Big news for South African music is that sweet and wholesome local band Freshlyground picked up an award at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Copenhagen on Thursday. Well, done Freshlyground. A hearty congratulations to you.
Of course, winning the award for Best African Act is sort of like beating your gran at Scrabble: the competition’s not up to shit and no-one really cares. But well done, Freshlyground: in claiming your prize, you beat such leading international acts as “Nigerian R&B twins P-Square, Tanzanian bongo flava star Juma Nature, Angolan R&B sensation Anselmo Ralph [and] Kenyan hip-hop artist Nameless“. What an extraordinary achievement! I am so impressed I could just shit myself again. Wow. You are now, officially, not the kakkest band in Africa!
Sure, it’s nice that South Africa actually won something, but I think it goes without saying that I am not a Freshlyground fan. But if it doesn’t, let me say it expressly: I am not a Freshlyground fan. I have nothing against Freshlyground; I just have something against the thousands of upper-class South African whites who have adopted the English speaking/singing, multiracial (but noticeably pasty) act as their token African cultural interest. The music is “African”, but not kwaito; it’s got violins and shit; it has a black lead singer: Freshlyground is accessable, non-offensive, saccharine pop whose “indigenous” flavour is decidely dilute, presented by an ensemble with as much collective cool as the guy who plays the organ in school assembly. Frankly, I think the band is dull, edgeless, soulless, overplayed and annoying.
Ok. Maybe I do have something against them.
In brief, Freshlyground is the Mango Groove of the new millenium: same formula, same sound, same happy-go-lucky bullshit, same stupid fucking hype. I was bitching about this specific parallel to a particulalry sexy Saffa belter on Friday night, and was informed last night by dishy South African rock sensation, Justin TimberBergh, that Freshlyground in fact comprises members of the original Mango Groove lineup. Yes! The Bergh may be many things to many people, but a liar he is not. Course, a quick Wikipedia check didn’t support Justin’s info, but what the hell does Wikipedia know anyway?
Right. Here we go: fuck you, Freshlyground! You’re pulling the same cheesy tricks on South African audiences that uber-kak Mango Groove got away with during the eighties. But you’re not fooling the salami. No, sirree! And I can’t wait until your inane and mercilessly irritating Doobeedoobeedoobadaa becomes the next Dance Some More. I will laugh hard, and I will not be laughing with you.
16 responses so far ↓
1 IR // Nov 6, 2006 at 4:39 am
I don’t know about Mango Groove but the drummer was also the drummer for Deep Blue (I think that’s their name), the band that sang Weeping in the bad old days.
As to their music Doobeedoo is poppy crap but Nomvula is an incredible song, one of the best I’ve ever heard. And the fact that I liked Eiffel 65 should in no way take away from this.
2 PED // Nov 6, 2006 at 6:14 am
Even if you utterly detest the band, winning any award courtesy of MTV is something to be proud of, its International exposure in a positive light, something which South Africa is sorely lacking! You congratulations, followed by mass slating, sounds so insincere it makes me wonder why you would even note the award.
3 DN // Nov 6, 2006 at 7:08 am
What do you care, people like their music, get over it, dont listen to it, i dont, but i’m not wasting an entire book on how much they are like mango groove? Who cares they’re pasty? Arent white people african? Get over your issues. Its fu##$% music, not world politics.
4 Paddy // Nov 6, 2006 at 7:17 am
I agree that they are watered down africana but that’s what makes it outside of Africa. The Europeans love this shit, especially zi Germans.
5 LW // Nov 6, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Im totally on your side - i dont get the big deal. i went home after a year in London and I swear to god if that doobeedoo crap gets stuck in my head ever again i will admit myself to a loony bin. HOW IRRITATING?! imagine recording that? dont mind their ohter stuff but that song is just as bad as effeil 65!
6 smg // Nov 6, 2006 at 3:22 pm
i’m sitting on the fence here. after seeing them at a number of gigs, i think that their sound is pretty tidy. i do believe the award is great exposure for sa music scene.
i do also believe DN needs to smoke some dope. you’re way too hectic dude! its a fu#*ing blog post, not world politics.
7 AmaOrange // Nov 6, 2006 at 5:16 pm
The drummer, Peter Cohen, has been around the block a few times - so I think someone should update Wikipedia - he is the ex-Mango Groove’er and Bright Blue’er.
But I also have to agree. Having watched the band develop from demo stage, I feel that their first album (Jika Jika) had far more spirit and vibe. When I first heard Nomvula - the album - I scratched off most of the tracks as crap - and then they became hits…
If one looks closely at the group, adding and subtracking members to see what makes the band so popular, you’ll find that without Zolani Mahola, there is very little that makes them world-class… She is the spirit, the voice and the personality, and whoever she fronts for, she will always have audiences eating out of her hand.
8 the salami from killarney // Nov 6, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Thanks for settling that, AmaOrange. I guess that’s Justin Bergh 1 Wikipedia 0.
To the other guys - here’s a little question to stoke the politics vs music debate: if Zolani Mahola were white, would Freshlyground still be as big and successful, domestically and internationally, as they are?
First correct answer wins a Cradle of Filth CD.
9 DN // Nov 7, 2006 at 6:27 am
Smoke some dope? Sorry “dude”, didnt know you wont understand that my point is chill, its just a song, and my esteemed friend who’s blog i do enjoy, spent way to much time and effort on how much they’re like mango groove, actually, i’m the idiot even responding.
With regards to the Zolani question, why do we keep making an issue of it, accept it, and maybe it doesnt matter. But i dont know who cradle of filth is, and it doesnt sound appetising, so if they made a CD, chuck it at SMG who likes “tidy” music.
10 The Muso » Freshly Ground Win MTV Europe Award // Nov 7, 2006 at 12:34 pm
[...] Read Splattermail FreshlyGround Article [...]
11 Rocket // Nov 9, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Easy there bud, I hate pop music as much as you do (Pete Waterman is the Devil etc.), you should have heard the attack I launched on the SA Music Quota on The Yellow Llama some months back. I really gave it horns, but still, I think that crit above was a little harsh.
But ja, nothing like a big wooden spoon to stir the shit up a bit…
12 Splattermail :: Touching you where it feels nice » Blog Archive » Nude Girls go crazy for the Bush // Nov 9, 2006 at 9:22 pm
[...] Some people seemed to take offence at my comments about rather average local band Freshlyground and their decidedly more average fans. The salami feels no pity for you. Mediocrity is a sin. I’m not done yet. [...]
13 vee // Jan 12, 2007 at 8:13 am
at least South Africa is on the music scene and at least we hav some pretty brilliant artists who are putting us on the map. stop dissing SA acts and start supporting instead! I for one am proud of my fellow South African musicians and they hav wot it takes. If you dont hav something constructive to say..then F@#k RIGHT OFF!!!!! No wonder you hav only 83 subscribers!! im all for criticism…but come on!!! Thats harsh…even for you!
14 the salami from killarney // Jan 14, 2007 at 9:26 am
Here’s my point (well, at least part of it): do you think serious Swedish music fans dig the fact that their entire musical heritage, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, consists primarily of Abba and Roxette? Although, given some of the responses above, I suspect some of you consider Abba and Roxette to be the Twin Towers of Excellence, so my point will probably be missed.
15 Cee // Nov 17, 2007 at 3:56 pm
You poor, frustrated, jealous old thing. Sorry things have not worked out better for you. Hang in there…
16 Freshlyground win MTV Africa award! | Peak People: An Inside Look // Nov 30, 2007 at 8:45 pm
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