drowning in a blissful ocean of log drums and keys: 🎹🎹 amapiano a-z 🎹🎹 an ilm poll

StanM that link is broken

there are several lists when you search, but I don’t think there’s anything that could be called ‘authorative’. if there even exists a good SA music publication/website I still haven’t been able to find it after all these years.
OkayAfrica had this top 15 songs list for the first half of the year, but no follow-up as of yet. as for album listings, zilch.

it would admittedly be a truly Sisyphean task. I listen to quite a lot of piano albums, but ranking them? apart from the Kabza one, I wouldn’t really know. I get lost in them, but hardly ever go back, because there’s always an often equally good new one to explore. both the productivity and the quality in amapiano are off the charts, and you’d need superpowers just to begin to keep up with all of it.

the album I’m listening to right now is Toxicated Keys x Gwam Ent Musiq’s The Problematic Friends, Episode V, and it’s very good. TK have worked together with GemValleyMusiQ, whose Abu Wronq Wronq album from earlier in the year was also very good.

xpost : must have been a temporary problem, I can get on there again now

https://www.theafricareport.com/266149/south-africa-top-10-amapiano-hits-from-2022-to-keep-you-glued-to-the-dance-floor/

btw, the Vigro Deep and Kelvin Momo albums above came with very high expectations, but having listened to them once, I’m not too sure about either of them.

all of the Vigro sounded good, obviously, but none of the individual tracks jumped out at me.

Kelvin Momo’s previous album (which dropped in December 2021), is an absolute classic of gorgeously subtle and lush piano, piano as jazz perhaps. it was also almost 3 hours long. the new goes one better (?): it’s 3,5 hours, going in waves, from instrumental to vocal tracks and back. there are beautiful tracks, including several with his muse Babalwa M, but I’m not sure the melodies are at the level of the highlights on Ivy League. I do need to come back to it tho, but [see above].

either way, I would advise anyone who wants to delve in to skip the first four tracks (saves about 35 minutes!) I feel “Umoya” is where it becomes interesting.

(then again, don’t take my word for it, track 4 (“Fool Me”), which I find rather dull honestly, is currently the most streamed track in SA - almost all of the album’s 26 tracks are in the Apple Music top 100 (whereas there’s nothing by Vigro).)

but instead of grumpin' around, let me highlight some of the highs, and they are very high when listened to in isolation:

"Izono" (ft. MaWhoo, Babalwa M & Chley): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfta9KV2u7Y

"Sukakude" (ft. Babalwa M & Sfarzo Rtee): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouYmLAk6OxM

UPDATE: just playing the tracks I playlisted during my first pass of the album, I’m left with a truly fantastic 12-track version (only 1h32!)

the phrase “on a corner called jazz” popped up in my head more than once, and fans of Mr. Fingers’ 1992 Introduction album should definitely give this a go.

I made a Spotify playlist: 🟩 kelvin momo • amukelani (album essentials)

this is one of the instrumentals on it:

“O’Ketsang” (ft. Mick Man): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5KeIcwj2I

Thanks, breastcrawl. In other news, I just finished listening to the Busta 929 album, Fearless, which is surprisingly uneventful. He has clearly discovered the joys of French Kiss, as there are a few tracks that slow down in the middle but it’s hardly enough to keep my interest up over 20 long tracks.

Also, I just discovered he has apparently been cancelled for having sex with underage girls. Oh well.

I like Fool Me, btw. It’s summertime in SA, and it would sound perfect with a sundowner.

The Fader 100 list has some interesting inclusions btw: https://www.thefader.com/2022/12/15/the-100-best-songs-of-2022

you mean this, right?

79. Kabza De Small, “Eningi”

“Ah weSomandla, ngicela ungnike imali eningi eningi eningi.”

Yes. And Samthing Soweto too!

oh yeah, forgot about him. very much non-piano tho, that one

Asake is amapiano'ing it up in his track there too

this one is crazy - the sound(s)!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfgFqoQ0j78
Slowavex ft. Loki, Privs3 & Xola TSM • Juluka

thank you for this random act of kindness!

it’s PRVIS3, btw

Concept DJ mix idea: just the shaker intros

i’m here for it

speaking of GemValleyMusiQ’s _Abu Wronq Wronq_ album, if I was a dj I’d definitely play “Top Seven” in my piano section:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owJ-Arkhqt8

A whole album by one artist still is a bit much for me, but lists like this? Bring it on!

https://www.okayafrica.com/amapiano-songs-best-2022/

https://www.okayafrica.com/top-amapiano-songs-2021/

https://www.okayafrica.com/best-amapiano-songs-of-2020/

I guess this might be considered "old school" by now but I've been playing it while wrapping xmas gifts this morning and it's going down pretty smooth

https://n-t-s.bandcamp.com/album/amapiano-now-2

"released July 23, 2021" & old school...

Crazy times indeed

Ha, I was half joking, but yeah, that is a lifetime in 2023, especially for a relatively new genre

HOLY CRAP (keep listening)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgE024NOoAw

Stan, the 2022 list above was a mid-year report, this is the OkayAfrica EOY list:

https://www.okayafrica.com/amapiano-songs-2022-best/

Oh! thanks!

Good list! Definitely some stuff I'd missed on there.

