Track Listing

1. Ae Ae
2. Djin Djin featuring Alicia Keys and Branford Marsalis
3. Gimme Shelter featuring Joss Stone
4. Salala featuring Peter Gabriel
5. Senamou (C'est L'amour) featuring Amadou and Mariam
6. Pearls featuring Josh Groban and Carlos Santana
7. Sedjedo featuring Ziggy Marley
8. Papa
9. Arouna
10. Awan N'La
11. Emma
12. Mama Golo Papa
13. Lonlon (Ravel's Bolero)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13237 in Music
• Released on: 2007-05-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

From Amazon.com
Angelique Kidjo has four Grammy nominations, a mantel-full of international awards, several dance hits, and notable appearances on film and TV soundtracks to her credit (to say nothing of being a major style icon and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador). So this Benin-born, New York-based singer-composer has long since gotten past having to prove anything to anybody--other than to herself. On Djin Djin (the title refers to a bell that sounds at daybreak in parts of Africa), she is self-indulgent in the best possible sense, shooting for a big, glossy, super-pop sound that nonetheless remains essentially, even devoutly, African in inspiration and execution. Produced by Tony Visconti (The Moody Blues, T. Rex, David Bowie, Boomtown Rats, and Morrissey), the release is a bewitching amalgam, with guest stints from Joss Stone, Carlos Santana, Branford Marsalis, Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Malian husband-and-wife team Amadou and Mariam, and noted reggae scion Ziggy Marley. Kidjo, her salty-sweet voice in top form, moves confidently from ballad to club track to homespun earthmover. She never for a second relinquishes control of the festivities, even during a hectic, Haitian-rara-influenced cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and "Lon Lon," in which she takes on--and takes over--French composer Ravel's "Bolero." --Christina Roden

Album Description
UK pressing of the 2007 album from the much-celebrated West African singer, composer and performer includes three bonus tracks: 'Ae Ae' (Youssou N'Dour Version), 'Leila' and 'Salala' (Junior Vasquez Afroelectro Radio Edit). Produced by Tony Visconti and drawing on an amazing band of musicians that include Amp Fiddler, Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris), Poogie Bell (Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan) and Lionel Loueke (Herbie Hancock), this is a visionary work that brings her own songs, mostly in her own language, with covers of songs such as Sade's 'Pearl' and especially the lead single, 'Gimme Shelter', a duet with Joss Stone which they transform into an exuberant pan-national performance. EMI.

Album Details
2007 International Release of the African Singer's Star Studded Studio Album featuring Appearances by Joss Stone, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Amadou and Mariam, Ziggy Marley and Branford Marsalis. Veteran Rock Producer Tony Visconti (Famed for his Work with T. Rex, David Bowie and Morrissey) Helmed the Sessions. This Edition Adds Three Tracks: "ae Ae" (Youssou N'dour Version), "Leila" (Previously Unreleased) and "Salala", Mixed by Veteran Dance REMIXER/DJ Junior Vasquez.

Customer Reviews

Other talent unnecessary
I have been a big fan of Angelique Kidjo for several years. I have seen her perform live (with Carlos Santana). I own all of her CD's. However, I don't buy Ms. Kidjo's CD to hear a potpouri of performers such as Alicia Keyes, Joss Stone, and Josh Groban which I would normally avoid. I am confused as to why this talented artist would include all these top 40 pop performers on her CD. Is she that desperate for North American acceptance? I am disappointed.

More like four-and-a-half, but . . .
Kidjo is a terrific artist and this is a great CD with many wonderful highlights, but like her previous effort "Oyaya!", there are a couple throwaway tracks that decrease the overall value slightly. Here's a song-by-song breakdown.

1. AE AE - It's a good opener--bright, breezy, and catchy--but it's overly simplistic compared to the better tracks on the CD. It's certainly worth listening to, but it falls just short of brilliance.

2. DJIN DJIN - One of the best songs on the CD. It deftly blends elements of traditional African music with soul, R&B, and jazz into a complex and relaxing listen. Alicia Keys' vocals work surprisingly well within the context of the song, and Branford Marsalis' unique flavor of soprano sax infects the song deliciously.

3. GIMME SHELTER - I haven't actually heard the original Rolling Stones tune, but this makes me want to. It's upbeat and the vocal performances are energetic, and it manages to retain a certain angriness that seems appropriate considering the thematic material.

