I've this article on Koffi and now it's time for Ferre. I don't know if Im the only one but one week I'm the biggest fan of Papa Wemba next week biggest fan of Defao and currently Ferre Gola. In this article I will talk about my admiration of his and my despair for him as well. If I have time this week or in the future I will do an article on other artist but right now as I'm a fan of Ferre currently why not.

Pros:

1. Exceptional talent that will advance with time:
- In my opinion this guy Ferre Gola is a blessing to Congolese music, ever since he started professionally he was just and still is special, his singing abilities is obviously his main strength and his dancing skills he just a utter complete musicians (star I should say) just like Defao or Evoloko and I believe is a one in a million I don't think we will get many like him in the future.


2. Angelic voice:
- This is something does not go unnoticed but of course he is a good singer (good or great singers don't really need to have a good voice some use different ways of singing to conduct themselves in more unique special way for example I believe King Kester or Gina sing complete different styles that makes them unique and special) but this guy Ferre his voice is just something too special and I don't care how he sings but his voice makes extra special (God's given talent):


Just a normal interview but just check he conduct his voice when he sings Manda Chante's Ibrahim 5:28


The very ferre showing his vocal potential ( just check Werra behing shaking his head!)

And obviously now he shown to whole wide world for me goes down as one of the special vocalists with Apotre Debaba, Manda Chante, Evoloko and other great vocalists.

3. Still hasn't reached full potential:
- Reasons why Ferre is mysterious, this is a pro and con, for me Ferre hasn't reached his full potential that everyone's been waiting for this good because it keeps us waiting and what helps him a lot is that his got time in his back but wait a minute his in his late thirties and soon he will reach 40 (wait wait wait) for 40 might seem young but artists tend to get much lazier example JB Mpiana turned 40 in 2007 since then he hasn't done anything too major same with Werra in 2005 (only Temoignage, NAFCA And Zenith accomplishments) for this Ferre sake I hope he doesn't run out of steam as his older brothers otherwise we will never the peak Ferre, if you think incorrect please share your thoughts to go into depth again Ferre in my opinion hasn't done anything major or influential or even a classic album looking back 10/7 years ago I thought he would win multiple trophies, tours all over the world, classic album, concerts in all mythic halls or even maybe order merit (maybe I'm just going too far) but for me he hasn't grasped many of these things quite worrying but good for suspense and hopefully he does so

Cons:

Incompetence of keeping a good squad and utilize them effectively in serious projects:
-You may disagree but I stand by my thoughts, I think this is something that annoys me with Ferre it's all him ever since his been a solo artist I'm tired of him singing all the songs from 2 to 24, give the other boys a chance to shine, a good thing is that we know as they all around the media which is good but they haven't released anything only short vocals. Now nowadays is animators are not prolific group leaders are also to blame as they not giving enough chances (minutes I go into depth in the second stage of his con's), Now Ferre has been equipped with a very very promising group since then beginning with Nicodeme, Chikito, Clizo, De Gaulle, Guy, Charly Solo, Hadji Solo, Freddy, Nicolas, Kunzardo any many more but his incompetence made him lose Nicodeme, Chikitio, the promising Christian solo, Clizo (unsure if his left but I don't see him anymore), same with the one of my favourite bassists of the so called 5th Giscard mobelo (don't even see him stage anymore don't if his still in J7 but i hope he is), Musamaria and Touareg. This does not mean Ferre is finished but it looks like he doesn't care and maybe more important members will leave in the future (note: strong attacks came earlier this year), For me he should have used them a bit more and even should have released a group album with them I reckon they were big threat and Ferre looks much better with them.


