Translated: I am not afraid of the microphone.
Another selection from itunes Canada's French song of the week, or chanson de la semaine, "J'ai Pas Peur Du Micro" comes in second only to Ingrid St. Pierre's hauntingly beautiful "Mercure Au Chrome Et P'tits Pansements." Performed by Smod, a trio from Mali, the song is performed entirely in their native language, and the French language has almost never sounded better (see last sentence). French rapping? I'm unfortunately brought back to gradeschool, where we were forced to listen to the educational stylings of Etienne. Smod has restored my faith in this niche genre, and like their francophone comrade Miss St. Pierre, they prove that you need not understand the language to understand the beauty.
Combining hip-hop with African flavor, Smod gives us a new side of a genre that rarely ventures from the same formula. Though I was not able to find the lyrics for translating, it's not crucial for listening. What is then? Movement. This is the kind of song with beats that lift you from your chair and to a floor of some sort that can be used for dancing. It's quite possible that "J'ai Pas Peur Du Micro" has turned me off from English rap. Dear Rap World, try a language other than our expected English. Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment