I have a very eclectic taste in music. My CDs range from the Tarzan and Lion King Soundtracks to the latest Alicia Keys and John Legend albums. I love the variety and diversity of music. It is no wonder, then, that I have taken a liking to Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo’s latest album Djin Djin, released in the U.S. on April 27, 2007.
Kidjo, whose albums have been around since the early ‘90s, is known for her pan-global sound and musical eclecticism as well. Her latest album, written in the Beninese, Nigerian and Togolese languages as well as in English, boasts a variety of renowned musical artists including the likes of Alicia Keys on the title track “Djin Djin”, Joss Stone on a purely Kidjo-ian remake of the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” as well as Josh Groban and the haunting guitar of Carlos Santana on “Pearls.”
My favorite track, “Sedjedo” features Ziggy Marley, and manages to represent both Jamaica and Africa simultaneously. Not only does the album fuse various cultures of music together to create an intriguing sound, but the contrast presented by the juxtaposition of the music with the meaning of some of the lyrics is simply masterful. Kidjo’s “Papa” is an upbeat number with a distinct Latin American essence, distinct enough to make you want to do a salsa. The song, however, is a sobering account of a child’s perspective on the separation of mother and father. Djin Djin manages combinations of this kind very well, and in fact makes these combinations its most charming aspect.