Kongos
Come With Me Now
“…from South Africa.” My ears perk up. There’s a Gideon Stevens in South Africa (but I’m in North America.) I don’t know him, but just knowing he’s there keeps South Africa on my watchlist. So when I heard about a band named “Kongos” — from South Africa — gaining some traction in “the states,” I had to give a listen.
And I’m glad I did, this is a great tune. It has a thumping, primal beat, a chorus that is just so enticingly close to a catch-phrase that it tingles your expectations — and an accordion.
The video splices the band’s energetic performance with excellent footage of people dancing underwater. I’m not sure how that’s relevant to the song, but it’s visually entertaining and well timed. Also notable is the director’s homage to the repeating gif image, or vine-video: the lady with the lipstick, the girl skipping rope, the guy with the book.
Johnny Kongos writes about how we waste so much time because we’re afraid, but it’s a learned fear. It happens when we mix thoughts with feelings, and feelings with reality, he says. I guess I can see that, but I think his more important point is the fear of losing control. Kongos produced and directed the video, and the camera work is by Daniel Kongos. The credits also say it was Edited by Kongos. Control seems featured by this band.
Maybe that’s the point. Our fear of losing control prevents us from taking control by encouraging us to avoid control. We hesitate. Objectively, the fear that drives our hesitation is unfounded, Kongos implies, and invites you to “Come With Me Now.”
