Amadou and Miriam : What's their deal?

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"borrowing a few discs"

― 400% Nice (nordicskilla), Sunday, 9 October 2005 22:36 (twenty years ago)

wow. why isn't everyone going nuts for amadou and mariam (and manu chao for that matter)???

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:25 (twenty years ago)

I wanna love 'em but can't afford the disc yet. And Manu Chao is somewhat more frothy and lite-ish than he has to be.

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:55 (twenty years ago)

Still an amazing album and a real crowd-pleaser in this household.

― Baaderonixx and the hedonistic gluttons (baaderonixx), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

frothy and lite-ish

here, you mean? i really love the sound of this. with so much going on in a lot of the songs, everything gets to shine through. i haven't listened to his solo stuff in years, so i can't compare it, though.

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, as much as I dislike the guy and could do without his guest vocals on the album, his production is pretty great on this.

― Baaderonixx and the hedonistic gluttons (baaderonixx), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

Everyone in France is going nuts for Amadou & Mariam. They're proper pop stars over there.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

I can't get enough of this album. I love the Manu Chao 'sound', too, and I don't necessarily agree that's it's too frothy but I like the descriptor.

― mcd (mcd), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

I mean, I seem to remember all the chat that Clandestino was recorded on various four-track cassette machines around Latin America, or something. I hardly can believe that with the way it sounds!

― mcd (mcd), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

once again, i have to really recommend "Siberie M'etait Contee". I had not previously liked manu chao but this really turned me around. very, very unlike "clandestino." production sort of similar to the amadou and miriam record. don't know how easy it is to track down tho.

― b'angelo, Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

I'll try Manu Chao more. I'm pretty sold on this A&M album being great though, they both look like Stevie Wonder!

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

Anyone seen them live? They're playing here in Brussesl next month and I'm pretty tempted to go

― Baaderonixx and the hedonistic gluttons (baaderonixx), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

of course, i now notice they were just in chicago last month. hearing this now, i'd have loved to opportunity to have seen them live...

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

yeah, in chicago a month or so ago. it was pretty good, had to leave early due to an extremely tired companion. the live performance was a little less varied than the record, though. very gallic rhythm section. i would say check it out.

― b'angelo, Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

Manu Chao sorta annoys me. Try living in France for a while among the culture of gushing faux-gypsy teenage girls that have grown to adore him. As for his music - it sounds great when you first hear it, but it really wears over a WHOLE album, let alone three or four.

― High Tea in the Chinese Quarter (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

The idea that their is a culture of gushing faux-gypsy faux-teenage (faux?) girls in France that are growing to adore Manu Chao makes me almost want to like him.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

I can't recommend their live show highly enough. I actually thought it was more varied than the album, in that it drew more explicitly on non-African music styles, almost like an encyclopedia of popular music from last 50 years. At various points, I heard traces of Eddie Cochran riffs, 60s garage rock, hard rock, reggae, blues, Latin/Cuban, hip hop, funky house, tribal house, techno and trance. There's an ultra-enthusiastic dreadlocked percussionist who almost steals the whole show, but the whole band radiate pure joy. Except for Mariam, who remains imperiously stony-faced throughout, even when the dreadlocked percussionist guy is playing right underneath her nose. And Amadou is a fantastic, fluid guitarist. It's also important that you clap along every now and again, even if you don't care much for clapping along, as A&M kind of thrive off the feedback, if that doesn't sound too patronising.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

The idea that their is a culture of gushing faux-gypsy faux-teenage (faux?) girls in France that are growing to adore Manu Chao makes me almost want to like him.

Alex, these people are just the French equivalent of Berkeley granola -type people, the sort of people you usually proclaim to be "assholes".

Not that this is a valid reason for not enjoying Manu Chao's music, just a bit of anecdotal detail...

― High Tea in the Chinese Quarter (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

...I mean I LIVE in Berkeley and I eat granola!

