek, geen knallers.
Suliram may be the most beautiful song ever. Incredible voice. Otherwise sort of ladysmith black mambazo sounding. Some xhosa clicks. 4.5
oh neat
Delightful! Some really soulful tracks, the middle run from Mbube -> House of the Rising Sun is great. Easy to see why this is considered part of the "coming out" party of African/world music. Favorite track: The Naughty Little Flea
This isn't music I would have ever been exposed to and I loved it. It's excellent easy listening, similar in some ways to jazz, and the kind of thing I'd put on in the background for a nice dinner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Q_lhgGANc
This was delightful, beginning to end. The number of times it punched through was pretty amazing. A great way to start the day.
An album that grew on me over the course of a single listen. Totally not what I'd listen to by choice, and I'm not sure I would do so again despite finding much to appreciate. Miriam Makeba has a lovely voice - perhaps a little warbling for modern tastes, but it oozes with warmth and a kind of coquettish quality. It's also versatile, able to pull off nightclub chanteuse and South African folkster with equal aplomb. Whilst I enjoyed the strangeness (to my European ears) of 'The Click Song', I found myself really digging torch song 'Where Does it Lead?' and perhaps even more surprising, a novelty song - 'The Naught Little Flea' - on which Makeba sounds positively impish. Elsewhere, 'Mbube' is a treat and 'Saduva' transported me quite somewhere else. About the only dud is 'One More Dance'; cringeworthy stuff. Still, this gets four stars for being interesting, varied and at times rather enjoyable.
Completely and unexpectedly charmed by this. "Lakutshn Ilanga" is beautiful and how fun was "One More Dance"? Aside from being enjoyable all year round, I oddly got "this would work well at Christmas" vibes from this one, too. I'm gonna make that happen.
A genuinely beautiful voice. Very happy that albums like this are included in the list, broadened my horizon just a little bit and introduced me to an artist I had never heard of. 3.5/5
Beautiful vocals and atmosphere.
What a great voice, and a nice variety of songs. Historically relevant too. This album deserves to be on this list.
Good mix of African music and the sound of the era. There are some songs in English on the back half, so I was surprised when I realized I was actually understanding the lyrics on one song. It’s also odd, but kind of hilarious that the male singer is just having a full-on giggling fit on ‘One More Dance’ as in the song he’s telling his girlfriend that her husband she’s cheating on is dying (he straight up LOSES IT when he dies). Anyway good album.
Really great voice. Interesting to hear songs in a different language.
This actually deserves to be on this list unlike many albums so far.
Lourd
jain avait raison
Good fun from Miriam Makeba (even if the recording is a bit spotty)
Probably one of my favorite international albums thus far. Perfectly fits into that 50s/60s female soul framework which personally I love and showcases African music with the clicking so well. Absolutely no clue what compelled her to produce One More Dance was but I’ll choose to ignore it as an accident because the rest of the album was very well done.
What a beautiful voice! Reminds me of some of the 60s folk singers my parents played when I was a kid. I could see myself listening to her again.
Mama Africa, popped off..beautifully. When I started studying speech pathology, I had to go down a rabbit hole about music: singing with them will never cease to amaze me. A beautiful album and she’s an icon. “It isn’t a noise, it’s my language” Charles Coleman got me
It was a nice change of pace to listen to music not for the words, but for the music itself and the emotion within. After all, isn’t the meaning of the words we say just a fraction of the meaning we hope to communicate anyway? Either way, Miriam Makeba communicated her meaning with clarity and grace. In “The Retreat Song,” Miriam may as well have been a bird singing in the morning dew. She paid homage to her hometown of Johannesburg in “The Click Song” while revealing her humorous side at the same time. Fuck dem Tories! I couldn’t help but research “Mbube” as I listened to it. I had no idea of the origins of this song, or the fact that it originated in the 1930s, but I do know one thing without having to consult Google: Disney made a few quick bucks off the tune. I knew the Animals didn’t write “House of the Rising Sun” themselves, but I wouldn’t have thought it was an international sensation before they got to it in 1964. “One More Dance” showed an interesting stylistic choice, to say the least. Miriam didn’t break from the mood of the rest of the album, but Charles Coleman had me laughing almost as hard as he was. Maybe it’s my extremely limited knowledge of South African music (the extent of which hardly goes beyond that phase Peter Gabriel had), but Miriam Makeba’s self-titled album seems to me as timeless as the sun rising over the horizon. I may not understand it to its full extent, but aren’t the greatest works of art those that make you feel something anyway?
Reminds me of my childhood; mom had this album. Some beautiful songs, some goofy (the flea one, the laughing one). The African ones are the best by far.
lindo
Une très belle voix, particulièrement démontrée sur la pièce Where Does It Lead. Généralement un très bon vibe, ça se laisse écouter. Production imparfaite mais ça rajoute au charme de l'album. Très intéressant d'avoir les langues sud-africaines sur l'album. Le genre d'album que je ferais jouer une belle journée d'été. 8/10
Fantastic record.
very good, beautiful singing and harmonies.
Fun South African album, very easy listening. Except for "One More Dance", I liked just about every track.
1960. This woman is crazy prolific. Amazing story of being exiled from South Africa and then returning after 30 years when apartheid ended. Also, she's awesome. The song "Mbube" is definitely where they stole "Hakuna Mattata".
4.0
This was a fun little album. A lot of the songs were very pleasant, and the slower songs were nice as well. I was worried this would be a 3 star, but I'm happy to give it a 4. My favourite songs were The Retreat Song (Jikele Maweni) and One More Dance.
So beautiful. I love this.
LoFi beats track 6
The opening track was fantastic! What an interesting genre I wouldn’t listen to normally. And I loved the song Mbube. The arrangements on everything really show the skill of everyone involved creating this.
Good stuff
Not what I usually listen to but this kinda slaps
Bill
Lovely album! Definitely can see myself returning to it many more times
Hurja chill, stark 4
Ah taas tätä mitä listalta kaipaankin -- toki Mama Africaa olin toki jo ennen kuunnellutkin. Kunnon naurava kulkuri-biisi kyl lopussa :D 4/5
Miriam Makeba was a new artist for me. The mood of this album drew me in, and Makeba has a great voice. For a debut album, Makeba sounds very in control of her medium as an entertainer. This album sounds like it fits in with music from other entertainers the 60s, and reminded me of some of my mom's records that I used to play. The RCA Victor logo on the album cover felt appropriate and nostalgic. At the same time, there were new sounds (e.g. "The Click Song") and many tracks that displayed their South African roots. This mix of familiar and novel can be found in tracks like "Mbuba" (by Solomon Linda), which is easily identified as what was adopted into "Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" or Makeba's cover of "The House of the Rising Sun". This album was an easy listen. I might revisit this album just to see what I may have missed.
