I’m listening to Salif Keita, a famous musician from Mali in Africa. He has been called “the Golden Voice of Africa.” His music is sometimes called “Afro-pop.” The album I’m listening to is Moffou (2002). So far, I’ve listened to this album three or four times. Even when the song feels quite upbeat, there’s something sad about Salif Keita’s voice. It’s beautiful, but sounds melancholy at the same time. There are plenty of drums in the music (as you’d expect from African music!), but not the typical drum set that is used in a lot of the music I listen to. There are also some instruments that I can’t identify yet. I feel like I will learn a lot by listening to Salif Keita. I already am thinking about getting another of his albums (he has 18!!). Next week, I’ll write more about his life. He has a really interesting story! I think this is going to be a great stretch for me.
Hi Hannah thank you for helping me get going on the blog. I'm listening to Earth wind and fire. What kind of drums do they play in your type of kind of music that you are listening to.
Hi Hannah! :) In your Opinion, is the music you chose interesting? and in what about it interest you? And how would you describe the music you chose by Salif Keita?-Collins :)
Hi Hannah I started listening Earth Wind and Fire last night. I thought they were cool because they seem like music that was played in like clubs and discos. When I was listening to them I herd a lot of cool percussion insterments in a lot of the song.
Ok, some of your questions are answered in my long comment, but here's answers to a few others:
YES, Keita plays quite a few instruments: I've seen him playing guitar in some youtube videos . . . I'm pretty sure he plays a bunch of traditional African instruments, too. He also sings.
I'm not sure of the names for all the types of drums yet, but I will see what I can find next week.
Virginia, there isn't any English in any of the songs on my album, but he's created 18 albums, so maybe some of them use English! There is definitely French in some of his music. I'm not sure what his main language is, though. I should look it up for next week.
So far, my favorite song is Madan. It’s a reeeally catchy tune. Whenever it starts, I spontaneously begin moving . . . bouncing in my seat or dancing around my apartment. The song uses a whole bunch of West African percussion instruments. It also has Malian fiddles & lutes (I haven’t been able to figure out if a fiddle/lute from Mali is different from usual fiddles/lutes). There’s funky electric bass and a chorus that sings. The chorus has such boisterous, awesome energy. I feel like the people are having a party and I get to join them! Yay!
I don’t know what the lyrics mean, but they’re quite repetitive. Most of Salif Keita’s lyrics are in Bambara, which is the primary language of Mali, but some of them are in French. French is also spoken in Mali because the French once controlled Mali.
Whew! I’m doing a lot of research to learn more about this music!
Hi Hannah, to answer your question I looked up SRV on the internet and found some information on wikipedia. I wrote my own information using that source so I didn't write down wikipedia.
I am ILLEGALLY posting on the sixth-grade blog, despite the fact that I am not a sixth grader! I have now sold my soul to the devil for such an act of evil. Ha ha... Sounds right out if Streetlight, doesn't it? A lot of there music is like that: "I've tasted seven sins, so they won't let me in..." and "So they gave us seven days, to renounce our wicked ways, to late to make amends, because we both know how this ends..." My favorite line is still "Nothing will be broken if your house is made of stone, but you know as I do it will never be a home." It reminds me a lot of a quote from The Outsiders, Dallas: "I was crazy, you know that, kid? Crazy for wantin' Johnny to stay outa trouble, for not wantin' him to get hard. If he'd been like me he'd never have been in this mess. If he'd got smart like me he'd never have run into that church. That's what you get for helpin' people. Editorials in the paper and a lot of trouble . . .You'd better wise up, Pony . . . you get tough like me and you don't get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you. . ." –Hinton, 147 It is about the same thing: The decision about whether to let your heart become hardened by the world or not, or whether to remain hopeful. Your music sounds like so much fun to listen to! I don't really dance to my music, but I kind of spontaneously begin to shout the lyrics once or twice every day. Yelling "So what will you do when they call your name, and your not ready to go? Everyone will stare at you and tell you what you know: that your in too deep and you can't quite keep your secrets one and all..." with absolutely no provocation in the car, with my friends, or in class is bad enough, but with my Mexican host student I believe I am starting to terrify her, if only just a little. Do you ever dance to your music in front of people, or just alone? Do you sing along to it as well? I looked up the meaning of the lyrics to Madan, and found a couple sites, but none would translate them into English unfortunately. I have two CD's of his music from my dad for you, so PLEASE REMIND ME to give those to you, I will forget otherwise. The music of yours reminds me a little of the trumpets streetlight uses: boisterous, and like they are throwing a party. But then there is also the incredibly cynical lyrics, such as: "Nobodies gonna hold your hand on the day you die." And there are also parts that sound like nursery rhymes, or lullabies, or music boxes (or dirges). And then there is also both acoustic and electric guitar. I really love my music. Has Salif Keita become one of your favorite artists yet? As a music teacher, do you even have favorite music, or do you just appreciate every type of music? -Amelia
How do you know my mind is weird? (Not saying that it isn't, on the contrary it is quite strange, but how do you know that?) And what are you referring to? What is off topic? Who ARE you? Do I KNOW you?
