aaamusic | On 17, Mar 2012

The song “Dougou Badia” begins with an edgy guitar riff, as I was expecting to hear some sort of an indie melody join in I was pleasantly surprised to hear the Afro pop vocals that join the guitars a few seconds in. Amadou and Mariam are a blind couple from Mali who have already released two albums and boast a cult following both in Africa and in Europe also. They have been making music for over a decade. Nut things really started to take off for them in 2006 when one of their songs was chosen as the official World Cup anthem in Germany.

Fast forward to 2012 and their new album features collaborations from some of the most varied and innovative artists in music today, one being Santigold who features on “Dougou Badia”. This song has an infectious sound that has roots in traditional African music, R&B and pop. The overall effect is a triumphant sounding celebratory track that simply makes you smile. “Dougou Badia” is one of those memorable songs that I can’t help but think would be perfect for a movie montage. The signature sound of Santigold really adds to the traditional sound of Amadou and Mariam and gives this song a unique twist and a modern edge that gives the song an interesting and vibrant dynamic.

 

Orna Lyons