Miriam Makeba

The afropop vibe is really cool, but 1. it sometimes has an uncanny "made for tourists" exotism feel 2. it is too steeped in 50s kitsch jazz for me to enjoy it 3. it too often drifts into happy children song territory which is the most aggravating kind of music.

Poštujem, posebno zbog konteksta u kojem je nastala glazba. Ali...meni je ovo izuzetno teško slušati ovako u komadu kao album. Da sam tipa na nedjeljnom kolaču i kavi, vani je kiša i ja pričam s dragom osobom, fino bi sjelo. 2/5, 3/10

Honestly, I didn’t listen all the way through but it’s not my vibe

Not unlistenable, but nothing I'd ever really seek out again. 🤷

nicht meine Musik

Wonderful but at times dreadful.

Clearly a supremely gifted singer with a very interesting story, but this is not something I would choose to listen to. The instrumentation is too sparse for my tastes, and while Makeba's voice is incredible, it is almost TOO powerful- I find this a very intense listen, and actually kinda unpleasant at times.

She has a beautiful voice for sure, and she had me ‘a-wim-ma-way-ing’ around the house to the joyous ‘Mbube’. And if her version of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ wasn’t used in a Tarantino movie then it should’ve been.

It was all going quite well until the the penultimate song where that strange man laughed his lyrics all the way through it. What was that? Why? It nearly killed the whole album for me. But there were many plus points, one being 'Mbube', where this version didn't suffer from a model singing about sleeping lions. Funny how odd vocal choices can murder songs.

This one is ok for world music, not my vibe in general. 2 stars

meh

Nice voice but this album is not for me

didnt understand anything but i liked the vibe

eh

No standouts

I’m sure it has cultural significance, but it’s still a boring album.

Pleasant enough, but its an a style of music I wouldn't return to, other than background music.

Nice voice but the songs just didn't hit like I thought they would

El jazz no es lo mío, pero puedo reconocer que ella tiene una voz fenomenal. "The Naughty Little Flea" me dejó un poco desconcertada, pero decidí ignorar la canción para intentar disfrutar del resto del álbum; esto sucedió hasta que llegó "One More Dance", que arruinó cualquier buen puntaje que podría haberle puesto a este disco. ↑: The Retreat Song, House of the Rising Sun ↓: The Naughty Little Flea, One More Dance

Beautiful voice and pleasant enough. Sounded like old time international radio from much earlier than 1960. Just not my thing.

Yeah...I'm not going to pretend that I'm cultured enough to have enjoyed this. Clearly she's got some pipes, but this is not a style of music I can bring myself to get into.

It was nice, but utimately not a very spectacular album of African music. At some point, it all blended into each other.

Maybe if I wasn't very tired the day I listened to this I would have enjoyed it more. As it was I didn't find this album engaging at all. The high point was probably the click song, though the introduction felt unnecessary, though perhaps a product of the times. Somewhere around 2500 songs in I can confidently say the song with the guy laughing has taken the 'so bad it is good' crown. I can't imagine it will be threatened by any of the remaining 8000 or so.

Miriam Makeba's self-titled debut is a rare example of a record feeling simultaneously extremely genuine and extremely farcical. I'm going to owe the majority of that to this being a record from 1960 by a South African woman, as I'm sure a lot of creative control was taken away from her, but what is left of it is a unique experience to say the least. Makeba has a great voice, and it really shines when she's singing songs that she's passionate about, which is clearly not all of them. Harry Belafonte's involvement with this record in particular is really interesting to read about, and in general the history of Miriam Makeba is arguably a lot more interesting than the music itself. I think the record is a little too primitive to hold up outside of its historical context in the modern day; at times it really does just end up sounding like The Barbra Streisand Album with some African influence. There was definitely a great album hiding in here somewhere, but I don't think the world was quite ready for it back when this was released.

Look, I really appreciate the significance of this album and that it landed on the list. Especially due to the significance of the Apartheid in South Africa and how blacks were heavily segregated against, and how she was a voice to counteract that narrative. Showcasing not just South Africa but the talents of the whole continent is something that is memorable and should be recognised today and on lists like this. However, I'm not really a fan of this style of music, and that track where the guy was laughing was really off-putting for some reason.

1960 and glad to hear some world music however this doesn't do much for me and would not seek to come back to it.

Yeah it’s cool

Interesting. But i didn't quite enjoy it.

Dull I’m afraid.

Couldn't be bothered to listen to the whole album

Very pure vocals, excellent clear recording for 1960! However the music itself is not for me. Much like the Ravi Shankar album, I can appreciate the talent and introduction to another country’s music, but I don’t like it. One More Dance is particularly horrible.

2.29

I enjoyed the uptempo ones. Most of it was the sparse slower ones that really let her voice do the heavy lifting. Her voice is quite special but I still typically dont like songs like that. Rating: 2.5

2:5

Amazing voice, great biography…heroic, really. I clicked along during the click song. It’s just a lot to listen to in a foreign language.