Hannah, I apologize both sincerely and profusely for posting such a long and irrelevant comment on your blog.
This week, I did some dancing while listening to Salif Keita! I just hopped up from my desk and grooved around the classroom, making up moves as I went. At one point, I spun around and around until I was dizzy. I haven’t done that in years. It’s really fun. Note to self: do this more often.
Dancing is a natural response to Salif Keita’s style of music. Usually I listen to him while I’m sitting and working, so dancing helped me understand his music better. My next experiment will be to listen to several of his songs while doing nothing else. I’m not great at staying still, so this will be a challenge.
Hee hee, it's funny to see Amelia here! Amelia, YES, I do have favorite musicians. I'm always trying to stretch the types of music I listen to (I started doing stretch projects of my own shortly before starting them with my students).
To answer another of your questions, I haven't danced to Keita's music in front of anyone else (so far). It's been a private thing. You know how they say, "Dance like no one's watching"? Well, I dance pretty enthusiastically no matter whether people are watching or not . . . but I dance differently when I am totally alone. I just realized that about myself.
Oh. Sorry Jon. So I guess it is the Middle School Ian? I think the middle schoolers are so bored they have nothing better to do then to stalk sixth graders. Not really, it is just that the Middle School blog is a really dark blue, and it is kind of depressing. Your's is pink. What are you favorite artist's Hannah? Thanks!
No one has posted in forever. Where are you guys? I think I have forgotten that I am in Middle School. Middle school is so dull though... I guess it is just because I see them every day... Not that I am tired of them or anything, they are all my friends, it's just that with the Mexican students gone, everything seems so quiet and normal, it is odd. That is the funny thing about life: If it is different, it is different, and if it is the same it is also different because you are used to things being different. And loudness is loud, but complete silence is louder than loud, because you notice it more... I now no one will understand a word of what I am talking about. I am used to that.
Amelia, I totally know what you mean about complete silence being the loudest thing. One of my favorite books suggests trying to hear/feel the silence that is behind everything all the time. It's a very peaceful thing to try.
Okay, I'm sure I'll miss a couple, but some of my favorite artists are: Imogen Heap Sufjan Stevens Anathallo John Mayer Switchfoot/Jon Foreman (Jon Foreman does solo stuff & another band called Fiction Family, but he's mostly known for Switchfoot . . . he's the lead singer/guitarist in Switchfoot) Regina Spektor Jason Mraz Coldplay Radiohead The Killers The Polyphonic Spree Nick Drake
I will try that... Strange sensation, listening to the silence behind everything. I have heard John Mayer and Jason Mraz, and i have heard OF Imogen Heap and Coldplay, other than that I do not recognize any of those. I will have to try to listen to them! I have a million favorite artists, and not nearly enough time to list them all.
hi hannah! i have left a comment on everybodys blog! it has takes me 40 minutes. you played Salif Keita’s music for a litening exaple right? i forget- does he sing or not?
Was there a contest? Oh right, I am in eighth grade. Hmmm.... Never mind. I don't actually belong on this blog, do I. Sorry. Am I bothering you guys? Glad Virginia is blogging! And where is Jamaica? And by the way, where is JAMAICA? I mean, the place called Jamaica, where is it physically, like on a map, and what is it like. But also, Jamaica is in sixth grade, so why is she not on the blog???
Hannah when is the weekly focus going to change keyword WEEKLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amelia’s dad gave me two more CDs of Salif Keita music! They have been a great new source of variety in my Stretch Project for the past two weeks. The new CDs have more electronic sounds. I can tell a lot of these tunes were written to be played in dance clubs. Some of them even have words in English!
Sometimes I’ll put all three albums on “shuffle.” It’s interesting to hear the traditional African instruments of the album “Moffou” back-to-back with the electronic beats in some of the other tracks. I’ve learned that Salif Keita is a versatile musician who can incorporate many different styles in his work. Yay!
