Youssou N'Dour to run for president in Senegal

[Globaltruth]

Couldn't remember where we were discussing this, it may be interesting to have a thread dedicated to it....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/jan/04/youssou-n-dour-president-senegal-video

and

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8988975/Youssou-Ndour-to-stand-as-president-of-Senegal.html

and

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/africa/youssou-ndour-senegal-singer-runs-for-president.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

and more...


Nothing on his website yet though

http://www.youssou.com/Templates/News.html

is this the end for mbalax???

[Globaltruth]

~The inevitable BBC 'thought' piece....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16395430

[Paul Sherratt]

I expect that Ken Bruce and other Radio 2 DJs will already have received strict instructructions not to spin any Etoile de Dakar tunes
until the election results are in.
Doesn't apply apply here though, does it ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DzIj1oA4Ps

[johncorrigan]

I expect that Ken Bruce and other Radio 2 DJs will already have received strict instructructions not to spin any Etoile de Dakar tunes.

I heard that Petroc was ragin' when he was given the same instructions by the producers of the Breakfast show, Paul.

[Paul Sherratt]

Funny, I heard that he'd had that note before the Big Youssou News broke !

[zola]

I heard that Petroc was ragin' when he was given the same instructions by the producers of the Breakfast show, Paul.

In fact, they played a track by Youssou on In Tune on Tuesday and Mr Rafferty wished him good luck in the election ! There's a good piece on Senegal in the latest London Review of Books but written before the announcement of this candidacy.

[johncorrigan]

In fact, they played a track by Youssou on In Tune on Tuesday and Mr Rafferty wished him good luck in the election ! There's a good piece on Senegal in the latest London Review of Books but written before the announcement of this candidacy.

He's nice that Mr Rafferty - he may be angling for the job of R3 Election night special on-the-spot reporter, zola.

[Globaltruth]

http://myworldmusicfriends.com/articles/01272012/youssou-n%E2%80%99dour%E2%80%99s-candidacy-senegal%E2%80%99s-presidency-rejected

I reckon he should ask for a recount

[Globaltruth]

http://www.worldmusic.net/news/news/2012-02-17/update-youssou-ndour-barred-from-presidency/

[Lateralthinking1]

Like the woman at the end of the clip, I still have doubts about his wish to go into politics. I do enjoy opportunities to be in a "choir" singing "Woy Birima fumu yendu ma yendu fa yendo naanee". Would he still tour?

And what is it about that song which makes it one of the best ever from Africa (apart from that totally uplifting lilt and his exceptional, still breathtaking, voice)? Have to admit though that I like the cd version(s) best of all -

http://open.spotify.com/track/2pJKh0H5YG0ESWMytQdUQ3

http://open.spotify.com/track/6v7EFqVnBNHxgrNb2A9gT8

(The last time I saw him sing it live - in a downpour - there were more people smiling than I have seen in one place anywhere!)