Just listen to Christian Solo, I think if kept this team and released a group album he would have been much much more dangerous


Props to Charly Solo for that melodic partition on the end of the viedo with the amazing "Shakira" dance 10/10 (I've addicted to this video for the last couple of days)

Monotonous rumba's isn't my cup of tea:
-Another factor that lets me down this talented man, continuous boring acoustic rumba's that try to copy OK Jazz, Afrisa and Odemba is not working out (FERRE GIVE UP MAN FFS!) , I just heard Vieux Jalous trailer the same shit what's wrong with this guy, I never thought I would criticize but really this is getting out of hand I heard the whole of Boite Noire especially the 2nd disc it just one song with a duration of 50 minutes this worrying for numerous reasons. 1st expectations levels are dropped, you fellow bloggers know when Ferre releases a album all your gonna get is 2 generiques (most probably half the generique is west-african decale), 24 rumba's, there's no suspense, no creativity and no difference this is what I call sell-out because you know what his going to do, 2nd make each song different for example Meilleur Moment (is something beautiful we expect Ferre to do), Mercure (different style more of a Empire Bakuba approach), Au Bord de L'Amour (zouk sort of style), Qui Va Verre (life story), Zazou (rumba mixed with R&B), Joao Ndombele (koffi styled sebene and with a proper sebene) and maybe even featuring to do something special but no he counties with countless similar rumba's this isn't going to take you far mate stop. Another thing animator's are getting criticized of not being good enough how they meant to be good if leaders take up most of the albums with rumba's they do not have time to express themselves properly if Bill Clinton, Celeo, Genta, Brigade, Caludji or other animators were to come out today they would not have been good as they are today because they don't have time express themselves and show talent because the same rumba's it is unfair to blame the and for J7's case I stick my finger at Ferre do something different.

Well I've come to an end I hope you enjoy this, one thing I must say it feels good to see Ferre and other 5th generation artist looking good (no homo) Ferre looked very off key in his early days and he blossomed to what he is now I just he does not show his usual disbelief (Bill Clinton & Laura Tendance have saying this he lacks self-belief) once he knows his capabilites and sorts out one or two things his destined for greatness. Thanks

Good stuff, but for the millionth time Ferre lets his singers have a lot of vocals also and a lot of time. It's Fally who dosent give his singers time he does 20 song albums but gives his singers maybe only 4 songs at the most with short vocals filled with mabanga.

I wish musicians could read this,spot on!!

Hi thanks for the portrait , but many things that you said in your post i strongly disagree with.

The part when criticize his leadership for exemple,  can you tell me which leader in music that does not have the same problem of being able to keep the same group during the years and albums ?

You said that he sings every songs by him self . But don't forget that he's a young solo artist (only 3 albums). For me it is normal  that after make shine werra, and koffi he want's to make a name like his peers by him self.

And he said quite clearly that no musician is irreplaceable. They come and go and  i don't thinks quality is down just different.

For ( part monotony ) in his songs. I see many reviews say the same thing , but I do not really understand people who say that.
It has a melancholic style with piano or acoustic guitar . But it is his trademark , so why should it change? Especially since it has suited his voice and way of singing that put his voice in value. To me this is his strength, the other singers do not have the same qualities so it's normal that they put more emphasis on music over vocals.

Maybe in the group's album that he announce each musician will bring a different style to the composition.
For generic , you 're absolutely right . In each album, you have the right to two maybe three if were lucky with the same animation. THE only difference lies in the way they are sung.

So yes in the end I think ferre gola has not yet reached its full potential , but it is an established artist and very tallentueux especially one of a kind.

Hi thanks for the portrait , but many things that you said in your post i strongly disagree with.

The part when criticize his leadership for exemple,  can you tell me which leader in music that does not have the same problem of being able to keep the same group during the years and albums ?

You said that he sings every songs by him self . But don't forget that he's a young solo artist (only 3 albums). For me it is normal  that after make shine werra, and koffi he want's to make a name like his peers by him self.

And he said quite clearly that no musician is irreplaceable. They come and go and  i don't thinks quality is down just different.

For ( part monotony ) in his songs. I see many reviews say the same thing , but I do not really understand people who say that.
It has a melancholic style with piano or acoustic guitar . But it is his trademark , so why should it change? Especially since it has suited his voice and way of singing that put his voice in value. To me this is his strength, the other singers do not have the same qualities so it's normal that they put more emphasis on music over vocals.