Ikke for meg

Not bad, there was some cool stuff in here, but nothing that actually appeals to my tastes.

One of the things I was looking forward to with this project was to be exposed to albums or artist I haven't heard before. This is one. Will it be on regular rotation? No. Did I enjoy it? Sure. Will I now be singing the Naughty Little Flea song over and over again? Yes.

Makeba's vocal range is sadly beyond the recording range of the equipment of the era. 'Mbube' highlights this limitation the best, but sadly it makes for unpleasant listening. The rest is quite enjoyable. Although not my cup of tea. ('Makeba', a tribute by 'Jain' is worth a listen, and the video is good too).

Much prefer her 70s work, but such a beautiful voice regardless of decade.

Beautiful voice and an interesting break from the usual suspects on the list, but this album sounded very dated and a strange mix between the Lion King and singers like Lena Horne or Harry Belafonte. It wasn’t for me, but it was better than listening to Brazilian death metal, so there’s that.

From the opening song, all I could envision was the Lion King soundtrack. I obviously have no clue what these songs are about, but I feel like any one of these songs could be played while Pumbaa, Timon, and Simba are roaming the African plains. Mariam can clearly sing and for that I’ll give her credit. Otherwise it’s nice background music.

A strong voice but not much else here. Afro jazz that Is very dated. It is not traditional African music, as many have mistakenly written, though it is certainly influenced by it, but Makeba sang jazz from an early age and her music bears this influence most prominently. Yes, there are elements of her cultural upbringing, and some of those traditional elements appear, but that is no different than Springsteen singing about cars and the boardwalk with a Jersey accent. To treat it differently is to tokenize it. If we get past the ‘uniqueness’ of her ‘point of view’, its actually pretty boring and uninspiring in its arrangements and its instrumentations. Great woman, meh album.

Not the least bit enjoyable. Oddly enough I enjoyed the songs sung in english the least. This was a rough one for me, not good.

Her voice is warm, expressive, and unmistakable—but the album as a whole just didn’t do it for me.

I enjoyed having it on but wouldn't choose to again. The artist seemed to be an incredible person from a little research though

Fine

Better than i thought it would be Okay Covers and all fine 2

FYI, Apple Music, this IS available, you just have to search for it. And I was just not in the mood for this. (ntm.)

Beautiful, but not my thing

Fucking Javier Bardem cracking up on this one

Had no idea what to expect. Saw it was recorded in 1960. Certainly had that era of fun, motown sounding pop vibe to it. But it's South African and mostly in Zulu, so no idea about the lyrics. The 6th song has pretty, subtle jazzy guitar under her vocals, that was nice. Then the next song was quite clearly ended up becoming "When the Lion Sleeps Tonight", apparently and old Zulu song. That's cool. Her version of House of the Rising Sun was rad. Predates the animal's version too.

Not my cup of tea

She has a lovely voice. She's like the Harry Belafonte of South Africa. This woman is the caged bird signing. The introduction to The Click Song is less annoying than most speaking interludes. However, I seriously doubt this song was sung in the villages sounding anything like this version. This is literally Lady Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Mbube is clearly the song they turned into The Lion Sleeps Tonight and is definitely the superior song. This is an album very much of its time. Everyone in the 60s covered House of the Rising Sun and this is not one of the better versions but her voice is beautiful. The man laughing during One More Dance ruins the song.

Ça s'écoute une fois en fond, mais pas deux.

This is fine. Not my cup of tea, but interesting to listen to. 2/5 because it's not my jam.

Honestly, there's nothing really bad about this album. It's just that after a couple of listens I couldn't find myself being interested with the music. Sure, the singing is nice and the atmosphere adds warmth and depth but I just wished that I cared for this just tad bit more (Mr. Music Elitist over here). That dude laughing on that one track shaped and butchered the song. OK album. 2.55/5

On a purely musical basis I don't love this and don't think I'd listen again. It's very much of It's time and has quite corny arrangements in places. Better when singing the ballads and allowing that beautiful voice to sing through rather than the dodgy 60s lounge style arrangement. 2/5...

Miriam Makeba

Idk. Not my thing

I can appreciate it for what it is, but it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable listen.

The Click Song stands out above the rest. It’s pleasing music that’s for sure. Not my cup of tea It borders on being a possible Lion King soundtrack The vocals sound distorted at times which may just have been the recording back in those days. I don’t know, I wouldn’t listen to her again but I wasn’t completely turned off by the music.

An example of not my type of music, but I am sure others love it

Linda voz, e uma linda história por trás da artista e da produção do disco. Mas a musicalidade em si não me atiçou em nada. Não é meu estilo de música e me encontrei vagando pelos confins dos meus pensamentos, deixando a música sozinha no fundo do meu plano de atenção. Mas apesar disso, ela é uma ótima cantora e entendo seu posicionamento aqui na lista.