1960 South African album.
This was amazing, loved it
I really enjoyed this album, her voice is amazing and it's great to hear some different beats and languages.
Albums like this are why I still do this. The exposure to incredible music i may have never found elsewhere. This album is beautiful and gave me much needed exposure to the beauty of African language in music
Ooh "Mbube" is wonderful! (Of course, I know it from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as featured in "The Lion King.") It's a beautiful song full of life and joy. I love the climax that it builds to with all the layered vocals. This is a delightful jazz vocal album of African folk music with some Western influences here and there (sometimes I hear a little doo-wop, and there's a cover of "The House of the Rising Sun"). Miriam Makeba has a great voice -- she's gentle and jazzy but has some belting power too. Oh man, I love "One More Dance." Is the laughing planned? Or could he just not control himself? His laughter is so infectious. I was cracking up.
How about that "The Click Song"? Absolutely beautiful. The little background info before the song started was really great to let other people know more about the song and why they sing it. A little logistical adjustment I would prefer though would be to make that spoken section a separate track on the album right before this song so that you get "just" the music every time you go to listen to the song. Really stunning vocal performances. I think the basses underneath her (specifically nice on "Holilili") are just as sonorous as a sound as her voice. Highlights for me were: "The Click Song" "Holilili" "Mbube" (which is a cover but was also taken and "repurposed" into "The Lion Sleeps Tonight") "Where Does It Lead" which is a fantastic emotionally grey piece of music. "Saduva" This is such a nice album and one of those ones that reinforces how wonderful and fun music is.
La chanson avec Charles Coleman est tout simplement insupportable, à cause de ses rires. Le reste était agréable, j'ai aimé la voix, j'ai aimé sentir comment elle a influencé la musique américaine.
i don't normally enjoy music like this but this had me shaking my rump a lil. its not easy to make me shake my rump
A great, fun, varied album
8/10 what a voice! Have to take points off bc some of the song selections just weren’t great
Not my style, but it's good. The singing is very much up front and the instruments are very much in the background. She's a very good singer and the harmonies are great, so it works. Favorite song: Where Does It Lead
Beautiful world music with a very nice, chill, light-hearted vibe. Some songs are real gems
Before today, I've never heard of Miriam Makeba. She was a South African jazz singer, similar to Nina Simone or Billie Holiday. A lot of her music is sung in her native language, with a few in English. One song in particular called One More Dance was sung with Charles Colman. This song was about a wife sleeping around on her husband while he dies at home. The whole song features Charles laughing while singing, which is a bit odd. The most amusing lyric he said was " Darling go home, your husband is dead".... And then burst out laughing..... Lol. Miriam's voice is beautiful, and her version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" called Mbube is fantastic! There is a lot of sing, and repeat type vocalizations that took place throughout. Miriam was important in bringing afropop to the world stage. Overall, a great album, and not one I would have ever discovered on my own. These albums are what this generator is all about. Favourite songs: The Naughty Little Flea, Mbube, The Click Song, Lakutshon' Ilanga, Holilili, House of the Rising Sun Least favourite songs: Where Does it Lead 4/5
Wow...Makeba's style reminds me of Edith Piaf, in that her soulful expressions drew me in and gave me goosebumps, even though I rarely understood a word. Lovely. Just lovely.
There's a passion in her voice that I like. Also shout out to what appears to be the inspiration for some Lion King songs?
By turns, fun, moving, entertaining, stirring. What a voice. What a life.
Fantastic african vibes. The click song was a favourite.
Very excited. Never heard of this artist, always up for some international music. The singing is beautiful on this album. As are the melodies. I hope to spend lots of time with it. The English songs are not as successful as the ones in her native language but a good listen all the way around.
What a voice! Songs from brilliant to corny, but her voice makes it 4 stars
Beautiful haunting voice Found out about her. Fascinating woman.more research and listening needed. Just beautiful.
Really worthwhile album. Starts off with an incredibly powerful and sustained note that lets you know what you’re in for. I was let down a little by the cover of “House of the Rising Sun” and was very disturbed by “One More Dance”, but otherwise pleasantly surprised since I probably would not have found this on my own.
"Miriam Makeba" is the self-tiltled debut album by South African singer, songwriter, actress and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba. The music style is classified as Afropop, jazz and world music. I'd also add calypso/carribbean (which actually is orginally based in Western Africa). Along with her incredible voice and range, the variety of style is a strength of this album. In 1959, Miriam sang the lead-female role in the Brodway-inspired South African jazz opera "King Kong." That helped her get signed to RCA Victor and record this album. Despite critical acclaim, this album commercially did poorly; her career would, thankfully, flourish in the mid to late 60's. About half the songs are sung in her native Xhosa language. Miriam's strong vocals begin "The Retreat Song." Just a guitar and great backing vocals by the Belafonte Folk Singers. A more South African sounding song Miriam wrote sung in Xhosa. "The Click Song" is a traditional song of the Xhosa people sung at weddings to bring good fortune. Another distinctive South African sounding song, again with great lead and backing vocals. I did like the clicking sounds imitating the darkling beetles which the song is named after. Another great cover song is her version of the 1939 Solomon Linda "Mbube." I'm like I've heard this before. Yes, it's what "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was based. The Chad Mitchell Trio joins adding to a very busy and fun song. The album starts to incorporate more styles in the second half. She sings "The Naughty Little Flea" in English. The style is more in Calypso Carribbean. The Belafonte Folk Singers add to the backing vocals again. We have a flute too. Another cover in "The House of the Rising Sun." Miriam really goes slow, soft, jazzy, piano bar here. An interesting version. Towards the ends, she teams up with Charles Carl Carter (I believe) in "One More Dance" which I'd call a comedy song. Let's have one more dance before I go home to my old, dead husband. I like it. This is a beautiful sounding album with Miriam and all her backing vocal collaborators. It's not hard to see why she became successful. This was a fun album to listen to a Monday morning.
