Mauri Yambo: East African Divas

Showing posts with label East African Divas. Show all posts

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Top 20 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

Happiness is a state of mind, a feeling - with feelers to the 'outside'. Outside becomes what things we allow it to become, and what things we have no control over and so impose themselves.

Happiness and Love? They are twins. Twins, who-which, sometimes, alas, we find in mortal combat.

Good music!

In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino utters these immortal words: "If music be the food of life, play on; / Give me excess of it ..." I just want to endorse that here. If good music be, let it be. Give me more, is all!

Good music is at once a convergence of happiness - happy feelings - and its source. Happy songs make people happy, happy people arguably happier, and less sad sad people - and even, perhaps, happy; if they're not too deep into their own sadness. They breed happiness through the joyfulness of the words in the song and the soulfulness of the song in the words, the melody in the tunes, the liveliness of the body-language and suppleness of the assembled 'bodies', the harmony of the charged instruments, the pulsating visuals of the video, and the warmth of the stage upon which everything, and everything else, is set.

There is magic in the happy song, then. The song that makes people happy has magical power over 'em. So, oh my goodness, does the song that makes people truly sad.

There are times, if I may digress, that I have thought (sensed would be too strong a word) that truly throbbing drumbeat among the prayerful carries within it the voice of God in its surreal, surround beat, as it's heard among the gathered, and as it cascades across the land - and even among the landless and the faithless.

So good music, howsoever it is delivered, has the powers -- howsoever we c these powers. But, I ask:
Why is it that music videos that elicit the most happiness seem generally to have a street motif?

MEASURING HAPPINESS

Can happiness be measured? That's a question for another day.

BUT READ THIS IN THE MEANTIME: World Happiness Report 2015

DO ALSO READ: "The Happiness Contagion" that I posted on December 9, 2008

HERE, THEN, ARE THE TOP 20 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2014

[For the selection and ranking criteria used in creating this list, go to the bottom of this post]

20. Jordan by Sheebah (2014):

19. Tam Tam Remix by Willy Paul ft. Size 8 (2014):

18. Dumbala Reloaded By Jay A ft. Sage x Madtraxx x Ken Razy x DNA x Visita (2014):

17. Woman in Love by Vivian (2014):

16. Nikimuona by Avril (2014):

15. Only You by Nene ft. Jay A (2014):

14. Baramushaka by Knowless (2014):

13. Barua ya Dunia by Elani (2014):

12. Sugua Gaga by Shaa (2014):

11. Chuna Buzi by Shilole (2014):

10. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

9. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

8. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

7. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

6. Nimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014/6):
[The Official YouTube video of 2014 is no longer available. We're sharing here the link to a 2016 version of what's touted as the song's "Official Lyrics" video]

5. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

4. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

3. KooKoo by Elani (2014):

Happy to have Elani's wonderful voice featured here, singing KooKoo for all to hear. Much Love in the Iborian air.

2. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz and Diamons Platnumz. (2014):
Victoria Kimani is a Kenyan songstress who's already going places, as you can see from her two friends here, OD and DP.

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):
Linah delivers a wonderfully, delightfully charming bouquet of colors and sound. And beauty. And verve. The dancing girls are a feast for the eye. The lyrics, in Kiswahili, are superbly, artfully, put together. The melody -- the whole ambience -- transports us, all of us, to a place no one wants to come back from in a hurry.

Linah is a pleasantly surprising 'discovery', and a full member of the superstar group that populates this Yambo Selection 2014. She brings along with her everyone, everyone bar none, in the video.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++

SELECTION/INCLUSION CRITERIA

To Qualify for inclusion in this list, a song Was required to meet The Following criteria:
1. Released as music video in 2014. Broadly in any of these genres: Pop, RnB, Hip-Hop, Reggae
2 Available via YouTube or Otherwise available online
3. Predominantly sung by an artiste or artistes from Africa, PARTICULARLY Sub-Saharan Africa
4. Regularly played on one or more of Africa's leading music channels: Afro Pop and HipTV Music, in particular (they pay sustained attention to their African audience); Sound City, MTV Base and Trace Urban (all three of whose fare is significantly more diffuse).
5. Have a discernible "happiness" (or sunny) content/slant in terms of the following mix of considerations: beat, language (verbal or body), lyrics, melody, visuals (dance routines, 'stage sets' and video quality), voice (and audio quality) and use of vocal and technical instruments
6. Broad sensitivity to sub-regional tastes and artists' bases of operation (East, West, Central or Southern)
7. Gender: Minimum of 1/3 Rule, if short-listed songs make this possible.