Really pleasant vocals, but not something I'd return to.

Artiste inconnue. L'album présente un mélange de World music et de Blues / Jazz suivant les morceaux ... malheureusement pour moi 100 % basé sur le chant, sans chorus pour agrémenter un accompagnement très limité. Heureusement l'album est court, et pas désagréable. Pas de seconde écoute pour moi. =>2/5

Not my Kind of music.

2/5

It was an interesting change compared to the other albums, just not my genre though. I do question why you would put a song consisting of the male singer constantly laughing on your official album. I know that at least 3 of the songs are not hers originally.

Como é para ser, soa demasiado exótico para mim e não é o tipo de música que atrai minha atenção. Nunca tive interesse em experiências com música étnica/ folclórica. Meus ouvidos adestrados na música ocidental não conseguem desfrutar do que ela tem a oferecer.

Once again, when facing non-western music, I’m standing left as the uncultured ignorant. I simply don’t like the music. I can appreciate her vocal prowess, even if I dislike her shrilling highs. I also appreciate hearing what later became «The Lion Sleeps Tonight», and prefer this version. Other highlights include the chorus of the opener and the fascinating Click Song. However, I dislike most of the songs, particularly the Flea Song and the laughing duet.

I wanted to like it, I really did. Just sounded the same

What’s so funny in One More Dance? This one was ok. Not really my thing, but I’m glad I heard it. Favorites were The Click Song, Mbube, and Iya Guduza.

Miriam Makeba – Miriam Makeba (1960) | Afro-Pop / World / Vocal Jazz | Avg: 5.31 | Favorite Song: “Mbube” There’s no denying that Miriam Makeba is a culturally significant album — Makeba’s voice is stunning, and her presence is undeniable. However, as a full listen, this one didn’t fully resonate with me. “Mbube” was the standout track. It’s haunting at first, but then commands with her strong voice and great supporting background vocals, making it the most emotionally powerful song here. That track alone hints at the strength and uniqueness she would come to embody, especially inspiring “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” just a year later, but the rest of the album feels uneven in comparison. Much of the record comes off more as a showcase than a cohesive artistic statement. The arrangements are simple, the pacing sometimes drags, and some songs seem more like curiosities than deeply engaging pieces. From a reviewer’s perspective, it’s easy to appreciate Makeba’s vocal control and the cultural importance of her debut — but purely from a musical standpoint, it’s not something I’d revisit often. It feels more like a historical entry point than a defining listening experience.

7/3/25. Definitely unique to my ear, liked the variance of calm and energetic songs. I should listen a couple more times to get a true feel.

Lovely voice, lovely rhythms from South Africa

Raro de cojones. No es mi estilo para nada. Muy folclórico Africano

She has a voice?

Every song on here is essentially confined to three or four chords (I, ii, IV, V), meaning the harmonies and progressions are pretty limited. Coupled with the unchanging texture of solo vocal and light bass/drum accompaniment, there just isn't quite enough diversity in texture or overall sound to really justify making an entire 35-minute record from Makeba's material. The original release year of this record was 1960, so the precedent for diverse albums hadn't yet been set (by the likes of the Beatles), and I think that severely detracts from this album's appeal. Even if an artist's music is conceptually/culturally interesting or fresh, it needs to showcase more than one musical dimension. Otherwise, you could easily put out a single or EP rather than a full-length LP. Even at a relatively short length of 35 minutes, I felt this particular entry dragged on towards the tail end. The choir backing in Holilili, particularly the baritone voice, is really good. I also enjoy the freeform-rhythm nature of Mbube, something that isn't replicated in any other track. Plus, the iconic "wimoweh" in the backing vocals. Unfortunately, in this track (and many others) it becomes apparent that the sound is in need of remastering. Makeba's vocal frequently causes audio peaks that blot out other instruments and the listener's brain. The cover of the traditional House of the Rising Sun is fine but a bit musically inert. I feel that Makeba's version doesn't add terribly much, in contrast with the explosive Animals version. And what's going on in One More Dance? Some guy chuckling maniacally while informing Makeba of her husband's untimely death? I had to go back and check the lyrics. It really dates this already heavily-dated sound. Is this record really qualified to sit amongst the 1000 best albums of all time? (Questionable.) 2/5 Key tracks: The Retreat Song, Holilili, Mbube

if this album didn't influence the Lion King than what are we even doing here?

Not really my style.

Not my thing

world, folk, 1960 -> 2

She had a very nice voice but it wasn't my thing.

It’s fine. I would never put this on, as I don’t really know which occasion I could find where it fits in

1,5

2.5

no really my type of music

Not my thing

I liked this one. Nice 60s vocal pop with some African influence. No tracks that’ll make it into a regular rotation, but the Spotify mix based on this record was great evening music.

I didn't enjoy this, there was too much clicking for me. However, "House of the Rising Sun" was decent, but there are better versions readily available.

