Comments on: ZAP MAMA / “Bandy, Bandy” http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/ a conversation about black music Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:55:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: Jarvis http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-6 Tue, 21 Jun 2005 12:13:29 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-6 Kalamu/Mtume, I'm feeling your comments about Zap Mama. Bandy Bandy is hip. I've got the CD -- well, I've got the digital info from the CD thanks to iTunes -- but at the moment, I can't think of anything other than Bandy Bandy that really rocked me. I also agree with you on Erykah's experimentation. Years ago I was sitting next to Steve Jones, music writer for USA Today. He was telling me that he was watching Erykah for the 5th time and he had never seen her do the same show twice. In fact, when we were watching her "Mama's Gun" had come out and she did her show without relying on the safety of the hits from "Baduizm." Risky. But when she climbed down off the stage and joined the audience and had 'em all saying " 'Cuz I'm alright with me / Said I'm alright with me" it was clear to everybody that she had won the crowd over nonetheless. The next time didn't go over so well. 2003. She came out on stage and played songs nobody had ever heard before. Granted, my friend Colette and I were jamming because we appreciated hearing something fresh. But folks wanted to hear Tyrone. They also wanted to hear Stevie -- who was following her. "Don't do this to Stevie," she said to the nonresponsive crowd as she left the stage. Okay, this was supposed to be about Zap Mama. Sorry. I'll listen to it again and compare the Erykah-less moments against those where she appears. - JQD Kalamu/Mtume,

I’m feeling your comments about Zap Mama. Bandy Bandy is hip. I’ve got the CD — well, I’ve got the digital info from the CD thanks to iTunes — but at the moment, I can’t think of anything other than Bandy Bandy that really rocked me.

I also agree with you on Erykah’s experimentation. Years ago I was sitting next to Steve Jones, music writer for USA Today. He was telling me that he was watching Erykah for the 5th time and he had never seen her do the same show twice. In fact, when we were watching her “Mama’s Gun” had come out and she did her show without relying on the safety of the hits from “Baduizm.” Risky. But when she climbed down off the stage and joined the audience and had ‘em all saying ” ‘Cuz I’m alright with me / Said I’m alright with me” it was clear to everybody that she had won the crowd over nonetheless.

The next time didn’t go over so well. 2003. She came out on stage and played songs nobody had ever heard before. Granted, my friend Colette and I were jamming because we appreciated hearing something fresh. But folks wanted to hear Tyrone. They also wanted to hear Stevie — who was following her. “Don’t do this to Stevie,” she said to the nonresponsive crowd as she left the stage.

Okay, this was supposed to be about Zap Mama. Sorry. I’ll listen to it again and compare the Erykah-less moments against those where she appears. - JQD

]]> by: Jarvis http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-7 Tue, 21 Jun 2005 12:14:37 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-7 By the way, the two shows I reference were Essence Music Festivals. Sorry for the ommission. - JQD By the way, the two shows I reference were Essence Music Festivals. Sorry for the ommission. - JQD

]]> by: Lisa http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-10 Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:40:36 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-10 I just checked out Breath of Life and read your Zap Mama/Badu piece which is great. I adore them both, and agree with you that Zap Mama's albums rarely make it all the way. But when I saw them live in New York for the first time, I was in tears the entire time, as all of the voices were so exquisite. The second time was when they opened for Badu at the Hollywood Bowl in LA, and neither set was good, I was disappointed. This was three or so years ago. Anyway, I'll tell all my record biz friends about this site. It's beautifully designed as well. I just checked out Breath of Life and read your Zap Mama/Badu piece which is great. I adore them both, and agree with you that Zap Mama’s albums rarely make it all the way. But when I saw them live in New York for the first time, I was in tears the entire time, as all of the voices were so exquisite. The second time was when they opened for Badu at the Hollywood Bowl in LA, and neither set was good, I was disappointed. This was three or so years ago. Anyway, I’ll tell all my record biz friends about this site. It’s beautifully designed as well.

]]> by: ekere http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-19 Thu, 23 Jun 2005 08:49:01 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-19 Ok, once again I am really feeling this dialogue. Like Mtume, I didn't wake up on Bandy, Bandy until Ms. Badu started singing/sanging. She pushed this song to the head nodding, press repeat level for me. I saw Zap Mama once, actually hosted a show that they headined, and I too was disappointed. Oh well. * * * Mtume says: You've got us backwards, Ekere. Kalamu is the Badu fanatic. ;-) I like "Bandy Bandy" from first note to last. And, the one time I saw Zap Mama (at HOB N.O. in support of their 1997 album "7"), the show was fantastic. * * * Ok, once again I am really feeling this dialogue. Like Mtume, I didn’t wake up on Bandy, Bandy until Ms. Badu started singing/sanging. She pushed this song to the head nodding, press repeat level for me.

