Customer Reviews

Emotion

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you enjoy the music of other Afro-pop stars that have risen to popularity lately (i.e., Baaba Maal, Youssou N'Dour), you'll enjoy Papa Wemba.

This disc is a popsy blend of African rhythms, guitars, and wailing vocals, and the charisma and style of Papa Wemba is infectious and entertaining. Just don't expect anything too deep from this album.

then you must have forgotten how to!

This was my first album from Papa Wemba and even though a listen to his other works makes one think this is kind of a distillation of more variety-- what's extracted is still pretty pure to ear and pretty likeable to the feet.

The songs here are so polished you will think you have heard them somewhere before on the first listen... and that will make you think that there might be some higher plane of music that we all have access to on a subconscious level but that few of us can play in the studio. Papa Wemba can.

I love African and South American music. I cannot find these kinds of music in my country but on my travels, I try to find them through music shops, festivals and through Amazon or Putumayo and other organisations promote world music. Of all my collection of African music, "Emotion" is a beautiful, touching and heart rending rythm of modern, contemporary African music. My children (one is two and the other five years old) and I love to listen and dance to this CD. When I am alone, I play it and watch the sun sets over my balcony.

Only Papa Wemba's superb voice and musicality come across in this record. The songs herein are one-dimensional, bland, uninteresting, like so much of American pop music lately. The real Papa Wemba as he comes across on French import labels is far greater -- a fantastic blend of gorgeous melodies; varied, propulsive rhythms; guitar accompaniment that astonishes with its virtuosity and dynamism; and, of course, Wemba's great voice and magnetic presence. If the American public heard more of this soukous music, many would be enraptured, despite the language gap.

I'm not much into genres or pigeon-holing, so all I can say is this album is pure joy to me. It makes me smile and dance around. I've listened to most of Papa Wemba's output, but this captures me the most (with Voyageur a close second).

To me, springtime by the ocean, bright sunshine, clear blue sky, light breeze... this is the album. Period.

Then, just as the sun has gone down I will put on "Serious Tam" by Telek.

Contrary to the man from Massachusetts, I am fond of this album and keep it in my car, especially for tracks 1, 3, and 7. Sure, it's not purist, but this American-audience-friendly album is, more importantly, FUN!

I had the fun of finding out about Papa Wemba at a surprise appearance he made at an "off Sunset" hot spot in L.A. in the late 90's. At the time, I had recently discovered Peter Gabriel and the Worldbeat sound. Papa and the band took the stage and it was the equivalent of seeing the AfroPop version of James Brown, I kid you not. Just don't expect funk...its more his showmanship and presence that i draw the comparison to.

Now with that type of endorsement you would think that the album would appeal to all. It will not. Emotion is a fantastic array of AfroPop songs which have very catchy hooks, and rhythms. The kind that make you want to dance (even if you are like me and have no rhythm). On that nite, I joined the few hundred others on the dance floor and had the most amazing experience.

Perhaps it was the beats, more likely it was the passion that Mr. Wemba has when he sings. Ok, so I can't tell you what he is singing about (thank god for liner notes) but I can tell you that it is infectious.

Not every song is a hit, they have a feel of a "clean" production, but there will stay with you for a lifetime.



Enjoy!

Very intricate and emotional,this is probably his greatest album so far.The quality of songs is top notch,in fact every one of them is a little gem,warm and sensuous like the African sun.The production on this album is very careful, bringing to the forefront details and nuances that add to its the depth and value.

Papa Wemba has always been one of my favourites,I even had the pleasure of seeing him here in town. He has so much class it is unreal.