Customer Reviews

Third World Child

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

 

 

Lady Smith meets Martha & the Vandellas... The power of the traditional chant is infused with Johnny Clegg's energetic take on Rock n' Roll. And the whole goes way beyond the sum of the parts.

'Great Heart' is the most inspiring song I know, and one I keep whistling at odd moments; spiritual uplift with a 'hook'. My other personal favorite is 'Ring on Her Finger', a lively song with some truly inspired lyrics - a shark bite of truth under the humor.

I love the bilingual aspect of this album.. Gives one hope.

Buy this album. Now.

If there ever were a musician who was not getting enough international recognition, it may well be Johnny Clegg. His music is filled with such life and integrity that it I have this fantasy of playing it really loud over some massive sound-system so that everyone all over the world would hear and love it...mmmwwhahahhaa! But really, that's not what this group is all about. This album is probably my very favorite JC and Savuka album, as perfect fusion of international rock, pop, and more traditional Zulu elements. Much of the subject matter is very serious or political, reflecting Clegg's history in South Africa, working to overcome apartheid. (Think "Mandela," Third World Child," "Missing," or "Berlin Wall." (Yes I know that's not in S. Africa.) However, all of these songs have an unbelievably fantastic spirit, with so much life and optimism and pure guts that listening to any of them makes one fantastically happy. That simple.
The album starts off with a burst of strength in "Are You Ready?" This, like all other songs, is a seamlessly bilingual song, another element I love. (Yes, you will find yourself singing along in Zulu, regardless of whether or not you acutally know this powerful-sounding language.) The rhythm gets into your body and your mind, the words and meldody infiltrating thereafter. "Mandela" has some of the most deeply interesting and beautiful harmonies I have ever heard, making it even more powerful as an almost hymn-like tribute to South African activists. "Giyana" is another song with fierce energy, and some of the most interesting lyrics on this album. "Scatterling of Africa" is one of my very favorites, a king of Savuka classic. The message, which deals with the ties of the human race to its origins in Africa, is a raw, rhythmic, melodious song. It seems to almost serve as a backdrop for the rest of the album, a driving force that connects international listeners. (The aformentioned "scatterlings of Africa") "Missing" is dark and poignant, yet empowered and devoted, an almost anxious-sounding song. (Listen for these words in the beginning: "and I was banging at your door, but you weren't there anymore") These aren't really typical lyrics, but something about the way Clegg sings them is perhaps the single most moving moment on the entire album.
"The Ring on her Finger" is the fun song, lighter and utterly catchy, but with that all-important little tangy grain of truth. "That girl is feeling trapped by the ring on her finger." Well that's a new way to look at it...now I THINK this song's about some sort of extra-marital affair, but this song lightens it all up. I sing and dance along with the chorus, and the Zulu parts of the chorus make me pine desperately after learning that language. A fantastic song.
"Third World Child" and "Berlin Wall" are massive songs, true and gritty and empowering no matter where you live, how you live, or the fact that the Berlin Wall fell a while ago now. These are meaningful songs, and "Third World Child" has an especially fascinating perspective that is honestly thought-provoking. Really--these songs make you THINK after you're done singing alone at the top of your exalting lungs. (Uh oh--this is getting flowery.)
OK, is it clear that this album RULES and you should get it NOW? In the end, it all comes down to "WOW" once again.

When I heard Juluka broke up, I was floored, the only solace I had was the rumor that Johnny Clegg would be releasing material as a solo artist, needless to say, the appearance of THIRD WORLD CHILD proved the rumors to be true, much to my delight. Lighter and more mainstream than his Juluka efforts, Johnny's Savuka albums are equally excellent. Continuing his passion for missing western and African music styles, Clegg's brilliant, lively music is as good as it gets. Clegg is equally adept at charged political diatribes, love songs and slice of life pieces, but here he concentrates on the political, producing some of the best protest music of our time, check out the anthemic, blood boiling title track, the mournful, hopeful `Asimbonanga' and the excellent, haunting `Missing'. All of Clegg's music is upbeat and percussive, and there really is no other artist just like him. Unbeknownst to many, Johnny was the inspiration for Paul Simon's excellent GRACELAND album, which mixed western and African music in a similar style. Buy and be likewise inspired. The only complaint I have is the replacement of the excellent and now hard to find `Gumba Gumba Jive' with the Savuka version of `Scatterlings', which was made famous by its inclusion in the Rainman soundtrack. Nothing against the fine remake, but `Gumba Gumba Jive' is a track not to be missed (it is available on an import only greatest hits of Savuka, as well as the original run of the vinyl album).