Hi Hannah! I have a question, have you listened much to Stevie Ray Vaughan? Was the song that you played for a listening example already on your personal i-pod? I mean, you said you would be interested in listening to him so does that mean that you have NEVER listened to him before or does it mean you have heard like, two of his songs?
Virginia, I've listened to SRV quite a few times, but I've never gotten "into" him. Does that make sense? When I listen to him, I always think, "I should listen to this more often!" but then I don't! That's why he might be a good stretch project for me.
1. I shared my music with Charles! He really liked Salif Keita, especially the percussion. We both think the song "Africa" is totally awesome.
2. I'm so glad I chose Salif Keita as my stretch project this time around. I think my next project will be some form of jazz or blues. Some possibilities: Fats Domino, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Ella Fitzgerald.
I’m listening to Salif Keita, a famous musician from Mali in Africa. He has been called “the Golden Voice of Africa.” His music is sometimes called “Afro-pop.” The album I’m listening to is Moffou (2002).
ReplyDeleteSo far, I’ve listened to this album three or four times. Even when the song feels quite upbeat, there’s something sad about Salif Keita’s voice. It’s beautiful, but sounds melancholy at the same time. There are plenty of drums in the music (as you’d expect from African music!), but not the typical drum set that is used in a lot of the music I listen to. There are also some instruments that I can’t identify yet.
I feel like I will learn a lot by listening to Salif Keita. I already am thinking about getting another of his albums (he has 18!!). Next week, I’ll write more about his life. He has a really interesting story! I think this is going to be a great stretch for me.
Hi Hannah thank you for helping me get going on the blog. I'm listening to Earth wind and fire. What kind of drums do they play in your type of kind of music that you are listening to.
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah. Have you learned how to pronounce Salif Keita?
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah!
ReplyDelete:)
In your Opinion, is the music you chose interesting? and in what about it interest you? And how would you describe the music you chose by Salif Keita?-Collins
:)
what kind of music does Salif Keita play? or does he sing?
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah I started listening Earth Wind and Fire last night. I thought they were cool because they seem like music that was played in like clubs and discos. When I was listening to them I herd a lot of cool percussion insterments in a lot of the song.
ReplyDeleteP.s sorry I'm a bad speller.
Does Salif Keita play any instruments or does he just sing.
ReplyDeletehello hannah,
ReplyDeletedoes salif keita ever speak english in his songs? Is he a modern artist and does he still write songs?
Ok, some of your questions are answered in my long comment, but here's answers to a few others:
ReplyDeleteYES, Keita plays quite a few instruments: I've seen him playing guitar in some youtube videos . . . I'm pretty sure he plays a bunch of traditional African instruments, too. He also sings.
I'm not sure of the names for all the types of drums yet, but I will see what I can find next week.
Virginia, there isn't any English in any of the songs on my album, but he's created 18 albums, so maybe some of them use English! There is definitely French in some of his music. I'm not sure what his main language is, though. I should look it up for next week.
ReplyDeletetell you what.
ReplyDeleteDo you like your music so far, Hannah?
ReplyDeleteSo far, my favorite song is Madan. It’s a reeeally catchy tune. Whenever it starts, I spontaneously begin moving . . . bouncing in my seat or dancing around my apartment. The song uses a whole bunch of West African percussion instruments. It also has Malian fiddles & lutes (I haven’t been able to figure out if a fiddle/lute from Mali is different from usual fiddles/lutes). There’s funky electric bass and a chorus that sings. The chorus has such boisterous, awesome energy. I feel like the people are having a party and I get to join them! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI don’t know what the lyrics mean, but they’re quite repetitive. Most of Salif Keita’s lyrics are in Bambara, which is the primary language of Mali, but some of them are in French. French is also spoken in Mali because the French once controlled Mali.
Whew! I’m doing a lot of research to learn more about this music!
Hi Hannah, to answer your question I looked up SRV on the internet and found some information on wikipedia. I wrote my own information using that source so I didn't write down wikipedia.
ReplyDeleteHannah, you live in an apartment?
ReplyDeleteHannah i was wondering for the assignment can you do two songs or do you just do one? sorry if this is the wrong blogg to be asking you on.
ReplyDeleteHello - yes, I live in an apartment, and yes, you can do two songs for the assignment this week!
ReplyDeleteUh... that is a weird Q. to ask about someone Jon.
ReplyDeleteIs it o.k. if I post on this blog?