RANKING CRITERION FOR INDIVIDUAL SELECTIONS

1. How does Yambo rate a particular song relative to the others on the list?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A call for comments: Your comments on individual selections and ranking criterion will be highly appreciated.

Note: I can imagine a future in which all I have tried to do here is open to public participation.

Top 10 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

Happiness is a state of mind, a feeling - with feelers to the 'outside'. Outside becomes what things we allow it to become, and what things we have no control over and so impose themselves.

Happiness and Love? They are twins. Twins, who-which, sometimes, alas, we find in mortal combat.

Good music!

In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino utters these immortal words: "If music be the food of life, play on; / Give me excess of it ..." I just want to endorse that here. If good music be, let it be. Give me more, is all!

Good music is at once a convergence of happiness - happy feelings - and its source. Happy songs make people happy, happy people arguably happier, and less sad sad people - and even, perhaps, happy; if they're not too deep into their own sadness. They breed happiness through the joyfulness of the words in the song and the soulfulness of the song in the words, the melody in the tunes, the liveliness of the body-language and suppleness of the assembled 'bodies', the harmony of the charged instruments, the pulsating visuals of the video, and the warmth of the stage upon which everything, and everything else, is set.

There is magic in the happy song, then. The song that makes people happy has magical power over 'em. So, oh my goodness, does the song that makes people truly sad.

There are times, if I may digress, that I have thought (sensed would be too strong a word) that truly throbbing drumbeat among the prayerful carries within it the voice of God in its surreal, surround beat, as it's heard among the gathered, and as it cascades across the land - and even among the landless and the faithless.

So good music, howsoever it is delivered, has the powers -- howsoever we c these powers. But, I ask:
Why is it that music videos that elicit the most happiness seem generally to have a street motif?

MEASURING HAPPINESS

Can happiness be measured? That's a question for another day.

BUT READ THIS IN THE MEANTIME: World Happiness Report 2015

DO ALSO READ: "The Happiness Contagion" that I posted on December 9, 2008

HERE, THEN, ARE THE TOP 10 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2014

[For the selection and ranking criteria used in creating this list, go to the bottom of this post]

Click on any song's title given below to watch the video:

10. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

9. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

8. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

7. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

6. Nimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014/6):
[The Official YouTube video of 2014 is no longer available. We're sharing here the link to a 2016 version of what's touted as the song's "Official Lyrics" video]

5. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

4. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

3. KooKoo by Elani (2014):

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++

SELECTION/INCLUSION CRITERIA

To Qualify for inclusion in this list, a song Was required to meet The Following criteria:
1. Released as music video in 2014. Broadly in any of these genres: Pop, RnB, Hip-Hop, Reggae
2 Available via YouTube or Otherwise available online
3. Predominantly sung by an artiste or artistes from Africa, PARTICULARLY Sub-Saharan Africa
4. Regularly played on one or more of Africa's leading music channels: Afro Pop and HipTV Music, in particular (they pay sustained attention to their African audience); Sound City, MTV Base and Trace Urban (all three of whose fare is significantly more diffuse).
5. Have a discernible "happiness" (or sunny) content/slant in terms of the following mix of considerations: beat, language (verbal or body), lyrics, melody, visuals (dance routines, 'stage sets' and video quality), voice (and audio quality) and use of vocal and technical instruments
6. Broad sensitivity to sub-regional tastes and artists' bases of operation (East, West, Central or Southern)
7. Gender: Minimum of 1/3 Rule, if short-listed songs make this possible.

