Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits

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

 

 

I am a World Music DJ who specializes in African dance music. I love Brenda Fassie- her voice is amazing- and I especially like the 5 or so CD's she released just before her untimely death. This compilation has a lot of her earlier material, which in my opinion is of much inferior quality compared to her later releases- especially when it comes to pumping up the dancefloor energy. When she died, in tribute I compiled my own Best of Brenda collection, and it looks vastly different than this one.
Here is the songlist of the compilation I made which I entitled "Ascension to Ectasy" which begins with her Africa-wide (and to a lesser extent world-wide) hit Vuli Ndela. From there I move on to lesser known songs that nevertheless are real shakers on the dancefloor.
So, here is what a Best of Brenda collection SHOULD look like...
(Song titles follow, with name of album in parentheses)

1. Vuli Ndela (Memeza)
2. Duma Duma (Myekeleni)
3. Ngik' Tholile (Mina
4. Baxakekile Oxam' (Myekeleni)
5. Kesiyile Bana Baka (Myekeleni)
6. Lekwaito (Mina Nawe)
7. Monate (Amadlozi)
8. Sgubu se Zion (Myekeleni)
9. Mpundulu (Nomakanjani?)
10. Akushesh' Akusheshe (Paparazzi)
11. Thola Amadlozi (Amadlozi)
12. Nomakanjani? (Nomakanjani?)
13. Ngohlala Ngi Nje (Mina Nawe)
14. Mama, I'm Sorry (Myekeleni)

-Nuff Said.

This album is one that keeps on giving. While working in a remote area of Sudan, we listend to this album, Miriam Makeba and Bob Marley every night. I got tired of Bob quickly, and later requested never to hear Makebas "Click Song" again, but found Brenda had a way of regenerating our tired bodies. Brenda makes you want to get up and dance. It's a great album for almost anything. I find it makes long trips completely wonderful, it is enjoyed by people at parties, and it has been a great album to introduce my young nephews to some world music (They love to wiggle to the beats!!)
The first track Vulin'dlela- has been voted song of the decade and for good reason- you hear it all over Africa- and while it really is a far cry from traditional African Music, and much closer to Mainstream Pop- it embodies the spirit of African urban life. Even if you are not a big fan of African music, this is one album that can easily fit into anyone's collection.

"Greatest Hits" is greatest not because it's the best Brenda Fassie CD musically (it is not), but because its release is a tribute to the late Brenda Fassie, a lady full of heart with the purest, most powerful voice. Compilations can be tricky for artists who have expressed themselves in very different styles, but to remember the whole of Brenda is to include songs from her earlier pop Big Dudes days to the kwaito and later stuff. Though it's been a couple years and thousands of miles, every June 16th marking the Soweto uprisings I also remember "The Madonna of the Townships" and how she loved her country. (Bongani, all grown up, I appreciated your words on the liner notes, as I remember the days I spent with your mother when you were a baby, how she loved you so.)

Brenda is one of the greatest music artist in Africa, she represents an african successful woman whith great potentials of serving her country through the art of music. She still lives inside of those who trully love her, because her music is still alive, her music still lives on.
~may she rest in peace.

what is amazing at amazone is, that they mean what they say. They are imcomparable.

Many years ago, a friend of mine gave me a tape of African music which has since long deteriorated. One of my favorite songs was called "Amalahle" performed by Brenda and the Big Dudes, although I didn't know the name of the song at the time. Recently, I Google-ized that band's name and came up with nothing. Then about a month ago, my wife and I were at a masquerade ball and danced to a really fun song. I asked the DJ who it was and he said "Brenda Fassie's, Vul'indlela." I looked on Amazon and found this CD and ordered it.

Many of you may know of Brenda Fossie. She has been referred to as "the Madonna of Africa". She led a tumultuous life of drugs and fame, eventually dying of an overdose. This CD is a tribute to her. Listening to her music, it is clear why she rose to fame. Her voice is pure and heartfelt.

Much to my surprise, it has "Amalahle" on it! If that song won't get you up out of your chair and dance (or at the very least move), nothing will. And lots of other songs on this disc will as well. Of course, her biggest hit was "Vul'Indlela" which is on here, as well as many other hits. Not all I care for but you definitely get a sense of her greatness and many of them are the roots of Afro pop. Although her life was cut short, her contribution to Africa and the world is commendable. I would have loved to have seen her in concert.