ReplyDeleteI am ILLEGALLY posting on the sixth-grade blog, despite the fact that I am not a sixth grader! I have now sold my soul to the devil for such an act of evil. Ha ha... Sounds right out if Streetlight, doesn't it? A lot of there music is like that: "I've tasted seven sins, so they won't let me in..." and "So they gave us seven days, to renounce our wicked ways, to late to make amends, because we both know how this ends..." My favorite line is still "Nothing will be broken if your house is made of stone, but you know as I do it will never be a home." It reminds me a lot of a quote from The Outsiders, Dallas: "I was crazy, you know that, kid? Crazy for wantin' Johnny to stay outa trouble, for not wantin' him to get hard. If he'd been like me he'd never have been in this mess. If he'd got smart like me he'd never have run into that church. That's what you get for helpin' people. Editorials in the paper and a lot of trouble . . .You'd better wise up, Pony . . . you get tough like me and you don't get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you. . ." –Hinton, 147
ReplyDeleteIt is about the same thing: The decision about whether to let your heart become hardened by the world or not, or whether to remain hopeful.
Your music sounds like so much fun to listen to! I don't really dance to my music, but I kind of spontaneously begin to shout the lyrics once or twice every day. Yelling "So what will you do when they call your name, and your not ready to go? Everyone will stare at you and tell you what you know: that your in too deep and you can't quite keep your secrets one and all..." with absolutely no provocation in the car, with my friends, or in class is bad enough, but with my Mexican host student I believe I am starting to terrify her, if only just a little. Do you ever dance to your music in front of people, or just alone? Do you sing along to it as well? I looked up the meaning of the lyrics to Madan, and found a couple sites, but none would translate them into English unfortunately. I have two CD's of his music from my dad for you, so PLEASE REMIND ME to give those to you, I will forget otherwise.
The music of yours reminds me a little of the trumpets streetlight uses: boisterous, and like they are throwing a party. But then there is also the incredibly cynical lyrics, such as: "Nobodies gonna hold your hand on the day you die." And there are also parts that sound like nursery rhymes, or lullabies, or music boxes (or dirges). And then there is also both acoustic and electric guitar. I really love my music. Has Salif Keita become one of your favorite artists yet? As a music teacher, do you even have favorite music, or do you just appreciate every type of music? -Amelia
!!! I could have sworn that was no more than one sentence. !!!
ReplyDeleteWere in the weird mind of yours did that come?
ReplyDeleteIt is kinda off topic.
(Don't take the first sentence too seriously.)
§:-∫
How do you know my mind is weird? (Not saying that it isn't, on the contrary it is quite strange, but how do you know that?) And what are you referring to? What is off topic? Who ARE you? Do I KNOW you?
ReplyDeleteHannah, I apologize both sincerely and profusely for posting such a long and irrelevant comment on your blog.
This week, I did some dancing while listening to Salif Keita! I just hopped up from my desk and grooved around the classroom, making up moves as I went. At one point, I spun around and around until I was dizzy. I haven’t done that in years. It’s really fun. Note to self: do this more often.
ReplyDeleteDancing is a natural response to Salif Keita’s style of music. Usually I listen to him while I’m sitting and working, so dancing helped me understand his music better. My next experiment will be to listen to several of his songs while doing nothing else. I’m not great at staying still, so this will be a challenge.
Hee hee, it's funny to see Amelia here! Amelia, YES, I do have favorite musicians. I'm always trying to stretch the types of music I listen to (I started doing stretch projects of my own shortly before starting them with my students).
ReplyDeleteTo answer another of your questions, I haven't danced to Keita's music in front of anyone else (so far). It's been a private thing. You know how they say, "Dance like no one's watching"? Well, I dance pretty enthusiastically no matter whether people are watching or not . . . but I dance differently when I am totally alone. I just realized that about myself.
Hey everyone.
ReplyDeleteAmelia, Black Dog is Collins. And what the HECK are you and Ian doing on the SIXTH GRADE blog? GET OUT! NOW!
Just kidding, of course.
I can't play it with out the music being played. I only play the cords to the song but it's still fun to play.
ReplyDeleteOh. Sorry Jon. So I guess it is the Middle School Ian? I think the middle schoolers are so bored they have nothing better to do then to stalk sixth graders. Not really, it is just that the Middle School blog is a really dark blue, and it is kind of depressing. Your's is pink. What are you favorite artist's Hannah? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry it took me so long to figure out the blog. By the way I'm
ReplyDeletelistening to BB King.
Gold-Dog, I will find out who your artist is after I find out who YOU are... Haha.
ReplyDeleteUm...
ReplyDeleteI think your talking about Black Dog,
no Gold Dog.
∫:–)
YOU are Collins, Gold-Dog is Gunnar.
ReplyDeleteI think...
