For some time, I would say on Franco that Franco was a second voice singer (baritone type). But then other Franco fans would often say that actually Franco was a first voice singer (tenor type). Now I feel like Franco was a second voice singer but he could sing high sometimes.

I want to ask you guys a question. If you listen to Franco's music, do you think he is a first voice singer or a second voice singer?
I say second voice type singer. What about you guys?

For some time, I would say on Franco that Franco was a second voice singer (baritone type). But then other Franco fans would often say that actually Franco was a first voice singer (tenor type). Now I feel like Franco was a second voice singer but he could sing high sometimes.

I want to ask you guys a question. If you listen to Franco's music, do you think he is a first voice singer or a second voice singer?
I say second voice type singer. What about you guys?

Baritone because Tenorist usually are guys who have deep voice who can sing 1er voix or high pitch voice, Franco simply was very natural in his singing he had never tried to force to sound like a 1er voix hence why he was a natural baritone

He was a baritone, people always mock Werrason for being a bad singer but my God Luambo was terrible. I don’t why he insisted on singing, he should’ve just stuck to composing and playing the guitar

He was a baritone, people always mock Werrason for being a bad singer but my God Luambo was terrible. I don’t why he insisted on singing, he should’ve just stuck to composing and playing the guitar

Huh? I guess Beyonce feels the same that you do?

He was a baritone, people always mock Werrason for being a bad singer but my God Luambo was terrible. I don’t why he insisted on singing, he should’ve just stuck to composing and playing the guitar

Huh? I guess Beyonce feels the same that you do?

dany is wrong. Yes Franco was not the best singer but the fact is that Franco did have more good solo vocal moments than Werrason did. Another advantage is that Franco actually wanted to sing at his range while Werrason wants to sound like an 1st voice singer and that harms him too.

He was a baritone, people always mock Werrason for being a bad singer but my God Luambo was terrible. I don’t why he insisted on singing, he should’ve just stuck to composing and playing the guitar

I hope you are joking right now. Ian a Maison Mère fan and Luambo was and still is way ahead above Werrason in terms of singing, you deserve 24 hours non stop of Werra singing A Capella

He was a baritone, people always mock Werrason for being a bad singer but my God Luambo was terrible. I don’t why he insisted on singing, he should’ve just stuck to composing and playing the guitar

Huh? I guess Beyonce feels the same that you do?

dany is wrong. Yes Franco was not the best singer but the fact is that Franco did have more good solo vocal moments than Werrason did. Another advantage is that Franco actually wanted to sing at his range while Werrason wants to sound like an 1st voice singer and that harms him too.

Take Franco’s best vocal and compare it to Werrason’s worst. I assure you, you’ll think werrason is Pavarotti. Franco’s intervention in his most memorable songs always leaves me baffled he completely butchers them (mamu and Mario) could’ve been better without him uttering those few words. He’s a great musician but when it comes to singing he’s a fucking clown and I also despise him for infecting my aunt with HIV. Despite his musical achievements, he’s a disgusting human being I hope one day he’ll be put under the microscope and scrutinised. He’s probably the first Congolese musician to explicitly sing about sex whilst trying to promote HIV awareness.

He was a baritone, people always mock Werrason for being a bad singer but my God Luambo was terrible. I don’t why he insisted on singing, he should’ve just stuck to composing and playing the guitar

Huh? I guess Beyonce feels the same that you do?

dany is wrong. Yes Franco was not the best singer but the fact is that Franco did have more good solo vocal moments than Werrason did. Another advantage is that Franco actually wanted to sing at his range while Werrason wants to sound like an 1st voice singer and that harms him too.

Take Franco’s best vocal and compare it to Werrason’s worst. I assure you, you’ll think werrason is Pavarotti. Franco’s intervention in his most memorable songs always leaves me baffled he completely butchers them (mamu and Mario) could’ve been better without him uttering those few words. He’s a great musician but when it comes to singing he’s a fucking clown and I also despise him for infecting my aunt with HIV. Despite his musical achievements, he’s a disgusting human being I hope one day he’ll be put under the microscope and scrutinised. He’s probably the first Congolese musician to explicitly sing about sex whilst trying to promote HIV awareness.

I got several responses.
1) Who was your auntie and what was her relationship with Franco himself?

Be glad that I will respond before others will and they will be more angry with you.

Concerning you saying that Franco's best vocal is compare to Werrason's worst vocal shows you have little awareness of music. You really think Franco is the worst singer in Congolese music? Come on sir. Don't let your bias towards Werrason blind you so much. Btw I am a Werrason fan also. I am not one of those who say that Werrason is the worst singer. Despite not being vocally trained, Franco developed a melody in his voice and it was memorable. It is not by accident that some people try to find a Franco copycat even today. You don't have that with Werrason. Also, I am sure if Luciano Pavarotti would have to choose between Franco and Werrason, he would have chosen Franco.

