TOTO "africa" classic or dud

(patient zero for this thing was surely rickrolling?)

tropical house as well as jack antonoff xp

though the other day I was thinking "I'll bet it's because of some stupid ref on Family Guy" & I googled it and yup there's a Family Guy scene where they play the whole song and use the words "Africa by Toto" specifically

"There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do" (which is a shitty line)

disagree, I think it is a great & very musical line

not everyone is going to react the same to this cover, but again what i said doesn't mean this song isn't good, the cover isn't good, that people don't actually like it, etc.

i guess for me it's more the specific elevation of this particular song to meme status over other candidates. idk.

(patient zero for this thing was surely rickrolling?)

I don't think rickrolling involved much actual appreciation for Rick Astley's music, though? (although he good-naturedly parlayed it to his advantage)

I'm thinking more along the lines of something like the use of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" in Bridesmaids (2011) -- simultaneous activation of "cheesy nostalgia" and "good song / real emotion" factors -- though there are probably better examples.

(I mean there's probably many essays about the distinction btw. sincere & ironic appreciation of nostalgic pop culture becoming indistinct lately; maybe J0rdan P3terson has written something about it, lol)

Years ago, most likely in the mid to late '90s, a band I was in played with a fake '80s Teen Beat band called Romania. That night, they covered "Africa." I'm pretty sure it all starts there.

There's a metaphor in here somewhere:

At the time when Toto keyboardist David Paich and drummer Jeff Porcaro wrote the song, they’d never actually been to Africa. Porcaro, who died in 1992, described the lyrics thusly: “A white boy is trying to write a song on Africa, but since he's never been there, he can only tell what he's seen on TV or remembers in the past.” This isn’t supposed to be a song about the continent; it’s about an idea, or a borrowed nostalgia for somewhere you’ve never been.

Man, no kidding. Talk about an artistic theme repeating itself in the work's reception (...I mean, please, talk about it; it seems really interesting and I'd like to hear other examples of this)

why is this thread continuously at the top of the page

...as sure as kilimanjaro rises like olympus above the serengeti

Hah, NickB.

they’d never actually been to Africa

it's unseemly to boast, but: I FUCKING CALLED IT

But at least it's pretty clear they captured, you know, the *idea* of Africa.

Africa: It's Only a State of Mind

Wait -- didn't your quote just establish that the lyrics are ironic, and the song is actually ABOUT a clueless guy "trying" to capture the idea of Africa? Why are you ragging on the band about it; this seems brilliant(?)

Ha, I don't know! I actually thought he was describing themselves!

Certainly the lyrics offer no indication of any sort of meta-ness.

xp Well, I thought so, too -- but with a kind of ironic self-awareness. Hence: This isn’t supposed to be a song about the continent; it’s about an idea, or a borrowed nostalgia for somewhere you’ve never been. (Which I know isn't part of the Porcaro quote; it's the conclusion of whoever wrote the piece you're excerpting.)

If it's not meant to be ironic, then obv. it's not as interesting that the song is now being received with a similar "borrowed nostalgia for somewhere [the '80s] that [young listeners] have never been".

Speaking purely for myself, I regard the quote as support for the reading that the titular continent is metaphorical. As opposed to being intended as an account of a literal journey (no pun intended), even if fictional. As I have said, I think it's Walter Mittyish fantasy - but I would stop short of calling the lyrics ironic. Too much oomph in the chorus for irony imo.

God - I just Googled this song, and there's so much happening

https://thetakeout.com/burger-king-play-totos-africa-108-times-loop-1828192313

(I should probably admit that I always thought the line was, "We'll catch some rays down in Africa")

a key trait of this kind of meme is that the source material has to have zero irony whatsoever, I think

Reading the actual lyrics, I agree there's not much detectable irony.

(although I do like the Walter Mitty reading)

"I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become" <-- what does this line mean?

Midlevel office-supply-store manager wishes he were some sort of suave international spy, who has dark impulses and a sinister pain gnawing at his soul.