No one has posted in forever. Where are you guys? I think I have forgotten that I am in Middle School. Middle school is so dull though... I guess it is just because I see them every day... Not that I am tired of them or anything, they are all my friends, it's just that with the Mexican students gone, everything seems so quiet and normal, it is odd. That is the funny thing about life: If it is different, it is different, and if it is the same it is also different because you are used to things being different. And loudness is loud, but complete silence is louder than loud, because you notice it more... I now no one will understand a word of what I am talking about. I am used to that.
ReplyDeleteI K-N-O-W, for clarifications sake. I can't N-O-W something. Apologies (and more apologies for apologizing, which apparently I am not supposed to do.)
ReplyDeleteAmelia, I totally know what you mean about complete silence being the loudest thing. One of my favorite books suggests trying to hear/feel the silence that is behind everything all the time. It's a very peaceful thing to try.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm sure I'll miss a couple, but some of my favorite artists are:
Imogen Heap
Sufjan Stevens
Anathallo
John Mayer
Switchfoot/Jon Foreman (Jon Foreman does solo stuff & another band called Fiction Family, but he's mostly known for Switchfoot . . . he's the lead singer/guitarist in Switchfoot)
Regina Spektor
Jason Mraz
Coldplay
Radiohead
The Killers
The Polyphonic Spree
Nick Drake
Okay, that's a decent start, at least. ;)
I will try that... Strange sensation, listening to the silence behind everything.
ReplyDeleteI have heard John Mayer and Jason Mraz, and i have heard OF Imogen Heap and Coldplay, other than that I do not recognize any of those. I will have to try to listen to them! I have a million favorite artists, and not nearly enough time to list them all.
hi hannah!
ReplyDeletei have left a comment on everybodys blog! it has takes me 40 minutes.
you played Salif Keita’s music for a litening exaple right? i forget- does he sing or not?
Hi Hannah! Just want to tell you I'm on the blog so now you don't have to tell me in music class-"Blllllogggggg!"
ReplyDelete:)
sorry Hannah I was in Jamaica for a week. are you teaching music class this week.
ReplyDeletei win! i win! i win!
ReplyDeletein the last two hours i posted 34 new comments not counting this one.
congrats!
ReplyDeleteWas there a contest? Oh right, I am in eighth grade. Hmmm.... Never mind. I don't actually belong on this blog, do I. Sorry. Am I bothering you guys?
ReplyDeleteGlad Virginia is blogging!
And where is Jamaica?
And by the way, where is JAMAICA?
I mean, the place called Jamaica, where is it physically, like on a map, and what is it like.
But also, Jamaica is in sixth grade, so why is she not on the blog???
OOOOH.
ReplyDeleteJamaica is at the top! Sorry, didn't notice. She just hasn't posted in a while.
Never mind, sorry.
34 COMMENTS?
ReplyDeleteYou must have been REALLY bored.
Hannah when is the weekly focus going to change keyword WEEKLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmelia’s dad gave me two more CDs of Salif Keita music! They have been a great new source of variety in my Stretch Project for the past two weeks. The new CDs have more electronic sounds. I can tell a lot of these tunes were written to be played in dance clubs. Some of them even have words in English!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I’ll put all three albums on “shuffle.” It’s interesting to hear the traditional African instruments of the album “Moffou” back-to-back with the electronic beats in some of the other tracks. I’ve learned that Salif Keita is a versatile musician who can incorporate many different styles in his work. Yay!
Oooh, glad that you are enjoying those!
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah!
ReplyDeleteI have a question, have you listened much to Stevie Ray Vaughan? Was the song that you played for a listening example already on your personal i-pod? I mean, you said you would be interested in listening to him so does that mean that you have NEVER listened to him before or does it mean you have heard like, two of his songs?
this is my 47th comment.
ReplyDeletei win!....again.
ReplyDeleteI'm joking its not a competition.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who to share my music with
ReplyDeleteme to.
ReplyDeleteyou share your music with me, and i will share my music with you.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewhen do we stop listening to our music?
ReplyDeleteVirginia, I've listened to SRV quite a few times, but I've never gotten "into" him. Does that make sense? When I listen to him, I always think, "I should listen to this more often!" but then I don't! That's why he might be a good stretch project for me.
ReplyDeleteOkay, to wrap up:
ReplyDelete1. I shared my music with Charles! He really liked Salif Keita, especially the percussion. We both think the song "Africa" is totally awesome.
2. I'm so glad I chose Salif Keita as my stretch project this time around. I think my next project will be some form of jazz or blues. Some possibilities: Fats Domino, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Ella Fitzgerald.