RANKING CRITERION FOR INDIVIDUAL SELECTIONS

1. How does Yambo rate a particular song relative to the others on the list?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A call for comments: Your comments on individual selections and ranking criterion will be highly appreciated.

Note: I can imagine a future in which all I have tried to do here is open to public participation.

Top 5 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

Happiness is a state of mind, a feeling - with feelers to the 'outside'. Outside becomes what things we allow it to become, and what things we have no control over and so impose themselves.

Happiness and Love? They are twins. Twins, which, sometimes, alas, we find in mortal combat.

Good music!

In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino utters these immortal words: "If music be the food of life, play on; / Give me excess of it ..." I just want to endorse that here. If good music be, let it be. Give me more, is all!

Good music is at once a convergence of happiness - happy feelings - and its source. Happy songs make people happy, happy people arguably happier, and less sad sad people - and even, perhaps, happy; if they're not too deep into their own sadness. They breed happiness through the joyfulness of the words in the song and the soulfulness of the song in the words, the melody in the tunes, the liveliness of the body-language and suppleness of the assembled 'bodies', the harmony of the charged instruments, the pulsating visuals of the video, and the warmth of the stage upon which everything, and everything else, is set.

There is magic in the happy song, then. The song that makes people happy has magical power over 'em. So, oh my goodness, does the song that makes people truly sad.

There are times, if I may digress, that I have thought (sensed would be too strong a word) that truly throbbing drumbeat among the prayerful carries within it the voice of God in its surreal, surround beat, as it's heard among the gathered, and as it cascades across the land - and even among the landless and the faithless.

So good music, howsoever it is delivered, has the powers -- howsoever we c these powers. But, I ask:
Why is it that music videos that elicit the most happiness seem generally to have a street motif?

MEASURING HAPPINESS

Can happiness be measured? That's a question for another day.

BUT READ THIS IN THE MEANTIME: World Happiness Report 2015

DO ALSO READ: "The Happiness Contagion" that I posted on December 9, 2008

HERE, THEN, ARE THE TOP 5 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2014

[For the selection and ranking criteria used in creating this list, go to the bottom of this post]

Click on the title of any song listed below to watch the video

5. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

4. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

3. KooKoo by Elani (2014):

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Top 15 Pop Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION:

If one were to ask me, as I have already asked myself, to name the Top 15 pop songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2014, here below would be, and is, my selection. All my selections have a decidedly audio-visual focus, and so only rate music videos.

Of course, the naming of more than one 'like' inevitably prompts the question as to which 'like' comes first, and which next or last. In selecting and ranking my top African or East African 'likes' -- I limit myself to Sub-Saharan Africa -- I have been broadly guided by the following six criteria (each on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest score):
1. The creative appeal and musicality of the voice asset.
2. The choice and mastery of the musical instruments in play.
3. The poetic form and content of the lyrics.
4. The artistic and aesthetic depth of the video component.
5. The synchronic quality of the audio-visual product, in terms of: harmony, tone, melody, rhythm, beat and color display.
6. Based on the foregoing, how the entire single, from beginning to end, impresses me -- or makes me feel about my encounter with it. This criterion also serves as a qualitative tie-breaker; that is, a virtual 'casting vote' whenever any other criteria yield a quantitative tie.

RANKING THE TOP 15 SELECTION:

15. Only You by Nene ft. Jay A (2014):

14. Baramushaka by Knowless (2014):

13. Barua Ya Dunia by Elani (2014):

12. Sugua Gaga by Shaa (2014):

11. Chuna Buzi by Shilole (2014):

10. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

9. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

8. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

7. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

6. Mimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014):

5. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

4. Kookoo by Elani (2014):

3. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

2. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz x Diamond Platnumz (2014):

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):

Top 10 Pop Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

If one were to ask me, as I have already asked myself, to name the Top 10 pop songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2014, here below would be, and is, my selection. All my selections have a decidedly audio-visual focus, and so only rate music videos.