Maybe in the group's album that he announce each musician will bring a different style to the composition.
For generic , you 're absolutely right . In each album, you have the right to two maybe three if were lucky with the same animation. THE only difference lies in the way they are sung.

So yes in the end I think ferre gola has not yet reached its full potential , but it is an established artist and very tallentueux especially one of a kind.

Thanks for your view, totally agree with you his a prestige talented artist but I do disagree his not established give it few more years then yes is not too far but. For the monotonous department I refuse to change my mind over that because artistically an artist you have to be able to different things and take risks, I believe Ferre is not possessing that quality which leaves me to think his half-baked and not versatile, I see Ferre as somebody how can be a even bigger star than he is currently, artistically if you look at artist before example Papa Wemba he has done many different type of songs but he still has his own molokai trademark for instance folkore, love, pop, jazz, country, rumba-rock, sebene and all type of different styles and that makes even more stronger as an artist on the other hand ferre possess similar rumba especially on Boite Noire series so it allegedly he is not capable of being versatile artistic I believe not because his capable of doing listen to Sens Interdit (Meilleur Moment lovely song by him, Mercure empire bakuba trademark, Au bord de L'Amour zouk (Caribbean)) his capable of doing. Look at Justin Timberlake, Usher and all other big stars they try something instead of keeping everything the same all the time. With his management skills as leader, I do not blame him for his musicians leaving or participating I'm saying he is not using them effectively (just imagine Werra not using Ferre, Celeo, Heritier and co. at the their times not effectively) that's all I'm saying he should use effectively in especially songs giving more of a chance and exposure it is good that he picked a very promising squad even till now but he has to use them more and I'm not saying he will fail without them but they can give him something extra he lacks as he and them have different strength and weaknesses do you see what I mean. 

Yes, I understand better what you said , but as mentioned jdog , it gives a lot of vocals to his singers , you can argued that this is not enough , but it has the merit to be there ..

For comparison with Papa Wemba i see your point.

For comparison with Werra , I do not think it is fair, because Werra is more dependent on its singer to sing the rumba and generic . While ferre may do almost anything (he has already proved in Sens Interdit and on Qui Est Derrière Toi) . But I agree with the example you gave about the style of music like R & B or zook . That is why Nigeria is number one, they sing in English and have a style of music , dancehall, R'n'B , Zook .

But it is just proof that ferre is versatile because he already did it in his previous album, it is just that in Boite Noire there has been more influential rumba.

That's why I think you should do something different than what is popular and growing difference in the african music . This is why I prefer Ferre over Fally.

Fally for more fans sings words in English and try to do as Nigerians . He's right because that gave him more succes but it's not what I want for ferre .

I am French and Ivorian and I love the difference in the african music . I love the Coupé Décalé or Zouglou but I love it when Ndombolo or Rumba bring something different in my ears. Same as for Nigerian musics .

After maybe you're right if it wants to explode all over the world he will have to  make it more mainstream songs

I have said this before .

So when one says that Ferre sings monotonous Rhumba, is he telling me that Tantot Plutot sounds the same as Kiti ya Libala? Very biased analysis.Secondly, he criticises Ferre for not giving a chance to his singers. I would agree with Romeo that Ferre is just starting his solo career and should still headline most of the songs. To his credit, if you compare the albums that came out around the same time i.e Kosa Leka and Abracadabra it is in Boite Noire where band members have been given more time to sing. Fally does it almost by himself the whole album while for Abracadabra it is Koffi and Cindy. But i still find a lot of songs to enjoy from Abracadabra and Kosa Leka. I try to be objective and enjoy any good music regardless of the artist and his behavior. I am not the moral police some of us try to be

Ferre Gola does tend to monotonous rumba but that makes him great. His songs are incredible. Ferre Gola does not change his music too much. I actually wish more artists would maintain their sound with minor changes then and there.