Immigrés

The sound of being at a late-night backyard party illuminated by string lights on a hot summer night with a glass bottle in your hand. Really fun, and has no bloat at all.

Not the type of music i would usually listen, but i loved it. The production is really good, all the drums sound fantastic and the vocals are wonderful.

“Immigrés” by Youssou N’Dour (1988) Gipsy Kings, meet Bob Marley. The West African country Senegal is the grand exception to the dictum “The worst thing you can be is a former French colony”. And Senegal is perhaps is the world’s best hope for an exemplary and peaceable Mohammedan nation. Out of Senegal comes N’Dour (one of Paul Simon’s collaborators on his album “Graceland” [1986–percussion on “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”]—Simon may have “appropriated” African musicians, but it sure didn’t hurt their subsequent careers). N’Dour is an able vocalist who has assembled a sizable team of performers in this rhythmic treat. This is your horizon-expanding opportunity to enlarge the musical palate. The lyrics to the opening song “Immigrés” playfully give sage advice to those who are contesting a disputed election: Have a cookie and get over it. I laughed out loud. However, I was unable find any other lyrics online (too bad—they are in Wolof, I believe, and are essential for seriously assessing this work), but the real substance of this album is the colorful and exciting instrumental work, especially percussion. The four tracks are multidimensional, well-composed, evocative, and extended. Sorry, I had to give up on “Taaw”—I could never find the groove. Play this as background music while you work, and you’ll not only be efficient, but you’ll also be eager to wrap your arms around a world of music. Who could ask for more on a Monday morning? 3/5

This album is awesome. The songs were long but never got boring. Consistently fun throughout.

THIS IS AWESOME

I quite like world music, so I enjoyed this one.

Decent world music, interesting to hear once but that's it

Very pleasant listen. As with much African music, I can't quite put my finger on what I do and don't like.

Fun rhythms, fun melodies and instrumentals. This is such interesting, moving music!

Great experience getting some exposure to Senegal, but I still find it absurd to randomly throw in world content into a list of popular genres.

Really liked this! Don't have much to say, it was groovy. 9

sacré bleu!

Oh, this is wonderful. Joyful, richly arranged, musically gorgeous songs. Youssou N'Dour has really found the sweet spot where traditional Senegalese sounds blend perfectly with hints of Western pop, funk and jazz. The synths are actually pretty restrained and balanced for that era, so I don't know why anyone would single them out for criticism. Overall, this is really splendid. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Taaw, Badou, Immigrés/Bitim Rew, Pitche Mi

Not something I would usually listen to, but pretty good. Good musicianship.

Nice change. Can feel the 80's in this one.

Really interesting to hear Senegalese music. Throughly enjoyed it to begin with but couldn't listen for too long

Could use more Paul Simon.

This is straight up Senegalese music. Lots of percussion/African band sound. 4/10.

2.5 | No me terminó de convencer. Aprecio que esté bien hecho y que su calidad de compositor y mezcla con ritmos es correcta. De hecho hasta humor tenía para algo tipo Afro Beat, pero no me terminó de cuajar. Si lo comparo con algo como Fela Kuti siento que al menos en este disco Fela gana de calle facilmente. Quizá es la instrumentación, se termina escuchando con las partes electrónicas medio... apagadas? No estoy seguro pero simplemente fue un disco que vino, se fue y no encendió mucho en mí, aunque se escucha tecnicamente correcto. Para ser tantos ritmos africanos algo le falta de caracter.

Nice enough vibe but I don’t really enjoy his tone.

Instrumental is nice but the vocals are not my type.

Radio gazelle

trust me, this is not an album you need to hear before you die.

Loved it, magical stuff.

Joyous. I saw him on Peter Gabriel’s “So”tour in 1986. Became a huge fan. This is a great album!

Awesome album

What an incredible tenor

Fun, upbeat, different to what I would usually listen to. Honestly thoroughly enjoyed listening to this short album.

Great world drumming album!

Че за кайфарик

Wow, this viscerally takes me back to my childhood. Sub 10 - maybe 6 or 7? My very first media device of any description, that was mine rather than the family's, was a crystal radio kit. You pushed the components into a perforated cardboard circuit board, wired them up, connected a wire to a radiator to act as an antenna, and listened through a little ear piece that looked like an old fashioned hearing aid. It had no power source of its own, and seemed like magic to me! It was not capable of picking up too many radio stations, but one thing it reliably picked up quite strongly was a show playing world music that sounded a lot like this. Probably the first music that _I_ sought out for myself, rather than was just passively exposed to. Fave track - "Immigrés/Bitim Rew" I guess, but the whole album is lovely....

