Sou Ni Tile

Amadou & Mariam | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 15, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tinder / Universal / Polygram
• ASIN: B00000JCAC
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #87 in Music > World Music > Africa > Mali

Track Listings

1. Je Pense a Toi (I Think of You)

2. Combattants (Warriors)

3. Mouna (I Wonder Why?)

4. Pauvre Type (Poor Guy)

5. Dogons

6. Baara (Work)

7. Dounia (The World)

8. A Radio Mogo

9. Djandjola (Adventure)

10. On Se Donne La Main (Hand in Hand)

11. Mon Amour, Ma Cherie (My Love, My Darling)

12. A Chacun Son Probleme

13. Teree La Sebin (Evil Eye)

14. Toubala Kono (Lonely Bird)

15. C'est La Vie (That's Life)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Originally released in 1998, Amadou and Mariam's debut recording took the blind couple's pentatonic (built upon five tone scales) Malian R & B around the world. As neither was born into the Jeli (praise-singing hereditary musician) caste, they were free from the outset to incorporate non-traditional musical influences and write topical lyrics. The first track, "Je Pense a Toi (I Think Of You)," got a special nod from radio programmers. On it, Amadou's wily, funky guitar and rough-shod Bambara vocals were supported by rustic fiddles, an Arabic flute, Fender Rhodes and Hammond organs plus swaggering brass and growling bass lines, with Mariam's soulfully feminine voice shadowing his like a guardian angel. But when she emerged to sing lead, as on "Mouna," her sinuous, Islamic-tinged singing could stand comparison with the greatest West African stars. The duo’s later output is far more polished and the Manu Chao-produced Dimanche a Bamako (Sunday In Bamako -- 2005) is undeniably a personal best. But their first album showcased two artists at the apex of a breakthrough and no collection of their works can be considered complete without it. --Christina Roden

From Rhythm Magazine

Mariam Doumbia and Amadou Bagayoko met as youngsters in the troupe of the Institute for the Young Blind of Mali. Today, married with three children, the couple continues on their musical quest, blending traditional Malian music with blues and rock. Joining them here is an international cast including European, Arabic, Indian and Colombian musicians. Tracks like "Baara" and "Dogons" have great grooves; the singing is strong, and the instruments-particularly Amadou's rhythm-guitar-provide a solid pulse. Guest musicians, such as flutist Alain Hatot on "Mouna," add welcome sparkles of color to a fairly static musical bed. --Robert Kaye

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sincere Folk-blues, Uplifting Spiritually and Musically., July 14, 1999

By 

Jerry Wechsler ([e-mail]) (New York, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sou Ni Tile (Audio CD)

This CD by a (blind, but who cares) Dogon couple (married, but who cares) from Mali made a hit in Paris, where I first heard it at the home of my good friend Jeff Ribier, an excellent young hip-hop artist. Amadou et Maryam have created a sound which feels new but also very traditional; bluesy and folksy, and true to both blues and African musical traditions. Every track on this CD combines elements which are, at least to my ears, very definitely "tribal" (hence folklorical), yet completely modern as well, with western instruments (ska horns, violin, electric blues guitar) and western folk traditions (blues, reggae). The sincerity of both sound and sense cannot escape the listener, which sets this CD apart from most (the lyrics are in French and Dogon, but the liner notes contain a more-or-less accurate English translation). Such music cannot but foster loving brother/sister-hood of all peoples. It is so simple and yet emotionally sophisticated that it appears to be the product of a conscious good wish for all humanity. It contains no saccharine self-indulgence, no cheap effects or gimmicks; it is passionate but not angry. It is a most generous and moving witness to the African renaissance, and of the hope for our planet through the recognition of the innate similarity of all people and the love of cultural diversity.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mamadou et Mariam rock!, November 22, 2000

By 

m_noland "m_noland" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sou Ni Tile (Audio CD)

Normally, that isn't saying much, but in this case the rockers in question are two blind Malian folkies.

A couple of blind Malian folkies rockin' out is something behold, indeed. I mean, wouldn't the world be a better place if Beavis wore a Mamadou et Mariam t-shirt and pumped his fist to "Mon Amour, Ma Cherie"? Seriously, "Mon Amour" rocks harder than anything Metallica has produced since they cut their hair.

Really, seriously. There is a sense of urgency to this music, even when it doesn't have the backbeat of "Mon Amour." The first time I heard "Teree La Sebin" I thought "I don't know what this woman is saying [the songs are French and Dogon? -- whatever they speak in Mali] -- but whatever she's saying she means it." Quick check of the lyrics "But no one can escape his lot/I say that illness of the eyes isn't good/But what can I do?/Amadou plays the guitar, Mariam sings/We came for that/For us its our destiny/I said sorry to everyone but they accuse me of everything/I apologized to everyone/But they called me every name under the sun/My older brother...my brother I am not the only one/They put the evil eye over my head/What did I do to God for Him to take my eyes?"

Want a love song? Check out the sample of "Je Pense A Toi."

Wouldn't the world be a better place if they put THIS on MTV?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perhaps their best album, March 30, 2007

By 

Mainoo Smith "ikebe_books" (london United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sou Ni Tile (Audio CD)

like many other artists, amadou and mariam's debut album is their best (so far). the music is wildly eclectic calling on everything from rock guitar (by which i mean if i played you the solo you would not hesitate to identify it as classic rock) to indian music (ditto), to horn playing in the finest big band tradition. amadou's guitar style is rocking but clean - also wildly eclectic. it is mariam's voice that grounds this album in Mali. you know when you listen to an album and wonder whether it may not perhaps be your favorite cd of all time. this one is up there with the best. don't hesitate - whatever your musical leanings. buy now. or buy later - this one will keep!