Musician Femi Kuti talks about a couple of stand-out songs from his newest album, “Journey By way of Life.”
DON GONYEA, HOST:
The Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has a brand new album out. It is known as “Journey By way of Life.”
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “POLITICS DON EXPOSE THEM”)
GONYEA: The album attracts inspiration from jazz, funk and West African music, and it pays homage to the Afrobeat sound that Femi’s father, Fela Kuti, helped create within the Sixties. Kuti spoke to us from his dwelling in Nigeria. We mentioned his inspiration for the album and requested him to explain a couple of standout tracks.
FEMI KUTI: I assumed it was essential. I talked about issues which have guided me by way of my life, so I got here up with the title “Journey By way of Life.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE”)
KUTI: (Singing) As you go by way of your journey in life…
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) …Keep in mind it’s only for a time frame.
KUTI: (Singing) Do not maintain on to materials issues too tight.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) ‘Trigger you are going to should let go after some time.
KUTI: (Singing) Preserve all your family members by your aspect.
It let me sing about virtues that I stand by and attempt to give attention to to guide me in my life – household and tolerance and issues like this. So it was the way to put it in not too lengthy a music, however catchy and significant.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE”)
KUTI: There’s one other observe known as “Work On Myself.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK ON MYSELF”)
KUTI: (Singing) Perhaps we match no change the world. However we will change the world inside us. I’ll work on myself. And produce out the very, perfect.
And it is a abstract of my frame of mind, actually, right now, politically, socially. And since I can not choose up a gun or something to be violent – and I am actually pissed off with international politics, and generally you simply really feel helpless – so I used to be considering to myself that possibly the issue actually shouldn’t be attempting to alter the world however attempting to alter your self.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK ON MYSELF”)
KUTI: (Singing) Earlier than I feel, say the street to freedom dey close to, as many nice folks don waka this e waka. I feel say if I waka small, issues go higher, however now I see say the street to freedom dey far (ph).
The easiest way to unravel a number of points is for one to look inwards, develop your self bodily, spiritually, mentally, ‘trigger on the finish of the day, you’re accountable to this – if there may be life after demise, after all.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK ON MYSELF”)
KUTI: (Singing) Sure, I’ll work on myself. Sure, I’ll work on myself. Sure, I’ll work on myself.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: “After 24 Years” is – nicely, it is one of many favorites to play proper now on the Shrine. It was – it is form of gradual, and, once more, it is a abstract of the political state of affairs in Nigeria that – it is actually addressing the state of affairs however pinpoint in time. This now focuses on time.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: (Singing) Twenty-four years on, our authorities by no means carry out. Dem simply dey authorities dey chop. From 1999, with dey speak. They didn’t restore our refineries. They fake with their rivalries. They sit down collectively, they get pleasure from whereas the nation, they destroy. Eleven thousand…
All the things’s form of gradual, however you’ve a really melodious horn line (vocalizing).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: (Singing) These politicians…
It is a very form of sing-along – music like this, I like, as a result of once you sing about one thing very arduous, this candy, melodious horn line catches the listener to wish to pay attention. It is crucial to seek out very candy melody, so consciously or subconsciously, the listener will hear the message.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: (Singing) Them don bastardize the economic system. Abi oh, oh, oh.
GONYEA: That was musician Femi Kuti. His newest album, “Journey By way of Life,” is out now.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
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