South African Popular Music Masterpieces

by Sheldon Rocha Leal

We as South Africans are sometimes over critical of the musical content created in this country, often prioritizing and patronizing international songs and artists over our own homegrown talent and musical output. The truth is that some of our musical content is very competitive and can easily stand up against international output. South African artists have impacted world music trends and have contributed to the evolution of the music world internationally. Not only from a music performance perspective, but also from the perspective of music production, management, technology and innovation. People like Clive Calder (music executive), Ralph Simon (mobile), Phil Ramone (producer), Eddie Kramer (engineer) and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have led the music industry in their respective fields and areas of specialization.

Occasionally I try and reflect on the greatness of South Africans, our creative talent and musical output and this article is just an example of one of those times. I have therefore decided to use this article as an opportunity to reflect on some of my all time favorite South African songs. The songs listed in this article are not reported in any particular order, I have rather listed them as they have come into my head.

1. Johnny Clegg and Savuka: Great Heart (1986)

Johnny Clegg (aka Le Zoulou Blanc, The White Zulu) was an anthropologist before persuing a career as a musician. This song, which features his band Savuka, was included on the “Jock Of The Bushveld” motion picture soundtrack in 1986. The movie was based on the novel written by Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick in 1907. The song was also featured on the Johnny Clegg and Savuka album “Third World Child” released in 1987. The album is reported to have shipped over 1million units. Johnny Clegg is known for many other songs, but this is one of my favorites.

2. Yvonne Chaka Chaka: I’m Burning Up (1987)

This track was featured on Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s sophomore album “I’m Burning Up”, which was released in 1987. This song along with many other hits ignited her career as an internationally acclaimed recording artist and humanitarian. As a kid I listened to this Mbaqanga classic one too many times. The song was written by Attie van Wyk and mentored by Phil Hollis (owner of Dephon Records, an independent South African record label), the man who discovered The Princess of Africa. Attie van Wyk went on to found Big Concerts, the biggest concert promoter in South Africa.

3. Brenda Fassie and the Big Dudes: Weekend Special (1983)

Brenda Fassie was known by many different names, including The Queen of African Pop. She was a mega force in the South African music industry who sparked off a search for a competitor, which resulted in the discovery of Yvonne Chaka Chaka. She was signed to CCP (Clive Calder Productions) records by Malcolm Watson. This song was her first major hit and was featured on her eponymous debut album. It shipped over 200,000 units in SA and topped charts in South America, Europe and Australia, making Ma Brrr and international superstar. The song was written by Melvyn Matthews and produced by himself and Blondie Makhene.

4. Laurika Rauch: Kinders Van Die Wind (1979)

Laurika Rauch is considered one of the leaders of “Die Nuwe Afrikaans Lied”, a movement of singers that helped popularize Afrikaans music in South Africa in the late 1970s and early 80s. This song was written by Koos du Plessis for a TV series entitled “Phoenix & Kie”. Laurika had been used as a ghost singer on the show, and had no idea that the song she recorded at the beginning of the series was going to be used as its theme. It became a major national hit in 1979, is considered one of the most successful Afrikaans songs in SA history and made Laurika a national hero, who received the Order of the Ikhamanga in 2016 from the South African government, the highest honour an artist can receive in the country.

5. Miriam Makeba: Pata Pata (1967)

Miriam Makeba (aka Mama Africa) released this song in 1967 and it became a major international hit. It was originally released in the USA and was based on an instrumental written by Shumi Ntutu and Isaac Nkosi (“Phatha Phatha”). The “Pata Pata” was a popular dance in township shebeens (similar to juke joints in the USA) in the 1950s. The song was written by Miriam Makeba and Jerry Ragovoy (a famous US composer and musician) and peaked at No12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA. The song has been covered by many musicians over the years and is considered one of her biggest hit singles.

6. Joy: Paradise Road (1980)

This song was written by Patric van Blerk and Fransua Roos in 1979 and was released in 1980. It was a No1 hit on the singles chart in South Africa for 9 weeks. Joy were an all girl group consisting of Felicia Marion, Thoko Ndlozi and Anneline Malebo. The song has a strong majestic beat and became an unofficial national anthem during the apartheid era. Brenda Fassie started her music career as a temporary member of the band in the early 80s, when she arrived from Langa, Cape Town at the age of 16, while Anneline was on maternity leave.

7. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Paul Simon: Homeless (1986)

The 5 time Grammy Award band was originally formed in 1960 by Joseph Shabalala and released their first album in 1972. By the time Paul Simon “discovered” the band in 1985 they had released 21 studio albums. This song was featured on Paul Simon’s 1986 album “Graceland”. The song was written by Joseph Shabalala and Paul Simon and features Joseph on lead vocal. It is considered the song that launched the international career of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and consequently their international acclaim. I love the traditional Isicathamiya (a capella vocal style) sound on this track. Graceland went on to ship over 16million units international and won the 1987 Album of the Year Grammy Award.