I enjoyed her sound She has a great voice and it was a nice change from the recent albums.
Makeba saa aina hyvälle tuulelle! Kauhean miellyttävä lauluääni minusta. Levyn loppu kyllä vähän lopahtaa, se naureskelubiisi on liikaa.
Good, not sure if revisit. The click song is incredible. Also, Mbube
Warm and joyful. A delight.
Who knew that this contained the original catchy song that would later be featured in The Lion King film? Overall, the music is tribal at times with aggressive beats and background ensembles providing pivotal highs and near ominous lows a la a capella. The real kicker here is that Miriam's lead vocal is a literal lead as she and the BGVs complement each other in a remarkably pleasing way. Admittedly, this is way outside the personal cultural atmosphere but it was a welcome journey. Miriam's vocals were strong, delivered with passion, and more incredibly her pitch was near perfect too. While the style is certainly unique to Africa in general, the hope is that this review can encourage anyone to give this an open minded listen.
Loved
You can’t tell me this didn’t bop. Didn’t understand most of what ahe said. Loved it. 4/5
Would listen again. Really liked this album even though I didn’t understand most of the songs it’s a lovely listen
This was a sweet and beautiful album. Ive come to realise i greatly enjoy african music
All I know is that listening to this bought me out of a rubbish mood.
She's an amazing vocalist. High quality musicianship on this.
I enjoyed that
Wow, that's quite a voice was my first impression. Not my usual fare but I thoroughly enjoyed this. I had not heard of Miriam Makeba before this album came up but talking to my South African in-laws I learned a little more about her. She sounds like an inspiring woman in addition to her obvious talent. Really glad this came up and gave me to opportunity to listen and learn.
“Mama Africa” brings the songs of her homeland South Africa to the rest of the world. This whimsical collection of songs showcases her Everly and beautiful clear voice.
Stellar voice. I liked all of this, though it has some of those wacky choices world music type offerings of its era sometimes display - the little sociological commentary before the Click Song, or that odd duet with the laughing man.
great album to end the week on. Always a fan of great voices like this in languages I am unfamiliar with. There's always a magic about those songs.
Nice
Another blindspot in my musical knowledge (and she has a big back catalog) She has a magical voice. Stripped down songs of life from South Africa. I like a lot of it...especially the slower ones.
3.5 I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Short of the middle parts that were a little draggy. When it was grooving I thought it was really grooving and I could find myself vibing with a lot of these songs in the future.
Beautiful
fun and funky
Lovely jazzy bluesy tunes with some powerful vocals. I could do without the novelty songs, but I'll be coming back to The Retreat Song, Lakutshon ILanga, Mbube, Where Does It Lead, and others.
Lovely album with great vocals
voz potente, bastante bello la vdd
Veldig kult! Funket ypperlig som bakgrunnsmusikk mens vi spiste frokost. Eva danset med armene, så 4/5 fra oss.
Great album really gets you moving
Great
Good stuff, but I can honestly say that it's unlikely to enter rotation.
Quite enjoyable.
Such an incredible voice, and I loved this a lot more than I was expecting to, as I had never explored this genre of music before - there were a couple songs that I wasn't really into but the majority was really great
This gets better as it goes along and reading about her and her life puts it into perspective. Her infuence isn't just musical. A wide range of African songs, jazz songs and calypso (I guess that's Harry Belafonte's influence). Her voice is spectacular.
this was really neat! honestly my favorite track was the second to last one where the guy is slowly losing his shit, but overall this was album was cool and i want to see more like it!!
It’s a privilege to be introduced to Miriam Makeba and to recognise the powerful impact she made fighting apartheid and sharing South Africa’s story across the globe. Makeba’s vocals are beautiful and she is a genuine entertainer who, judging from this record, knew how to keep her audiences engaged. Deftly spinning from traditional South African songs to a kick ass cover of House of the Rising Sun, clearly she could make any song her own.
This was a nice change of pace… smooth and enjoyable. Interesting that an artist from Apartheid South Africa had an album out in 1960 in the US. It was fun recognizing a few songs like Mbube and The House of the Rising Sun. Nice!
4.2 - Delightful. A beautiful, soaring voice set over a tasteful, minimal jazz ensemble with some fun backing vocals. Standouts: “The Click Song”, “Mbube”, “The Naughty Little Flea.”
Perfect album bij warme temperaturen. Leuke mix van Engels en verschillende Afrikaanse talen
What a gem! Really glad I got to discover this amazing artist.
South African album with a healthy dose of English and a cover of house of the rising sun. Vibrato and dynamics are awesome and the music did a good job of overcoming the language barrier
Rating: 7/10
C’est vraiment cool ça. Beau mélange de style et de culture. House of the rising sun est de trop sur cet album.
Comfy. "One More Dance" had me cracking up.
Now THIS is the kind of stuff I was expecting to find in the list. There is no way a middle class WASP from Jersey would have ever found this album growing up. Having said that, I really enjoyed it. Listened through it twice in a row. The only song I found annoying was “One More Dance.” I thought Charles Coleman’s laughing was annoying throughout the song; like a stand- up laughing at a joke before he finishes telling it. The interpretation of “House of the Rising Sun” was pretty daring, particularly in 1960. I cannot imagine a lot of singers putting themselves out there like that. I checked on this so I would not feel dumb: “Mbube” means lion. So it’s only natural that song sounds a lot like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” I imagine “Mbube” came first and was… shall we say, “appropriated…?” Definitely an album I will come back to, a nice change of pace for me.
Incredible voice, amazing songs. This is why I love this site. I would never have had the joy of listening to this album without it.
Very beautiful, very interesting
She was great
Enchanting
Enjoyed it.
I previously, haven't listened to much African music and I actually had never listened to anything from Miriam Makeba. First impressions, her voice is amazing and beautiful and I was pleasantly surprised by her talent. The more I've read about her, the more I want to listen to more of her music. Thank you for putting her into my musical stratosphere. Very enjoyable!
Was expecting to give this a "Nice but not for me" but got super into her melodies and beautiful voice, very different from my usual thing in every way and loved it.
Délicieux, rappelle l'album Calypso de Belafonte, même si les deux correspondent à des aires culturelles différentes. La clé de cette ressemblance vient peut-être de l'arrangeur, le franco-américain aux racines canadiennes-françaises Robert de Cromier Jr, alias Bob Corman. On a donc là un cas intéressant à étudier : trois artistes liés à la décolonisation, produisant des oeuvres magiques pour le compte du dominant anglo-saxon.