Lyder godt, men lyder også ekstremt "afrikansk musik til hvidt publikum"-agtigt på en måde der nogengange gav mig en lidt dårlig smag i munden

It was ok

Not a bad listen, but not really my style.

A classic appreciate it but don't really like it album. Combines jazzy crooning piano ballads, South Africa choral church music, Calypso sweetness. Great vocal performances and a historical touchstone but it's very slow and gentle and kinda boring.

Not for me.

Not exactly bad (except for that cringe One More Dance duet with a drunk Dr Hibbert on extra laughing gas, that one sucks megatons) but definitely way too old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy and out of my wheelhouse. I was bored solid throughout most of this. It’s the kind of thing I would expect to find in those old Disney wartime package movies with footage of different music cultures and whose scenes I would skip and go straight to all the cartoon segments. 2 and a half stars.

I don’t get the high ratings. It was fine. For what it is, maybe it’s great. I don’t know. 2-3 stars.

decent

African jazz - bit boring

Καλη μουσικη, ιστορικη μουσικη αλλα σιγουρα δεν θα την ξαναεπισκεφτω. Rating: C

Niin voimaannuttavaa antaa tälläiselle jonninjuotavalle kahta tähteä heh

Not my style But kinda relaxing

Sorry, African music isn't my thing. She's got a nice voice, and some of the more soulful songs are lovely. Several tracks in here are incredibly irritating though, and it took all of my will power not to bomb this entire review as a protest against them.

I respect and appreciate this kind of music but it’s not for me

Not my thing.

This sounds like a direct Lion King precursor; but without the images, this kind of World Music falls flat for my tastes. 2/5

Quite varying songs, but it didn't stick with me that well. I initially thought 'House Of The Rising Sun' was a cover of The Animals' version, but it seems like she actually recorded it at least 4 years earlier than them. Turns out it has been done before Makeba in many other iterations as well. Anyways, there are some playful and interesting lullabies in there that are cute. But in general it just didn't feel like it was for me. Strong 2.

She's obviously a very talented vocalist. For whatever reason I just wasn't feeling it today

I really liked the first track. The rest, not so much.

A lovely talent but this was not my jam and I wouldn't seek this out again.

kinda sleepy

Makeba has a beautiful voice, but this album wasn't really for me.

Miriam Makeba’s debut showcases the sounds of South Africa.

Mama Africa. A delightful songbird even if I didn't understand a word (House of the Rising Son excluded). Short tunes. Nothing too special but I understand her influence bringing this music to the world.

This was good for what it was and she is very talented. Unfortunately I could not stand the thing she was talented at.

I can’t give it 1 star cause she’s clearly talented with a nice voice, but this ain’t for me. House of the rising sun was cool though.

I am in a dilemma again. Another of those super important albums of a super important artist - but I cannot get my ears to listen to it. 5 stars for the album due to its relevance, or two for it's musical content? I don't know, but I tend for two this time, as this is a list for music and hot about history. As it is not genre defining or particularly interesting musically, two stars. Nevertheless, I acknowledge the album's social and political significance.

Ok

A little of this went a long way.

Her voice is great and I’ll never listen to this again.

Correcto aunque no demasiado de mi agrado

Ok..pleasant background

Mbube

"The Click Song." Something about a flea. A dead husband. Many things distracted from a great voice.

Completely new to me, a cultural education for sure! Actually enjoyed it more than I expected. Miriam’s voice is very smooth and soothing, but that had a negative in that it was almost lullaby-esque and I was almost becoming drowsy listening to it! Probably not one I’ll revisit but it wasn’t unpleasant

Musical storytelling in a foreign language. Interesting

Interesting album. I'm not familiar with any music from South Africa, so this is new to me. Well, Mbube sounds familiar, so I guess I am familiar, lol. I get a Harry Belafonte vibe on The Naughty Little Flea, my favorite on here. Miriam has a good voice, but I probably won't be playing this one again. Glad I listened, though.

Respect the impact and cultural importance but not something I’ll come back to

An enjoyable listen but not the kind that will cause me to come back

Felt like the music you would hear in Animal Kingdom. Interesting and decent, but like most world music I’m not going to actually listen to this outside of the novelty. Recognized the precursors to “the lion sleeps tonight” in Mbube

She has a cool voice and sings with great passion. There still just isn't enough here for me to really sink into

Not really into this style but it’s not bad

decent album with good vibes and a few good covers. best songs: lakutshon llanga, mbube

This is a strange album. I don’t think it was bad but it was definitely one dimensional and not my style 2.5/5.

Un-relatable

El concepto de world music nació mucho después de este primer y homónimo disco de Miriam Makeba de 1960, pero en él ya se encuentra una leve mirada a la musica de otras latitudes aunque solo sea por las canciones cantadas en su lengua nativa sudafricana, el xhosa. Pero destacaría su versión del clásico "House of the Rising Sun" y todo el repertorio exótico acompañado de orquesta al más puro estilo Belafonte, al fin y al cabo su mentor.

