Fifa
Studio album by
Angélique Kidjo
Released1996
Length43:44
LabelMango[1]
ProducerJean Hebrail
Angélique Kidjo chronology
Ayé
(1994)		 Fifa
(1996)		 Oremi
(1998)

Fifa is an album by the Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo, released in 1996.[2][3] It was the first album on which Kidjo sang in English in addition to Fon and French.[4][5][6] Fifa was considered to be an attempt at a crossover album.[7][8] The first single was "Wombo Lombo".[9]

The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[10] Kidjo supported the album with a world tour.[11][12]

Production

The album was produced by Kidjo's husband, Jean Hebrail; much of it was recorded in the couple's Paris home studio.[13][14] Hundreds of musicians played on the album, including Carlos Santana and villagers and farmers encountered by Kidjo while she traveled throughout Benin.[15]

Kidjo wrote the songs by focusing on the rhythm first.[16] "Naïma" is named for Kidjo's daughter.[17] "Bitchifi" was influenced by reggae music.[18] Other songs use elements of zouk and township jive.[19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
Robert Christgau(dud)[21]
Daily Breeze[19]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[22]
Knoxville News Sentinel[5]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[23]
Philadelphia Daily News[6]
The Tampa Tribune[8]

The Province wrote that "bluesy electric guitar is played to contrast lighter African styles while the drums incorporate both traditional and popular western rhythms."[24] The Toronto Star determined that "the songs seamlessly fuse traditional African rhythms with contemporary gospel singing, Afro-pop melodies and a dash of rap."[25] The Baltimore Sun called Fifa "true fusion, music that may owe a debt to other styles but which functions on its own terms."[26]

The Record stated: "Instead of mixing Western and African influences together in a blend that is neither one nor the other, Kidjo uses the influences as distinct building blocks to create a sonic structure that is remarkably coherent."[27] The Gazette deemed the album "sassy, polished, global pop."[28] The New York Times concluded that, "with funk, hip-hop, gospel and pop rubbing up against African rhythms, chants and melodies, it is her slickest crossover album yet."[29]

AllMusic noted that "Kidjo's instincts for pairing African rhythms and Western structures are inspired."[20] The Waterloo Region Record listed the album as the sixth best of 1996.[30] Nashville Scene considered it among the 20 best albums of the year.[31]

Track listing

Fifa track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The Sound of the Drums"4:58
2."Wombo Lombo"4:15
3."Welcome"4:26
4."Shango"4:53
5."Bitchifi"4:27
6."Fifa"3:57
7."Goddess of the Sea"4:11
8."Akwaba"4:24
9."Koro-Koro"3:41
10."Naïma"4:32
Total length:43:44

Charts

Chart performance for Fifa
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] 86
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] 12
US World Albums (Billboard)[35] 10

References

  1. ↑ Norment, Lynn (Apr 1996). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 51 (6): 23.
  2. ↑ "Angélique Kidjo Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ "Angélique Kidjo Has Heard It All". The New Yorker. February 16, 2022.
  4. ↑ Thompson, Clifford (October 7, 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge – via Google Books.
  5. 1 2 Campbell, Chuck (5 Apr 1996). "'Fifa', Angelique Kidjo". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. T10.
  6. 1 2 Takiff, Jonathan (17 Sep 1996). "Fifa Angelique Kidjo". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 29.
  7. ↑ Darling, Cary (March 29, 1996). "World beat hits mainstream". Orange County Register. p. F55.
  8. 1 2 Thompson, Phil (April 5, 1996). "FIFA, Angelique Kidjo". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
  9. ↑ Kening, Dan (March 29, 1996). "Angelique Kidjo". Time Out. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 4.
  10. ↑ "Angélique Kidjo". Billboard.
  11. ↑ Blake, Elissa (16 Sep 1996). "Intricacies lost on the live stage". Arts. The Age. p. 7.
  12. ↑ Reger, Rick (29 Mar 1996). "Angelique Kidjo, Friday at the Wild Hare". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. T.
  13. ↑ White, Timothy (Feb 24, 1996). "Angelique Kidjo fetes freedom in 'fifa'". Billboard. 108 (8): 3.
  14. ↑ Mordue, Mark (13 Sep 1996). "Angelic upstart". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 11.
  15. ↑ Martin, Andrew R.; Ph.D, Matthew Mihalka (September 8, 2020). "Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: A Global Encyclopedia". ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
  16. ↑ Nelson, Rick (March 29, 1996). "Music: Kidjo Is Bringing Beats From Benin". The News Tribune. Tacoma. p. SL2.
  17. ↑ Taylor, Timothy Dean; Taylor, John D. (June 18, 1997). "Global Pop: World Music, World Markets". Psychology Press – via Google Books.
  18. ↑ Knopper, Steve (March 29, 1996). "Talented West African Dance Songstress Overcomes Bland Production". Post-Tribune. p. D8.
  19. 1 2 Carroll, Tomm (April 5, 1996). "World Beat". Daily Breeze. p. K23.
  20. 1 2 "Angélique Kidjo Fifa Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  21. ↑ "Angelique Kidjo". Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  22. ↑ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. IV. MUZE. p. 2987.
  23. ↑ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 386.
  24. ↑ Harrison, Tom (2 Apr 1996). "Rhythm talks to the world". The Province. p. B5.
  25. ↑ Band, Ira (1 Aug 1996). "Kidjo's seducing voodoo beat". Toronto Star. p. G10.
  26. ↑ Considine, J.D. (28 Mar 1996). "CD Reviews". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 12.
  27. ↑ Marsh, Steven P. (22 Mar 1996). "African Rhyme, Western Rhythm". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Woodland Park. p. 9.
  28. ↑ Feist, Daniel (22 Mar 1996). "Benin's Kidjo follows up hit Agolo with release of sassy global pop". The Gazette. p. C5.
  29. ↑ Strauss, Neil (21 Mar 1996). "Tradition and Daring". The New York Times. p. C14.
  30. ↑ Krewen, Nick (29 Dec 1996). "Top 10 Albums 1996". Calgary Herald. Southam Newspapers. p. C8.
  31. ↑ McCall, Michael (December 26, 1996). "Image-Conscious – The year comes to a close in Nashville". Nashville Scene. Nashville Cream.
  32. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 154.
  33. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Angélique Kidjo – Fifa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  34. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Angélique Kidjo – Fifa". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  35. ↑ "Angelique Kidjo Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
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