This was fantastic. Her vocals are amazing and the background is beautiful. I didn’t like the track with the guy laughing as he sang, but I’m sure that’s just personal taste.
About half way through this album I was going to give this album 3 stars on the vocal talent alone; the second half changed all of that. Tracks like “Mbube” and “The Nasty Little Flea” filled this album out nicely.
And that’s where “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was misappropriated from, sweetheart! Snarkiness aside, I liked most of this and loved some of it.
Absolutely wonderful!!! Particularly love the click song. Obviously nothing touches Pata Pata, Miriam's biggest hit but this album is also great and it's all new listening for me.
So much fun and so interesting. Fave: Qongqothwane
Frábær rödd, indæl lög og gott vibe. Mæli með.
Great voice and energy to match
You know I’m here for it
Fora
Great debut from Miriam Makeba, an interesting mix of both African and European music. She had a lovely voice with different styles interpreted on this album. I Liked "The Click Song" "Mbube" and of course the humorous "One More Dance" later adapted by Ester and Abi Ofarim for a number one hit in the UK. Really enjoyed this early, intrepid trip into African music. Rightly on the list.
Impresionante primer disco de Miriam Makeba. Jazz y esencia de África. Imprescindible. Un descubrimiento.
Enjoyable
Never heard of Mz Makeb but thoroughly enjoyed this.
Love, Love , Love this album. This woman has got the real deal. She is funny, classy and uber talented. Harry Belfonte band is the backing artist on this record which adds to the richness of this album. A true crime that he has been left off this list. Must listen.
It begins with the voice. Before any other instruments join in, Makeba's vocal rings out like a flare shooting into a pitch black night. It's a rich, full-bodied, sustained sound, soaring over a rolling drum to announce the arrival of surely some of the most esoteric material on this list. Over the next thirty five minutes, Miriam Makeba belts, croons, yelps and swoons her way through some easy-listening world music with leanings into Western pop and jazz. She also breaks the language barrier completely: I stopped noticing which songs were in English and which were not, because her voice is such an expressive instrument. The range of material here is simple and unchallenging for a first listen, compiled with the aim of great commercial success. It was Makeba's first album after moving from Johannesberg to New York City, resulting in an interesting blend of styles, sensibilities and cultures. For Western listeners, it's fascinating to hear how this would have fit in with the scene at the time, and still has a stronghold over popular music. Makeba's version of "House of the Rising Sun" dials up the lament of the lyrics and wallows in regret, drawing out each phrase to wring out just the right amount of woe. It's a spellbinding interpretation made some years before the song was seared into public consciousness by The Animals. On similar grounds, "Mbube" is an African standard that was eventually reworked in English as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Its hit-making potential shines through here, as the players up the energy and give way to pure joy through layers of "whim-a-wey"ing vocals and shrill whoops and hollers. It's very hard to listen without a smile. Elsewhere, there are some dreamlike, understated forays into jazz, with "Lakutshon' Ilanga" and "Where Does It Lead" filled with languid, embellished guitar chords. There's a rich harmonic structure to these pieces that's easy to get lost in, before we're brought back to earth by a surprising (but somehow still charming) novelty number like "The Naughty Little Flea" or the giggly "One More Dance". The main strength of the range of material is how it succeeds in showcasing each asset of Makeba's vocal range, endearing her to the listener as a personality as well as a performer. She is playful ("The Naughty Little Flea", "The Click Song" with its essential spoken context in the opening, "One More Dance"); passionate ("The Retreat Song", "Umhome", "Iya Guduza"); and soothing ("Suliram", "Holili"). The latter two pieces are gorgeous slow lullabies, elevated by the Belafonte Folk Singers, who produce an astonishing depth of vocalisation across the record. For 1960, it all feels huge: an African woman becoming a big hit in New York City, eventually gaining the mighty title of "Mama Africa" for being one of the very first of many to bring world music to Western pop. Two years later, Makeba would be forbidden to return home due to apartheid, and use her status to campaign against the regime long before the UN caught on. She's a towering figure in her own right, but judging by the many people only giving this album a first listen by seeing it here (myself included) she deserves to be talked about much more. Beautiful.
Interessante.
Very nice. Bas sam uzivala u cijelom albumu.
I am not familiar with MIRIAM MAKEBA’s music, and not aware of her existence at all. I know that there is no comparison, but my only exposure to this type of music is from DEAD CAN DANCE. After to listening to MIRIAM MAKEBA, the album is interesting to interesting, but completely outside my scope of judging and rating the fairly. I need to get more exposure to this kind if music. I enjoyed the uniqueness of hearing laughter in a song (“One More Dance”), but it was unnerving not to understand why in a song that apparently celebrates infidelity. Simply due to ignorance. “Olilili” sounds like gospel song. Now I’m thinking that “The Click Song” may been something that may have been mentioned in grade school when I went in the mid-to late 70’s. I remember the title or maybe it was the concept of the language being discussed at the time. Also surprised how short and quickly songs are. Does it belong on 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die may be easy to make the claim, but it isn’t. I’m glad to see it been included, even if at the end of the end of the day it doesn’t belong. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, MIRIAM MAKEBA is the only album included. Rate Artist: MIRIAM MAKEBA (4.0) Rate Album (Year): MIRIAM MAKEBA (1960 Original) (4.05) Ranking of MIRIAM MAKEBA - MIRIAM MAKEBA songs No. Title Length 01) The Retreat Song 2:37 08.0/10 02) Suliram 2:47 07.0/10 03) The Click Song 2:33 10.0/10 04) Umhome 1:21 07.0/10 05) Olilili 2:35 09.0/10 06) Lakutshn Ilanga 2:10 07.0/10 07) Mbube 3:22 08.0/10 08) The Naughty Little Flea 2:50 10.0/10 09) Where Does It Lead 2:33 07.5/10 10) Novema 2:41 07.0/10 11) House Of The Rising Sun 1:59 07.5/10 12) Saduva 2:32 08.0/10 13) One More Dance 2:44 10.0/10 14) Iya Gaduza 2:06 08.0/10 Original 1960 Release 114.0/140 = 8.14 / 2 = 4.07
Something very different from what I'm used to when it comes to pop, and that's a good thing. This is definitely something you need to experience before you die
Definitely was getting a Lion King vibe, and then they played Mbube! 🤣🤣🤣 A nice surprise! I'm tempted to give this a 5 because it certainty exceeded my expectations going in.
i'm not sure how to describe this album, really, except to say it was...sweet. it was just a really nice taste of the music of 1960's south africa - not to mention how cool it is to hear the xhosa language
Interesting, nice voice and Melodie’s.
