Wikipedia

Set (Youssou N'Dour album)

Set is an album by the Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour, released in 1990.[1][2] The album in part inspired the Senegalese youth movement Set-Setal, which sought to beautify Dakar.[3]

Set
Studio album by
Youssou N'Dour
Released1990
GenreMbalax
LabelVirgin
ProducerMichael Brooks
Youssou N'Dour chronology
The Lion
(1989) 		Set
(1990) 		Eyes Open
(1992)

The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums chart.[4] Virgin Records was disappointed by the album's commercial performance, and dropped N'Dour shortly after the album's release.[5]

Production

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The album was made with N'Dour's band, Super Étoile de Dakar.[6] It was recorded live in the studio, in Paris, and was produced by Michael Brooks (with Daniel Lanois working on one track).[7][8] Set was originally intended for release only in Senegal; after becoming a hit, it was slightly remixed and distributed internationally.[9] The lyrics are sung in Wolof, with a few phrases in English.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
Chicago Tribune    [12]
Robert ChristgauA−[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [14]
Houston Chronicle    [15]
The Philadelphia Inquirer    [6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [16]
Select     [17]

The Washington Post praised the "exuberant, universal love songs like 'Fenene' and 'Ay Chono La'."[7] Robert Christgau deemed the album "13 shortish songs replete with catchy intros, skillful bridges, concise solos, hooks."[13] The Gazette wrote that the album "has moments of brilliance, a glorious fusion of old-and new-world thinking."[10] The Boston Globe singled out "Sinebar", declaring that it possesses "one of the catchiest, most exhilarating horn riffs in pop music this or any year."[18] Jon Pareles, in The New York Times, listed it as the third best album of 1990.[19]

Trouser Press called Set "one of the best Afropop albums ever," writing that "'Sabar' and 'Sinebar' show off the band’s relentless percussive chops."[9]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Set (Clean)"3:45
2."Alboury"4:15
3."Sabar"2:32
4."Toxiques"3:28
5."Sinebar"4:45
6."Medina"3:22
7."Miyoko"3:43
8."Xaley Rewmi (Our Young People)"4:17
9."Fenene (Another Place)"5:17
10."Fakastalu (Watch Your Step)"3:52
11."Hey You!"3:38
12."One Day (Jaam)"3:26
13."Ay Chono La"3:13

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Zane (Oct 13, 1990). "Albums: Youssou N'Dour". Melody Maker. Vol. 66, no. 41. p. 41.
  2. ^ "Not your father's Ramadan". Salon. October 26, 2005.
  3. ^ Appert, Catherine M. (2018). In Hip Hop Time: Music, Memory, and Social Change in Urban Senegal. Oxford University Press. p. 74.
  4. ^ "Youssou N'Dour". Billboard.
  5. ^ Kot, Greg (17 Feb 1991). "The Real Grammy Winners". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  6. ^ a b Moon, Tom (14 Oct 1990). "New Recordings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12L.
  7. ^ a b "N'Dour Upholds Senegal Standards". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. ^ Snowden, Don (20 July 1990). "Singer Hopes to Reveal Africa's Cultural Wealth". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  9. ^ a b "Youssou N'Dour". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  10. ^ a b Feist, Daniel (13 Dec 1990). "N'Dour's new Set worth careful listen". The Gazette. p. D14.
  11. ^ "Set - Youssou N'Dour | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. ^ Kot, Greg (8 Nov 1990). "Rave Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  13. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Youssou N'Dour". www.robertchristgau.com.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 134.
  15. ^ Mitchell, Rick (November 11, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
  16. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 497–498.
  17. ^ Prendergast, Mark (October 1990). "Culture Clubbing". Select. No. 4. p. 117.
  18. ^ Gonzalez, Fernando (9 Nov 1990). "Youssou N'Dour Senegalese Singer Stays True to Roots". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 50.
  19. ^ Pareles, Jon (30 Dec 1990). "Pop Music/1990". The New York Times. p. A32.
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