| Fifa | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Length | 43:44 | |||
| Label | Mango[1] | |||
| Producer | Jean Hebrail | |||
| Angélique Kidjo chronology | ||||
| ||||
Fifa is an album by the Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo, released in 1996.[2][3] It was the first album on which Kidjo sang in English in addition to Fon and French.[4][5][6] Fifa was considered to be an attempt at a crossover album.[7][8] The first single was "Wombo Lombo".[9]
The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[10] Kidjo supported the album with a world tour.[11][12]
Production
The album was produced by Kidjo's husband, Jean Hebrail; much of it was recorded in the couple's Paris home studio.[13][14] Hundreds of musicians played on the album, including Carlos Santana and villagers and farmers encountered by Kidjo while she traveled throughout Benin.[15]
Kidjo wrote the songs by focusing on the rhythm first.[16] "Naïma" is named for Kidjo's daughter.[17] "Bitchifi" was influenced by reggae music.[18] Other songs use elements of zouk and township jive.[19]
Critical reception
The Province wrote that "bluesy electric guitar is played to contrast lighter African styles while the drums incorporate both traditional and popular western rhythms."[24] The Toronto Star determined that "the songs seamlessly fuse traditional African rhythms with contemporary gospel singing, Afro-pop melodies and a dash of rap."[25] The Baltimore Sun called Fifa "true fusion, music that may owe a debt to other styles but which functions on its own terms."[26]
The Record stated: "Instead of mixing Western and African influences together in a blend that is neither one nor the other, Kidjo uses the influences as distinct building blocks to create a sonic structure that is remarkably coherent."[27] The Gazette deemed the album "sassy, polished, global pop."[28] The New York Times concluded that, "with funk, hip-hop, gospel and pop rubbing up against African rhythms, chants and melodies, it is her slickest crossover album yet."[29]
AllMusic noted that "Kidjo's instincts for pairing African rhythms and Western structures are inspired."[20] The Waterloo Region Record listed the album as the sixth best of 1996.[30] Nashville Scene considered it among the 20 best albums of the year.[31]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Sound of the Drums" | 4:58 |
| 2. | "Wombo Lombo" | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Welcome" | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Shango" | 4:53 |
| 5. | "Bitchifi" | 4:27 |
| 6. | "Fifa" | 3:57 |
| 7. | "Goddess of the Sea" | 4:11 |
| 8. | "Akwaba" | 4:24 |
| 9. | "Koro-Koro" | 3:41 |
| 10. | "Naïma" | 4:32 |
| Total length: | 43:44 | |
Charts
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] | 86 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[33] | 36 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] | 12 |
| US World Albums (Billboard)[35] | 10 |
References
- ^ Norment, Lynn (Apr 1996). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 51 (6): 23.
- ^ "Angélique Kidjo Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Angélique Kidjo Has Heard It All". The New Yorker. February 16, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Clifford (October 7, 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Campbell, Chuck (5 Apr 1996). "'Fifa', Angelique Kidjo". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. T10.
- ^ a b Takiff, Jonathan (17 Sep 1996). "Fifa Angelique Kidjo". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 29.
- ^ Darling, Cary (March 29, 1996). "World beat hits mainstream". Orange County Register. p. F55.
- ^ a b Thompson, Phil (April 5, 1996). "FIFA, Angelique Kidjo". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ Kening, Dan (March 29, 1996). "Angelique Kidjo". Time Out. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 4.
- ^ "Angélique Kidjo". Billboard.
- ^ Blake, Elissa (16 Sep 1996). "Intricacies lost on the live stage". Arts. The Age. p. 7.
- ^ Reger, Rick (29 Mar 1996). "Angelique Kidjo, Friday at the Wild Hare". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. T.
- ^ White, Timothy (Feb 24, 1996). "Angelique Kidjo fetes freedom in 'fifa'". Billboard. 108 (8): 3.
- ^ Mordue, Mark (13 Sep 1996). "Angelic upstart". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 11.
- ^ Martin, Andrew R.; Ph.D, Matthew Mihalka (September 8, 2020). "Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: A Global Encyclopedia". ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
- ^ Nelson, Rick (March 29, 1996). "Music: Kidjo Is Bringing Beats From Benin". The News Tribune. Tacoma. p. SL2.
- ^ Taylor, Timothy Dean; Taylor, John D. (June 18, 1997). "Global Pop: World Music, World Markets". Psychology Press – via Google Books.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (March 29, 1996). "Talented West African Dance Songstress Overcomes Bland Production". Post-Tribune. p. D8.
- ^ a b Carroll, Tomm (April 5, 1996). "World Beat". Daily Breeze. p. K23.
- ^ a b "Angélique Kidjo Fifa Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Angelique Kidjo". Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. IV. MUZE. p. 2987.
- ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 386.
- ^ Harrison, Tom (2 Apr 1996). "Rhythm talks to the world". The Province. p. B5.
- ^ Band, Ira (1 Aug 1996). "Kidjo's seducing voodoo beat". Toronto Star. p. G10.
- ^ Considine, J.D. (28 Mar 1996). "CD Reviews". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 12.
- ^ Marsh, Steven P. (22 Mar 1996). "African Rhyme, Western Rhythm". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Woodland Park. p. 9.
- ^ Feist, Daniel (22 Mar 1996). "Benin's Kidjo follows up hit Agolo with release of sassy global pop". The Gazette. p. C5.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (21 Mar 1996). "Tradition and Daring". The New York Times. p. C14.
- ^ Krewen, Nick (29 Dec 1996). "Top 10 Albums 1996". Calgary Herald. Southam Newspapers. p. C8.
- ^ McCall, Michael (December 26, 1996). "Image-Conscious – The year comes to a close in Nashville". Nashville Scene. Nashville Cream.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 154.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Angélique Kidjo – Fifa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Angélique Kidjo – Fifa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Angelique Kidjo Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
This page was last edited on 11 October 2022, at 12:24