Customer Reviews

Oyo

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

 

 

"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!

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 . . . .

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!

I wasn't very familiar with Angelique Kidjo when I saw her live in 2004, but that concert made her one of my favorite artists, and I have since acquired most of her albums (the best being Oremi & Black Ivory Soul). She is magical live and her studio recordings are infectious and multi-faceted. In Oyo she adds the Kidjo touch to a lot great classics. Besides the familiar titles like Samba Pa Ti, you will recognize several of the others upon listening, with amazing arrangements, and even more English lyrics than usual for her. Make sure to listen with headphones, since the production value and layers of sound are a joy to the ears. Her treatments vary from raw vocal sounds prevalent in her earlier albums, to a more smooth soulful sound. I like Oyo more than Djin Djin. At $5 (Amazon mp3 Sept'10 special) it's a no-brainer. Try it, you'll like it. She is the real deal.

No one has a voice with the range, soul and smoothness of Angelique Kidio. I am buying several more Oyo CDs for gifts.

I have never heard any music by this artist and I say her on the Monique show late one night. I decided to take a chane on her music and I am so happy that I did. I enjoyed every sond on the CD, which is rare for me.

"Oyo" (2010), my third Angelique Kidjo CD, is a brilliant story of her life (from childhood) told through her music :) My first CD of hers was "Logozo"(1991) which got me investigating further (and 'hooked') to get my second, "Aye" (1993) . . . both totally mindblowing in composition, music style, her voice-power and artistry, and meaningful lyrics (given in English & French in the CD booklets). "Oyo" stands up to these high standards - all original and totally captivating ! On this album Angelique has worked with several artists including (as always) her husband, Jean Hébrail. Several are her own compositions (with her husband and others) - including the two bonus tracks. Others are her rendition of some relatively well known songs which are a part of her life-story :) Awesome ! To be listened to often . . . yip, I have more of her CDs on order :)

This CD grows on you. I could listen to it over and over all day, every day. In fact, I liked it so much, I got crazy and bought a couple of tickets and flew with my mom from the west coast to Atlanta, Georgia, just to hear and see Angelique Kidjo's performance. WOW! For two solid hours she danced and sang with that beautiful, strong voice coming from deep in her soul. Truly an amazing person! Her songs on this CD, Oyo, put the listener in touch with the rich languages and music of Benin, entwined with rhythms from the world and her own life.

Angelique Kidjo is a master at creating different music that is pleasing to the ear. This one has definite African roots. Great cultural CD!!

I did not really like this album very much. There were a few songs that were okay, but overall, I would not order another CD by this artist.