Oyo

Angelique Kidjo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B0030IIYXE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,632 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > World Music > Africa > General AAS
  • #42 in Music > World Music > Africa > General

Editorial Reviews

Angelique Kidjo digs into her roots with her new Razor & Tie release, Oyo. Roots that reach far beyond her West African homeland of Benin, because Grammy Award winning singer,dancer and songwriter Kidjo is a definitive 21st century world artist. Her art roves across boundaries, genres and ethnicities, finding the connections that link musical forms from every part of the world,while still bonding closely with her own traditions.

The songs on Oyo,embrace rhythm & blues, soul music, jazz,and Beniese melodies,as well as four of her own original works. Featuring her unique interpretations of songs from artists as diverse as James Brown, Otis Redding,Miriam Makeba, and Santana and including guests John Legend,Bono, Roy Hargrove and Dianne Reeves. Oyo is a truly diverse collection reflecting the music that inspired Angelique growing up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of Africa, May 29, 2010

By 

Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oyo (Audio CD)

"Oyo" is an amazing new album from Benin's Angelique Kidjo. In her previous album, Djin Djin,she collaborated with her favorite artists, from Carlos Santana to Josh Groban and Joss Stone. This time, she covers songs that influenced her when she was young. She collaborates with Diane Reeves (The Best of Dianne Reeves),Bono (U218 Singles),Roy Hargrove (Ear Food) and John Legend (Evolver).

Kidjo does an Africanized, powerful version of Santana's "Samba Pa Ti" with Roy Hargrove. She sings with Bono and John Legend in "Move on up." "Kelele" is an ode to African highlife music, while "Afia" is an ode to Brazil. "Cold Sweat" is a tribute to James Brown. She covers "Mbube",a song that was a notable duet between the late Miriam Makeba and Harry Belafonte. In "Dil Mein Chhupa Ke Pyar Ka Too",Kidjo effectively covers a Bollywood hit. In "Out of Africa",she sings the theme for the Sidney Pollack movie (Out of Africa: 25th Anniversary (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)),but with a more African flavor. "Petite Fleur" is a tribute to the jazz great Sidney Bechet. There are two closing bonus tracks-"You can count on me",which is a theme for a UNICEF campaign to combat infant tetanus, and the reflective "Agblagba", inspired by (Say You're One of Them (Oprah's Book Club))

"Oyo" is one of 2010's great albums. Relax and enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - As Expected, April 9, 2010

By 

Danielita "music lover" (U. S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oyo (Audio CD)

If you are a music lover, get this. I have 3 of her prior CDs & this one is consistent w/the others I have - just really good music. I don't care for tracks 9,10 & 11, but I still give this outing five stars. If you don't move while listening t/some of the tracks, oh well . . . .

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Angelique America, January 27, 2011

By 

meryes - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oyo (Audio CD)

Kidjo features several musical pieces that feature known artists like: Roy Hargrove, Bono, John Legend & Dianne Reeves AND "You Can Count On Me" the UNICEF Campaign theme which sets the pace and successfully takes this CD album away from
her wonderful unique style. If you're looking for Kidjo and none other, this may disappoint you.No Grammy for originality here. You gotta just like her to do this!