Beautiful voice! I thoroughly enjoyed this whole album!
Great energy. So uplifting and positive! Beautiful voice and music!
Not sure if this is because I'm listening on Christmas week, but it sounds like another Christmas record to me. Nice ballads, sensitively arranged and beautifully sung (apart from One More Dance). Probably not something I'll ever return to, but I enjoyed it.
Belle musique africaine. J’aime l’albûm ca s’ecoute tres bien. 4.35
It's very interesting to know this different and (at the same time) comfortable new type of song. I believe that it opened my eyes to a whole new world, but it's a world that I already know very well and this is wonderful.
Not sure how confident i am commenting on this, I think she's got a very lovely voice and the Wikipedia page is quite a saga of struggle, fame and incredible talent.
It was refreshing to finally get an album that was in a genre I have rarely ever heard. Not only was it unique, but it was extremely enjoyable to listen to as it went from soft lullabyes to uplifting chants. Miriam has a baller voice and I'm glad this is on the list. Favs: the click song, mbube
This is a tough rate. I only really liked about half the songs; the other half I didn't care for. Much of it sounded too much like some boring "easy listening" type of music. But the tracks I liked? I LOVED. The Click Song and Mbebe are definitely going on heavy rotation from now on, and that rendition of House of the Rising Sun was gorgeous. I think it is just enough to push into to a 4th star for me; rare for an album with half I didn't really enjoy.
Very nice and nostalgic, with some fun standout songs. Nothing really dazzled me to the five, but this is a confident high 4.
Very cool. Beautiful voice and interesting textures
Miriam Makeba by Miriam Makeba (1960) “A diversification among human communities is essential for the provision of the incentive and material of the Odyssey of the human spirit. Other nations of different habits are not enemies: they are godsends. Men require of their neighbours [1] something sufficiently akin to be understood, [2] something sufficiently different to provoke attention, and [3] something great enough to command admiration.” — Alfred North Whitehead, Science and the Modern World Why should a serious listener from the West give heed to a debut album from sixty years ago by a then 28-year-old singer from South Africa? Professor Whitehead, above, has given us part of the answer. The remaining part can be found in the fact that this record is just plain enjoyable. She sings in English, Xhosa, Sotho, and Zulu (as far as I was able to figure out), but the music is wonderfully accessible to all ears. Miss Makeba has an outstanding voice. With power in the lower end of her range, with highs that run the gamut from delicate to harsh, she displays a natural vocal talent that is, in Whitehead’s terms, understandable, provocative, and admirable. It is not for nothing that she later earned the moniker ‘Mama Africa’. Her songs are not political, even if her acceptance in the West was (one should ask her mentor Harry Belafonte about both of those claims). It was only later that she was forbidden to return to her native land. Those white South African blokes took apartheid seriously. The calypso-flavored track “The Naughty Little Flea” could be considered subversive if one subscribed to the military philosophy described in Robert Taber, The War of the Flea (1965). It is interesting to compare & contrast this song with how apartheid actually fell. Nevertheless, with a smile, Brigitte Bardot really was “a delicious beast” (Ya just gotta listen). And for giggles, “Just One More Dance” (Charles Colman is a scream—he rivals Jim Backus/Phyllis Diller in “Delicious [The Laughing Song]”). This must be one of the funniest turn downs evah. But I strongly recommend that the first-time listener start with track #4, “Unhome”. This solo a cappella delight commands respect—politics and giggles be damned. If you’re in the mood for something more familiar, listen to her cover of “House of the Rising Sun”—much more convincing that Bob Dylan (are you shocked?) or the Byrds. Or try track #7, “Mbube”, and see if you can discern why someone like me would have 23 recorded versions of this song in his digital library. But this one is my new favorite. Even my nine-year-old granddaughter (with patience) recognized it. Can you? To ignore this album would be a cultural poverty. 4/5
Great introduction to Miriam Makeba. Amazing voice.
First album bringing baby home; beautiful worldly vibes, great for Abi D.
Wonderful, joyous stuff. 8/10
Man, she's got some pipes. The close harmonies really date it. Best track: Mbube
Firstly, it must be said that her voice is astounding. An extraordinarily emotive performer, equally adept at doleful ballads and exuberant, joyful numbers. This album has such great stuff. However, the Harry Belafonte-style songs sound a little dated to my ears. But they are tolerable, and there is true gold elsewhere on this album. Beforehand, I knew nothing about Miriam Makeba, and this was a most impressive introduction.
Absolutely beautiful, I loved this voice, though I don't know what she's saying most of the time. Must be in the right mood to listen to this, I chose late in the evening and it was perfect. Highlight of this album is Lakutshon' Ilanga, so relaxing. The album artwork and lo-fi production only added to the listening experience. She seems to have been an important figure in fighting apartheid and had an exceptional career from Johannesburg to New York to Italy. Super happy to have been turned on to this album and Miriam Makeba.
From playful to contemplative, Miriam Makeba shows on this album why she is one of the most important artists to come out of South Africa. That she was recording these songs and selling these albums during the oppressive years of apartheid in her home country proves what a force her voice and her music is. I had the good fortune to hear her sing live during Paul Simon's Graceland tour - what a treat, what an inspiriation.
I’m breaking my mold here. Even though I will not be adding this album to my library, it is something worth hearing for all. The biggest reason I won’t be adding it is the language barrier, which is my limitation. But then again, these are my ratings, so the built in limitation is a necessary condition. Miriam Makeba’s angelic voice is one to remember. Her vibrato is majestic. The album sounds like it could be current or from 1960…timeless. The music is light and feels effortless, like floating from cloud to cloud in Super Mario WII. The House of the Rising Sun cover is divine, and I will be adding it to a playlist.
What a breath of fresh air, finding this really calming and lifting. Reading about her, she had quite a life.
I have Pata Pata on vinyl and it's a popular one around the house. I have loved her since college when I heard her on the college radio station and had to call in to find out who it was. Her music always lifts my spirits. Gonna knock this down to 4 though cause the song with Charles Coleman and the Flea Song throws the album off a bit for me.