I saw Zap Mama once, actually hosted a show that they headined, and I too was disappointed.
Oh well.

* * * Mtume says: You’ve got us backwards, Ekere. Kalamu is the Badu fanatic. ;-) I like “Bandy Bandy” from first note to last. And, the one time I saw Zap Mama (at HOB N.O. in support of their 1997 album “7″), the show was fantastic. * * *

]]> by: thein http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-22 Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:12:47 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-22 haven't heard the whole album but.... You forgot to mention "yelling away." That's definitely one of the tighter songs on the album. * * * Mtume says: I agree. Don't care much for Kweli's rap on "Yelling Away," but the song itself is nice. * * * haven’t heard the whole album but…. You forgot to mention “yelling away.” That’s definitely one of the tighter songs on the album.

* * * Mtume says: I agree. Don’t care much for Kweli’s rap on “Yelling Away,” but the song itself is nice. * * *

]]> by: P6 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-27 Fri, 24 Jun 2005 09:39:05 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-27 Excellent. You just sold a Zap Mama album. Excellent. You just sold a Zap Mama album.

]]> by: ekere http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-28 Fri, 24 Jun 2005 09:40:14 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-28 oh, true!! My bad :). Yes, The Cyber Baba and I are in full agreement that Mz Badu is the one who brings the lemons to this kool-aid. oh, true!! My bad :) . Yes, The Cyber Baba and I are in full agreement that Mz Badu is the one who brings the lemons to this kool-aid.

]]> by: j. http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-29 Fri, 24 Jun 2005 14:56:38 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-29 "bandy bandy" is probably one of my favorite songs...and this just became one of my favorite music sites. “bandy bandy” is probably one of my favorite songs…and this just became one of my favorite music sites.

]]> by: Lisa Marie http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-87 Fri, 22 Jul 2005 17:14:55 -0500 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-87 Its never about just one song on an album for Zap Mama. While Bandy/Bandy is certainly one of the one's that got most of the airplay - its definately not my favorite on the album. One of the best things about Zap Mama is their ability to step into almost every genre of music and do that shit WELL. Caribbean, African, Latin, Ragga, Hiphop stlyess area all represented here. Her live shows are ridiculous! I'm a fan however of her writing and improvisational abilites! The album is really a great representation of all of these. Its never about just one song on an album for Zap Mama. While Bandy/Bandy is certainly one of the one’s that got most of the airplay - its definately not my favorite on the album. One of the best things about Zap Mama is their ability to step into almost every genre of music and do that shit WELL. Caribbean, African, Latin, Ragga, Hiphop stlyess area all represented here. Her live shows are ridiculous! I’m a fan however of her writing and improvisational abilites! The album is really a great representation of all of these.

]]> by: Flame http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-469 Fri, 20 Jan 2006 01:29:52 -0600 http://www.kalamu.com/bol/2005/06/19/zap-mama-featuring-erykah-badu-%e2%80%9cbandy-bandy%e2%80%9d/#comment-469 OK.. Late to the discussion but I could not let it pass... I love Erykah and I love Marie on this... Did anyone else get out of their western-american centric trip enough to LISTEN to it... No no... really think about it - Erykah Badu's sound is always moving towards the sort of improv that is Zap Mama's cultural heritage... I am talking about those of us in the diaspora wishing we had a mama who could teach us how to travel out in sound - and YET making sound according to our corner of the diaspora.... If y'all saw it as something to compare and not to celebrate as a woman from the continent meeting a woman from the diapora and linking it up in a ' pleased to meet you sister-in-song' ...well! Flame... a woman from the Caribbean... enjoying the hook up... OK.. Late to the discussion but I could not let it pass… I love Erykah and I love Marie on this…
Did anyone else get out of their western-american centric trip enough to LISTEN to it… No no… really think about it - Erykah Badu’s sound is always moving towards the sort of improv that is Zap Mama’s cultural heritage… I am talking about those of us in the diaspora wishing we had a mama who could teach us how to travel out in sound - and YET making sound according to our corner of the diaspora….
If y’all saw it as something to compare and not to celebrate as a woman from the continent meeting a woman from the diapora and linking it up in a ‘ pleased to meet you sister-in-song’ …well!

Flame… a woman from the Caribbean… enjoying the hook up…

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