Fifa (Angélique Kidjo album)

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]

Fifa
Studio album by
Released1996
Length43:44
LabelMango[1]
ProducerJean Hebrail
Angélique Kidjo chronology
Ayé
(1994)
Fifa
(1996)
Oremi
(1998)

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
Robert Christgau(dud)[21]
Daily Breeze[19]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[22]
Knoxville News Sentinel[5]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[23]
Philadelphia Daily News[6]
The Tampa Tribune[8]

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

Fifa track listing
No.TitleLength
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 performance for Fifa
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

  1. Norment, Lynn (Apr 1996). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 51 (6): 23.
  2. "Angélique Kidjo Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. "Angélique Kidjo Has Heard It All". The New Yorker. February 16, 2022.
  4. Thompson, Clifford (October 7, 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge via Google Books.
  5. Campbell, Chuck (5 Apr 1996). "'Fifa', Angelique Kidjo". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. T10.
  6. Takiff, Jonathan (17 Sep 1996). "Fifa Angelique Kidjo". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 29.
  7. Darling, Cary (March 29, 1996). "World beat hits mainstream". Orange County Register. p. F55.
  8. Thompson, Phil (April 5, 1996). "FIFA, Angelique Kidjo". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
  9. Kening, Dan (March 29, 1996). "Angelique Kidjo". Time Out. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 4.
  10. "Angélique Kidjo". Billboard.
  11. Blake, Elissa (16 Sep 1996). "Intricacies lost on the live stage". Arts. The Age. p. 7.
  12. Reger, Rick (29 Mar 1996). "Angelique Kidjo, Friday at the Wild Hare". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. T.
  13. White, Timothy (Feb 24, 1996). "Angelique Kidjo fetes freedom in 'fifa'". Billboard. 108 (8): 3.
  14. Mordue, Mark (13 Sep 1996). "Angelic upstart". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 11.
  15. 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.
  16. Nelson, Rick (March 29, 1996). "Music: Kidjo Is Bringing Beats From Benin". The News Tribune. Tacoma. p. SL2.
  17. Taylor, Timothy Dean; Taylor, John D. (June 18, 1997). "Global Pop: World Music, World Markets". Psychology Press via Google Books.
  18. Knopper, Steve (March 29, 1996). "Talented West African Dance Songstress Overcomes Bland Production". Post-Tribune. p. D8.
  19. Carroll, Tomm (April 5, 1996). "World Beat". Daily Breeze. p. K23.
  20. "Angélique Kidjo Fifa Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  21. "Angelique Kidjo". Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  22. Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. IV. MUZE. p. 2987.
  23. MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 386.
  24. Harrison, Tom (2 Apr 1996). "Rhythm talks to the world". The Province. p. B5.
  25. Band, Ira (1 Aug 1996). "Kidjo's seducing voodoo beat". Toronto Star. p. G10.
  26. Considine, J.D. (28 Mar 1996). "CD Reviews". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 12.
  27. Marsh, Steven P. (22 Mar 1996). "African Rhyme, Western Rhythm". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Woodland Park. p. 9.
  28. Feist, Daniel (22 Mar 1996). "Benin's Kidjo follows up hit Agolo with release of sassy global pop". The Gazette. p. C5.
  29. Strauss, Neil (21 Mar 1996). "Tradition and Daring". The New York Times. p. C14.
  30. Krewen, Nick (29 Dec 1996). "Top 10 Albums 1996". Calgary Herald. Southam Newspapers. p. C8.
  31. McCall, Michael (December 26, 1996). "Image-Conscious – The year comes to a close in Nashville". Nashville Scene. Nashville Cream.
  32. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 154.
  33. "Swedishcharts.com – Angélique Kidjo – Fifa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  34. "Swisscharts.com – Angélique Kidjo – Fifa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  35. "Angelique Kidjo Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
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