Hi! Here's my EOY list:
Musketeers, Azmo Nawe, Focalistic- Danko (Remix)
Kabza De Small, Nia Pearl, MDU aka TRP - Ubumnandi
Sam Deep, Playgal, De Mthuda, Babalwa M, Sipho Magudulela - Kusezo Khanya
Focalistic, Mellow & Sleazy, M.J - SJEPA
Mr JazziQ, Zan'Ten, Ta Skippa - Ningalali Emakhaya
Xavi Yentin, Busta 929, Quedafloor - Kude feat. Busta 929 & Quedafloor
Toxicated Keys, GemValleyMusiQ, Tupla Double 0.7 - Shiki (Piano Anthem)
9umba, TOSS, Mdoovar, Sir Trill, Sino Msolo, Lady Du, Young Stunna, Slade - uMlando
Nobuhle, Kabza De Small - Malo We
FMS Records_SA - Iskhulu
Busta 929, Nobantu Vilakazi - Dlala 929
Robot Boii, Mellow & Sleazy, Soul Revolver, Shaun MusiQ, F Teearse - Salary Salary
DJ Maphorisa, Visca, Kabza De Small, Msaki, Da Muziqal Chef - Zanzibar
Dinho, Kabza De Small, Stakev, Makhanj - Soloko
Focalistic, Kabza De Small, Mellow & Sleazy, Myztro, M.J - Tabela Hape
Jungle Beats, Mahallo music - Ngixolele
Kabza De Small, DJ Tira, Young Stunna, Dladla Mshunqisi, Felo Le Tee, Beast, Dj Exit_sa - Ziwa Ngale
Vigro Deep - Bedroom Floor
Toxicated Keys - Me Now
Ch'cco, Focalistic, Mellow & Sleazy - Pele Pele
Pabi Cooper, Focalistic, Ch'cco, LuuDadeejay, Nobantu Vilakazi - Banyana Ke Bafana
Mfr Souls, MaWhoo, Sipho Magudulela - Mali
DJ Geewave, Gaba Cannal, Vocal Kat, Smash SA - Kzofiwa
PRINCE DA DJ, De Mthuda, vocal music, Blacksoul - Watching You
Kelvin Momo, Mas Musiq, TO Starquality - Sena We

And here's a Spotify playlist with the tracks : 25 Best Amapiano tracks of 2022

Thank you!

lots of bangers there, Jamie (and I haven’t even heard all of them).

you know you can nominate stuff for the ILM EOY and send in a ballot, right? ;-)

let me also share your excellent amapiano playlist on Spotify here

^ great list & being updated all the time apparently? it changed while I was listening to it :-)

Thanks a lot Breastcrawl, that's super kind :-)
I will definetly post my ballot, who knows, maybe a track like Robot Robot has a chance?
Hi StanM! yes I update it 2-3 times a week, especially when there's a lot of great new tracks, it's ussually the case in December

Right now I'm in love with this track by Minz5, The Lowkey and Jodiah de Disciples: Freedom
It's pretty, like an Amapiano Veridis Quo

I will give a vote to Umlando if someone nominates it, that's a fire dance track.

I'm checking out the 5 "House Afrika presents amapiano" compilations and didn't like anything on the first three (2016-2017) but the 4th one (2019) is THIS kind of music all of a sudden.

amapiano to the world, or at least to Germany!
just found out today that this song was number one there for five weeks recently:

“Zukunft Pink” by Peter Fox ft. Inéz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNT87WiK1dg

found out because I was alerted to this remix of it, which has a prominent feature by Focalistic:

“Zukunft Pink (Alliance Remix) ft. Focalistic, Willy Will, Kwam.E, Albi X, Awa Khiwe, Benji Asare & Inéz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CWF4WT46pI

If I don't confuse it with a song with a similar title, I think we haven't posted the sensational Thokoza by Sam Deep & Mawhoo, which is on the darker side of Deep House.

Full version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFh7uKvO9zk

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gobnsFlD5JY
Sam Deep & Mawhoo - Thokoza

Mind blown by amapiano going german.

And yes, Thokoza is indeed incredible.

Jamie Harley's playlist tho

Yeah his playlist led me to Nobuhle's 10-track album Indlela, which makes do quite nicely in absence of Simmy or Azana last year. Sun-El's name is nowhere, but his influence is felt. At the same time, each contributor brings a touch. Emakhaya - Malo Nawe - Jerusalema - Indlela is a very nice stretch of music.

Didn't strike me immediately, but I really like what Ami Faku did here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nLKhoeW2bQ
Aymos & Ami Faku - Fatela

Also SJEPA is one ridiculous earworm, which probably has a lot to do with how cheerful and fun it is.

I get all the credit for posting it first in April of course

Ami Faku is on a roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQMX7yw3Hbg
De Mthuda feat. Ami Faku - Buya

And that chorus reminds me strongly of Jorge Ben - Mas que nada.

I'm continuing to catch up on the Amapiano from 2022, also trying with albums. On the smooth but tasty side, the latest Murumba Pitch - Horumar is worth hearing. They mainstream and improve on Busta 929's sound (atmospheric cold synth layers, dense tapestry of motifs, melodic pearls), whose Undisputed Vol 3 I found quite uninspired. I also tried the Focalistic, which is ok but has little to offer besides the known hits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnX2R_5CkSw
Murumba Pitch - Esangweni

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS4tUcGAlzc
Murumba Pitch - Hlasela

So I'm going to do my bi-annual amapiano lecture tomorrow at the academy where I work.
What are the three amapiano songs that I *have* to play to the students? I'm asking because I'm drowning in a sea of possibilities.

if it's for the young'uns then you might want to show a couple that have their own tiktok dance - that'll draw them in :-)