1st October 2021 Started at the airport on the way to Spain for Jen's surprise birthday trip! Finished on the Monday. This was a real surprise treat. I loved the power and tenderness of her voice, the classical but very much African vibe, really great and will get repeated listens.
A great album that made me realize I really enjoy African music.
Great stuff - really interesting variety of songs! Incredible vocal talent. Fave track - "Mbube" for that "Lion Sleeps Tonight" quality. Also "The Click Song", for clicking!
Música africana mezclada con música melódica de los años 40... está bien.
Beautiful voice, beautiful sound. Great discovery.
A real talent. She makes a foreign language album fantastic regardless of lyrics
-Definitely out of my typical tastes but very interesting -love the vocal performance -I had no idea she preformed House of the Rising Sun before The Animals
This album makes me happy!
I don't think I ever would have encountered this if I were not listening through this list, but I am so glad I had the opportunity. This album had fabulous vocals, a ton of catchy songs, and was a fantastic start to my morning.
I was torn on what to rate this for a while, its definitely not my genre, but Istill appreciated it a lot.
Så fedt!
Good but not more me
Wiederentdeckung! Aber richtig gut!
Her voice is beautiful. I love the rhythm and sound of the songs that are not in English. Those in English are a bit boring and fall flat in comparison, except for the one about the little flea.
Interesting
This was even better than I expected it to be. A lot of these songs are really good and Makeba's vocals are incredible. I really should listen to more South African music because this is good. This style sounded kind of familiar and I think that's because it was an influence for Paul Simon. Also I think Mbube was the basis for The Lion Sleeps Tonight.The songwriting is honestly on par with a lot of Simon's songs although (like some of Paul Simon's albums) this album is a bit inconsistent. I absolutely HATE Charle's Coleman's laughing on One More Dance no matter how much I try to appreciate it. It doesn't make sense for a song about a woman's husband dying and it's so annoying. If the album had stayed as good as it started, it would have been 5 stars. Still, one bad song and a few less memorable ones certainly don't spoil the entire album for me. Favorite Songs: The Retreat Song (Jikele Maweni), Suliram, The Click Song, Olilli, Mbube, Where Does It Lead? Least Favorite Song: One More Dance Strong 8/10
so cool, loved mbube calling back to my childhood
I always wondered who sung Pata Pata. Now I know! really enjoyed the album
Tym razem bardzo murzynsko wylosowalo, pierwszy albumik solowy poludniowoafrykanskiej spiewaczki zwanej takze jako Mama Africa, jako jedna z najbardziej znanych wokalistej czarnego kontynentu i pierwszej afrykanskiej zdobywczyni grammy, co do albumiku to jest to minimalistyczny albumik zawierajacy 14 kawalkow z czego tylko 4 sa spiewane po angilelsku, reszta natomiast to muzyka rodem z RPA, wiec jezykowo Xhosa lub Zulu dominuje, nie jestem pewien czy sa to orginalne kompozycje, bo raczej sa to piosenki ktore gdzies tam sobie juz byly spiewane wsrod plemion afrykanskich, a to jest jedynie ich zapis na tasmie, bo angielskie songi kojarze, wiec wiem, ze sa to covery, a co do czarnych kawalkow to jedynie the click song, moj ulubiony kawalek z albumiku daje info ze jest to Qongqothwane czyli piosenka spiewana podczas weselicha majaca przynosic szczescie, jakbym nie obejrzal jak spiewa to live, to bym nie uwierzyl, ze mozna wydawac taki klikajacy dzwiek i czysto spiewac jednoczesnie, caly albumik to prezentacja tego wokalu, bo jednynym instrumentalem jest to gitarka akustyczna, flet oraz chorek, spiewajacy troche jak w gospelu, ale ktory robi takze za klaskaczy i tupaczy, jak to w murzynskich klimatach jest zazwyczaj, na plejke wrzuce wspomnianego click songa oraz openingowy the retreat song
Cool stuff except for the second to last song... Just weird
Click, retreat. Voice and percusión
Very nice
yeeeeeeeaaaaaah woooooooooooooooooo 7/10 i love it
Piercingly beautiful voice that will keep you hooked the entire album, dynamic record, love the mix of African and western folk. super strong 4
Wasn’t expecting traditional African music but it is nice. I have never listened to this type of music before. Where does it lead is an amazing song. I love the mix of western songs and traditional African.
Good album. Something different
Pathos and joy in equal measures, this voice could lift a mountain. Moments of transcendence, especially Holilili.
somewhat expectedly beautiful african folk. glad to know it. fav track: lakutshn ilanga
Enjoyed this far more than I expected. I imagine I'll be listening to this again soon and probably some of her other material.
This was great! Not only is there a wonderful story behind Miriam, but the music is also great. This is my first 'world music' album to appear on the list.
Fantastic album, especially if you're into world-style music. For me, this is a really strong 4-star album. I would definitely listen to it again, but it's not a genre I reach for often.
Great African music. She has a very good voice.
Fresh. No skips but some I’d return to.
She's got a phenomenal voice and I loved learning about her history and her music. Very happy to have heard this album and it definitely deserves to be heard before you die, but it's just not something I can see myself coming back to.
That’s enough of that by the end of the album, but it had more energy than so much on this list even if it was just as lowkey at moments. Like, does in 1960 what so many artists did worse later on. I kinda just gotta like the albums on here with songs I could be tortured with. WHERE DIE THE FLEA GO.
Give me more 60’s music from around the world
Se apaga en la segunda mitad
Under the eye of Harry Belafonte, Ms. Makeba's debut is pleasant and a window into South Africa at the time. I think a black woman making a record during South African apartheid is significant, even though she would not get into writing protest material until later in her career. She has a very strong voice that seems to jump out of the arrangements at times.
Not really my jam, but I can see the appeal
Pretty easy and fun listen
An artist I had never listened to before and I’m glad I got to discover her, both because of the context and because she doesn’t necessarily belong to the dominant Global North of the music industry. It’s essential to consider when this album was released and its historical context, following Makeba’s exile from South Africa due to her activism against apartheid. You can clearly hear her intention to bring traditional African music, including its original names, to Western audiences, blending it with international pop arrangements of the time. I enjoyed discovering the song Mbube and its influential connection to The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which is directly related to it. I’m left with the experience of discovering one of the most important African artists of all time. My favorite song: Where Does It Lead.
que mierda es esto!? no me desagrada pero rarooo
A pleasant album, nice listening.