4. SALALA - A lovely little song. The guitar-heavy arrangement is unique and mezmerizing, and the tune is memorable. Peter Gabriel's voice seems a bit jarring at first, but he really grows on you after a while. One of my favorites.

5. SENAMOU (C'EST L'AMOUR) - This is certainly an interesting one. It has the strangest opening sequence of any song on the CD--perhaps, then, it is almost disappointing when it soon segues into a fairly ordinary song melodically. The arrangement style is difficult to pinpoint, though--perhaps African pop-rock with a Middle Eastern twist? Certainly worth listening to.

6. SEDJEDO - This one kind of reminds me of AE AE, but less energetic and less memorable. In other words, it's sort of a clunker. It clunks cheerfully, though, and Ziggy Marley does an admirable job.

7. PAPA - Another great tune. The arrangement effortlessly fuses funk, African music, and dance into a single unique sound, and it has a catchy melody to boot. Too bad it's overlong, and a bit too repetive--small scars on an otherwise flawless song.

8. AROUNA - This one's interesting, but it doesn't really fulfill its potential. The obvious Middle Eastern influence is intriguing, but it never really goes anywhere interesting, and seems to lack energy. Still, if only for the interesting arrangement, it's worth listening to.

9. AWAN N'LA - This one's pretty good. I don't really have too much of a strong opinion of it either way. It's certainly pleasant to listen to, but there's nothing about it that really grabbed me.

10. EMMA - I love this little song. It's got an interesting arrangement, with lots of steel guitars, contrasted by a light electric guitar, all in the context of a lullaby-like tune. A beautiful little gem.

11. MAMA GOLO PAPA - (see AWAN N'LA)

12. LON LON - Maybe the best song on the CD, and a true classic. It's got one of the most unique blend of styles on the CD--a little bit African, a little bit classical, and little a bit Spanish. The a-capella arrangement works brilliantly as well. A must-listen.

Irresistible.
She is an astounding performer, a world renowned, Benin born, Grammy nominated singer. Her diverse music has won fans across the globe, as she effortlessly blends traditional African pop music with contemporary, modern grooves. She has been appointed as Good Will Ambassador by UNICEF, and performed her music in front of world leaders and dignitaries as well as millions of fans.
Her new CD, "Djin Djin" is a welcome return for this musical queen.
"I spent seven years following the roots of slavery to music -- America, Brazil and the Caribbean, Cuba also", said Kidjo, whose previous trilogy entries were 2002's "Black Ivory Soul" and 2004's "Oyaya!"
"I wanted to go back to where all that music came from. I wanted songs to be based on the rhythms of my country (Benin), so a lot of these songs started with the percussion and the chanting. It was intense, extensive work to do."
Ms. Kidjo is an accomplished singer/songwriter in her own right, one who could easily sell millions of records at any given time. Any collaboration with the "hot" artist of the day, to help boost record sales is totally unnecessary. If any such artist were presented on a full length disc of hers, it would certainly help further establish and solidify Angelique's reputation.
That is exactly what happens with this CD, as Angelique shares the stage with several celebrity musicians including Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar), Brandford Marsalis and Alicia Keys("Djin Djin"), Carlos Santana and Josh Groban ("Pearls"), Joss Stone ("Gimme Shelter") , Peter Gabriel ("Salala"), Ziggy Marley ("Sedjedo"), and African music legends Amadou and Mariam ("Senamou -(C'est L'amour)").
The result is a hybrid of musical styles and influences, all beautifully coming together. If you didn't have enough reasons to buy this CD before, you most certainly do now.
While the collaboration efforts are noteworthy and excellent, the real gems are found in the songs where Angelique is free to do her thing, unencumbered by making nice and sharing her vocal space with her guests. True, her work with Groban on the Sade reworking of "Pearls" is almost better than the original and it is one of the highlight songs of the album. But she also shines brightly on "Ae Ae" and she makes us feel so at home on the shuffling "Papa".
To top it all of, Angelique hands in a amazing rendition of the classical piece Ravel's "Bolero" entitled "Lonlon", bridging European classical music with African folk.
The album sounds incredible thanks to super producer Tony Visconti's guiding hand on the boards. With a clean and dry mix being applied, there is very little outboard effects and studio tricks on the songs. Every hand drum is heard with crystal-like clarity and every musician is heard clearly, making this one of the smoothest mixed albums heard in a long while.
My highlights : "Djin Djin", "Pearls" and "Awan N'La".
You will love it!