This week's musical selection... last night I started watching the PBS series about the history of disco. It's not bad. For my tastes, the balance between talking heads and actual music should be shifted more toward playing the actual music. But as with any documentary, sometimes there's a tidbit that makes the hour of watching worthwhile. In this case it was the song "Soul Makossa", which I don't believe I had ever heard before. DJ David Mancuso found this somewhat obscure African record in a small record shop, and it became super popular at the parties he hosted in his loft.
Even though I hadn't heard it before, it seemed so familiar. In reading up on it, I realized that Michael Jackson stole "mama se mama sa mamakossa" for the outro of Got to Be Starting Something. And then Rihanna stole it for Don't Stop the Music! In 2009 Dibango sued both of them for copyright infrigement and Jackson immediately retreated and settled with Dibango. He was less successful with Rihanna as he received no financial recompense but did get his name put on the song as a writer and now he gets royalties for the sale of the Rihanna song in France.
There's another video out there, that has African people dancing, that is much more entertaining, but I figured it wouldn't get approved because certain participants were the wrong age.
I don't spend a lot of time at pools these days and I'm not much for taking selfies when I'm there. But here's a pic from the lovely hotel I stayed at in Olympia, Greece, in 2019.
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I love Manu Dibango's music. He's from Cameroon.
Happy HNW!
I figured you might be familiar with him!
@smartasswoman Here's another Manu Dibango song, my favourite. Barry White?
@citizen4722 I'd like to brag that I've got the 12" but I haven't!
Thats a nice bit of funk.
Oh em gee....i remember rocking out to that song at many many parties n dances. I havent a clue what they were saying though....im not into lyrics as much as the music n beat. Its a great dance song....i got that beat in my head as i type.....lol
I heard about the litigations....there are just so many combos that can be used in music. I get it though.
Chris Stapleton sampled Etta James and gave her complete credit. I admire that.
Ya with ur recent PSA....pools aint for you ~
So cool that you’re familiar with that song! It was a new discovery for me.
Maybe some pool time under a big umbrella….
I do want to do water aerobics when I go to the spa in October; I guess a waterproof brimmed hat will be the way to go.
Looks like a lovely place you stayed at
That was one of the better places that we stayed on that tour. It was kind of out in the country and had a lovely outdoor restaurant.
@smartasswoman
Lovely sunset in the background 😁
@JN63JPN it was a seriously gorgeous evening.
I remember the song when it came out. I knew Michael Jackson and Rihanna used some of the lyrics. I did not know they were sued which I would have expected.
One of the other commenters apparently disagreed with the story that I had found...but his comment was denied so I guess we'll never know.
@smartasswoman A person has to research it if the doubt it but they shouldn't stress about it. I have heard the Mano riff in other songs. I was told that N-Trance a British Dance Mix group came out with a club song using the Bee Gee's song Stayin Alive and was told to cease and desist. I love the song but I looked to see if I can find anything about them not being allowed to use the song and haven't found it yet.
@CallMeMrWrong69 that’s a pretty iconic riff, so I suppose if they hadn’t reached out, the BeeGees might have pretty good grounds. At the same time their number sounds nothing like the BeeGees’ original, so you’d think they’d just be flattered and leave it at that.
@smartasswoman Agreed
I loved disco music, and took disco dance lessons.
The song is unknown to me but the opening bars are immediately familiar from Michael Jackson’s song.
Growing up, I didn’t spend much time around pools as my parents rented summer cottages.
However, as an adult, I have enjoyed some x-rated fun in pools and hot tubs 😉
My parents were golfers so I spent a LOT of time at the country club swimming pool when I was a kid. Possibly to my detriment (see PSA post that I'm going to put up in a bit).
That is a beautiful pool but ... no one is in it!
Good point! The sun is very strong in Greece. Most people tried to position their lounger in some shade and forays into the pool were just quick dips to cool off.
Ahh, disco, now THOSE we the days.
I thnk I have a few pool selfies like that of my own.
Happy HNW.
I was more of a R&B/funk fan at the time, bands like Earth, Wind & Fire. The documentary is interesting though, a lot of focus on how marginalized people (blacks, latinos, gays) got disco going.