Hey ... they stole that from the Tokens
A brand of folk that is intresting but not exactly for me. Vocally impressive but it's not a genre that resonates with me.
Pleasant album to listen to, and I understand the historical importance and context, but nothing that I would regularly put on.
Not too shabby, a smooth easy listen.
Orright, orright. Another world music album. I'm definitely at the point where I'm beginning to feel African music is over-represented relative to the quality and influence of the music, though in defence of this album I'm pretty sure it's the first African album to come from a female artist. Perhaps this will be different. I'm familiar with Miriam Makeba because the creator of this website made a grave error when assembling the album pages. He used a script to scrape the album artwork and metadata of these albums from Spotify, which resulted in a handful of albums which don't actually appear on the list making it in here. In the case of Makeba, her "Pata Pata" album was erroneously added to the list and was made impossible to pull shortly afterwards. There's also incorrect album pages for "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople (archive.md/upkiM), "FourFiveSeconds" by Rihanna, Kanye and McCartney (archive.md/VIfgq), "Fractured Life" by Air Traffic (https://archive.md/8lxll), "...Like Clockwork" by Queens of the Stone Age (archive.md/fncOW), "More...Or Less. The Specials Live" by The Specials (archive.md/zvccb), "Purgatory / Paradise" by Throwing Muses (archive.md/f915p), and The Presidents of the United States of America's self-titled album (archive.md/Up2zI). I suspect there are fraudulent pages that were also outright deleted from the site since some of the early finishers of this list have total album counts that are under 1089. I will never let the developer of this website forget about his blunder - I find those dead album pages too interesting. Anyways, I might as well hit play on this thing. Here gooooes. Hmm. Not quite what I was expecting. Most of the African albums I've listened to move at a snail's pace, whereas this music has a sense of momentum and focus. Makeba has a solid presence and carries herself well. Most of the songs follow a rolling vocal melody that meshes nicely with the layabout electric guitars which underpin most of these songs, and Miriam is able to pretty effortlessly reach for the high notes in her songs. The album features an effective use of space, too. I didn't mind the silence on songs like "Holilili", whereas I'd be bouncing off the walls if such a style were attempted by an artist with less presence. At 13 songs stretched across 30 minutes, some of the offerings feel a little samey or unsubstantial, though on the whole I favoured this album for being a small, short, self-contained romp. Book time. Miriam Makeba was the lead female vocalist of King Kong (not that one), which was a 1959 South African jazz musical which protested apartheid. The musical was a huge success in South Africa, had a brief showing in London and launched Makeba's music career. "Miriam Makeba showcases a 28-year-old singer stepping confidently onto the world stage. To Western ears, much of the album's magic lies in the "exotic" timbres of her Xhosa vocal clicks". Time Magazine called Makeba "the most exciting new singing talent to appear in many years." The album failed to perform commercially, which caused Makeba's American label to drop her. Wikipedia has absolutely nothing on this album, though it was liked by the handful of critics that reviewed it. Sure. As a proud woman respecter, I am content with letting the first first Black African woman of power album onto the list (minus the hip-hop, jazz or blues selections). This was decently distinct from the other African albums I've listened to, and a lot more competent, too. Makeba also seems to be one of the more consequential figures in African music history, so big points there, too. I cosign this inclusion.
ზაფხული და კვარიათი!!!
Decent Jazz-Singer
Great Vocals and worth a good listen
3.3
Beautiful voice, but I didn't love the mix of traditional and English songs.
Sometimes African, sometimes western, sometimes joyful, sometimes somber; this was an interesting mixed bag of songs. There's a bit of a vintage tone to the vocals; I wonder if it's because of the mic used or a production technique. That, and the styles of music used give this album a bit of a vintage sound. The music often seemed inspired by western styles, but you guys know I love fusion. However, In the case of this album, I sometimes found myself wishing it was a bit more African, or had more rhythm and groove elements. Maybe this is where a lot of South African music sounds like. I'm feeling a strong three (as opposed to a light four)
Favourite Songs: The Click Song Mbube
Beautiful voice.
Delightfully different. Couldn’t understand, but a beautiful voice and sound. The Naughty Little Flea is a bop. Seems like a lovely woman.
What a voice. The album itself is clearly the concept of a Western producer looking for a cross over hit. So it regularly veers towards novelty pop. But even then it's a fascinating time capsule.
Mostly pleasant stuff: The Western world of 1960 was starting to absorb African music filtered through Western arrangements and covers (House of the Rising Sun). But One More Dance is a fully obnoxious psychopathic misstep, and docks a whole star off this otherwise very nice album.
[3/5] african/world. sweet, soulful, slightly jazzy. stylistically mixed and unfortunately didn’t stand out to me. apart from one more dance, which was not good at all. 2.5. track notes: 1. such a calm and sauntery song about being whacked 2. horizontally inclined minimalism 3. big powerful happy harmony 4. me to the taxi driver when i forget my address 5. backing harmonies remind me of going to church 6. sweet tribute 7. whoa this is familiar! big powerful voice too 8. an advertisement for dimeticone 9. brooding about being broody 10. OH YAH 11. a continuation of delicate minimalism 12. emotional and strong with random pops/claps in the middle 13. what the heck is this, thought i was hearing things. give me that beth harmon prescription 14. lots of layering
Great then, good now.
Lion king vibes
mooi album door mooie vrouw
Is this bad? No. Did enjoy this? Also no. This is just not my bag, I’m afraid.
You can hear the genius already. I did get a bit confused by the mix of songs selected, they do not really come together in a continuous feeling. Great band and singers.
Some gorgeous performances - imagine how great this could have been without the rather insipid jazz standards breaking the flow of the album.
Auch wenn die Aufnahmequalität (zumindest bei YT Music) schlecht ist, ist es ein stimmungsvolles Album. Sie hat eine tolle Stimme und auch die afrikanischen Lieder sind interessant zu hören. 3-4/5
Miriam Makeba has a great, strong voice. The album seems to be a collcetion of different songs and is very varied. There are some beautiful songs, but also a lot of weird ones.
The album was fine, but nothing really stood out for me. I would be okay with listening to the album again, but it wouldn't be one that I would add to my collection.
