An old saying goes that when you need comfort, hug your mother… for her heartbeat is the most comforting sound that nature has custom-designed – only for you. It is something we have grown up listening to.
But somewhere down the line, we lost touch with all that was simple, real and pure. We search all over the world to find what gives us peace. But what we long for at the end of the day is a simple feeling pure, an expression of life and love… and this is something similar to what I found, by chance, in Rokia Traore’s performance at TED.
Soul stirring vocals, nascent strings and moody blues make this video not only watchable but makes me want to paint. I dont know when, but I will.
Rokia Traore’s performance did make me go numb and throbbing at the same time. Her voice, her aura, the music and all the colors around her, did make it seem very ethereal. Feels like a jazz performance but more soulful and more goose-bumpy.
The guitar strings and the traditional instrument merge together to create a unique kind of music. Marrying the old with the new – her musical fusion is exquisite and something what we keep searching for.
Yes, I am so much inspiredd to paint the whole song. Or perhaps her. Her soul. I dont know. I rarely paint with music but this one urges me to try. Please click below to watch one of her song performance.
Rokia Traore sings the moving “M’Bifo,” accompanied on the n’goni, a lute-like Malian stringed instrument with a soulful timbre. A quietly mesmerizing performance.
Rokia is blessed with such a lovely face that her silhouette stands out beautiful in the blue purple light. I’d say a fauvist style painting of hers would be striking and deep. One soul painter who could do justice to Rokia Traore’s is Bruni Sablan – whose works I’d die for.
Rokia makes us feel Africa, the native african language, its sounds, sights and smells… sitting faraway. Like any blessed land full of strives, pain, loot and maraud… her voice sounds the angst of africa. I do not understand the lyrics but feel no need to know them. The pain is felt. The despair is sensed. The longing is shared.
Yes, love is beyond language.
I hear it as I write this. Oh! how can it not touch your soul.
PS: The comments are closed for this post as I am getting too much spam here. If you have something to say, please leave your comments on any other page on WanderingMist and I will get back to you.
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I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I agree, thanks for sharing this..
I did not understand the lyrics… but her voice, the melody and music strikes deep within. Listening to this song is like meditating! Thank you so much for sharing.
I love the new look for your site. It the slide show on top is beautiful.
Iniyaal: Very true. Music knows no boundaries.
Glad you liked the header slideshow but I am still tweaking my layout. I dont know how it is going to end up eventually…. its experimenting time.
Hang around and give me your input. Sometimes I dont know when to stop!
I think if you look deep in to any art you can SEE music! Thanks for introducing me to Rokia.. what a soul stirring music. When I saw her image highlighted with purple, I thought a fauvist approach would result in a wonderful painting.. you seemed to think like wise! Hope to get to see your painting of her 🙂
Thanks for liking my Banyan!
Padmaja: Im really not sure if I will really paint her so soon. I had attempted Fauvism couple of times in my life. But Rokia seems to command or hauntingly want something more. Let the strokes happen. Someday.
Haunting…beautiful…I often go to the town to listen to the African Drums…and they make me dance, write, compose, cook, beathe, run wild, be born again, all at once.
Her voice is all that and more…urge you to paint it, because only a soulful painter like you can capture the ‘Spirit of Africa’ , the essence of her true voice & the dynamic depths of color and shade in her intrumental composition.
Awaiting your melodic painting..
Mystic.
Mystic: I dont know when I will paint… but that music does makes us sway. Im glad you liked it. You are lucky to be able to see and hear them perform. Lets swing!