Customer Reviews

Oremi

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album,the most recent of Angelique Kidjo's many releases, is a racier and upbeat return to the artiste's Euro-laced African pop. Apart from intriguing yet simple melodies, what will surprise many serious music lovers, who may otherwise dismiss this as a pop album, and therefore of no consequence, is the line-up of musical luminaries who play on this album. Among them, saxophonist Branford Marsallis, keyboardist Kenny Kirkland and bass phenomenon Bakhiti Khumalo. Add to these a whole slew of lesser known African talents. And, as always, Angelique Kidjo is a treat to listen to. She's bridged Euro-pop and African melodies in a pleasing and highly energetic mix that goes straight to the head and heart. A must listen for anyone with even a faint interest in World Music.

They don't allow enough STARS for this one. An excellent CD. I have absolutely no idea what she is saying on most of the songs, but the rhythmic beat and chants are so soothing and appealing. My favorite, however is track number 7, "Open your eyes" which is great song with a strong message.

For all African Americans who want to be in touch with their culture, they should give this CD a try. Personally, I travel with this CD everywhere, with it set on repeat. I highly recommend this to all ages, all races.

I was in a 'Nature Company' store in my local mall (they usually play that crappy environment music) and Oremi was playing. I kept saying, 'Wow! This is great!" when each new track came on. I went up to the counter where there was a 'Now playing' sign to find 'Oremi' by Angelique Kidjo. I bought it immediately and have been playing it over and over in my car. It's one of those infectious albums that has plenty of hooks to get you to listen and plenty of depth to get you to keep listening. Great backup bands including African and American musicians (Kenny Kirkland, Branford Marsalis....). On her web site it says that this is sort of a concept album - the concept being exploring African influences of American popular music and vice-versa. Get it.

My two favorite tracks, #2 a cover of "Voodoo Chile" and #5 "Yololoe" (sp?) I listen to over and over again in the car. Wonderfully sensual tracks, and of course terrifically danceable. I use her music all the time in the World Music Spinning classes I teach; she's a gem.

Never being an ardent fan of cultural music, I purchased this CD for my husband's birthday, who is a big fan of Kidjo, Nil Lara, and Youssou N'Dour. This CD has not left my CD player in MY car! I have fallen in love with Angelique's vocals, and the mixture of Afro-rock, jazz, pop--I find it hard to put a label on her music! Pay particular attention to track #5 , Loloye, as it ends. A young child's voice completes the song, leaving you wanting to hear more! Track #6 really gets your head bopping, and definitely will have you turning up the volume! The opening track is one of the best, summarizing the type of music and songs that the CD emcompasses.

I recently purchased OREMI and must say that this CD is probably one of the finest of Angelique Kidjo's works. Her rendition of "Voodoo Child" (Hendrix) is not as hard as Jimi Hendrix's, but equally awesome. "Itche Koutche" will make you wish you were in the studio partying with her. "No Worry" will encourage you and lift you up when you're down. "Yaki Yaki" is an extremely catchy tune you'll be humming all day long. Many of the songs from thie Benin-born artist are in English this time out. I highly recommend this CD for you collection. If you're not a fan of Angelique Kidjo, just one listen to OREMI and you will be.

Enjoy, Kim

Angelique Kidjo is a great artist--I love her music. The first song of hers I fell in love with was "We Are One", which I heard on the Lion King II CD. After that, I checked out all her CDs from the library. The rhythm is great, even if you can't understand some of the words. Some of these songs were a little too contemporary, but she has a great voice.

There are one or two weak tracks in this album (personally I think the forays into soul/R&B style English lyrics are not the greatest, but that's just me, musically they are still sound). But they are more than compensated for by the rest. It is an outstanding piece of work, I would say her best. I have Oyaya and Black Ivory Soul and while they are good, this earlier work is still the most authentic. It has power, sensitivity, intelligent arrangements, and some genuinely sublime passages. Her voice (best when she genuinely unleashes it) is very good, great depth and range, reminds me of the Filipina singer Grace Nono, one of the most charismatic voices/deliveries I have ever heard, whom I would highly recommend - but who I can't find on Amazon (!?).

If an excellent cover of the Hendrix's Voodoo Child attracted you to this record, you will probably be disappointed as there are some nondescript pop tunes on the CD which are certainly no match to the promising beginning. "Oremi" CD is balancing constantly on the very edge of unstimulating pop and unnecessarily too often slipping over. Featured as a guest, Cassandra Wilson can hardly be noticed. Fortunately, that was not the case with Kelly Price (with whom Angelique has a good duet on "Open Your Eyes"), nor with Branford Marsalis who composed "Itche Koutche", a very good funk tune, and spiced it up with his soprano sax. Even that song, however, has a 'sugary pop coating'. Of 11 songs on the album, the title song, "Give it up", "Orubaba", "Yaki Yaki" and especially "Babalao" help the album to rise above average on better moments, but it's "Voodoo Child" and "Itche Koutche" that clearly illustrate that Angelique Kidjo and her team can do better. Take "Oremi" as a promise of Kidjo's potential that will hopefully be better realized in future.

this is a truely outstanding album produced to the very highest standard