One Eye on the Future One Eye on the Past

Rossy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B000000E34
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #594,462 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #47 in Music > World Music > Africa > Madagascar

Track Listings

1. Zana Drazana

2. Ny Any Aminay

3. Tanalahy

4. Anamalao

5. Misy Goika

6. Faraniaina

7. Molia

8. Mangina Zaza

9. Marary Vady

10. Bory Hely

11. Tiako

12. Raha Tanora

13. Mandry Ve

14. Ramasy

15. Sira Sira

16. Oay Lahy

17. 'Ndeha Hody

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite CD of Madagascar music, April 15, 2002

By 

woburnmusicfan (Woburn, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Eye on the Future One Eye on the Past (Audio CD)

The Kaiser-Lindley "World Out of Time" series got me into the music of Madagascar in a big way. By now, I've got over 20 CDs of Malagasy music, several of which are excellent. Of them all, this one is definitely my favorite. Tarika Rossy (Rossy's Band) combines electric and acoustic instruments, including native instruments like the valiha (a tubular zither with a harp-like sound--the CD cover shows Rossy holding one) and kabosy (a small guitar with unique fretting), and combines musical influences from the various tribes of Madagascar.

This album covers a great range of styles, from dance beats to gentle ballads ("Ny Any Aminay") to an old-fashioned Malagasy theatrical style ("Faraniaina") while making it all seem part of a seamless whole. "Molia", a fast dance sung by Josephine (everyone in Malagasy music seems to go by a first name or nickname, because their full names are so long), "Mangina Zaza", with its alternating dance beat and lullabye interludes, and the martial beat of "Ramasy" are particular favorites; "Zana Drazana", "Tanalahy", "Anamalao", and "Sira Sira" are also highlights.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many of the Great Rossy's tracks are here, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: One Eye on the Future One Eye on the Past (Audio CD)

Rossy is great in this CD. Zana-drazana is a great dance song relating to the great tradition of circumcision in Madagascar, as well of that of Famadihana. It tells you in the song what they actually do before, during and after the ceremonies. Tanalahy talks about a politician who changes his political affiliation as often as the power shifts in politically unstable Madagascar. If you followed the Malagasy Politics, you would know of whom this song is about. Anamalao is a nice upbeat music.

Misy Goika is a marriage song which asks the blessings of the parents ( an important step for the Malagasy for ny tso-drano zava-mahery) Faraniaina is also a marriage blessing in which the Bride's father bless the newly wed couple to have all that they want in the marriage and gives them advice on how to rekindle that love again and again. Mangina Zaza is my Mother's favorite, she cannot stop laughing when this song plays on the radio in Madagascar. I do not know why ( ask her) but it is a story a father stuck with a crying baby and tries to calm the baby down so he can go to work. Supposedly, the baby wants a sibling also by assuming a specific pose ( mitsongoloka ialahy: mila zandry) and the father says, that would be very easy to do but he wants to wait until he has the money to raise another baby. Raha Tanora is a advice to youth about life in the traditional Hiragasy tune. Mandry Ve is an old song which invites the people of the town to get out of bed and party all night. Everybody had to come since the villagers will not let you rest until you came out. Sira Sira and Oay Lahy are favorites in this CD... They make me cry. They are old old songs from the Kingdom era and makes you very sad if you are way from your family.