Of course, the naming of more than one 'like' inevitably prompts the question as to which 'like' comes first, and which next or last. In selecting and ranking my top African or East African 'likes' -- I limit myself to Sub-Saharan Africa -- I have been broadly guided by the following six criteria (each on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest score):
1. The creative appeal and musicality of the voice asset.
2. The choice and mastery of the musical instruments in play.
3. The poetic form and content of the lyrics.
4. The artistic and aesthetic depth of the video component.
5. The synchronic quality of the audio-visual product, in terms of: harmony, tone, melody, rhythm, beat and color display.
6. Based on the foregoing, how the entire single, from beginning to end, impresses me -- or makes me feel about my encounter with it. This criterion also serves as a qualitative tie-breaker; that is, a virtual 'casting vote' whenever any other criteria yield a quantitative tie.

RANKING THE TOP 10 SELECTION

10. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

9. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

8. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

7. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

6. Mimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014):

5. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

4. Kookoo by Elani (2014):

3. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

2. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz x Diamond Platnumz (2014):

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):

Top 5 Pop Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

If one were to ask me, as I have already asked myself, to name the Top 5 pop songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2014, here below would be, and is, my selection. All my selections have a decidedly audio-visual focus, and so only rate music videos.

Of course, the naming of more than one 'like' inevitably prompts the question as to which 'like' comes first, and which next or last. In selecting and ranking my top African or East African 'likes' -- I limit myself to Sub-Saharan Africa -- I have been broadly guided by the following six criteria (each on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest score):
1. The creative appeal and musicality of the voice asset.
2. The choice and mastery of the musical instruments in play.
3. The poetic form and content of the lyrics.
4. The artistic and aesthetic depth of the video component.
5. The synchronic quality of the audio-visual product, in terms of: harmony, tone, melody, rhythm, beat and color display.
6. Based on the foregoing, how the entire single, from beginning to end, impresses me -- or makes me feel about my encounter with it. This criterion also serves as a qualitative tie-breaker; that is, a virtual 'casting vote' whenever any other criteria yield a quantitative tie.

RANKING THE TOP 5 SELECTION

5. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

4. Kookoo by Elani (2014):

3. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

2. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz x Diamond Platnumz (2014):

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):

Friday, February 17, 2017

Top 10 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2010 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The first list of Africa's Top Pop Songs in #TheYamboSelection series covered only calendar year 2014. The second list ranked songs in the following year, 2015. However, while working on the various 2016 lists, interest in tracking patterns in a few earlier years continued to grow.

That interest has now resulted in the list given below of Top 10 happiest pop songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2010. But this is it. There will not be a 2009 list, tempting as that year is.

The procedure for generating the 2010 list below derives from the same one used for the period 2014-2016. Click here for all the essential details.

LIST OF TOP 10 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2010 ~ #TYS

10. Crazy Over You by KLynn ft. Squeezer (2010):

9. Kings and Queens by AY ft. Jokate x Amani (2010):

8. Mahaba Dhati by Ray C (2010):

7. Shoga by Shaa (2010):

6. Swing Swing by Kleptomaniax (2010):

~~~~~~
5. Sunshine by Nameless ft. Habida (2010):

4. Final Mama Ntilie by Ray C (2010):

3. Mkono Mmoja by Temba + Chegge ft. Wahu (2010):

2. Moto Moto by French Boy ft. Ray C (2010):

1. Chokoza by Marya ft. Avril (2010):

Top 5 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2010 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The first list of Africa's Top Pop Songs in #TheYamboSelection series covered only calendar year 2014. The second list ranked songs in the following year, 2015. However, while working on the various 2016 lists, interest in tracking patterns in a few earlier years continued to grow.

That interest has now resulted in the list given below of Top 5 happiest pop songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2010. But this is it. There will not be a 2009 list, tempting as that year is.

The procedure for generating the 2010 list below derives from the same one used for the period 2014-2016. Click here for all the essential details.

LIST OF TOP 5 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2010 ~ #TYS

5. Sunshine by Nameless ft. Habida (2010):

4. Final Mama Ntilie by Ray C (2010):

3. Mkono Mmoja by Temba + Chegge ft. Wahu (2010):

2. Moto Moto by French Boy ft. Ray C (2010):

1. Chokoza by Marya ft. Avril (2010):

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Top 10 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2011 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The first list of Africa's Top Pop Songs in #TheYamboSelection series covered calendar year 2014. The second list ranked singles released in 2015. However, while working on the various 2016 lists, interest in a few earlier years continued to grow. This has now resulted in the list given below of 10 happiest songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2011.

The procedure for generating the list below derives from the one used for the period 2014-2016. Click here for all the essential details.

LIST OF 10 HAPPIEST POP SONGS BY/FEATURING EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2011 ~ #TYS

10. Without You by CJ ft. Amani (2011):