Also, we were speaking on Franco's voice and not his character. If you want to start condemning Franco, we also have to condemn your idol Werrason. Werrason has done tons of horrible stuff to his former musicians, current musicians, and his entourage. Also, don't forget Werrason has a child outside of his marriage. Franco owned up to his misdeeds but he has children from his two wives and not a child outside of marriage. Franco did greedy stuff such as killing many great bands but in return he would bring some of the folks into OKJ like Josky Kiambukuta, Ntesa Dialienst and Sam Mangwana. Yes Franco was a egoistic manic and many Franco fans acknowledge it. But Werrason is also problematic also. I mean after all, he is champion of 12 and he allows his bootlickers like drummer Papy Kakol and Sankara do some extreme hideous stuff against other musicians. Also with Werrason, some notable people of his entourage have died including Yanki Mpuyi. Also don't forget all the dirty tricks he did against Baby Ndombe who was probably the most loyal to Werrason more than Ferre Gola. Great problem with some Werrason sickafans is that they want act Werrason is a clean person without flaws and they want that only Werrason is Congolese music. I am sorry to say this but I will say it, Congolese music was there before Werrason and it will continue after Werrason. Werrason is a great talent but he is also a deeply flawed human being like Franco was.

dany, just do yourself a favor and not pretend that Franco was the only with problems. Always, those who hate your idol Werrason will mention all the dirty stuff he did and continues to do today.

I already acknowledged Franco as a great composer and instrumentalist but the man cannot sing, I don’t care how many paragraphs you write defending his mediocrity as a singer, you’ll never convince me. I know he has legions of fans and I enjoy some of his music but I truly don’t rate him as a singer, I know for a fact that Madilu and Josky used to laugh when Franco tries to sing.

You’re buggin…

Music is more than singing, that is why Luambo and Werrason are among the most celebrated musicians off their generations despite their shortfalls. And that is why people with crooning voices like Debaba could not make it to the top level.

Fact is, saying Franco couldn’t sing is preposterous. Mario wasn’t just a hit in Africa. I know several white Europeans who own a deep catalogue of OK Jazz records but don’t care to know who Ferre and Fally are.  Franco’s voice was pure and raw. He didn’t need to do tricks and fills, the power behind his words were convincing enough. While his singers were great composers in their own right, Franco’s songs are most preferred and OK Jazz could never fill those shoes after he died. His baritone brought power to his choral line. His duets w Josky and Madilu made them stars. His duets w Youlou Mabiala are folklores AND he could hang with two of the best top notch vocalists of their era Tabu Ley and Sam Mangwana. And as a lead vocalist his notes were clean and his legato lines were always on key. No shade to Werra but he can’t do that w/o autotune. He knew his limits but he played his role flawlessly.

Franco never used modern technology to sound better as a vocalist

I already acknowledged Franco as a great composer and instrumentalist but the man cannot sing, I don’t care how many paragraphs you write defending his mediocrity as a singer, you’ll never convince me. I know he has legions of fans and I enjoy some of his music but I truly don’t rate him as a singer, I know for a fact that Madilu and Josky used to laugh when Franco tries to sing.

dany, Madilu and Josky laughed because Franco would something very colorful sir. It was not because of his singing as you would like to believe sir.

Fact is, saying Franco couldn’t sing is preposterous. Mario wasn’t just a hit in Africa. I know several white Europeans who own a deep catalogue of OK Jazz records but don’t care to know who Ferre and Fally are.  Franco’s voice was pure and raw. He didn’t need to do tricks and fills, the power behind his words were convincing enough. While his singers were great composers in their own right, Franco’s songs are most preferred and OK Jazz could never fill those shoes after he died. His baritone brought power to his choral line. His duets w Josky and Madilu made them stars. His duets w Youlou Mabiala are folklores AND he could hang with two of the best top notch vocalists of their era Tabu Ley and Sam Mangwana. And as a lead vocalist his notes were clean and his legato lines were always on key. No shade to Werra but he can’t do that w/o autotune. He knew his limits but he played his role flawlessly.

Just add to your point, Franco wanted stars in his bands. He was not looking to groom anyone. That is what ya Makosso said. He said that Franco wanted star people into his band. When Franco killed certain groups, it was because he wanted those singers into OK Jazz. For example, the group The Orchestre Continental group which had likes of Bopol (who would form 4 Etoiles), Tino Mwinka, Josky Kiambukuta and Wuta Mayi. Who did Franco want into OK Jazz, he wanted Josky and Wuta Mayi. So Franco ruined the band by taking Josky first in 1973 and then getting Wuta Mayi a year later.

Werrason can't handle dealing with big personalities. That is why he gets his bootlickers to do dirty work to get rid of them when he thinks they are having some flexibility. Werrason also is more focused on looks rather than real talent which also explains why the current Maison Mere team is very average.

I need popcorns for this one