There are slow-burning reggae jams, calls to celebrate, social rallying cries and then this, a ska-inflected cover of the Bob Marley classic that turns the roots reggae song into something eminently danceable. Got to Be Tough, his bands final album, was released less than two weeks before Hibberts death and serves as testament to his legacy, both in terms of music and activism. Toots Hibbert, considered one of the forefathers of reggae music, was another of the many musical pioneers we lost this year. Three Little Birds by Toots & the Maytals, feat. The song seems particularly poignant now, as Masekela died in 2018 and Allen died this year. This song, a tribute to Allens erstwhile bandmate Fela Kuti, shows both musicians in perfect lockstep Masekelas trumpet melodies and vocal lines flowing in between the cracks of Allens loping rhythms. The majority of the album was recorded in 2010 in London, but the finished product was released only this year. This is what happens when two legends, South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and Nigerian drumming virtuoso Tony Allen, end up in the same room. Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be the Same) by Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela As you bob your head to the rich melodies from this collective of Garifuna musicians of Belize, you can feel extra good that any proceeds from your purchase of the record is going toward protecting endangered birds. ∛lack Catbird by The Garifuna CollectiveĪ cut from a compilation of music inspired by birdsong might seem like a strange addition to a playlist for a party, but a few seconds into this groove, it makes more sense. Their music, characterized by squealing electric guitars over looping polyrhythms, evokes resilience and determination two qualities we will be leaning on in 2021. The band formed in Bamako, Malis capital, in 2012, after fleeing their home region in the midst of a fundamentalist Islamist insurgency. Songhoy Blues, a rock band from northern Mali, knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity. It takes exactly 16 seconds for the foot-stomping beat to lock in, and it doesnt relent until the final roll of drums, almost five minutes later. This song, from the Britain-based Afrofuturist band Onipa, shows what happens when those musical ideas spread through time and space, evolving as they go. Highlife an energetic genre of music propelled by guitars and horns originated in Ghana in the early 20th century. Somewhere in the mix, you will find the hypnotic loops of Gnawa religious music, poetry from the Sahara and the reckless abandon of fuzz rock and blues. What do you get when you combine a globe-trotting producer from Britain, the looping melodies of a Congolese soukous guitarist and a Colombian champeta star who is known for taking an Afro Colombian dance genre and catapulting it into the 21st century? An absolute rager of a song, this is a four-minute approximation of what it would sound like if the whole world were partying at once.Īnchored by the guembri, a three-stringed bass lute that is traditionally used by the Gnawa people of North Africa, this transcontinental quartet creates rollicking, headbanging music. ∜hampetizate, by Kevin Florez, The Busy Twist and Caien Madoka The midtempo, rolling beat and glittering synth hook are full of barely contained energy and possibilities, much like the beginning of a night out. This track, from French Malian singer Aya Nakamuras latest album, brings it all flooding back. For most of us, nightclubs are such distant memories, they have retreated into the realm of make-believe. The flashing lights, the thumping bass, the crush of dancing crowds. You will find beats to dance to, new genres to fall in love with and, hopefully, connections with different cultures that will make you feel a little closer to the rest of the world even if you pop the cork of a Champagne bottle and toast yourself. This playlist draws from releases all over the world, demonstrating how a guitar-rock band from Mali, a dream-pop singer from South Korea, a reggae legend from Jamaica and more all managed to express little moments of joy in a universally difficult time. People will certainly be celebrating 2020s passing.Īnd these celebrations, whether with a small group of friends, household members only or solo, need a soundtrack.Įven with so much put on hold, musicians still managed to put out music this year. Around the world, New Years Eve is going to look very different this year, but the applause and cheers at midnight might have a level of catharsis not seen for awhile.
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