African music from the 60's.

Beautiful Voice, Boring Album

Rating: 4/10 Nah.

Naja. Geht so.

I absolutely appreciate her humanitarian efforts but her music is not my style.

Boo. This sounds like it's being transmitted to my headphones from the ISS. I get that it's from 1960 and predates both the crucifixion of our lord Jesus Christ and the hit album "The Greatest Speeches (Volume 1)" by artist "Ronald Reagan", but a substantial part of what I look for in my music is the fact that my brain won't get fried by ultra-high frequencies while listening to it.

Scarred by the original version of in the jungle by it playing repeatedly in a shit Netflix doc

35 mins in Nandos

Enjoyable but not something I think I will revisit. Solid 2.

2*

Music. I have never heard before. I am glad I listened. The click song and the lion sleeps tonight prototype were interesting two stars.

A little too folky to me.

This all sounds good, but I didn't really connect with any of the songs. It's not in English, so this might be a me problem. But in addition to that, it feels a bit hokey / dated, like it should be playing in the lobby of a resort hotel.

Blind album and artist. Not the worst thing on this list, and credit where it's due for her activism, but some of these songs did not click for me, and the Rising Sun cover made me cringe a little.

Found this quite ordinary, nothing that would make me listen again

Talented but not my vibe

Miriam Makeba is the debut album by South African singer-songwriter Miriam Makeba. This Afropop / world music album did not perform as well as the record label thought it would, but it still made Makeba famous in the US. For her second album, they would focus more on her African heritage and its music to make her albums stand out better. Although I liked Makeba's voice, this album did not stand out to me as anything special. Besides "The Click Song," the tracks are forgettable and could be any song with African style. This is also a historically important album from a South African native during the anti-apartheid movement, but that doesn't give any points to the musical review. Overall, great Afropop album with a talented singer.

Legit African music. The was a little blend of Eastern music in some songs though. All in all, not terrible, but it's not getting you going in the morning.

After listening to Miriam Makeba's self titled album. I have decided that its not really for me. I liked her singing but my main issue with the album was the music or rather, the lack thereof. Some songs were just Miriam singing with no background music which only made the songs feel hollow and empty. I can see why others would like it, but its not for me. Best Song: One More Dance Worst Song: Olilili

A classic, but has not aged well.

This is what needs to be on the list despite it not being for me. (M)iri(A)(M) M(A)keba

first half is better 2.5 suliram

This is probably going to be my shortest review yet. Because I don't have much to say. If any more of her albums get generated for me in the future, I would love to hear them. I think there is potential for something great here, but I also think this isn't the greatest debut record. This album is very vocal based. And when there is instrumentation, it is sparse, and not very evoking. I understand that is the point, but there isn't much for me to latch onto when listening to this. I think she has a beautiful voice, and it's interesting to hear something sung in a dialect I have no knowledge of. Also the Charles Coleman feature is really strange, because he is laughing the entire time he is singing. Overall I can't ever envision myself coming back to this or recommending this to anyone. Not because it's bad, but because I don't really "enjoy" listening to it per se.

I didn't really like this much. Couple of the songs were interesting and listenable. And I never wanted to turn it off, so that's good (and I liked the runtime.) But I can't say I liked any of it.

The music wasn't my favorite, but reading about her, she lived a hard life and was a complete badass.

Interesting music talented musician some of it was ok and other was just not my taste

Meh. It's OK but I prefer Ladysmith Black Mambazo every time.

Well that was interesting enough to listen to but that's as far as it goes.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - House of the Rising Sun (11) 2 - The Click Song (3) 3 - Mbube (7)

It was alright

Langweilig.

Enjoyable global music

Not for me...

Klinkt ongeveer 10 jaar ouder dan het is. Het is allemaal wel oke, maar ik sta er toch niet echt om te springen. Van mij had de muziek ook iets meer naar voren komen, deze staat voor mij te zacht tegenover de relatief schelle zang. Hoogtepunt is dat de overgrootouders van Timon en Pumbaa halverwege even langskomen. Absoluut dieptepunt is die lachende dwaas op het één na laatste nummer.

Beautiful voice, but was not really my jam.

This one didn't grab me, never really broke above the surface and demanded my attention. Makeba's voice is great, but this vocal-focused fare with generic instrumentals has never been my fare.

Vreemd, maar wel verfrissend om eens echt wat anders te horen.

Niet onaangenaam, maar ook niet mijn kop thee

Again, not terrible just not jiving with this music. Great vocals though. I’ll give this a 2 and have no playlist adds.

Impressive voice, aber echt net meins

It was OK. I didn't really get into it or understand what she was singing. Parts of it sounded familiar. I have no desire to revisit this.