8. Mango Groove: Dance Sum More (1989)

This song is featured on Mango Groove’s debut eponymously named album. The band was originally formed in 1984 by friends studying at WITS. They were eventually signed to Gallo records by Benjy Mudie. The song was written by John Leyden, Kevin Botha, Jack Lerole, George Lewis and Meshak Mtswala in 1984 and was the first song written as a band. I love the full sound created by this 11 piece band who fuse a whole lot of traditional and popular music styles in the music they compose: kwela, marabi, township jive and pop. This particular song has a very upbeat groove and optimistic lyrics. Just a fun and happy song.

9. Bright Blue: Weeping (1987)

This was a protest song released in 1987 written by Dan Heymann and performed by the band Bright Blue. The song was written as a response to the then president’s (PW Botha) declaration of a state of emergency in 1985, which resulted in major violence and bloodshed in the country. It includes an interpolation of “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (written by Enoch Sontonga) the ANC’s national anthem at the time, which went on to become a part of South Africa’s overall national anthem, when the first democratically elected government came to power in 1994. The song is considered one of the most iconic South African songs in history and has been widely covered.

10. Ballyhoo: Man On The Moon (1981)

Ballyhoo were originally formed in 1974 in Johannesburg. They original line-up consisted of Attie van Wyk (mentioned earlier), Derrick Dryan, Mick Matthews, Fergie Ferguson and Cedric Samson. The band is best known for the song “Man On The Moon” released in 1981. The song was a major success and peaked at No1 on the South African singles chart for 19 weeks. It was written by Attie van Wyk and Shane Mahoney. The song has a very 1980s pop/rock sound and reminds me of songs by bands like Dire Straits and Genesis. The band has released 5 studio albums and this song is featured on their third album “Man On The Moon”.

11. Margaret Singana: We Are Growing (1986)

Margaret Singana was discovered by her employers, where she worked as a domestic worker, in 1964. They sent a recording of her voice to the producers of a musical, “Sponono”, written by Alan Paton and the rest is history. In 1980 she had a stroke and was forced into semi-retirement. “We Are Growing” was a comeback for her after 6 years of relative inactivity. The song was used as the theme song for the television series “Shaka” about the life and times of the Zulu king. The song was written by Margaret Singana, Julian Laxton and David George Pollecutt.

12. Ricardo and Friends: I Love You Daddy (1987)

Ricardo Groenewald born in Port Elizabeth, was 15 years old when this song became a hit. As a kid this it always brought a tear to my eye, I love the sentimental message of the song. It reminds me of songs like “Ben” by Michael Jackson. It became a major hit in South Africa and launched Ricardo’s music career. The success of the song earned Ricardo the opportunity to sing with Stevie Wonder on his 1989 “Children of the world tour”. After the mainstream success of “I Love You Daddy”, Ricardo focused his energy on releasing Christian music and released 3 Gospel albums.

13. Mandoza: Nkalakatha (2000)

Mandoza was discovered by the King of Kwaito, Arthur Mafokate in Soweto, Johannesburg. He started off his music career as a member of Chiskop, a well known Kwaito band at the time. After leaving the band he decided to pursue a solo career. “Nkalakatha” was featured on his second studio album, of the same name, and was released in 2000. It is considered a landmark South African song and did what many before it were unable to achieve: unite music listeners of different races and cultures in the country. The song was written by Mandoza and Gabriel Gabi Le Roux. In 2001 he won 2 SAMA awards and the song was certified platinum, making Mandoza a certified superstar in the country.

14. TKZee: Shibobo (1998)

TKZee are considered leaders in the creation and popularization of Kwaito music. The band is made up of three members: (T)okollo Tshabalala, (K)abelo Mabalane and Zwai Bala. This particular song also featured the soccer player Benni McCarthy and was released in the run up to the FIFA 1998 Soccer World Cup. The song includes a sample of the Europe hit “The Final Countdown”. It is the title track of the band’s second studio album. The single was such a massive hit and shipped over 100,000 units in the first month, making it the fastest selling single in South African history, making the band a household name.

15. Thembi Seete: M’pathe Kahle (2003)

Thembi Seete has a strong Kwaito pedigree. She was born in Soweto in 1977 and was discovered by Don Laka, who was looking to push the parameters of South African urban music, in the 1990s, beyond Bubblegum, which had been popular in the 1980s. I’m so doing he created a new genre, Kwaito. In the process of discovering new talent for his genre he manufactured a band that became known as Boom Shaka and Thembi was a member of this pioneering band. After leaving the band she decided to pursue a solo career as well as other ventures such as acting and television presenting. This song was used on the soundtrack for the television series “Gaz’lam” and further explores her dance orientated Kwaito roots.

Reflecting on the selected songs it is quite jarring to note that the majority of the songs were popular in the 1980s. I have often reflected on this and feel like the 1980s were a “Golden Era” in South African creativity. It was the height of the apartheid era and international cultural and economic sanctions. The release of music by many international acts were banned by the South African government and many more international artists refused to tour in the country because of its racist policies. This therefore meant that both South African musicians and consumers had limited exposure to external influences and were forced to create our own music and stars in a relative vacuum. Musicians and creators also had a lot to talk about, which inspired the creation of many songs that went on to become anthems for the struggle. Music and the society in which it is created are integrally linked and the songs selected in this article are a clear indication of that, which goes to show that adversity many diamonds were created.