~~~~
9. Ayokya Yokya by Cindy Sanyu (2011):

8. Automatic by Sheebah ft. Sizza (2011):

7. Kila Mmoja by Nonini ft. Lady Bee x Chege TMK (2011):

6. My Reason by Habida ft. Cannibal (2011):

5. Addicted by Camp Mulla (2011):

4. Hula Hoop by Stella Mwangi ft. Mohombi (2011):

3. Crazy by Shaa (2011):

2. Pollination by Radio and Weasel ft. Obsessions (2011):

1. Party Don't Stop by Camp Mulla ft. Collo (2011):

Top 5 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2011 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The first list of Africa's Top Pop Songs in #TheYamboSelection series covered calendar year 2014. The second list ranked singles released in 2015. However, while working on the various 2016 lists, interest in a few earlier years continued to grow. This has now resulted in the list given below of 5 happiest songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2011.

The procedure for generating the list below derives from the one used for the period 2014-2016. Click here for all the essential details.

LIST OF 5 HAPPIEST POP SONGS BY/FEATURING EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2011 ~ #TYS

5. Addicted by Camp Mulla (2011):

4. Hula Hoop by Stella Mwangi ft. Mohombi (2011):

3. Crazy by Shaa (2011):

2. Pollination by Radio and Weasel ft. Obsessions (2011):

1. Party Don't Stop by Camp Mulla ft. Collo (2011):

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Top 10 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2012 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The first list of Africa's Top Pop Songs in #TheYamboSelection series covered calendar year 2014. The second ranked singles released in 2015. However, while working on the various 2016 lists, interest in a few earlier years continued to grow. This has now resulted in the list given below of Top 10 happiest songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2012.

The procedure for generating the list below derives from the one used for the period 2014-2016. Click here for all the essential details.

LIST OF TOP 10 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2012 ~ #TYS

10. Dudu by Shilole ft. Q Cilla (2012):

9. On Me by Jay A ft. Amina (2012):

8. Uko Freshi by Kendi (2012):

~~~

7. Kitu Kimoja by Avril (2012):

6. Make You Dance by Keko ft. Madtraxx (2012):

5. Viuno Tucheze by Shilole ft. Kitokololo x Rich Mavoko (2012):

4. Feel No Pain by Camp Mulla (2012):

3. Siri Ya Penzi by Shaa (2012):

2. I Wanna Get Paid by Pah One ft. Shrekeezy (2012):

READ: About Pah One

1. Shut It Down by Stella Mwangi (2012):

Top 5 Happiest Songs By/Featuring East African Divas in 2012 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

The first list of Africa's Top Pop Songs in #TheYamboSelection series covered calendar year 2014. The second ranked singles released in 2015. However, while working on the various 2016 lists, interest in a few earlier years continued to grow. This has now resulted in the list given below of Top 5 happiest songs by/featuring East African Divas in 2012.

The procedure for generating the list below derives from the one used for the period 2014-2016. Click here for all the essential details.

LIST OF TOP 5 HAPPIEST SONGS BY/FEAT EAST AFRICAN DIVAS IN 2012 ~ #TYS

5. Viuno Tucheze by Shilole ft. Kitokololo x Rich Mavoko (2012):

4. Feel No Pain by Camp Mulla (2012):

3. Siri Ya Penzi by Shaa (2012):

2. I Wanna Get Paid by Pah One ft. Shrekeezy (2012):

READ: About Pah One

1. Shut It Down by Stella Mwangi (2012):