Remarks:
This song is next to unknown in America – where it was recorded! – but it reached #3 in Britain in 1994. I have wanted to post it for a long time but it was not embeddable.
Lyrics:
Yousou N’Dour in Wolof:
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
Neneh Cherry in English:
Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle’s not over
Even when it’s won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it’s living in
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
Youssou N’Dour in French:
J’assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J’aimerais qu’on oublie leur couleur pour qu’ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de races qui font qu’ils desesperent
Je veux les deux mains ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu’ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
Neneh Cherry in English:
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
I’ll be waiting
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it´s living in
And there’s a million voices
And there’s a million voices
To tell you what you should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
We´re 7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
We´re 7 seconds away
For just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
It’s not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I’ll be waiting
This song was a big hit! I remember: everyone in my class (of 13 years olds ) were crazy about it.
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For this song’s use of meaningless, incomprehensible and utterly indecipherable lyrics, it deserves a Grammy.
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Unknown in the US? Wow, here in Australia it was #1 for ages.
“For this song’s use of meaningless, incomprehensible and utterly indecipherable lyrics, it deserves a Grammy.”
Incomprehensible? Maybe you should brush up on your French and Wolof then.
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True, this was a massive hit. I had no idea it wasn’t popular in America.
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I used to love Neneh Cherry!
This song, about racism (it takes 7 seconds to judge someone), is defintely powerful. It was a massive hit in Europe (Neneh and Youssou’s residence).
Neneh, outside of her debut album, never had much pop success in the U.S. (That explains why this song is a classic everywhere except America.) It’s too bad because her proceeding work was excellent. I wished she’d release another album. It’s been almost 14 years since her last release.
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Thanks for turning me on to something different. Love it Abagond!
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I loooooooooovvvvvvvvveeeeeee this song. Last summer I just played it sooo much! I discovered Mr D’Nour via Alicia Keys.
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I really love this music, i first heard it when I was a little girl, never paid attention to the lyrics untlil i were about 15, then it became one of my favourites.
Nice choice Aba 😉
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Neneh Cherry is so talented, I loved this song when it came out :))
I used to have posters of her brother Eagle Eye Cherry in my room. His music rocks too!
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That reminds me the old days, I was eleven when this song came out. I loved Neneh look.
I am a big fan of both of them.
Youss n’dour who is one the biggest star in Africa, well known as the star of the m’balax.
He’s quite sucessful in France too and other countries in Europe.
I am always proud when a African singer has an international hit and this one is a least sung partially in his native language, that promotes African languages and shows that they can be beautiful too.
@Merri May,
Like you I love her brother too!
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I remember this song quite well and I live in the midwest (Chicago). Perhaps you meant to say that it didn’t get as much radio play as say, NWA in the black community, right? 😉
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It was a big hit in South Africa as well, particularly with all the change that was happening.
http://thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com
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Haha! Its my favorite Yousso song. I’m from SeneGambia so I’m definitely a fan!
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