― High Tea in the Chinese Quarter (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:55 (twenty years ago)

That culture is way more pervasive in France than its Berkeley equivalent...

― Baaderonixx and the hedonistic gluttons (baaderonixx), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:02 (twenty years ago)

Yes, but these folks are in France and I don't have to be around them which makes them more endearing than their American counterparts.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:03 (twenty years ago)

I find violent criminals endearing so long as they stay locked up in jail!

― High Tea in the Chinese Quarter (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

ok, I'm totally playing devil's advocate.

― High Tea in the Chinese Quarter (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

Hey if the Franchies can dig Jerry Lewis I can be amused by their weird attempts to appropriate gypsy culture. Whatever this has to do with Manu Chao I have no idea.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

haha

― High Tea in the Chinese Quarter (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

once again, i have to really recommend "Siberie M'etait Contee". There's so little info on this. Is it a proper Manu Chao album? Is it available anywhere in the states?

― mcd (mcd), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

Anywhere to legally hear some of this online?

― Mickey (modestmickey), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Amazon and junk'll have it. It's on the listening at the Tower near me.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 20 October 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

Amazon does have it, but it's a "limited edition import" and lists 6 tracks and not much information.

― mcd (mcd), Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

um?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

if, hypothetically people are interested in hearing the "Siberie", maybe email info at jazzinfection dot com? hypothetically.

― b'angelo, Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:16 (twenty years ago)

and, yeah, it seems difficult to find. It is a collaboration w/a french illustrator, i guess there's an accompanying book as well?

― b'angelo, Thursday, 20 October 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

Oh sorry to be unclear Alex, I was talking about Siberie.

― mcd (mcd), Thursday, 20 October 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

I got the 'Best Of' which compiles their previous three albums and it is Solid. Very different from the techno-tight Chao production. I'm not sure if either is better than the other, they're both doing different things. I'm listening to them both a lot.

I really like what Chao brought to the new record, I'm fine with toe-tappin' drum machines setting the pulse & extra reverb, it's a strange hybrid. A lot more successful than Chao's solo records (which, like Adam, I can't listen to all the way through).

― milton parker (Jon L), Thursday, 20 October 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

six months pass...

Incredible!!! I am totally sold on Amadou & Miriam.
I have purchased all of their albums through iTunes and I hope to be able to purchase more.
I also hope that they return to the U.S. to perform!
I work for an airline and I will travel to any state to see and hear them.
This is REAL music!!!
After being thoroughly immersed in Amadou & Miriam, I can now say that I have experienced a quality sound which is extremely pleasant and excellent!!!

― humbug ditto, Saturday, 22 April 2006 07:43 (twenty years ago)

This is REAL music!!!
-- humbug ditto (necrofles...), April 22nd, 2006

I like 'em too, but calling them 'real music' presupposes that too many other types of music are not "real" music. I doubt that Amadou & Mariam would use such a term.

― curmudgeon (DC Steve), Saturday, 22 April 2006 15:45 (twenty years ago)

26/04/2006 : MIAMI
salle : Artime Theater

28/04/2006 : SAN FRANCISCO
salle : Bimbo's

― milton parker (Jon L), Saturday, 22 April 2006 21:47 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

I am still mystified as to why ILM didn't jump all over this album. Last night in Millenium Park they had a good few thousand peeps of all colors and ages (including a really cute couple behind me in their 60s or so) on their feet, arms in the air, hips twisting. Amadou is just a smokin' guitarist. Great band. Beautiful night. I only wish I had caught the whole set...

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Friday, 30 June 2006 16:52 (nineteen years ago)

Some ILMers did, some others did not for reasons listed above, and some folks just automatically reject all African music as some sort of staid public radio, National Geographic, old people aging hippie music, or as music for Malians or others who do not have English as their first language, but not for them.

― curmudgeon (DC Steve), Friday, 30 June 2006 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

I like it, but it's a little sweet, a little too afro-poppy for me. Just not enough OMG to it.

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Friday, 30 June 2006 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

I just heard of them, at http://www.amadou-mariam.com/ where they have a couple of videoes . yes it's very poppy but I liked., especially that high envolée in beau dimangche when he sings Les djembés et les n'doulous(?) résonnent partout

― S. (Sébastien Chikara), Friday, 30 June 2006 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

Cool record. The whole transcontinental, multi-culti funk-pop thing usually grates, but "Dimanche a Bamako" transcends all that.

TONS of great tunes, and a surprising amount of variety (love the chanting on "La Réalité" where it sounds like they're saying, "Soul Fire" over and over again). It's light and poppy enuf for summertime dancing & drinking, but the fundamental weight and beauty of the Malian blues base really shines through. Tough tightrope to walk...

Never comes across as weak, watered down, hippified or strictly for the NPR set, either. I mean, it'll certainly appeal very strongly to them fuckers, but it doesn't seem to be a product of their sensibility, or a sop thrown in its direction. Basically, "Dimanche" just sounds natural -- relaxed and joyful in spite of the sometimes heavy-handed mod/pop production.

Truth be told, I could use a little less of Manu Chau on this record. While some of its best moments benefit hugely from his influence ("Caminons Sauvages"), I'd like the album better without borderline-Afro-kitsch tracks like "Sénégal Fast Food" and "Taxi Bamako".

Still, pretty much every tune is instantly appealing, and more than half are durable, out-of-the-park winners. One of the best pure pop albums I've heard in the last few years, no matter what the origins.

P.S. I've heard some of their earlier material, and it hasn't appealed to me nearly as much. Deeper and arguably more "authentic", but the standout tracks are fewer and farther between.

― fuckfuckingfuckedfucker (fuckfuckingfuckedfucker), Friday, 30 June 2006 17:58 (nineteen years ago)

They were great last night but I think I liked Seu Jorge's set even better. One hell of a great free double-bill though.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 30 June 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

oh and to EconJohn: the reason ILM wasn't all over it is because they were jizzing over Konono instead of course.

and yeah he is a really great guitarist --- got straight-up nasty on some o that stuff.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 30 June 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

ffff otm, generally, though i disagree here:
Truth be told, I could use a little less of Manu Chau on this record.

as with too many albums these days it's probably too long by a song or two, but i think the production is what makes Dimanche... so great (my choice for Album of the Year 2005). not to say their earlier records are bad, cuz there's great stuff there as well. but he pulls out/highlights/layers all sorts of stuff that on earlier albums are missed opportunities.

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Friday, 30 June 2006 19:06 (nineteen years ago)

I like the earlier stuff better, but this is a really good album. I'd like to see them live (and Seu Jorge too!)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 30 June 2006 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

I just found this record! My buddy from way back found out I like Manu Chao and knows how I've always had a soft spot for k-jammy Afropop, burned me a copy, labelled it "DUDE!". This is super-classic summertime cruisin' music.

― you can email me if you wish to challenge the truth (nickalicious), Friday, 30 June 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

Manu Chao did my head in, playing 24/7 all around Dublin, every frickin' cafe for so long that I can't stomach Amadou and Mariam, I think I've been subjected to some kind of aversion therapy with Manu Chao and anything he touches. Couldn't help feel like they were trying to sell some Manu Chao approved ethno-product to the euro-student set of dreaded french guys and spliff-eyed spaniards.

Totally illogical though all that is.

― Major Alfonso (Major Alfonso), Friday, 30 June 2006 22:43 (nineteen years ago)

they were by far the best act i saw at bonnaroo. and i saw a lot of good acts at bonnaroo. they completely packed out the mid-size tent where they were playing. i love the album, so i expected them to be good, but they more than exceeded expectations. i would love to see them again.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 30 June 2006 23:28 (nineteen years ago)

i love this album, though i didn't hear it until a few months ago. i haven't yet grown tired of manu chao, despite frequent overplaying of "clandestino" at parties. would love to see them live.