Aika kansanlaulukeskeinen. Oon enemmän afrofunkin diggari. Ei huono mutta ei myöskään purassut. 2/5

Arvostan isosti ja ansaitsee paikkansa listalla, mutta valehtelisin, jos väittäisin saaneeni isompaa nautintoa tästä levystä.

Meh

Nope

It's fine

4/10. A few of the songs in English on here were kind of torturous to listen to, and really dragged down the album as a whole.

no me convence. Incluso me resulto un poco agoviante para los oidos 5/10

Meh, not as bad as I thought it might be

I don't like world music. Sure, she's got a lovely voice, but this isn't enjoyable.

Undoubtedly a great singer, but I can't hear anything on this album that stands comparison with Pata Pata. It's the sort of album that you feel you ought to listen to and like, but am finding it hard work and now want to listen to something entirely different

So this is a change of pace. I've never heard of this artist or album, unlike the first two which I know really well. Funnily enough, the first two were VMP Essentials and after listening to this, I'm surprised this hasn't been a VMP Classics pick. It seems right up their alley. With that being said, if it was a Classics pick, it would be more along the lines of those I listen to once and never reach for again. As others have commented, the material is a little all over the map between African and more Western Jazz standards. The strongest material is the more African material that is unique and shows off her chops, but there's just not enough of it. Some of the other tunes on this like The Naughty Little Flea and One More Dance are dated and I don't need to ever hear again. She's a talented artist for sure, but I just don't find this album all that strong.

A few incredible songs that highlight her voice. But the album is peppered with too many English songs that lack the fire she otherwise has in her performances.

Not for me ! 2*

Another one that I found hard to actually track down as a full album but got the general gist. It was fine but I wouldn't go out of my way...

Not my cup of tea

Pleasant. But no something I would choose to listen to.

Gefühlvolles Album - aber absolut nicht meine Musikrichtung.

Very different from the standard this website got me used to, but, alas, somewhat boring and dated.

Kuulostaa ihan miellyttävältä, mutta tässä on tarkoituksena esitellä laulajaa, ei kappaleita.

Well made for the time and genre, but not for me. 2/5

Pata Pata kenne ich noch aus Schulzeiten...

Interesting enough

i couldnt get into this one

Mmeh

Miriam Makeba's self-titled album was an interesting listen. It was good to hear some 'world music' representation in this list, however similarly to a lot of other albums, it's not one of my favourites. With a sound that is akin to lounge singers or singers that would have performed at a club/dance hall, backed by a large jazz band, back in the 50's and 60s. Best: Where Does It Lead Worst: One More Dance

2 Having never heard of Miriam Makeba, I found her life story to be incredibly interesting and tragic, and I’m glad to have learned about her through this list. That being said, while she has a beautiful voice, I didn’t find the album to be particularly musically interesting, and I’m not sure if I would re-visit. Her rendition of House of Rising Sun was cool, though Charles Coleman made me uncomfortable on One More Dance. Favorite songs: House of the Rising Sun, Mbube

Some beautiful singing, but just not really my thing.

I had never heard of Miriam Makeba before listening to this album, which is sort of shocking because she was incredibly important both as a musician and as an activist for more than 50 years. She has a wonderful voice--she's capable of conveying a huge emotional range, which is especially impressive when the listener (me) can't understand the lyrics and has to go on tone and expression alone. "Liwa Wechi" was easily my favourite track. Haunting and lovely. My low rating is simply because world music rarely does it for me. I really wish I enjoyed it more because I know that I am probably missing out on so much.

Nope

This is definitely not my type of my music, I would never listen to this on my own. Two stars just because she does have a beautiful voice.

Nope. Just no.

it was.. interesting

Miriam Makeba is full of charm and undeniable style but it's not something that appeals to my ear. 2/5.

She's got a great voice, and it doesn't sound dated despite being 60+ years old. That said, I really didn't enjoy it, it's not my style of music at all, so it gets a 2.

2/5 not my style

Well this was profoundly uninteresting.

This album really goes from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Interesting and certainly something I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. It's just tough for me to engage without a lot of added context that I don't have. It's enjoyable though.

A mix of folk music, do wop ballads and South African folk music. It's a pretty eclectic mix. Best Tracks: Mbube; Where Does It Lead; House of the Rising Sun

Very much not my thing at all. I can understand the circumstances in which it was made, but this is much too old and out of my wheelhouse to appreciate it any further than a glance listen. The English parts of the album really do not help much either, as it comes off more childish than fun.

Not really my jam but not bad I guess, had its ups and downs

Great voice, subpar songs. Also that laughing guy in One More Dance was unbearable.

Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this kind of stuff this morning, but it wasn't nearly enjoyable. Not bad in any way, just not for me.

Nice album, but there's not enough time in my life to listen to it another time.. ;)

Didn't love it.

Očito nikako na zelenu granu sa svjetskom glazbom. Ne znam šta se događa u "One More Dance", jebalo te smijanje da te jebalo, uništio pjesmu totalka.

