Youssou N'Dour Downloads

Senegal's golden-throated pop colossus Youssou N'Dour wowed his first audience when he was just twelve, and went on to conquer much of the world with his blend of traditional sabar and tama drumming, Latin dance music, rock and r&b. Though N'Dour's mother came from a griot family, his father... Learn More »

Senegal's golden-throated pop colossus Youssou N'Dour wowed his first audience when he was just twelve, and went on to conquer much of the world with his blend of traditional sabar and tama drumming, Latin dance music, rock and r&b. Though N'Dour's mother came from a griot family, his father opposed his son's musical career. But once the Senegalese heard N'Dour's majestic voice, life in the civil service was out of the question.

In 1979, "Dakar's Little Prince" formed the Super Etoiles, and became the most popular singer of Senegal's mbalax pop. N'Dour soon won the ear of Peter Gabriel, who eventually invited him to join Amnesty International's "Human Rights Now" world tour in 1988. N'Dour still works with many of his original musicians, including talking drum master Assane Thiam, Babacar Faye on sabar drums, and bassist, keyboard player and arranger Habib Faye. Softening the jagged sabar rhythms to create savvy, contemporary pop, N'Dour sings in five languages to reach the widest possible audience.

Some of N'Dour's older fans find his new sound too western, but he doesn't mind. "I am a modern man," says N'Dour. "I love traditional things, but I think African music must be popular. We have to go forward." Intent on bringing his countrymen along, N'Dour recently built a state-of-the-art recording studio called Xippi or "Eyes Open" for musicians in Dakar. Early Xippi releases include work by singer Manel Diop, and also N'Dour's sister, Abibatou N'Dour. In 1994, N'Dour's collaboration with American/British hip-hop singer Neneh Cherry-the song "7 Seconds"-sold over 1.5 million copies and won MTV Europe's Best Song award.

In 1999, N'Dour released a long awaited international follow-up to 1994's Wommat: The Guide. Joko reworks some of the songs that have been hits for N'Dour in Senegal during the intervening years. It also includes collaborations with international stars, including Peter Gabriel. The American version of Joko, released in 2000, differs from the European version. As such, N'Dour presents a somewhat complex profile on the international market. By contrast, his Senegalese releases deliver the simple power of his unsurpassed band, Super Etoiles, live in the studio.

Youssou N'Dour is no purist: he adapts to his audiences' tastes, producing unadulterated mbalax for his fans at home in Senegal and courting hip-hop and other international pop forms to satisfy Europe and the U.S. It's a formula which has made him a huge star both in and out of Africa. He remains true to the pop style of his native Senegal, rich with rhythm upon rhythm and delicate interweaving melodies, but he also explodes with the kind of kinetic power we expect from rock-and-roll...maybe someone should create a Nobel Prize for music and give it to N'Dour.

 

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