Are they tone-deaf?

π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ

π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ

VIP
Do Somali musicians lack 'uthun al sama3i', or 'ear for tone'. I ask, for I am trying to compile a road trip music collection, and I am trying to include some decent Somali tunes, but compared with my regular choice of music i.e. jazz (both Western & Eastern), Arabic etc., then I find Somali tunes lacking sophistication, rythme, texture in composition, and where old music was lyrics-rich, if poorly composed, with the quality being rather poor, and therefore hard to be appreciated esp. when travelling with non-Somalis.

Bloody annoying.

My kind of Jazz

a) Western Jazz
i) Grover Jr.


ii) Benson & Satana splitting the stage with their respective signatures.


b) Take five (Original David Brubeck classic) with a Pakistani twist. Lovely rendition.


c) Arabic
Alf Leila wi Leila, an old classic of Oum Kalthoum by Ms Farouk.
 
π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ

π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ

VIP
d) Indian
i) Even Indian (Kanada) songs have decent rhythm.


ii) Indian Sitar at its best - subag & malab.
Oh, and the Darbar, one of my favourites, which reminds of old school qaraami, the like of Xudeydi, Qarshe, Masxaf etc.


e) Chinese Guzheng at its best
i) Guzheng & flute by Hou Yanqiu; lovely - you could sense every instrument in its own habitat.


f) Imagine had they stayed with the good old Oud, they would have sounded 10 times better ( Ahmed Al Shaiba- such as a sad loss; a young refugee from Yemen, came to NY in the noughties, gave Oud a fresh twist, became a star, and died at 32).
 
DubatDiaries

DubatDiaries

π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ said:
As much as I like ustaad Axmed Naaji, and could appreciate the lovely sentiment, if second rate lyrics, yet neither the composition nor the delivery barely titillates the palate. Perhaps I am being unreasonably harsh.
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Harsh but understandable. The simple lyrics are ideal for someone like me.. a Somali language novice.
your non-somali friends wont understand anyway
:yacadiim:
 
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JackieBurkhart

JackieBurkhart

The years don't matter, the life in those years do
π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ said:
d) Indian
i) Even Indian (Kanada) songs have decent rhythm.


ii) Indian Sitar at its best - subag & malab.
Oh, and the Darbar, one of my favourites, which reminds of old school qaraami, the like of Xudeydi, Qarshe, Masxaf etc.


e) Chinese Guzheng at its best
i) Guzheng & flute by Hou Yanqiu; lovely - you could sense every instrument in its own habitat.


f) Imagine had they stayed with the good old Oud, they would have sounded 10 times better ( Ahmed Al Shaiba- such as a sad loss; a young refugee from Yemen, came to NY in the noughties, gave Oud a fresh twist, became a star, and died at 32).
Click to expand...
I enjoyed Saado Ali Warsame (rip/allaah ha u naxariisto), Maryam Mursal and a Dur-Dur Band song.
 
π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ

π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ

VIP
JackieBurkhart said:
Have you tried Baxsan (Magool), I feel the artists I mentioned are fairly talented. What is it about them that you don't enjoy, if you don't mind me asking?
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Vocally Magool was in a class with Oum Kalthoum, in terms of range, depth, delivery, stage presence, and command, and the old lyrics then were beautifully spun, but the composition was non-existent then, if worse now. A young lad, almost tone-deaf, with no training, on a single, bloody keyboard; it is a travesty, and they should all be thrown to a dark cell in Siberia instead of being celebrated. Does that make sense?
 
JackieBurkhart

JackieBurkhart

The years don't matter, the life in those years do
π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ said:
Vocally Magool was in a class with Oum Kalthoum, in terms of range, depth, delivery, stage presence, and command, and the old lyrics then were beautifully spun, but the composition was non-existent then, if worse now. A young lad, almost tone-deaf, with no training, on a single, bloody keyboard; it is a travesty. Does that make sense?
Click to expand...
I heard her Journey album was very good, and the NYT gave a good review.
 
JackieBurkhart

JackieBurkhart

The years don't matter, the life in those years do
π’‹π’–π’†π’”π’–π’•π’ˆ said:
As the story was widely reported, she fell in with some dodgy Sudanese crowd in Saudia, and were caught pimping. According to police report, she was the Madam, when arrested, and deported.
Click to expand...
Shocked Oh My GIF

That's honestly dreadful.
 
JackieBurkhart

JackieBurkhart

The years don't matter, the life in those years do
To get back on topic, I'll try finding more Somali artists and update you with my findings.
 
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