Zašt sam ja na prvom prvom lajnu prve pjesme mislio da će bit EEEEEND AAAIIIIJAIIIIIIJ VIL OLVEEEEJS LAAAAVJUUUUUUUU lmao 💀 💀 “Darling go home your husband is dead” reče lik kroz suze.

good voice, nice covers of popular songs, but not my cup of tea, kinda forgettable imo

Not really my thing

It’s something like slow South African ballad things. Several tracks actually remind me of 1950s Hawaiian ballad things. This is a tough call, but I think I’m going to give it a 2/5 stars. Her voice is lovely, I care about South African music/art/culture, but this is gonna put me to sleep. Like, I just can’t think of when I would want to listen to this album again. One More Dance was outright frightening.

Interesting, but overall not my style. Highlight Tracks: 3, 8, 13

Can see why it’s on the list, but not really music I would choose to listen too.

This was okay. Not my thing but it made me smile a couple of times.

Nothing wrong with it at all, but just not my thing

Had high expectations from this debut album (knowing only a double compilation album of Makeba, which is great: full of 5* songs) but most of this album was not so remarkable.

awimbawe

Biisi Mbube rokkas. Välillä ihan nättiä menoa ja sitten outoa sekoilua. Ei jatkoon.

She's got a good voice. I preferred the first half not sung in English

Heart in the right place but can’t handle too much of it

for all its historic significance, this turns out to be dated and gimmicky...

Boring

She has a truly lovely voice, but the arrangements and song writing are nothing to write home about.

2/5

Only really like one song not my music genre

Entenc que una llista tan exhaustiva hagi de donar lloc a propostes molt variades. El tema és que la música sudafricana de començaments dels 60 ni la conec ni és un génere que em motivi especialment ara mateix. El disc sona bé, i la versió de 'House of the Rising Sun' és top, però ja...

not particularly to my taste but very interesting

Sweet voice, but not my cup of tea

Not into it. Not sure why. But didn't enjoy.

i didn’t really like it to be honest, it was quiet a lot of times and “one more dance” with the crying made me feel strange. i did like some of it and i liked the idea and rythm, but just wasn’t my vibe.

Not my usual style of music, but she does have a great voice. "One More Dance" was really weird, but she did a nice version of "House of the Rising Sun"

laulaa vissii jostai savanneista, idk, ei jatkoon

Was alright just not my jam

I feel like I should be riding an elephant and hunting tigers

Its ok, but i dont think i ever be in the mood to hear this

Musica do Rei Leao eh a 7 - Mbube

Afrikkalaista menoa, sen kyllä kuuli, vaikkei ihan täyttä leijonakuningas-kamaa ollutkaan. Kun oli vaihtoehtoja tarjolla, niin kuuntelin sekä alkuperäisen että remasteroidun version, tuoreempi versio tuntui soivan täytekäisemmin ja siitä oli leikelty pois click songin alusta juontajan spiikki ja ykeisön nauru Miriamin letkautuksen jälkeen. Alkuperäisestä versiosta tuli vähän sellainen fiilis että on rahdattu eksoottinen matami syvästä Afrikasta sivistyneen yleisön ihmeteltäväksi. Laulaa osasi hyvin, mutta biisit ei ollut omaan makuun. Erikoisuutena jäi mieleen levyn tokavika biisi, jossa ukko käkätti kuin naurava kulkuri ja vuoropuhelu oli tasoa Britan ja Eikan ”saavissa on reikä”.

Have friends over for dinner Nice background

Sicher was richtig schönes, für Fans. Bedeutet mir aber nicht so viel.

Pretty cool album to have playing in the background. Impressive tongue clicks. The track with the dude laughing was a bit weird. Would’ve benefited from including a marimba. Mike would like this

me gustó más de lo que esperaba. Brutal la canción del rey león

This is some NPR weekend shit

Nice voice, I also liked the background singers, but not really my cup of tea. Reminded me of the Lion King broadway show.

Nuhaisilla soundeilla varustettua leijonakuningasmusiikkia. Pari kertaa jaksoin läpi kuunnella aika vaivatta. Ei siis suurempia negatiivisia fiiliksiä herättänyt. En myöskään keksi yhtään syytä miksi tätä pitäisi enää koskaan kuunnella.

Not really my favourite though only a few bad songs. Covers are good but not too memorable. Good for a change but nothing too remarkable

Brilliant voice but not great material

Not for me. 1/5

Sorry, but no. It’s just not music to my ears.

Give Miriam some credit for opposing the apartheid and spreading South African music to the world. I didn't expect such soft sound and slow songs though. Charles Coleman laughing his ass off over the death of her old man was an odd one. Heard a little "Lion Sleeps Tonight" in there too. Some more culture from the list and a one time listen for me...1.22 stars.