I was not familiar with this particular album, but I really love Youssou N'Dour, so this particular assignment came as a "heck yes!" for me. As mentioned in a prior review, it's a bit hard to rate albums that aren't in English because I can't compare songwriting when I don't understand the lyrics. But dang, I love the SOUND of this album. The drums are amazing, the layers of guitar and brass, the sound of the vocals. Just wonderful. Wikipedia tells me that this album was criticized for the use of synthesizers? I like the synth sounds! So there you go. Love it. 5/5

Big beautiful groove

Loved it. I really want to go to Senegal in the meantime I'll listen to big Youssou.

went absolutely crazy on this one. excellent instrumentals, catchy riffs and infectious rhythms. excellent excellent work

This was a great listen. This was perfect to have on while I'm doing what needs to be done. Lots of very subtle percussion in the background gave the tracks some extra depth.

Familiar funkiness with some greatly influential African twist. You can see N'Dour's fingerprints across so much, and that's a good thing.

Joyful, catchy and easily a relisten

Beautiful album from the former minister of tourism for Senegal

This was great! I loved every moment.

Beautiful music

The African entries on this list are mostly top class. This album by the former Senegalese minister of tourism is no exception.

Almost halfway through the list, and the "Other" origin is consistently rated higher than "UK" and "US". A bit surprising to me, but especially the picks from Africa have been excellent, and Immigrés from legend Youssou N'Dour is no exception. A perfect blend of percussion, bass and synth.

Awesome sound. I loved it; my cats loved it.

Brilliant, of course. 5 stars.

Im a fan of juju music and I am surprised that King Sunny Ade didn't make this list. However, this album certainly rivals his best work. Great record. Amazing voice and great instrumentation.

Enjoyed all of this album very much, had never heard it in full before. No wonder western musicians were queuing up to collaborate! Will certainly be listening again. I can't think of anything I'd change so in the absence of 9 out of 10 I've rounded up. 5 stars from husband, too.

Joyous! Superb voice, superb rhythm. Been watching the AFCON 2024 and the crazy scenes, so this feels timely. sadly for Youssou, Senegal got knocked out. My awareness of him extends basically to 7 Seconds, so this was lovely to hear his earlier, more traditional work. Although I understand it was criticised for using synths. Well they aren't intrusive to my ear. I guess when they come in halfway through Taaw they arguably take away more than add to the rhythm, but otherwise. This is just a delight, uplifting and fantastic from start to finish. Obviously I haven't a scooby what he's singing about, which is a shame, as from what I can work out he's a sound geezer. I didn't want Badou to end, 5 minutes wasn't enough!

Really good music. This is the type of s*** that I want when I started listening to a list of albums like this.

I know nothing about this at all but saw on Spotify that this dude was on "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel and that's how the larger world population found out about him. I can get quite into African music because it's so different to so much else, and I am enjoying this from the first chords. This rules. It's catchy while still being strange and meandering.

This was super sweet. I loved it. Awesome vocals and I loved the rhythms and guitar work. Cool stuff

Really fun sound. I had never heard this before, but I love this kind of thing. Great party music.

Just amazing. Put this on right as I headed out to walk the dog, and what a great listen on a nice breezy 63 degree (F) morning!

Jeg lå og vippede mellem en 4'er og en 5'er, for jeg ved ikke, hvor ofte den vil komme på i fremtiden, men jeg blev simpelthen i for godt humør til at rate den andet. Fantastisk instrumentation, interessant stemme, rigtigt sommeralbum

N'Dour takes the jazzy relaxed open feel of 70s West African Golden-era of Afro-Cuban rumba (from his Star Band de Dakar days) and opens it up. This album lowers the role of the guitar and makes space to incorporate more Senegalese musical traditions (the interwoven griot-style vocals, the wide range of hand drums and the talking drum) and for some smooth jazz sounding horns/keyboards. The horns are great, but the keys, combined with the very 80s production and the bass tone in particular, do give this a very corny dated feel. Along with Salif Keita's, N'Dour is one of the cornerstones of the whole Putomayo world music 'genre' and forged a sound that would become the somewhat stultifying generic default for West African musicians seeking an international audience, combining glossy global sheen with the authenticating use of local instruments. But here in its nascent stage, there's plenty of energy and excitement to the music, and even the corny keyboard sounds have an endearing nostalgic wistfulness to them.

Outrageous! What a record! Absolute education in how to blend 4000 musical genres and make them all harmonise perfectly! Completely took me by surprise! 4.7

Didn’t know what was being sung but it really doesn’t matter. This album has great energy and has a little of everything instrumental wise and at a high level.

Muhkeaa soittoa

Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer and bandleader. His strong, soaring voice is the central feature of these upbeat, rhythmic tracks. He was featured in a Peter Gabriel song, "In Your Eyes," which catapulted N'Dour to international fame. Touring with Gabriel gave N'Dour a chance to perform world-wide. Immigres is an album N'Dour released just before becoming a star, and is a good sample of the music N'Dour made relatively early in his career. These are infectious, danceable songs with universal appeal.

