Emotion (Papa Wemba album)

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
Released1995
StudioReal World, Box, Wiltshire
Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes
Length38:16
LabelReal World[1]
ProducerStephen Hague
Papa Wemba chronology
Foridoles
(1994)
Emotion
(1995)
Pôle Position
(1995)

The album peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[5] Wemba promoted it by touring North America.[6]

Production

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The 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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [14]
Calgary HeraldA[15]
Robert ChristgauA−[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

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Yolele"Lokua Kanza · Papa Wemba3:22
2."Mandola"Jacques Rouvier · Wemba3:49
3."Show Me the Way"Kanza · Wemba4:01
4."Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)"Otis Redding · Steve Cropper3:13
5."Rail On"Kanza · Wemba2:26
6."Shofele"Maika Munan · Wemba3:09
7."Image"Christian Polloni · Wemba4:20
8."Sala Keba (Be Careful)"Kanza · Wemba3:40
9."Awa Y' Okeyi (If You Go Away)"Kanza · Wemba1:55
10."Epelo"Polloni · Wemba4:02
11."Ah Ouais (Oh Yes)"Rouvier · Wemba4:19
Total length:38:16

References

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  1. ^ Taylor, Timothy Dean; Taylor, John D. (March 21, 1997). Global Pop: World Music, World Markets. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415918725.
  2. ^ "Papa Wemba Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ White, Bob W. (June 27, 2008). Rumba Rules: The Politics of Dance Music in Mobutu's Zaire. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0822389262.
  4. ^ Daly, Mike (March 2, 1995). "Wemba brings consolation from Womad". Green Guide. The Age. p. 17.
  5. ^ "Papa Wemba". Billboard.
  6. ^ Gordon, Tom (June 18, 1995). "Zaire's Dapper, Dancing Dude Claims South as an Inspiration: Come to Papa". The Birmingham News. p. 1F.
  7. ^ Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates (Jr.), Henry Louis (February 2, 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
  8. ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 806.
  9. ^ Winders, J. (June 5, 2007). Paris Africain: Rhythms of the African Diaspora. Springer. ISBN 9780230602076.
  10. ^ Elder, Bruce (May 8, 1995). "Bubbling with sheer joy and energy". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12.
  11. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 586.
  12. ^ Levesque, Roger (25 June 1995). "Papa Wemba's emotional cries spring from deep in Zaire". Edmonton Journal. p. E1.
  13. ^ a b Denselow, Robin (17 Mar 1995). "World Music". The Guardian. p. T13.
  14. ^ a b "Emotion". AllMusic.
  15. ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (21 May 1995). "Recordings". Calgary Herald. p. F1.
  16. ^ a b "Papa Wemba". Robert Christgau.
  17. ^ a b Torre, Olivia (May 25, 1995). "Sound Check". Music. Houston Press.
  18. ^ "Papa Wemba Emotion". Toronto Star. 13 May 1995. p. J14.