Customer Reviews

Shadow Man

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have the complete Johnny Clegg collection dating back to when it was Jaluka. Shadow Man has my favorite song, "Take my Heart Away." The blending of English and Zulu has kept me loving this music for over twenty years. There is not a bad CD or album they don't have and deserve much more radio play than they get. Come on, Johnny, give the fans more!

I first encountered Johnny Clegg in 1988 via Jimmy Buffet's album, "Hot Water" in which he covers a Clegg tune "Great Heart." I immediately bought the first Clegg album I could find, Shadow man, and it was the single best musical purchase I've ever made. The music is intoxicating, the rhythms are addictive, and the depth and breadth of emotion is startling. He speaks of things that most Americans take for granted such as freedom, human rights, and oppression. But his views on all things are both sublime and poetic. This album not only shocked me in its musical quality and originality, it moved my soul (and feet!) How some people can go through life without knowing Johnny Clegg is a mystery to me. Buy it now, enjoy it forever.

This is world music at it's best, Johnny Clegg is brilliant. His music is an appealing mix of Rock, Reggae and Traditional African singing. His lyrics focus both on the everyday trials of average people and deep political and spiritual questions. The political message, though rooted in the problems of South Africa is never didactic, in fact it is universal. Sample lyrics: `You've learned to live inside the space, that connects each link of chain, and you say you've got some peace of mind now, but I know your waiting all the same, with an ache that has no name, for the fresh breath of invisible wind'. Any album is worth buying, including several excellent albums released under the name Juluka. You need not be a world music fan to enjoy this album, I have recommended Johnny Clegg to many people since I first learned of him in the 80's, and almost every one was thrilled. Enchanting, uplifting and mesmerizing you will instantly become a fan. If you have a chance, see Johnny live, especially in a small venue, his live concerts are a religious experience, especially exciting when he performs the traditional Zulu war dance. All tracks are excellent, pay special attention to `The Waiting", "Too Early For The Sky" and "Take My Heart Away".

Right about the time every western pop star was playing with "world-beat," Johnny Clegg and Savuka made their strongest bid for an American audience with this CD. It took the indecisive sound of "Third World Child" and glossed it up so strikingly that they almost sounded more Southern Californian than South African. Try to imagine Huey Lewis recording "Graceland" instead of Paul Simon. That was how powerful the lead single, "Take My Heart Away," was. But once the mix of Zulu and English lyrics begin hypnotizing you along with the rhythms, it's impossible to not realize that this is an extremely individualistic sound.

The keyboards figured more prominently on "Shadow Man" than before, which added to the danceable nature of the songs. And if you were ever lucky enough to see Johnny and Savuka live, you know how physical the dances are. Johnny and his partner Dudu could step to the front of the stage and exhaust YOU with the energy they exerted in their traditional dances, which had them leaping into the air with an almost superhuman exuberance. Given that the formation of a mixed race band in the highly charged atmosphere of South Africa of the 80's was a dangerous political statement (Clegg was frequently arrested and harassed), seeing these two men on stage move with such power and grace was truly inspiring! (Tragically, Dudu was murdered in 1992.)

I was lucky enough to meet them after a show in Philadelphia when they opened for Tracy Chapman (they signed a poster for me), but never got to see them again live. It doesn't mean I have forgotten this music. "Shadow Man" is a CD that has aged strikingly well.

Johhny Clegg... Need I say more? This album is probably one of his greatest, although they're all great. His Zulu-Pop style has a totally moving and wonderful message, but aside from that, it's just great listening! Buy this no matter what.

This is another of Johnny Clegg's great albums. But it's worth buying just for one track, "I call your name".

A number one hit in France in the late 80's it has a wonderful opening riff played on an accordian. If you thought accordians were just for folk music think again. In Clegg's hands its a great rock instrument. This song drives along such that you can't sit still. The whole album is great but this track is a classic.

I stumbled onto Johhn Clegg in an off beat store circa 1984. This music as are all the albums from Clegg, are relentless in their capture of rythm. More then just keeping a beat this record finds the beat of the listner's heart and then plays. Captured, we move with the rythm, floating with the melody, and pulled by the scyncopation. If you don't like rythm, melody, and a motivating lyric that tells a clear story of searching and discovery, then what are you listening to mucis for? Go get this record!!!

I grew up with Johnny Clegg's music being that I am from South Africa. Now that I have lived in Virginia for 3 years I find myself pining for Africa. Listening to Savuka and Juluka helps me imagine that I am back home. All the albums are awesome. Someone reviewd that some of his music was banned in South Africa because of it being too controversal, well this is not true, as the album 'Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World' is one I have had since it originally came out in the early '90's. Enjoy the music, and if you can take a trip to South Africa.

I danced to this album in an aerobics class I took in the summer of 1990 and recently stumbled across it again and purchased it here. In other words, I liked it even before the current mania for music influenced by the traditions of other countries, and I still think it stands up well to most of the popular music written in the 1980s in this country. If you liked Sting's work in 1980s and "Graceland" and you like basic mainstream pop songs of the 80s, you will enjoy this a great deal--and then the "world" component and the laudable political message are just icing on the cake.

Johnny Clegg is one of the world's best overlooked artists. If you're not familiar with Johnny Clegg, this is a good album to start with.

Clegg is a white South African who grew up under apartheid but who, in defiance of the apartheid laws, hung out with Zulu musicians and absorbed much of the Zulu musical style. He ran afoul of the apartheid laws for leading a band comprised of both white and black musicians.

His music is a unique combination of Western and South African, particularly Zulu, musical elements.

This was the second album Johnny Clegg recorded with his band Savuka. The cover shows a typical segment from Clegg's live show at the time this album was released; Clegg and Dudu, a Zulu member of Clegg's band, would break into very energetic and acrobatic Zulu dance routines. It was great to watch. Sadly, Dudu was murdered in a Zulu township in South Africa in the early 1990s, apparently after being asked to mediate a dispute between others.

I think this was the last Clegg & Savuka album on which Dudu appeared before his death.

If you're not familiar with Johnny Clegg, this is a good album to start with. If you like this one, I'd also recommend the album that preceded it, Third World Child, and the two studio albums that followed: Heat Dust & Dreams and Cruel, Crazy Beautiful World.

All four of these albums are excellent.