Can tell from the first 10 seconds that I’m going to enjoy this. The sound mixing is wonderful. Really balanced. Loving this.

As good as World Music gets.

Fun, party music. Whoever the drummer is on this, he is putting in WORK. Weirdly I feel like Maiden fans might enjoy "Pitche Me". Favorite track: "Pitche Me"

i like this alot eventhough its lyrics are a mystery

Loving this so far, beachy boat music. perfect for a nice sun nap.

Very cool, interesting sounds and unique instrument combinations. Enjoyable.

Mellow afrobeat, this opens a whole new world.

i liked this a lot

Immigrés is an album by Senegalese singer and percussionist Youssou N'Dour. AllMusic remarks that the album is "a good part of what put [N'Dour] on the international map"

I feel like I should be able to mark 'listened' and 'enjoyed,' but also that I am wildly unqualified to put a rating on this, given how little I know about African music.

What a fun, chill, relaxing album. Spent the rest of the day listening to his other albums!

Great percussion and voice. Very upbeat.

Interesting sounds but pretty repetitive. I’m glad it was short. 7

Buen disco. Con mucho ritmo

8/10. Pretty good, I see why I had to learn about this guy in French class

8/10 I really loved the beats and instrumentals on this, and it was a nice change of pace from Western music. However, I found it repetitive at times and sometimes the vocals sounded really nasal in a way that I didn't care for

Enjoyed this one. The reason I follow this list is to introduce me to great music I perhaps wouldn't normally come across, and this fits that bill perfectly

New to me. So so good. Saving it.

Really good. Hypnotic. I was worried as I didn't like his stuff that I knew.

nicee

Loved it

Happy, easy listening. Good for the background of another activity.

Wow!

really nice! While I've listened to perhaps more music from Africa than the average person this is new to me. Not sure I would purchase it but happy to have heard it.

Some great beats, perfect to have on in the background when you have a garden party.

nice!

This is great… another smashing African album I wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to!

🌍🇸🇳⭐️

Honestly, not bad. I liked it way more than I thought I would. I just don't see myself revisiting it too often

Un disco increíblemente ecléctico, pero agradable de escuchar, especialmente la primera canción. Está interesante porque no se parece a nada que haya escuchado antes; la mezcla de tambores con metales y guitarra, con un ritmo que no se parece a nada que haya escuchado antes.

Loved this. Amazing voice, and a fascinating sound.

Great album. 4 Heard it while reading the bible. Matched the vibe

sounds important i guess. fun and short! 4 stars

Very good!

I was not expecting to like this one, but was surprised to find a really enjoyed it! Pitche Mi was a standout, so emotional.

This sounds less commercial than the YND stuff that he put out a few years later. The first song caught my attention about half way thru and the next two were quite enjoyable. I like the rambling percussion, the loose arrangements the guitar in Pitche MI. And of course the voice.

I can't put it in words but there's something about the singing style in Senegalese music that is quite soothing. He sings this way and is also able to hit notes in an expanded range. My favourite bits are songs with the traditional African guitar melodies as in Taaw. While this album has  lovely percussion throughout, the album doesn't hit its potential since the production doesn't do justice. I need to use my imagination to think how amazing  his singing on Pitche Mi must be live or with recording / producing capabilities from even 10 - 20 years later.  I quite like Senegalese music and would have a 5 for music from that country but I feel like I'm  rounding up here.

pretty groovy, I don’t think I’d want to listen to it more than once but for what it was it was pretty fun 7/10

Well shit, I'm gonna have to remember this one when I'm grilling, hammocking, or otherwise relaxing this summer. I don't know what the lyrics are about, but the music is really fun. I also like the length of this record. It's almost not an LP. Four tracks at a total of 34 minutes. That must barely make the cut. Anyway, these songs need to be longer (liket he 11+ minute "Taaw"). Because they sort of lure you into a groove. And, for me at least, I don't really ever want it to end. Also, I feel like there is a lot of mastering compression happening on this record, and sometimes it has a really cool effect of smooshing everything into a wall of sound that is only driver forward by the hand percussion. Loved it.

Immigrés by Youssou N'Dour. I had heard his backing vocals in a number of songs most notably "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. First time listening to his own music which is classified as mbalax, a mixture of traditional Sengalese and latin-styles and was huge in Africa. This album is four songs. All songs are dominated by his tenor voice and a slew of percussions. Mostly rhythm driven. The one exception is the second song "Pitche Mi" where you really hear the Latin and guitar influence. "Taaw" is the highlight with its rolling bass and heavy percussion. Paul Simon was most definitely listening to this for his album "Graceland." Overall, I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this album and music.

Leuk album. Wereldmuziek in een modern jasje