Clegg and Savuka are incomparable. The courage of all the band to risk forming an integrated group under apartheid -- a formation fraught with risk -- earns them a place along with groups like the SNCC Freedom Singers and others who braved brutality and even murder to liberate their message of freedom, hope, defiance and, yes, love. Clegg, fascinated by Zulu culture as a young man, learned Zulu and Zulu music. He eventually formed a duo with Sippho -- I can't remember his last name. As "Johnny and Sippho" the two performed coffee houses and beer halls in black South Africa. Together they formed Juluka, the band-predecessor to Savuka. Just as their history inspires repect, the music is compelling. Their synthesis of rock, jazz, traditional Zulu, and township jive moves the content along with clarity and a rhythm connecting the listener to the skies and shantytowns of their native South Africa. I first heard the group outdoors, at Pine Knob, in Michigan almost 15 years ago, when the horrors of apartheid were still an ongoing reality. They were opening for Steve Winwood. The energy was powerful. On several numbers Clegg and one of the drummers, Dudu, a handsome Zulu with thighs like redwoods, came to the front of the stage to perform traditional Zulu mens' dances. To see the black man and white man dancing together, the respect and love between them obvious was as moving as it was dynamic and powerful. (Dudu was later tragically murdered.) Afterward, my friend and I tried to go behind the band shell but were held back by stage security. Band members, sitting by their bus, saw us waiting there and motioned us over. We sat and talked, then they invited us go out for some food. It was a hell of an evening and we talked until 1. The title song, Third World Child, lyrically speaks of the pressures and inducements of the South African to attempt assimilation into a world he is can never enter. It speaks of the separation from land and identity; the connection to the spirits of ancestors still lying in the lost land. The rest of the album is equally powerful. Buy it. Buy all of Savuka you can find. Listen to the music. Hear the message, rock to great music, and honor a superb group of human beings.

Johnny Clegg and Savuka have consistently produced fantastic music since I first saw them in concert in the summer of 1990. On this CD, Asimbonanga is a bit dreary but all the rest are great. I find myself singing along in Zulu! Great Heart is a winner.

This is a must have if you're a Johnny Clegg fan. Music is crisp and clean and just makes you want to get up and dance along. Great South African music.

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.

Clegg's music is a unique and energetic combination of Western and South African, particularly Zulu, musical elements.

This was the first Johnny Clegg album I heard. That was back in 1989 and I've been a fan of Clegg's music ever since.

If you're not familiar with Johnny Clegg, this is a good album to start with. If You like this one, I'd recommend the three studio albums that followed this one: Shadow Man, Heat Dust & Dreams and Cruel, Crazy Beautiful World.

1. Are You Ready?
2. Asimbonanga (Mandela)
3. Giyana
4. Scatterlings of Africa
5. Great Heart
6. Missing
7. Ring on Her Finger
8. Third World Child
9. Berlin Wall
10. Don't Walk Away

A Virtually Unknown (in the United States) International Superstar

How can that be? For some unknown reason, African folk-pop never caught on with the United States listening audience. Known and love the rest of the world over, Johnny Clegg and his multi-racial band: Savuka released their debut album/cd: "Third World Child" in 1987. It has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, and is generally acknowledged to be one, if not the best, Johnny Clegg release outside of his first band (Juluka).

Although technically classified as `Zulu' music, it has a more a true South African flavour. Johnny Clegg also is an import figure in rock music since he inspired one of the most highly acclaimed folk cds ever: "Graceland" by Paul Simon. Graceland won not only Grammy for best record of the year, but also is Paul Simon's best selling cd ever. Amazing credentials for Clegg who has often been featured on the David Letterman Show.

All of the songs are great, and each fan seems to have his favorite. "Asimbonanga (Mandela)" - a tribute song to Nelson Mandela is a memorable civil-rights anthem. This was the song that Joan Baez chose to sing in the awesome Nelson Mandela 3-cd Tribute- A Long Walk to Freedom. Also included is a Savuka-played version of the huge International hit: "Scatterlings of Africa." "Great Heart" has some of the most powerful and inspirational lyrics you will ever heard sung.

This is a great cd to get if you are just a beginning Johnny Clegg fan, and a must-have for ANY longtime Clegg listener.

I'd say "The Original and the Best" but it's not - the original, that is.....just the first of Johnny's albums that I heard. But it's certainly the best album I've ever heard. Being from Northern Ireland I appreciate the social/political undertones, but the music itself is great anyway. Buy it...at this price what's to lose ???