Music Is the Weapon: The Best of Fela Kuti

Artist: Fela Kuti
Label: Wrasse Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 3
EAN: 5060001271507
ASIN: B0002UJND8

Release Date: 2005-03-22

Related Categories:

General

| Africa | International | Styles | Music

Nigeria

| Africa | International | Styles | Music

General

| International | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Listmania:

A lovely random selection of influential albums.

Tracks:

Lady
Shakara
Gentleman [Edit Version]
Water No Get Enemy [Edit Version]
Zombie
Sorrow Tears and Blood
No Agreement, Pt. 2

Tracks:

Roforofo Fight
Shuffering and Shmiling, Pt. 2
Coffin for Head of State, Pt. 2
Itt, Pt. 2
Army Arrangement, Pt. 2
O.D.O.O. [Edit Version]

Tracks:

Music Is the Weapon [DVD]

Similar Items:

The Underground Spiritual Game
Fela In Concert
Zombie
Live!
Femi Kuti - Live at the Shrine [Deluxe Edition DVD + Live CD]

Customer Reviews:

Art + Politics = Power.......2006-05-19

There is nothing bad I can say about Fela, there really isn't. The man was a cultural and political phenomenon inspiring countless amounts of fellow Africans to take a stand. Think in the terms of Bob Marley, but do I dare to say Fela was more important? Uh, yes. (Meanwhile, I just made the entire faux post-hippie movement choke on their bong smoke).

"Music Is The Weapon" prooves to be the perfect title for Fela's 'best of' songs. He fought soley with art and became so powerful at it that he opened and performed religiously at his own night club, using it as a politcal pulpit. After gaining international acclaim, Fela was eventually gunned down after a concert so he could be kept quiet, only to survive and continue his fight. Parallels could be noted about Marley, however, Nigeria had more urgent problems than Jamaica.

Fela was a versatile musican, not only did he sing and write his own compositions, he played keyboards and saxaphone while directing his band and singers. Many people compare him as Africa's James Brown because the music uncontestedly FUNKY. It is a fair agreement. JB is the Godfather of Soul and Fela is the Godfather of Afrobeat, although Fela is much active in his human rights awareness. And smarter, seeing that James Brown endorsed Richard Nixon.

In whole, this collection is a great starting point for getting into this truely one-of-a-kind artist. It acts as a 'greatest hits' despite the two problems I have with this release:

1- It does not highlight the broad range of music and time eras Fela recorded in, but remember, the music selections are by no means poor examples of greatness and originality.

2- Many of the track selections are only parts or edits of the full-length versions, but keep in mind that some of these 'edited' versions are still 8-14 minutes long. If they were not cut, we would be looking at half an hour jams right up there with electric Miles Davis funkiness.

"Music Is The Weapon" also contains a third disc that documents Fela's musical life and political beliefs on DVD while displaying live performances and interviews with the man himself. Fela's mission was to make you aware while making you dance, both in a gracefully artistic manner.

I suggest researching the life of Fela. In turn, the music will make more sense to us living in western society.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Muevete! (Move It!) ~ Flor de Cana

The Roots of Sepultura ~ Sepultura

Don't Be Happy Just Worry ~ Wildhearts

Tunga ~ Mamadou Diabate

Western Songs for Children ~ Andi Sexgang

Hits Series 6: Best of October 2002 ~ Various Artists

Accessory to the Crime ~ Jon Koonce

Hybrid Theory ~ Linkin Park

Soundtrack

Pleasure Love Pt.2 ~ De Funk