13. Fela KutiShakara
The thing that blows my mind about Fela’s records is that he can just write two 15 minute songs, and they don’t feel at all indulgent. It’s all in one key but it never bores you. The tension is like slow, tantric sex, it just builds and builds. He knows how to capture a vibe and hold it tight so the intensity keeps building before it explodes. I don’t know why ‘Lady’ is my favourite track, but personally it hits me really hard. I listen to it all the time, and I find the lyrics really entertaining too.
It’s his version of a feminist album I guess, he’s talking about how ‘the woman eats the meat before the man…’ I guess that’s a symbol of liberation. Meanwhile he has his nine wives singing the backing vocals.
He’s more than a musician, he’s a superman. He almost took over Nigeria and his compound was a separate city, he had his own laws, it’s amazing that music can be that powerful. I’m a huge fan of his, He’s an example of how music can almost start a revolution.