She has a wonderful voice and the songs have pleasing African rhythms. A relaxing listen
Interesting and very pretty African folk. I much prefer the non-acapella tracks.
3.5/5
Well that was a fun listen, she has an incredible voice. I didn’t know “the lion sleeps tonight” was based off of a traditional African song (though it seems obvious once you know). I also went down a rabbit hole of listening to different versions of “house of the rising sun”. The history of that song is an interesting Wikipedia page if you have some time.
2.5 didnt really connect with it; musicianship is good and a good voice. Click song was probably the most interesting for me
als capsule zeker waardig van een lijst
Not close to my wheelhouse. There's good stuff in this album and what Miriam does takes skill, but its just not for me.
Miriam's voice is beautiful and pure. The combination of genres is interesting but also a bit problematic. I guess the thought was to show the rage of the new artist but moving from song to song you feel unsure about the point of this specific collection of songs. I liked the "authentic" sounding ones to the more American side. But again, her vocals work well for both kinds. It's a solid record overall A classic 3 and should be here
I really appreciate her talent and beautiful voice
Eh, it seemed good but not really my thing.
This album is one of reasons this list should exist. I thought Miriam Makena was great and I would have never known she existed without this as I am not schooled in African music, nor have a starting point. Now I do. Her incorporation of tribal songs with modern (well, at the time of recording) is beautiful. True, I don’t have a lot of context but this doesn’t feel dated at all. Her voices carries so much pride and passion, especially on Umhome where it is just her, though Olilili is not only fun to spell but also beautiful with the choir backing. The Naughty Little Flea was also fun. I really enjoyed this album.
Random thoughts: * This is the kind of education I had hoped for 1001 to provide me. * I vaguely knew of Makeba from the song of the same name by Jain. But I never occurred to me to actually find her music and check it out. * the music was good. Different but familiar since they used a few songs that are well known. * I won’t listen to this often but am glad to have it in my life now.
This was lovely! Her voice is so beautiful. Suliram is a highlight.
2,5
It wasn't bad - the music was fine, the vocals were good. Just not my cup of tea, but I'm not going to mark it down for not being my thing.
I thought is was interesting and a good representation of a vocal style you don't really here in 'Merica. Would I go back to it often -- no, do I think it was a good listen -- yes.
Takie 3
Wow, really beautiful, seems even not belong to the world
It was okay, what can I say? I was pretty neutral towards it.
Listening session: juli 3rd, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: I really like to hear something African on here and I enjoyed the good vibes of this album Favourite tracks: The Retreat Song, The Click Song & Holilili
It was goodish. Didn't seem particularly groundbreaking but I'm ignorant. Not really my style again by happy to be educated.
Hearing Mbube was a cool moment. I know hers is a cover, but it was still cool being like “wait, I know this!”
Not bad
Really, really well done. Best Song: Mbube Rating: 6/10 Stars: 3
Surprised by how much I liked it.
Fine listening on the train to PDX.
Delightful album! Hampered a little bit by 60s stylistic tics but very nice to listen to. Unfortunately, the hymn-like tracks and the Disney movie sounds slow the album down a bit and even at 30 minutes, it gets long in the tooth. Unfortunate, because she has a great voice (though it can't save the House of the Rising Son cover). Nevertheless, something you can put on that is likable. Mark it on the "Gonna make my kids listen to it" list.
Kinda underwhelming for my 400th album but there haven’t been a ton of world music albums yet so not terrible
Not going to be a regular listen for me but it was a good listen and I may come back to it in the future.
Really exceptional voice
3★/5 06.23.2026
I was glad to have heard this album today but I have to say I was a little disappointed. When it came up I was excited about a cool African jazz record, and that's sort of what this is but not quite what I expected. There are some cool parts to it here and there and I really enjoyed the more obviously African songs. I would definitely seek out more by Miriam Makeba because I get the feeling this is not the best she has to offer. This is one of those albums that I was really glad to hear because I'm sure I'll really enjoy some of her other stuff but this particular album fell a little flat for me. 3/5
Afrikkalaista musiikkia 60-luvulta, mutta tässä siihen on sekoitettu mielenkiintoisesti sen ajan länsimaalaista populäärimusiikkia. Mukana myös House Of The Rising Sun cover ja outo afrikka/jenkki naurava kulkuri mitä vittua. Parhaat: En osaa nyt kyllä sanoa
3.5, me gustó bastante la verdad
Probs the best “world music” we’ve had so far, not least because of the amount of English it features I guess Wtf is so funny Charles
Pretty fun listen. I am not much into African music so I will probably not come back to it. But she is certainly talented and inspirational.
Wouldn’t seek it out, but I’m glad I listened.
Fine listen. Nothing too interesting or out there about it, but glad I heard it. The track with Charles Colman really annoyed me though. Just stop laughing and sing.
Von genial bis albern...
S'alright. These sort of albums are short and sweet, so there's nothing to complain about.
Interesting how "world" music up to this point was Bossa nova. It's a very minimal album with just Miriam's voice, guitars, and African drums. You can also hear a hint of jazz in some of the slower songs and that one duet. It's a nice listen but there's not much to it than that (3.5).
Good, fine, just nothing really hits me hard here
A refreshing listen. Interesting to hear a vocal technique on the Click Song that nobody else in the other 1086 albums will do I like the traditional pop style mixed with the African I do think the first half was stronger overall, besides House of the Rising Sun 3.5 Highlights: House of the Rising Sun, Lakutshn, Ilanga, Olilili
The talent is obvious but an uneven choice of tunes - trying to find a few that might sell no doubt - prevents this one from soaring.
Tyckte det var lite trist i början det blev vackert! Saknar bangern Pata Pata som jag antar dyker upp senare
Skön vibe, men som med en hel del liknande något som verkligen skulle komma till liv live, jämfört med en inspelning.
Good, just random
Pretty consistent but the non album singles that Spotify queued after the album did more for me. RYM: N Saved a song: N
3/5
Makeba has an enchanting voice. I enjoyed the variety of the eponymous album.
Chill det her
I mean, im not sure what to do with this. Sounds like something from a Disney world show. But the more I listened to it the more I thought I liked it. In an old james bond movie. Or Next to a pool. With a drink. While falling asleep.
it was fun!
Nice voice. Song quality varied from silly novelty songs to songs of more substance. Groundbreaking nonetheless.