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C'est la Vie (Henri Dikongué album)

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C'est la Vie
Studio album by
Henri Dikongué
Released1997
LabelTinder[1]
ProducerGilles Fruchaux
Henri Dikongué chronology
Wa (You)
(1995) 		C'est la Vie
(1997) 		Mot'a Babe
(2000)

C'est la Vie is an album by the Cameroonian musician Henri Dikongué.[2][3] It was released in 1997.[4]

The album was dedicated to Fela Kuti and Robert Mitchum.[2] It was a success on European world music charts, and sold more than 9,000 copies in its first month of release.[5][6] Dikongué promoted it by touring North America.[7]

Production

[edit]

The album was produced by Gilles Fruchaux.[8] The title track was sung in French; Dikongué wrote all of the album's songs, and also played classical guitar.[4][9][10] Dikongué was influenced by the sound of bossa nova.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Robert ChristgauA−[13]
Los Angeles Times[5]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[8]

JazzTimes noted that "Dikongue's musical turf isn’t the dance-driven world of intensely rhythmic West African styles, but a softer melange, grounded in elements of Brazilian influences and a general emphasis on acoustic instruments."[14] Robert Christgau wrote that Dikongué is "what happens when Afropop becomes world music—when it targets broad-minded European connoisseurs rather than rhythm-schooled African sophisticates."[13] The Indianapolis Star opined that Dikongué "has a most gorgeous, lilting folk sound."[15]

The Washington Post stated that "Dikongue's distinctive style melds classical guitar, Latin-jazz balladry and French chansons."[16] The Orange County Register praised Dikongué's "sweetly suave style," writing that he "crafts low-key, folk- and jazz-infused Afro-pop."[17]

AllMusic wrote: "Offering an interesting alternative to zouk and makossa, Cameroon's Henri Dikongue favors an introspective, sensitive and ballad-heavy approach on C'est la Vie."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Ndutu" 
2."Ndol'asu" 
3."C'est la Vie" 
4."Na Tem Ité Idiba" 
5."Na Teleye Owa Ngea" 
6."We Nde Mba" 
7."Bulu Bo Windi Tenge" 
8."Françoise" 
9."A Mumi" 
10."Wen Te Mba Wenge" 
11."Douala" 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New World '98". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 57, no. 601. Jan 11, 1999. p. 22.
  2. ^ a b "Henri Dikongué Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ St. Leger, Marie Elsie (Jul 1998). "C'est la Vie". Audio. Vol. 82, no. 7. p. 72.
  4. ^ a b Winders, J. (June 5, 2007). Paris Africain: Rhythms of the African Diaspora. Springer.
  5. ^ a b Heckman, Don (28 Mar 1998). "Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
  6. ^ poet, j (June 21, 1998). "Dikongue Goes Global". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 43.
  7. ^ Doyle, Alan (October 8, 1998). "Melody Returns to African Pop Music". Contra Costa Times. p. D2.
  8. ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 220.
  9. ^ Chapman, Geoff (25 July 1998). "Henri Dikongue C'est la Vie". Entertainment. Toronto Star. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Henri's a new sound out of Africa". The Mercury. July 17, 1998. p. 32.
  11. ^ "Tinder". Rolling Stone. No. 802/803. Dec 24, 1998. p. SS28.
  12. ^ a b "C'est la Vie". AllMusic.
  13. ^ a b "Henri Dikongué". Robert Christgau.
  14. ^ Woodard, Josef. "Henri Dikongue: C'est La Vie". JazzTimes.
  15. ^ Allan, Marc D. (26 Sep 1998). "Festival offers wonderful, worldly mix". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
  16. ^ "Popular Music". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  17. ^ Darling, Cary (March 6, 1998). "Crossing cultures: harmony and clash". Orange County Register. p. F49.
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