Joko (The Link)

Youssou N'Dour | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 5, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 5, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B00004X0LZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,195 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #47 in Music > World Music > Africa > Senegal & Gambia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Youssou - Smiles are FREE!!!, September 8, 2000

By 

Brad (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joko (The Link) (Audio CD)

Although most of us learned of Youssou's talents through his backing of Peter Gabriel, his talents were NOT showcased there as well as they are in his solo career. Youssou is a tri-lingual singer (english, french and an African dialect) who brings smiles to his listeners in every song! Youssou's voice and musical stylings are unique and although many of the songs you won't be able to understand, unless you happen to be African, you will still get the message! I can tell that Youssou was smiling during his recording of this album which makes for a happy album that includes a sampling of instruments unique to Africa. Allow me to make one stereotype of Africana music. Being a fan of Africana acts (Affel Bocoum, Ali Farka Toure, Papa Wamba, etc.) I find their ability to have fun with their music and not allow egos to get in the way, is unique to Africana acts. These artists tend to be the most humble and eager to please their audiences. Having just attended an Ali Farka Toure concert (Ali is more bluesey than Youssou) I was most impressed by how many times he asked his 1000+ audience if they were happy - his words sum up the mindset of most Africana music concerts "I am happy, if you are happy". Congrats Youssou on another great offering, and may all your fans buy it up!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slick, but I like it...!!, November 25, 2002

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Joko (The Link) (Audio CD)

Senegal's Youssou N'Dour is arguably the most famous African pop artist alive; he's certainly one of the leading exponents of the slick, high-tech production style that has grown out of the Parisian expatriate scene over the last few decades... This is his first album in over six years and, like other recent African pop albums, it points to a resolution of the aesthetic bridge that separates fans of a more stripped-down sound and those who like the soft stuff. There are still a few touches that make me cringe -- a soprano sax here, an overwrought chorus there -- but overall this album has a nice organic feel to it... pleasant, listenable, seductive. The only problem, really, is that so many of these songs end so quickly; it's as though someone advised N'Dour to trim his tunes down because eight-minute long songs won't get as much airplay in America. The four-minute long compromises mostly end just when things are getting good, and several seem kind of bluntly edited... The good news is, N'Dour's new songs sound great. I just wish I could hear more of them.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A glorious success, one of my most favourite C.D.'s, February 8, 2002

By 

"robertnicolson" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joko (The Link) (Audio CD)

This is a magnificent C.D. The best he has done yet!
In the same way that Nelson Mandela is the yardstick for every African Politician, Youssou N'Dour is the yardstick for every African Musician.
As a singer he is unique, as he has both a very powerful voice, and a very wide vocal range.
This is a selection of some wonderfully crafted songs, maybe a bit more popish than his usual offerings, but great nevertheless. Nearly every track is very good, and also there are a few exceptional tracks e.g. Birima.
The musicianship and production on many African artists work often does not do justice to the beauty of their work, possibly due to the financial constraints, however it does on this C.D.
Anybody interested in listening to African music for the first time, must buy this C.D.
Anybody who is an African music lover will have this C.D.