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Jerusalem
Alpha Blondy
Jerusalem
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
Despite heated protests from his parents, Alpha Blondy abandoned his studies in education to establish himself as a singer, a move influenced by his discovery of the Rastafarian faith and the music of international reggae ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Alpha Blondy
Title: Jerusalem
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: V.P. Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/1986
Re-Release Date: 10/25/2010
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style: Reggae
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 054645242424, 054645242424

Synopsis

Album Description
Despite heated protests from his parents, Alpha Blondy abandoned his studies in education to establish himself as a singer, a move influenced by his discovery of the Rastafarian faith and the music of international reggae star Bob Marley. A longtime dream was fulfilled in 1986 when, five years after Marley's death, the singer's backing band, the Wailers, supplied the rhythms for Blondy's third album. Recorded in Jamaica, Jerusalem remains one of Blondy's most satisfying song collections. Lyrics alternate among English, French, and Blondy's own Dioula, a mix the singer attempts to unite through the rhythms of reggae music. EMI. 2004.

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CD Reviews

Multi-lingual unity
L. Benjamin | Savannah, GA | 03/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Jerusalem in Mali when it first became available in 1988. Blondy sings in English, French, Dioula, Hebrew, and Arabic, sometimes all in the same song. His multi-lingual abilities do produce some unexpected results - I Love Paris, for instance, is sung entirely in English - not a French word to be heard. His Dioula is close enough to Bambara that I was able to make out in Politiqui - Wake up, Africans/Politics is no good/Politics will fool you; then later in French - Long live the President/Down with the President/Long live the general/Down with the General. Travailler c'est Trop Dur is amusing: Work is too hard/But stealing is not good.



Blondy exhibits the dropping of the double negative I often heard in Francophone West Africa; instead of Voler n'est pas bon he sings Voler c'est pas bon.



My only suggestion for improvement would have been full liner notes, with versions of the lyrics for all of the songs in all of the languages used. Maybe that's too much to ask, nevertheless, the attempt at unity is heartening.



(This review is of the import version, ASIN B0001CVBHI)

"
Jerusalem -Alpha Blondy
Heidi Grossman | Philadelphia, PA | 11/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Had not heard this in a while. What a treasure! I still love every song.

One of, if not the best of Alpha Blondy!"
Album of perfection
PJY | Cumming, Ga USA | 07/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is not a note, lyric or rhythm I'd change on this album. It is old school reggae at its zenith. The hypnotic rhythm and heart felt lyrics are mostly of a by-gone era when the reggae meant more than the dance beat. Alpha Blondy may not hail from the islands, but who said that was a requirement? This is good reggae you can listen to over and over and still enjoy."