Instead, what he has is a basement apartment in his mom's house, and a late payment on his El Camino.

How can I hide this thread? I’m joshing really but hasn’t everything that can be said about this song been said?

No because every few months someone comes in to ask why it's still a trending topic, and oldsters need to school that poster, and the discussion starts again.

Really what it needs is a pinned FAQ, so that whenever some afriNoob comes in to ask why this thread is active, they get a canned synopsis of the discussion so far, and are discouraged from asking the question anew.

Sounds reasonable

Not sure that it matters what he seeks to cure or what thing he has become. Makes it more universal of a journey.

Years ago, most likely in the mid to late '90s, a band I was in played with a fake '80s Teen Beat band called Romania. That night, they covered "Africa." I'm pretty sure it all starts there.

I rather liked Romania, and this is disappointing to hear.

tropical house as well as jack antonoff xp

Would def explain why it interested my senior production students from last year

I don't think rickrolling involved much actual appreciation for Rick Astley's music, though? (although he good-naturedly parlayed it to his advantage)

― empire bro-lesque (morrisp), Friday, August 10, 2018 2:43 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'm thinking more along the lines of something like the use of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" in Bridesmaids (2011) -- simultaneous activation of "cheesy nostalgia" and "good song / real emotion" factors -- though there are probably better examples.

― empire bro-lesque (morrisp), Friday, August 10, 2018 2:45 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Agree. I don't think there were videos of Gaelic choirs singing translated versions of "Never Gonna Give You Up" (?).

The distinguished totoafricologists here itt have done respectable work on why this song / why now.

But I understand the perspective of those who wonder Where Is The Love for a lot of equally deserving songs.

Like, what if there were a way to reapportion a tenth of the pixels spilled on "Africa" and "Don't Stop Believing" toward, like "We Belong," "Separate Ways," "Love Is a Battlefield," "Turn Your Love Around," "Do You Believe in Love," Pass the Dutchie."

I’m not sure a song by a female vocalist could ever achieve this degree of meme-ification...

I’m not sure a song by a female vocalist could ever achieve this degree of meme-ification...

― empire bro-lesque (morrisp), Friday, August 10, 2018 6:23 PM (five minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah I said this earlier, with the exception of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" I can't think of one

the memeification isn't so much an issue here, it's the part where the memeification starts to affect actual musical canon where it gets annoying as all hell

Agree. I don't think there were videos of Gaelic choirs singing translated versions of "Never Gonna Give You Up" (?).

"never gonna give you up" doesn't have much in the way of melodies & harmonies that would translate well to a choir </hongro>

xp total eclipse otm but also millennials LOVE stevie nicks songs!

this discussion makes me think of the actually sincere and somewhat beautiful use of "Life In A Northern Town" in one episode of "King of the Hill"

But I understand the perspective of those who wonder Where Is The Love for a lot of equally deserving songs.

Yeah, like What is Love

incidentally there shall be no love for "where is the love" despite how much the black eyed peas would like that (i know they tried reviving it within the past few years)

Years ago, most likely in the mid to late '90s, a band I was in played with a fake '80s Teen Beat band called Romania. That night, they covered "Africa." I'm pretty sure it all starts there.

Whoa, I saw Romania at some point in the mid to late '90s, and no offense but I would have had more fun if they'd covered "Africa" at some point

My friend dared me to quote Africa during training at work. I did it in the clumsiest way possible.

Trainee: So you'll go easy on us, right?

Me: Yes, sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti...

*silence*

I wonder what they think of this song over at the retirement home...

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/a-hilarious-and-deep-look-into-totos-africa.334359/

Steve Hoffman
Your Host
Your Host
"Africa" by Toto. One of my favorite songs, I'll shout it from the rooftops.
Nov 13, 2013
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I finally heard this Weezer thing and what bugs me the most actually is that they covered it IN A LOWER KEY

Tbf the notes are ridic high

I bless the key change of Africa

sure as kilmanjaro rises only 75% of the height of olympus above the serengeti