C'est la Vie (Henri Dikongué album)

C'est la Vie is an album by the Cameroonian musician Henri Dikongué.[2][3] It was released in 1997.[4]

C'est la Vie
Studio album by
Henri Dikongué
Released1997
LabelTinder Records[1]
ProducerGilles Fruchaux
Henri Dikongué chronology
Wa (You)
(1995)		 C'est la Vie
(1997)		 Mot'a Babe
(2000)

The album was dedicated to Fela Kuti and Robert Mitchum.[2] It was a success on European world music charts, and sold more than 9,000 copies in its first month of release.[5][6] Dikongué promoted it by touring North America.[7]

Production

The album was produced by Gilles Fruchaux.[8] The title track was sung in French; Dikongué wrote all of the album's songs, and also played classical guitar.[4][9][10] Dikongué was influenced by the sound of bossa nova.[11]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Robert ChristgauA–[13]
Los Angeles Times[5]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[8]

JazzTimes noted that "Dikongue's musical turf isn’t the dance-driven world of intensely rhythmic West African styles, but a softer melange, grounded in elements of Brazilian influences and a general emphasis on acoustic instruments."[14] Robert Christgau wrote that Dikongué is "what happens when Afropop becomes world music—when it targets broad-minded European connoisseurs rather than rhythm-schooled African sophisticates."[13] The Indianapolis Star opined that Dikongué "has a most gorgeous, lilting folk sound."[15]

The Washington Post stated that "Dikongue's distinctive style melds classical guitar, Latin-jazz balladry and French chansons."[16] The Orange County Register praised Dikongué's "sweetly suave style," writing that he "crafts low-key, folk- and jazz-infused Afro-pop."[17]

AllMusic wrote: "Offering an interesting alternative to zouk and makossa, Cameroon's Henri Dikongue favors an introspective, sensitive and ballad-heavy approach on C'est La Vie."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Ndutu" 
2."Ndol'asu" 
3."C'est la Vie" 
4."Na Tem Ité Idiba" 
5."Na Teleye Owa Ngea" 
6."We Nde Mba" 
7."Bulu Bo Windi Tenge" 
8."Françoise" 
9."A Mumi" 
10."Wen Te Mba Wenge" 
11."Douala" 

References
  1. "New World '98". CMJ New Music Report. 57 (601): 22. Jan 11, 1999.
  2. "Henri Dikongué Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. St. Leger, Marie Elsie (Jul 1998). "C'est la Vie". Audio. 82 (7): 72.
  4. Winders, J. (June 5, 2007). "Paris Africain: Rhythms of the African Diaspora". Springer – via Google Books.
  5. Heckman, Don (28 Mar 1998). "Album Reviews". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 8.
  6. poet, j (June 21, 1998). "DIKONGUE GOES GLOBAL". San Francisco Chronicle. Sunday Datebook. p. 43.
  7. Doyle, Alan (October 8, 1998). "MELODY RETURNS TO AFRICAN POP MUSIC". Contra Costa Times. p. D2.
  8. MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 220.
  9. Chapman, Geoff (25 July 1998). "HENRI DIKONGUE C'est La Vie". Toronto Star. Entertainment. p. 1.
  10. "Henri's a new sound out of Africa". The Mercury. July 17, 1998. p. 32.
  11. "Tinder". Rolling Stone (802/803): SS28. Dec 24, 1998.
  12. "C'est la Vie - Henri Dikongué | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. "Robert Christgau: CG: Henri Dikongué". www.robertchristgau.com.
  14. Woodard, Josef. "Henri Dikongue: C'est La Vie". JazzTimes.
  15. Allan, Marc D. (26 Sep 1998). "Festival offers wonderful, worldly mix". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
  16. "POPULAR MUSIC". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  17. Darling, Cary (March 6, 1998). "Crossing cultures: harmony and clash". Orange County Register. p. F49.
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