Egypt

Youssou N'Dour | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B00024BHCO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,640 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #23 in Music > World Music > Africa > Senegal & Gambia

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

African music heads have done a bit of grumbling over the years about Youssou N'Dour. They take issue with the great singer's choice to record high-energy mbalax music, which mixes African and Cuban rhythms, for his Senegal homeland fans while recording (lesser to some) modern global pop for his European and American releases. N'Dour continues to do the crossover thing on Egypt, but rather than draw upon Western pop song constructs, he dives into Arabian and Egyptian orchestra music complete with strings, flutes, and percussion. In the past, the singer's voice often had a keening quality that allowed him to soar over his working band, the great Super Etoile, but here N'Dour smoothes over the rough edges to render some of his most delicate and subtle singing to date. Providing strong support, the orchestra sounds lush and dynamic throughout. The only real complaint here is the relatively short 41-minute running time of the album, but there's still plenty music for purists and popsters. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

While Youssou N’Dour’s international releases have always combined Senegalese musical traditions with outside sources of inspiration, Egypt takes a fresh approach; on this album, the rhythms and melodies of Senegal drive arrangements featuring Egyptian and Arabian orchestral sounds. Featuring traditional musicians in Dakar and in Cairo, EgyptEgypt is N’Dour’s lyrical celebration of Senegal’s Muslim mystical culture of Sufism. EgyptEgypt’s lyrics demonstrate a distinctly Senegalese way of Islam, and of Sufi thought and practice, with references to venerated caliphs, saints, and sages

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Stirring sojourn under the sheltering sky June 10, 2004

By o dubhthaigh VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This CD is quite a departure from his mbalaax and Peter Gabriel oriented world music pop. Instead, Youssou infuses this CD with the flavours, the scents the rhythms of Egyptian traditional and orchestral music, creating a captivating percolation of North African textures that transport the listener through the sand storms of the northern Sahara to arrive in the oasesin sight of the pyramids. The music is thus more hypnotic and angular than his pop stuff, and it is refreshing not to hear an American or British voice breaking through. This is all this amazing Senegalese working with a sympathetic clique of like minded percusiionists, string and flute players and guitarists.
It is a Nonesuch recording, so the integrity of the natural sound is presented so purely that it is an aural wonder to listen to, and marks a significant departure from anything else he has done. The songs are a combination of prayers, "Allah,", Epictatan morality injunctions "Mahdiyu Laye," historical encomiums "Baay Niasse", and wise entreaties designed to bring you to a place of peace "Touba - Daru Salaam". They are in each case a reflection of Senegal's Sufi tradition, and Youssou treats them with respect and passion. He quotes the Sengalese patriot Mamadou Dia: "Love, in Islam, is not intellectual, but visceral." and that is so much to how the subtlety in this collection is delivered. Youssou handled the production in Dakar and in Cairo, and the sympatico he evokes among the usicians works so seamlessly, they are as one throught each track. I think you'll find this CD is one of his most satisfying ever.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Senegal, Egypt and Arabia... A Winning Combination May 22, 2006

By Zekeriyah VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

On this beautiful CD, Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour both returns to his roots and brings in new influences, looking to the east for inspiration. Featuring a full classical Arab orchestra directed by Egyptian conductor Fathy Salama alongside traditional Senegalese musicians, this CD was born from recording studios in Cairo and Dakar. Classical Arab instruments like the 'oud, violin, tabla and ney meld seemlessly with African percussion, the kora and Youssou N'Dour's marvellous vocals in the Wolof language. The resulting fusion is a masterpiece of world music, and carries a strong Sufi resonance from both countries. After all, despite the geographic distance, Senegal shares a great deal of Muslim heritage with Egypt and the other Arab states, so this CD shouldn't be too surprising.

Listening to the CD, one can feel the passion and intensity that Youssou N'Dour and the other musicians feel for God. I don't want to make it out as if this CD is only for followers of Islam. Anyone can appreciate the beauty and wonder of this music; it speaks to your very soul of love and compassion. Songs like "Shukran Bamba", "Tijaniyya" "Touba - Daru Salaam" and "Allah" are easy to appreciate even if you don't speak Wolof. The booklet includes translations of the lyrics so that English-speakers can appreciate the poetry and creativity of the songs. I was very excited when this CD was released (and Thione Seck's similar "Orientisme" in which he collaborated with artists from Senegal, Egypt and India), but had put off buying it for too long. I'm glad I finally got around to buying this CD, and I hope that other lovers of African music (and classical Arabic music) go and check this out. This is a wonderful cross-cultural experience, and well worth hearing.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Continuing to Expand Musical Boundaries July 26, 2004

By D. Sean Brickell

Format:Audio CD

Mr. N'Dour has, for years, been one of world music's leading ambassadors, and Egypt will continue expanding our musical boundaries in the west. As a typical US citizen, I can't understand the lyrics here. But his passion, performance and the score convey the urgency and soulfulness of the songs.

I get the message.

The safe thing for Mr. N'Dour would have been to stylistically return to his breakout CD of a decade ago, The Guide, arguably one of the best releases ever. But to his credit as a genuine artist, he has matured and evolved into a new area. Art is not static, especially in music. And if that measure of value is applied here, then this definietly qualifies as a CD worthy of repeated listening.