Take it Slow is a tuneful song, sung at a super-high level of vocal refinement by Zikki. Nor does Jaguar disappoint here. He's in full control of his singular talent. I personally don't remember him at all at this rarefied level of performance.
The band elevates -- in every which (and sort of) way!
Mellow's the singing, yes. Cool passion is the mode here. My goodness, the lyrics, mostly in Swahili, are pure poesy. Pure lyricism! What a choice of words and phrases! What a vocal ensemble, what instrumental harmony, with which to move it all, all of it, forth! A seamless flow of musicality without a tinge of self-doubt, then. Indeed, a fullness of self-belief.
I spy no second-fiddling here. Not to the non-stop scores of Nigerian performers who continue to dominate sub-Saharan airwaves with grit and number and verve; nor to those inspired Tanzanians we've come to greatly admire. I think Zikki and Jaguar know that they have come a long, long way. And I think they know that this is the way, that this is how one arrives at the pinnacle: Blazing, tearing (nicely), away without a ruffle. With blinkers -- as someone (thinking about the lessons to all of us from race horses) has suggested -- and not side-winding, or looking back.
And the girls (from nouveau Runda, one supposes), the girls, do dance; a fine sort of dancing. None too self-consciously; and none too weighed down with the track records of others, or past narratives they're really not in tune with. Choreographed in a spartan sort of way, which works. And so it's not just the looks that drive them here, or will endear them (wherever) there. Where ever this vessel may take 'em.
Contrary to rumours then, the route from Dandora to Runda is paved with desire, methinks. The guy from the slums of Dandora just has to Take it Slow. That's "pole poooleee"
Here's to pure goodness, from start to end: the vibes, the vocals, the visuals!
So very proudly Kenyan!
Click here to watch the video
