Thione Seck Vs. Youssou Ndour

Assalamu alaikum, I know that I’ve posted something with a similar title before. However, perhaps “vs.” is not the way to describe these two luminaries of Senegalese music.

Both of them, imho, are incredibly gifted and talented artists, and both have amazing voices that are instantly recognizable if you’re in any way familiar with their music.

I’d describe Seck’s voice as mellow, relaxed, Ndour’s voice as phrenetic, it just grabs you. But both of their voices have qualities that just defy description.

And I’d not say I like one more than the other. I absolutely love live Youssou Ndour, and I prefer live Youssou Ndour to a lot of his studio work, especially the stuff he releases for his “international”, “Western”, “world music-listening” audience. And I prefer the “grand bal”-esque concerts, put on for Senegalese/West African consumption, to, say, the NPR/Carnegie Hall type appearances. Not that those aren’t good, but there’s something watered-down, not quite, well, I don’t want to use the terms “real” or “authentic”, but there’s an energy that is missing from the music that he puts out for the “Western” audience. I prefer the stuff he makes for the “back home”/Senegalese audience.

I’ve not heard as much live Thione Seck, as there doesn’t seem to be as much out there. Heck, there isn’t much Thione Seck internationally available, and it’s only on online Senegalese radio that I even get to hear any of his recent stuff, minus the “Orientation” album released a couple or so years ago. I’m telling you, if I could, I’d go to any proprietor of any online Senegambian media and beg them to send me some Thione Seck, as much as they have! And if I ever find myself in Dakar again, best believe I’m buyin’ out the stores!

I have actually tried sending out emails/inquiries but have heard nothing back, perhaps my messages got lost in cyberspace or translation or both. One Recommendation I’d make would be to put up an online music store, where people could buy/download the music they wanted, I don’t know call it MbalaxMusic.com, or SenegaleseMusic.com or something like that. Or, so as to Include the Gambian component, Senegambianmp3.com or something. I know there are online sites to listen to or buy African music. I’m talking about a way to make this music available online, much like a Rhapsody or a Napster. But that would not only include music released internationally, but music released for the “local market” as well. I’m not sure if this idea has already been tried, if it would even be successful, or if someone’s already done this and I’m not aware of it.

But I’d just like a way, that if I hear a song I like on say, Radio TamTam Online, Badou.com, Radio Wazapon, Chez Badou, Seneweb Radio, or RFM, and that’s just the stations I can find right now, that I could then go to a site, download the music that I wanted, burn it onto CD or put it on my mp3 player, and take it wherever I wanted.

I don’t always, well, I almost never understand the majority of what they’re saying, and my resident translator/interpretor isn’t always around to tell me. And perhaps this is more motivation for me to learn both French and Wolof, but that’s going to go on my long list of things that I’d like to do but probably will not be able to get done any time soon. Suffice it to say, though, that I really enjoy their music, and it’d just be nice if I could have greater access to the wealth of music that is out there by these and other artists.