Search - Rebecca Malope :: Free at Last: South African Gospel

Beautiful Mixture of South African Pop and Gospel

Barbara J. Chaplin | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada | 03/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Malope has a lovely, full, rich, powerful voice which she uses to great effect in these beautiful, sometimes overwhelmingly emotional songs.
The songs on this album are a mixture of traditional American gospel and township pop. In other words, it sounds more like pop music than does the average gospel cd. However, the pop doesn't dilute the gospel at all, because township pop is definitely not sappy love songs - it's the powerful expression of a suppressed culture. Malope seems to have found in religious music a way to express the hardships and yearnings of her life.
Malope grew up in the South African countryside under apartheid, and at the age of 16 moved to Johannesburg, where she lived as a beggar until her musical talent was discovered. She sampled many kinds of music, but gospel suits her best, and is the style she is now known for.
The sound quality of this cd is very good, and the musicians and backup singers are excellent. The songs originally appeared from 1990 to 1996, and they have been remasterd. 4 of the 13 songs are in English; the rest I believe are in Zulu. The English lyrics, and an English translation of the Zulu lyrics, are included in the packaging, as is an essay on Malope's life.
I found this cd very moving. Even people who are not interested in gospel usually love it."

Njalokonna

papalolo | tokyo japan | 01/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"oh thanks to God for internet that made me find malope rebacca, coz i,ve been looking for a way to get this informations about her since 2 years ."

This CD is "BEYOND A 5 STAR RATING"

Lynne Stevenson | Maple Ridge, BC, Canada | 09/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered this CD in the library about 2 years ago and have been searching for it ever since, until now. Rebecca has a fabulous voice. A few songs are in English and most are African dialect, which I prefer. I am a musician, singer/songwriter and appreciate each song. This CD moves me to joyous tears every time I play it. The 3 tracks I have chosen for our wedding are #5 - Buyani, #8 - Umoya Wam and #9 - Ngegazi Lemvana. While it is a gospel CD it can be embraced by all folks no matter their religious forte, age, gender, etc. I would love to attend in person one and plenty more of her concerts. BRING HER HERE TO MAPLE RIDGE, BC, CANADA AND I GUARENTEE SHE AND HER ENSEMBLE WILL SELL EVERY TICKET, BAR NONE! It has become and shall stay as one of my top 3 favourites of all time. I dance in my kitchen, blast it while driving in my car, and with great joy imagine sharing it with our wedding guests."