Singing For Life: Songs Of Hope, Healing, And Hiv/Aids In Uganda

[coll]: Singing for Life
Smithsonian/Folkways, 2008

UGANDA – The massive, tragic devastation wreaked by AIDS across Africa is well documented. Uganda has been aggressive in tackling the disease, and education through music, dance and theater has been a big part of their effort. These field recordings from cities and villages across the country capture community groups using music to spread knowledge, deal with suffering, and spark social action. The music is mostly upbeat in tone even when the lyrics are tragic, with group singing and spoken word in a variety of local languages. Proceeds from this album will benefit non-profit AIDS relief organizations in Uganda.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13

1. 6:49 – cicadas and thumb piano, uptempo female call/response vocals
2. 1:35 – delicate amateur fem chorus of AIDS patients, recorded in a hospital
3. 4:25 – rolling mixed chorus call/response over fast drum
4. 4:02 – very cool older male vocal with thumb piano & bowed string
5. 3:32 – solo fem vocal, chorus & drum come in later with an ominous tone
6. 6:56 – a cappella women’s chorus, an educational song w/spoken breaks
7. 2:58 – mixed chorus, casual sound & nice harmony: an educational parable
8. 4:06 – women’s chorus outdoors, picks up speed with handclaps & drum
9. 5:24 – a cappella choir: sing-song yet anthemic tune, in English
10. 7:52 – great xylophone/percussion & traditional-sounding men’s chorus
11. 4:55 – buzzing lyres sound like chorus of frogs(!), male voc + child
12. 4:30 – a cappella mixed chorus: very formal, like a recitation
13. 8:24 – male lead voc + sweet fem chorus, uptempo drums & handclaps
14. 1:42 – a cappella hymn-like public service announcement, in English

[ Fo ] 19-Jul-08