Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Man Who Helped Topple That Wall, February 22, 2002
Neglected in the US, Johnny Clegg is a huge star in Europe and is as precious as all those diamonds and gold mined in South Africa. Johnny would rather we focus on the music than his politics but the man's impact on the destruction of the apartheid state is indisputable - go to his web site to see picture of Johnny on stage accompanied by a dancing Nelson Mandela.... This is wonderful, joyful, powerful music and I must quote one of Clegg's lyrics to convey the music's impact. "When I feel the hidden power that lies inside your sound, like the ghost inside the atom that spins it round and round." The power his music unleashes is like the power in an atom and it's a great metaphor for what he's accomplished through his music. Once again, skillfull production by Hilton Rosenthal adds to the powerful delivery of Johnny's work.I saw Johnny Clegg and Savuka 3 times in the early 90's. Fantastic musical performances from a man who danced Zulu style with all the athleticism of a... say Michael Jordon or John Elway! At one show in Boulder Colorado, the audience would not let the band leave, they did a staggering 5 encoures! After the show, I spotted Johnny walking to his car, I was on the street. I shouted "Hey Johnny" and he was humble enough to walk across about 50 yards to come over and have a word. This man is the real deal. Considering what was going on in South Africa when he made this recording, he's lucky to be alive. God Bless Johnny Clegg, his music is definitely a divine gift.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest African albums of all time, August 1, 1999
By A Customer
This album simply rocks on every level - the songwriting, the backing vocals and instruments, Johnny Clegg's absolutely fabulous interpretations. And a big bonus - the CD actually sounds good, unlike the poor production and mastering that too often hides the brilliance of African musical artists. Whereas Paul Simon's attempt to meld African and Western styles was well-intentioned but lacking in authenticity, Johnny Clegg is the real deal. He paid his dues in every conceivable way. And as the only white guy to "get it right" and join the ranks of Fela, Rogie, Prince Nico, Manu Dibango, Olatunje, Mahotella Queens, Black Mambazo, Rochereau, Sonny Ade, Salif Keita, Miriam Makeba and Youssou N'Dour as true continental superstars, it's surprising how little respect he seems to get in his homeland. Any second-rate US musician is well-known in SA (at least in the mid-Rand and up-country where I anecdotally polled) and pulls thousands into the stadiums, but you get embarrassed sideward glances if you bring up Johnny Clegg's name in white or mixed areas. The black Africans tend to give him more credit, but if the world were fair and music were apolitical, this album (and Savuka in general) would be an unqualified epiphany.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy, Beautiful Album, August 6, 2002
It's pretty hard to pick a best album by Johnny, because all of his output is so strong, but if I had to pick one, this would be it. Johnny's eclectic mix of `a little rock, a little reggae, and a little jazz' with his trademark African music presages the whole World Beat phenomena by at least a decade. His music is irresistibly catchy and will make you want to dance. Upbeat, hopeful but world weary and wise, Johnny's lyrics reflect his South African upbringing. It is appropriate that he should have seen both the end of the Berlin Wall and Apartheid. A giant awakens indeed. Johnny writes highly political songs, slice of life narratives and superb love songs. In fact, his finest love song is found here with the excellent `Dela' sample lyrics: `A blind bird sings inside the cage that is my heart, the image of your face comes to me when I'm alone in the dark, if I could give a shape to this ache that I have for you, if I could find the voice that says the words that capture you, I think I know...'. Every song on this album kills (including the infectious bonus track, `Vezandlebe') but worthy of special note are the title track, One (Hu)Man One Vote', and Warsaw 1945, the later will bring tears to your eyes. Johnny Clegg may well be the finest musician of our time; it's a pity that he has been largely ignored in the US. I recommend all his albums; they all rate five stars.
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