Emotion is an album by the Congolese singer Papa Wemba, released in 1995.[2][3] Wemba sang mostly in Lingala.[4]
| Emotion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Studio | Real World, Box, Wiltshire Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes | |||
| Length | 38:16 | |||
| Label | Real World[1] | |||
| Producer | Stephen Hague | |||
| Papa Wemba chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[5] Wemba promoted it by touring North America.[6]
Production
editThe album was produced by Stephen Hague.[7][8] "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)", a duet with Juliet Roberts, is a cover of the Otis Redding song; Redding was Wemba's favorite singer.[9][10][11] Jean-Philippe Rykiel played keyboards on Emotion.[12] Wemba addresses racism on "Epelo", heartbreak on "Ah Ouais", and the dangers in the world on "Sala Keba".[13]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| Calgary Herald | A[15] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[16] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [11] |
| Houston Press | [17] |
| MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | [8] |
The Guardian wrote that "Wemba's singing is high, relaxed and fine as ever, whether he's tackling a synth-backed funky dance piece, or switching to a guitar-backed ballad."[13] Robert Christgau stated: "Piercing and penetrating without a hint of muezzin, he also commands a 'natural,' 'conversational' timbre richer and rangier than that of his more soft-sung Zairean colleagues."[16]
The Toronto Star noted that "soukous purists likely won't have it... But terrific listening for everyone else."[18] The Calgary Herald determined that "the propulsive, rolling polyrythmic rhythms here owe as much to western pop as to Wemba's Zairean traditions."[15] The Houston Press concluded that "Hague insured that Wemba's vocals took center stage on each tune, turning down the driving African percussion just a notch."[17]
AllMusic wrote that, "in mixing his unique brand of African soukous with various Western influences, Papa Wemba took a bold step into the international pop market already populated by Senegalese singing sensations Youssou N'Dour and Baaba Maal."[14]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yolele" | Lokua Kanza · Papa Wemba | 3:22 |
| 2. | "Mandola" | Jacques Rouvier · Wemba | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Show Me the Way" | Kanza · Wemba | 4:01 |
| 4. | "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)" | Otis Redding · Steve Cropper | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Rail On" | Kanza · Wemba | 2:26 |
| 6. | "Shofele" | Maika Munan · Wemba | 3:09 |
| 7. | "Image" | Christian Polloni · Wemba | 4:20 |
| 8. | "Sala Keba (Be Careful)" | Kanza · Wemba | 3:40 |
| 9. | "Awa Y' Okeyi (If You Go Away)" | Kanza · Wemba | 1:55 |
| 10. | "Epelo" | Polloni · Wemba | 4:02 |
| 11. | "Ah Ouais (Oh Yes)" | Rouvier · Wemba | 4:19 |
| Total length: | 38:16 | ||
References
edit- ^ Taylor, Timothy Dean; Taylor, John D. (March 21, 1997). Global Pop: World Music, World Markets. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415918725.
- ^ "Papa Wemba Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ White, Bob W. (June 27, 2008). Rumba Rules: The Politics of Dance Music in Mobutu's Zaire. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0822389262.
- ^ Daly, Mike (March 2, 1995). "Wemba brings consolation from Womad". Green Guide. The Age. p. 17.
- ^ "Papa Wemba". Billboard.
- ^ Gordon, Tom (June 18, 1995). "Zaire's Dapper, Dancing Dude Claims South as an Inspiration: Come to Papa". The Birmingham News. p. 1F.
- ^ Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates (Jr.), Henry Louis (February 2, 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
- ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 806.
- ^ Winders, J. (June 5, 2007). Paris Africain: Rhythms of the African Diaspora. Springer. ISBN 9780230602076.
- ^ Elder, Bruce (May 8, 1995). "Bubbling with sheer joy and energy". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 586.
- ^ Levesque, Roger (25 June 1995). "Papa Wemba's emotional cries spring from deep in Zaire". Edmonton Journal. p. E1.
- ^ a b Denselow, Robin (17 Mar 1995). "World Music". The Guardian. p. T13.
- ^ a b "Emotion". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (21 May 1995). "Recordings". Calgary Herald. p. F1.
- ^ a b "Papa Wemba". Robert Christgau.
- ^ a b Torre, Olivia (May 25, 1995). "Sound Check". Music. Houston Press.
- ^ "Papa Wemba Emotion". Toronto Star. 13 May 1995. p. J14.