― Emily B (Emily B), Friday, 30 June 2006 23:52 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 39 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

They're also doing arena shows opening for Coldplay. I wonder what their audience thinks?

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 June 2009 14:52 (seventeen years ago)

They're also doing arena shows opening for Coldplay. I wonder what their audience thinks?

Time to buy a hot dog.

― Shin Oliva Suzuki, Thursday, 11 June 2009 14:59 (seventeen years ago)

five months pass...

holy shit I had never heard this sabali song b4! looked them up on youtube just because they were so awesome when I saw them at a festival this summer and i was feelin lonely 4 the friends i saw them with

― plaxico (I know, right?), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 00:35 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

Dimache a Bamako is the shit

― in my world of loose geirs (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 12 April 2011 22:20 (fifteen years ago)

Yes it is.

― Si tu parles, tu meurs. Si tu te tais, tu meurs. Alors, dis et (Michael White), Tuesday, 12 April 2011 22:53 (fifteen years ago)

Beautiful.

― Hey Look More Than Five Years Has Passed And You Have A C (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 12 April 2011 22:57 (fifteen years ago)

Yep

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 April 2011 03:06 (fifteen years ago)

Just put it on a few weeks ago for a friend who'd never heard it. Don't actually know what he thought of it, but I loved the hell out of it.

― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 13 April 2011 03:40 (fifteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

New album is out!

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 10:44 (fourteen years ago)

In case you forgot, here's "Dougo Badia" (feat. Nick Zinner & Santigold)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfJ-EmoQil8

― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 3 April 2012 10:46 (fourteen years ago)

Seen mixed reviews of it, but have not heard it yet myself (well, one song).

NPR is streaming it for a bit

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/148919868/first-listen-amadou-and-mariam-folila?ps=mh_fl

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 12:55 (fourteen years ago)

And the Pitchfork review was discussed on a Pitchfork thread

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 12:56 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

i really can't believe dimanche a bamako is 10 years old! that fact is making me feel weird this morning

this is still in my every morning playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH4K-WLpVuo

― 1 P.3. Eternal (roxymuzak), Sunday, 13 April 2014 14:59 (twelve years ago)

ok....9 years old. still

― 1 P.3. Eternal (roxymuzak), Sunday, 13 April 2014 15:00 (twelve years ago)

Back in 2005 dimanche a bamako was my winter commute to work album, played on some horrendous quarter a gig samsung mp3 player that seemed like good kit at the time. I still love this album but have given up trying work out where the fuck the last decade has gone.

― xelab, Sunday, 13 April 2014 21:29 (twelve years ago)

I couldn't pick a fave because the album is jam-packed, but this ruled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kp9cmTNaMw

― xelab, Sunday, 13 April 2014 21:54 (twelve years ago)

three years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SJR81-JIwA&list=PLdqZQPNShYrBYt2KnjACUMjDdSg6gzzvV&index=2
I love this!

― calzino, Wednesday, 4 October 2017 23:09 (eight years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SJR81-JIwA

― calzino, Wednesday, 4 October 2017 23:13 (eight years ago)

seven years pass...

RIP Amadou

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250404-amadou-of-malian-blind-music-duo-amadou-mariam-dies-aged-70

― Inside The Wasp Factory with Gregg Wallace (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Saturday, 5 April 2025 10:49 (one year ago)

They were so good.

― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 5 April 2025 12:28 (one year ago)

This is very sad news

― DLC Soundsystem (dog latin), Saturday, 5 April 2025 15:01 (one year ago)

Noooo.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 April 2025 18:29 (one year ago)

Too young. Blind at 16, overnight star at 50 and now gone. Poor Mariam. The 2 of them always looked so sweet together onstage

― curmudgeon, Monday, 7 April 2025 16:00 (one year ago)

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