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Nomad: Best of (Dig)
Amina
Nomad: Best of (Dig)
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

Tunisia and techno don't usually go together. But Carthage-born singer Amina has built a thriving, hip-gyrating career blending North African belly-dancing beats with modern dance-floor electronics. A huge hit in Europe...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Amina
Title: Nomad: Best of (Dig)
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Ark 21
Release Date: 7/10/2001
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop
Styles: Traditional Folk, Middle East, Arabic, Dance Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 618685002723

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Tunisia and techno don't usually go together. But Carthage-born singer Amina has built a thriving, hip-gyrating career blending North African belly-dancing beats with modern dance-floor electronics. A huge hit in Europe, her surprisingly organic sound has received scant exposure in the U.S. This best-of disc should change all that by stacking up her best-known songs in somewhat chronological order, dipping as far back as her Eurovision contest winner, the soulful ballad "Le Dernier Qui A Parle," and winding up with the beat-addled scorcher "Habibi 2." Purists who prefer their Tunisian rhythms without sugar or studio polish will lap up disc-opener "Ya Baba," one of two previously unreleased selections that proves traditional-sounding material can rock as hard as the club cuts. No one-groove wonder, the French-based diva adds Senegalese touches to 1992's Wasis Diop-produced "Wadileh," while a startling cover of the Billie Holiday classic "My Man" luxuriates in Mediterranean exotica sure to break young men's concentration on at least three continents. Already a successful movie actress, Amina proves she's more than capable of affecting a cinematic sweep with her voice alone. --Bob Tarte

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CD Reviews

Harmonious melding of cultures
S. Morgan | Portland, OR USA | 02/08/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Amina when I picked up Cercle Rouge on a whim. It seemed like something I'd like, so I took a gamble. The opening title was an instant favorite. I quickly did research to find out more about the artist and her work and acquired her other CDs.



Nomad is an appropriate title for this collection. It's a musical journey using Amina's Tunisian heritage base and blending it with Sub-Saharan African, American Jazz, French and other styles and influences. Perhaps my favorite is her version of "Ederlezi", a Goran Bregovic classic (It was originally an ethnic rock song from his Sarajevo based band Bijelo Dugme called "Djurdjev Dan", then appeared on the soundtrack of the Emir Kusturica film "Time of the Gypsies" under the title it bears on this album). I noticed that a previous reviewer called the song "Le Dernier Qui A Parle" outdated but I disagree. This song is mostly stripped down and showcases Amina's vocal prowse. It's one that I've listened to over and over. "Allah Ya Houlenah" is a catchy tune that sets my feet to tapping. So why not 5 stars? Well, I'm a bit stingy and reluctant to give anything 5 stars in case something better comes along, but there are a few songs that don't really stand out for me. "C'est Gay" is danceable, but the tune doesn't really pop out at me. As far as dance floor music goes it's not bad, but I generally find that techno beats drain the soul from any song.



Overall, the compilation has a good balance of the danceable the soulful served with a healthy dose of strong vocals and exotic texturing."
A voice to carry
lenap83 | Moraga, CA United States | 11/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I do not always understand the words of Amina's songs, not even the French ones, but her voice carries so much emotion that the words and even the instruments can seem superflous. Her voice is smooth and deep, and I hear more to her singing each time I listen to the CD. In fact, one has to listen to this CD over and over to hear the full effect of her singing.Le Dernier Qui Parle won the Euro Vision award in 1991 and is a French pop hit that is very Tunisian in its lyrics.Digge (Le Gong A Sonne) is my personal favorite song, and is a duet with Senegalese singer Wasis Diop. It's about a Senegalese boxer with Senegalese rythyms and very fun and funky. It's happy and sunny, and I love the way Diop sings this one part, dadadadadada Daaaaaaah de o! It's great.My Man is the Billie Holiday standard, a French song with Arabic violins and Amina singing so soulfully in English. A great song with an international flavor for a great international singer."
Exotic and mesmerizing!
Michael J. Holly | 09/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amina is one of Northern Africa's most precious contribution to the music world!Amina has a soul and mesmerizing voice that takes the listener to another world, time, and place! Spiritual yet secular, foreign yet familiar, this CD aims to please!This CD (which conains the Best songs of Amina, actually the most popular songs) is a wonderful purchase....listen to the tracks and decide which you like and don't like.....that way you can purchase individual CD's without wasting money! Highly recommended!"