Customer Reviews

Missing You (Mi Yeewnii)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Baaba Maal is a master musician with all his talents on display on this CD. Every song is excellent in terms of instrumentation, vocals and sensitive lyrics. Thanks to the producers who included translations of all the songs so we can follow along. With his soaring voice he inspires as he tells traditional stories and recounts traditional African themes. This is one of his strongest overall CD's. With its acoustic quality I think almost everyone will appreciate the musicality of this recording. Great photos too.

Rarely does an album work on so many levels. I don't even know what the words mean, but somehow with his extraordinary voice and the stunning orchestration I feel like I know exactly the scene and emotion that Baaba Maal is writing about. This album absolutely transports you to where he is. It is one of the few albums that are truly transcendant in that way. I had my introduction to "world music" and African music through Peter Gabriel's "Passion" soundtrack, and while this album's tone is much different, it is every bit as evocative. It is such a shame that so many people are unaware of how much magnificent music there is in other parts of the world. Hopefully this album will open up eyes and draw new listeners to what is real and true in music.

Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal is one of Africa's greatest singers. Known best in America for his contributions to Passion, Peter Gabriel's groundbreaking score for The Last Temptation of Christ, his blend of Islamic wailing, French singing, and sensual melodies is a treat for the ears. A worthy introduction to life-affirming African world music and yet, not even necessarily his best work (check out Firin' in Fouta from 1994 or Djam Leeli from 1998).

Here Baaba gives us another acoustic CD that you can listen for hours. The second track "miyaabele" is a masterpiece. It combines several instruments from different, but related, musical traditions creating "panafrican" tunes that also say a lot to non-african listeners.

This CD together with Baayo and Djam Leelii are three of the best acoustic records of African music.

This is the second CD I've bought by Baaba Maal, and it is truly amazing. The rhythyms, words, intensity overwhelm the listener. My two kids and I dance around the room listening. A bonus are the two videos on the CD--one, miyaabele is far superior to anything you can see on TV. THe second, a short documentary on the making of the CD really shows the depth and love that Baaba Maal holds for his homeland and all of Africa--and therefore all of us. His dream of a unified Africa, well it is a grand dream, my dream would be to go one step farther and use music like this to remind all of us just how much we have in common. This CD is also great in the classroom, with the videos it is a nice intro to African music...

Now moving into a streak of African music, this album is now one of my favorite CDs. So often I hear great music and wonder what culture it is from or who the artist is...well this is one of those CDs...the Aha!, that's what I've been looking for. I feel at ease and happy when I listen to Baaba's music. I plan to buy more of his CDs.

before I review this.... I am not the spaced out hippy-dippy 'world music' lover that we all like to compartmentalise. I'm big on hip hop (thug and pc) and jazz and have never worn a pair of sandals in my life.

ok...this is my favourite living musician. This album is baaba and friends back to their roots - I believe recorded in his hometown in senegal. No need to understand the words to get the fact that the music is spiritual, generous and uplifting, and without doubt that these are master musicians. Listen to this a few times on the trot and you will be rocking.

if you get a chance, see this man and his band live, particularly an acoustic set in a small venue. In terms of musicianship, I can only put a few bands up there with them....blah blah blah, just buy the bloody thing. Words cannot do this justice.

This is Baaba Maal at his finest - not in a hyped, multi-producer track featuring guests who add nothing. No, this is Baaba Maal acoustic. His voice ricochets around you - its pure sound just enveloping you. The kora, balafon and drums on the disc are also perfect. Baaba Maal is, indeed, one of the greatest band leaders and composers of our time. Don't get me wrong, I love his electric band too. But, with Mi Yeewnii, Baaba Maal and his acoustic group gives you roots music at its most affecting and exquisite.

If you like Baaba Maal, you will love this disc. If you have never heard Baaba Maal but like African music, you will at least like this disc. If you have never heard West African music before, buy this disc. It is beautifully rich, acoustic, soulful, celebratory, sad, mesmerizing and although I can't speak a word of whatever language Baaba Maal uses (and he uses more than one) I try to sing along nevertheless. I think this is Baaba Maal at his best.

This is perhaps Baaba Maal at his best, in my opinion. The sounds are well put together, the music honest and lively. Listening to this disc is a mood lift as well as an energy boost. There is no bad content and it's all very pleasant to listen to. Undoubtedly this music would appeal to a very broad audience in the United States or anywhere else outside Senegal if folks just stepped outside the bounds of commercialism and tried something authentic and human. This music would be a great start. Highly recommended.