Blessed

Soweto Gospel Choir | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: January 24, 2006
• Label: Shanachie Entertainment
• Copyright: 2006 Shanachie Entertainment
• Total Length: 56:05
• Genres: Dance & DJ/World Dance
• ASIN: B000XRCLFM
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,378 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, May 31, 2006

By 

Gavin B. (St. Louis MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blessed (Audio CD)

The Soweto Gospel Choir performs gospel music, traditional African music and even pop music using the call and response vocal techniques that are associated with Soweto Township in South Africa. I've never heard this music performed by such a large ensemble of singers and the results are as soulful and deeply inspiring as any music you are likely to hear on this planet of ours.

"Asimbonanga/Biko" is a gorgeous rendering two combined songs, one by popular South African musician Johnny Clegg and the other a tribute to Steven Biko by England's Peter Gabriel. There are English language versions of songs of familiar songs like "I Bid You Goodnight", "Swing Down", "Kumbaya" and a rendition of "Oh Happy Day" that gives the Edwin Hawkins Choir's original version a run for the money. "Mbube" is the version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" which brings it all back home to the African roots of the popular Tokens tune from the Sixties.

There are also some up-tempo tunes like "Njalo" in the ju-ju music tradition which sound quite a bit like the hip shaking socca dance music of played in West Indian nations like Trinidad, Tabago, Bardados and Dominica. "Weeping" sounds like an American pop tune straight from repertoire of a jazzy musical stylist like Roberta Flack or Nora Jones.

As with every previous reviewer I can't think of enough good things to say about the Soweto Gospel Choir. Take me at my word, they are breathtaking.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!!!!!, February 25, 2006

By 

torri22 (near Columbus, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blessed (Audio CD)

What a wonderful choir. I drove two hours to hear them, just for fun. I had no idea what I was in for. I have been to hundreds of concerts in my lifetime, from every style of music ever created. This was one of the best live performances ever to grace this earth. I am going to drive five hours and take my family, so they may experience such wonderful music and a beautiful spiritual connection with God. I cried, smiled, danced, etc. just listening to the cd, just think how moved you'd be if you experienced them live. A+ for music, vocals, harmony, performance, dance, richness in spirit, etc.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BLESSED, March 17, 2006

By 

O. Taylor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blessed (Audio CD)

I just can't seem to get enough of listening to this CD. From the first song to the last is all good. It is very uplifting. I may not understand the language but I feel the message of the songs in my heart and soul. This is one for your collection.