Congo Vibes
Music => Congolese Music => Topic started by: Manzambi94 on November 27, 2017, 23:00
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http://www.rollingstone.it/musica/news-musica/perche-jimi-hendrix-era-il-piu-grande-di-tutti/2017-11-27/#Satriani
(If you want translate the article on google translate so it can be more understandable)
It is an Italian article on the Italian version of Rolling Stone (The magazine) and it says that Jimi Hendrix to a lot of white musicians is still the best guitar player of all the time, which can be true or false, but what I don't understand is why white people especially Americans and Europeans, hardly recognize Congolese soloist, OK Jimi was fantastic but do you think that Jimi cooul ever reach Kapaya's style and replicate his licks? I doubt it, Tolbert Solo, Kapaya, Kimbangu, and many others soloist should have the same respect they give to Jimi Hendrix ad to the white guitarist, can't believe some people claim that the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Queen or Eric Clapton are legend musician cone on!!!
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Too sum it up
Reason #1 - He is American. Since the beginning of recorded music, Americans get preferential treatment because of media outlet power.
Reason #2 - He played guitar for the all-time most popular music genre - Rock. Aka white people music
Jimi Hendrix's work is really extraordinary for that genre. I have his studio and live albums, and his style was more alive than the other rock soloists of the time. That being said, I also doubt Jimi Hendrix (alive and in his prime) could play sebene solo with the speed and precision of Flamme & Japonais.
They would put "respeck on their names" (Birdman voice) if the actually listened to our music like they do rock. It is said (still think it's a rumor) that Jimi was a big fan of the great Dr. Nico - the original soloist na bisso.
Eric Clapton - most overrated guitarist ever. His music makes me want to sleep.
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Too sum it up
Reason #1 - He is American. Since the beginning of recorded music, Americans get preferential treatment because of media outlet power.
Reason #2 - He played guitar for the all-time most popular music genre - Rock. Aka white people music
I agree fully.
Exposure is everything. Rock and Roll is the white man's music and originated in the US. In the US the little villages have their own local radio stations that promote their music. Then you have statewide Radios, and finally you have the Mega National Media. This fuels the need for recording studios to feed these stations with content ( music). Advertisers then pay to reach these markets with their merchandise.
So in America you have a musician starting on a local level, being played locally then if they are good, they are noticed, promoted and go National into the big stage. This has also led to the development of niche areas of music for example Country music in Nashville, Soul in Motown (Georgia) and other genres of music like bluegrass, e.t.c.
A genre of music typically starts on these small roots, gains a following, and the following grows to the point where it becomes significant to attract the Mainstream National stations who then promote it to national and international prominence.
We have very little exposure for African music in such a scenario and so we are not likely to attract such attention. The Web is helping expose African and other foreign musicians to America and Europe outside the establishment I detailed above, but it will take time and consistent effort.
I know of a few Radio stations in America that dedicate some airtime to African Music, like Daudi of Ambiance Congo. Ambiance Congo broadcasts every other Sunday on WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Virginia, USA from 3:00-5:00 PM. You can also listen to him online here: www.wrir.org
The Growing African Diaspora community promoting tours by musicians to the US will also expose this, as will the collaborations like Fally, Dbanj and co are having with the big guns of American Pop stars.
This may give some exposure but like you noted, it is very little and it may take very long.
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I know of a few Radio stations in America that dedicate some airtime to African Music, like Daudi of Ambiance Congo. Ambiance Congo broadcasts every other Sunday on WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Virginia, USA from 3:00-5:00 PM. You can also listen to him online here: www.wrir.org
The Growing African Diaspora community promoting tours by musicians to the US will also expose this, as will the collaborations like Fally, Dbanj and co are having with the big guns of American Pop stars.
This may give some exposure but like you noted, it is very little and it may take very long.
Ahh grand Prêtre Doudi, America greatest ambassador of good Congolese music. Whenever I can I tune in via internet radio and on few occasions I made special requests. He's been at it for decades now
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Too sum it up
Reason #1 - He is American. Since the beginning of recorded music, Americans get preferential treatment because of media outlet power.
Reason #2 - He played guitar for the all-time most popular music genre - Rock. Aka white people music
Jimi Hendrix's work is really extraordinary for that genre. I have his studio and live albums, and his style was more alive than the other rock soloists of the time. That being said, I also doubt Jimi Hendrix (alive and in his prime) could play sebene solo with the speed and precision of Flamme & Japonais.
They would put "respeck on their names" (Birdman voice) if the actually listened to our music like they do rock. It is said (still think it's a rumor) that Jimi was a big fan of the great Dr. Nico - the original soloist na bisso.
Eric Clapton - most overrated guitarist ever. His music makes me want to sleep.
It's funny I was just thinking about this the other day lol
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I agree with all of you, even Reaggeton which is a worldwide genre is not respected by whites the same way Punk/Rock music is (songs speaking about sex, drugs, and highway to hell) but if a reggaeton song speaks about the same thing or if a rap song speak about the same thing it will get criticized, I am still surprised how Jimi is respected and considered one of the best in a period where black people in America couldn't have a voice.
Anyway, I think that if Congolese music will succeed to reach Europe all the Eric Clapton, Queen and others will be quickly forgotten like it happened with Country after the Rap revolution, the only international star of country is Taylor Swift because of that bizarre moment in VMA's.