Musician Femi Kuti talks about just a few stand-out songs from his newest album, “Journey Via Life.”
DON GONYEA, HOST:
The Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has a brand new album out. It is referred to as “Journey Via Life.”
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “POLITICS DON EXPOSE THEM”)
GONYEA: The album attracts inspiration from jazz, funk and West African music, and it pays homage to the Afrobeat sound that Femi’s father, Fela Kuti, helped create within the Sixties. Kuti spoke to us from his dwelling in Nigeria. We mentioned his inspiration for the album and requested him to explain just a few standout tracks.
FEMI KUTI: I believed it was vital. I talked about issues which have guided me via my life, so I got here up with the title “Journey Via Life.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE”)
KUTI: (Singing) As you move via your journey in life…
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) …Bear in mind it’s only for a time frame.
KUTI: (Singing) Do not maintain on to materials issues too tight.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) ‘Trigger you are going to must let go after some time.
KUTI: (Singing) Hold your whole family members by your aspect.
It let me sing about virtues that I stand by and attempt to concentrate on to guide me in my life – household and tolerance and issues like this. So it was easy methods to put it in not too lengthy a music, however catchy and significant.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE”)
KUTI: There’s one other observe referred to as “Work On Myself.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK ON MYSELF”)
KUTI: (Singing) Possibly we match no change the world. However we are able to change the world inside us. I’ll work on myself. And produce out the very, highest.
And it is a abstract of my way of thinking, actually, presently, politically, socially. And since I can not choose up a gun or something to be violent – and I am actually pissed off with world politics, and generally you simply really feel helpless – so I used to be pondering to myself that perhaps the issue actually just isn’t attempting to alter the world however attempting to alter your self.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK ON MYSELF”)
KUTI: (Singing) Earlier than I believe, say the highway to freedom dey close to, as many nice folks don waka this e waka. I believe say if I waka small, issues go higher, however now I see say the highway to freedom dey far (ph).
One of the simplest ways to unravel lots of points is for one to look inwards, develop your self bodily, spiritually, mentally, ‘trigger on the finish of the day, you might be accountable to this – if there may be life after demise, in fact.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WORK ON MYSELF”)
KUTI: (Singing) Sure, I’ll work on myself. Sure, I’ll work on myself. Sure, I’ll work on myself.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: “After 24 Years” is – nicely, it is one of many favorites to play proper now on the Shrine. It was – it is form of gradual, and, once more, it is a abstract of the political state of affairs in Nigeria that – it is actually addressing the state of affairs however pinpoint in time. This now focuses on time.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: (Singing) Twenty-four years on, our authorities by no means carry out. Dem simply dey authorities dey chop. From 1999, with dey speak. They didn’t restore our refineries. They faux with their rivalries. They sit down collectively, they get pleasure from whereas the nation, they destroy. Eleven thousand…
Every little thing’s form of gradual, however you could have a really melodious horn line (vocalizing).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: (Singing) These politicians…
It is a very form of sing-along – music like this, I like, as a result of whenever you sing about one thing very laborious, this candy, melodious horn line catches the listener to wish to hear. It is essential to search out very candy melody, so consciously or subconsciously, the listener will hear the message.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
KUTI: (Singing) Them don bastardize the financial system. Abi oh, oh, oh.
GONYEA: That was musician Femi Kuti. His newest album, “Journey Via Life,” is out now.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, “AFTER 24 YEARS”)
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