Vart tog den stygga lilla loppan vägen...? Sydafrikas Siw Malmqvist sjunger lättviktig afrikansk 50talsschlager som är från Västindien. Menlöst misch masch som måste varit olyssningsbart även som rent melodiradioskvall med Sigge Fürst i folkhemstransistorn 1961. Hon må ha varit en stark och viktig röst och symbol i angelägna frågor men hennes afroschlager vill jag gärna slippa

setter heller på the circle will be unbroken og låser køen i halvannen time enn å høre på dette igjen...

I did not like this

👎

2 - TERRIBLE

J'ai pas kiffé deso

Nicht mein Genre.

Not for me dog

Not my jam

Miriam Makeba isn’t really my thing. I can absolutely appreciate that she has a beautiful, distinctive voice that is rich, controlled and full of character but this was, at times, a real struggle to get through. You do have to place the album in its historical context. Recorded in 1960, it’s very much of its era, with arrangements and production that feel rooted in that time. However, even allowing for that, much of the album feels quite repetitive. The pacing rarely shifts, and there’s limited variation across the tracks, which makes the listening experience feel longer than it needs to be. There are moments that stand out. “Where Does It Lead” has an almost medieval, folk-like quality that I found intriguing, and her version of “House of the Rising Sun” is genuinely haunting — restrained, atmospheric, and beautifully delivered. Overall though, I found too many of the songs drifting into the same mid-tempo, understated space. While technically accomplished and historically important, it’s not an album I can see myself returning to. Favourite tracks: “Where Does It Lead”, “House of the Rising Sun” Least favourite tracks: One More Dance is awful!! Album artwork: A fairly standard cover for the era its simple and understated.

1. retreat - 1 2. zuliram - 1.5 3. click - 1 4. 5. holli - 1.5 6. ilanga - 1.5 7. mbube - 1 8. flea - 1 9. lead - 1.5 10. nomeva - 1 11. zun - 0 12. zavuba - 1.5 13. dance -0 14. guduza - 1

ok.

Nichts für mich

Sounded like the Lion King

Not a fan

Little too old school for me

I am racist.

Did not like it

Maybe that's Mama Africa. Then I don't like Mama Africa. Maybe the music is very good, authentic and gives many people courage. But I still don't like it. Against the background of a list otherwise dominated by WASPs, I suspect this nomination is more for political reasons. And that's almost worse than the inability to think outside the box. 1/5

What even </3

It's hard for me to review stuff like this. I've mentioned previously, I'm almost exclusively interested in the "auteur" aspect of music; I'm interested in the soup and how someone put it together, rather than the individual elements which went into making that soup. So when someone tells me "this is a really great guitarist / pianist / vocalist - whatever", in a sense you may as well be telling me this was a really fabulous potato that went into my soup. Becasue, for me, there are two insurmountable facts that arise from this: A) The soup can still be awful, in spite of the fabulous potato. And B) I just want to eat the soup, I don't want to admire and respect the potato in and of itself. While I am not at all ignorant to the cultural baggage that goes with this album - I get how influential it must have been, and still could be, and how in turn it shows western influence on South African traditions, and I get that she is an amazing singer - it's just not enough for me to make it a great album I would like to listen to in 2025. And I have to stick to my guns and evaluate it on that basis - when I award this one star, it is not because I do not understand or appreciate the artist, it is just that the end result is so far removed from what I listen to music for in the first place. So, yeah, great voice, great document of its time - but not an album which moves me at all.

Couldn’t understand it - not in English. The one song I could understand felt like a children’s song. Gave up after that

Been a while, so I guess I was due a 1 star album. Oh this was so awful! I hated the "clicking" sounds, to the point where they made me feel like vomiting. I can't think of anything good to say about this album, it just kept getting worse and worse the longer I listened to it. Inane songs about fleas, songs like you might find on a children's music album from the 1950s, more of the obnoxious clicking sounds. Truly awful, and almost painful to endure. The "laughing track" right near the end is the stuff of nightmares!

Trash

Beautiful story, big political influence, but as a raw album it's definitely not something I would ever enjoyed. Nice to learn about music from different cultures, but that is the only positive I can think of.

Not for me

Fake and sanitized. This is not the real thing.

Не зашло

Miriam Makeba is a super talented vocalist. This album is just not for me and I probably won't be returning very often either. I do appreciate what is being done hereand I also like the instrumental parts. They are fun for sure. I think her cover of "House Of the Rising Sun" is good, but I definitely like the versions by "Geordie" and "The Animals" more. Actually a 1.5 Liked Songs: "The Naughty Little Flea" and "Where Does It Lead"

i’m glad i listened to it, the point of this project is to hear music i never would have otherwise, but this wasn’t very good. house of the rising sun cover was unexpected but not also very good. i feel bad giving it a 1 but it was a 34 minute long album that i was sick of after 15 minutes

not for me

Odd selection for the list. Twee African music. Why not include Polka or some other regional ethnic shit as well. This album's lame.

Nicht meine Richtung

Nah