Another Country was released several months before South Africa's landmark 1994 general election, the first democratic election in the country's history.[1][2] The album was the band's artistic contribution to South Africa's crossover period from the apartheid regime to a new government.[3][4] The impression of Lucia Burger—a critic with Afrikaans newspaper Beeld at the time of the album's release—was that it drew the listener "away from the hurt and guilt to the dream, the promised South Africa."[5]
The title song, "Another Country", in particular expressed an optimism about the country's future. It was written by bandmembers Alan Lazar and John Leyden. While the notes for the band's 2006 compilation album Moments Away say that the song was written as "a response to the events surrounding the Boipatong massacre", Femina magazine had previously attributed the song to the assassination of anti-apartheid political leader Chris Hani.[6][7]
Stella Viljoen, an associate professor of visual studies at the University of Stellenbosch,[8] described the song as "a hopeful, yet reserved, anthem for the new South Africa's resurrection from the ashes of apartheid", that was "embraced by many in this spirit".[9] Radio and television stations in South Africa broadcast the song over and over.[9] In a 2017 interview, lead singer Claire Johnston said that "Another Country" was the only Mango Groove song that was "overtly political". "We changed the hearts and minds of people in a way politicians cannot."[10]Arthur Goldstuck of Billboard described "Another Country" as "one of the most beautiful songs to emerge from [South Africa's] transition to democracy".[11]
For their 2016 album Faces to the Sun, Mango Groove re-recorded "Another Country" with a duet between Claire Johnston and Zolani Mahola. A music video for the re-recording followed the release of the album. The video was filmed at a concert the band performed on National Women's Day in August 2016.[12]
Music videosedit
The band recorded music videos for three songs from the album: "Another Country", "Nice to See You", and "Tropical Rain".[13]
"Tropical Rain"edit
In "Tropical Rain", which was taped in colour, the band wear various costumes as they play and dance in a tropical setting.
"Nice to See You"edit
The video for "Nice to See You" is in black and white. A Zulu man presents a phonograph with a twelve-inch single of "Nice to See You" to his father, and plays it. When the music begins, Johnston strolls through a mid-century town as people dance. She travels by train and car to an African music competition, which Mango Groove wins. As the winning band, Mango plays on a variety show. Shots of Johnston singing into a microphone at a radio station are interspersed with scenes of her radio listeners. The end of the video returns to the original Zulu frame narrative. More people approach as the music from the phonograph fades. The elder Zulu man praises the record, and tells his son to "let it play out".
"Another Country"edit
The video for "Another Country" opens on a charcoal drawing animation by William Kentridge of a barren landscape dotted with horn loudspeakers of the sort used in public address systems. Wind howls in the air, but stops when Johnston begins to sing. As she does so, she raises an arm in gesture, and a vessel of water emerges. The scene changes to an animated charcoal drawing of a city. Protestors fill the streets. On one building, images materialise of people who have been injured and killed. Later in the video, the protestors surround the towers of loudspeakers, some of which are now covered and bound. Johnston stands as a giant in a sea of protestors. With a swipe of her arm, she destroys one of the towers. The wrapping of one of the towers forms a bowl, and the protestors leave the streets. The bowl fills to overflowing with water, and the water floods the streets of the city. A radio emerges from the water, and the a stream carries away one of the loudspeakers. The scaffolding of another loudspeaker collapses, and the speaker becomes a bucket from which water flows. Johnston gestures again, and a giant bowl of water appears in the sky over a field of protestors. Their presence is replaced with a lush landscape, and the bowl overflows with water.
Another Country was recorded over the course of four months at BOP Studios, outside the city of Mafikeng. The recording engineer was Richard Mitchell, who was assisted by Alistair Glyn. The album was produced by bandmember Alan Lazar and bandleader John Leyden; the executive producer was Robert Schröder of Stave Record Productions.
Personneledit
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2018)
^Mojapelo, Max (2008). "When Two Cultures Kiss". In Galane, Sello (ed.). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. p. 127. ISBN978-1-920299-28-6. OCLC 966015704. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via Google Books.
^Guy, Duncan (6 May 2017). "Claire's hopes for SA to beat 'blip'". IOL. Independent Media. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
^Goldstuck, Arthur (30 April 1994). "South African Artists Reflect Optimism, but Rappers Remain Defiant of Authority". Billboard. p. 89. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
^"Mango Groove - Another Country feat. Zolani Mahola [Official Music Video]". YouTube. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
^Mango Groove: The Essential (Media notes). Gallo Music Vision. 2009.
^Another Country (cassette tape). One World Entertainment. 1993. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
Referencesedit
Viljoen, Stella (2002). "En Route to the Rainbow Nation: South African Voices of Resistance". In Young, Richard A. (ed.). Music, Popular Culture, Identities. Rodopi. ISBN978-90-420-1249-3. OCLC 637458279.
another, country, mango, groove, album, other, uses, another, country, disambiguation, another, country, third, album, south, african, afropop, fusion, band, mango, groove, released, 1993, near, negotiations, apartheid, south, africa, album, released, south, a. For other uses see Another Country disambiguation Another Country is the third album by South African Afropop fusion band Mango Groove It was released in 1993 near the end of the negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa The album was released in South Africa on cassette and CD by One World Entertainment an imprint of Tusk Music Another CountryStudio album by Mango GrooveReleased1993StudioBOP StudiosGenreAfropopLength46 55LabelOne World EntertainmentProducerAlan LazarJohn LeydenMango Groove chronologyHometalk 1990 Another Country 1993 Eat a Mango 1995 Mango Groove recorded music videos for three songs from the album Another Country Nice to See You and Tropical Rain Contents 1 Historical context 2 Music videos 2 1 Tropical Rain 2 2 Nice to See You 2 3 Another Country 3 Track listing 4 Production 5 Personnel 5 1 Band members 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistorical context editSee also Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa Another Country was released several months before South Africa s landmark 1994 general election the first democratic election in the country s history 1 2 The album was the band s artistic contribution to South Africa s crossover period from the apartheid regime to a new government 3 4 The impression of Lucia Burger a critic with Afrikaans newspaper Beeld at the time of the album s release was that it drew the listener away from the hurt and guilt to the dream the promised South Africa 5 The title song Another Country in particular expressed an optimism about the country s future It was written by bandmembers Alan Lazar and John Leyden While the notes for the band s 2006 compilation album Moments Away say that the song was written as a response to the events surrounding the Boipatong massacre Femina magazine had previously attributed the song to the assassination of anti apartheid political leader Chris Hani 6 7 Stella Viljoen an associate professor of visual studies at the University of Stellenbosch 8 described the song as a hopeful yet reserved anthem for the new South Africa s resurrection from the ashes of apartheid that was embraced by many in this spirit 9 Radio and television stations in South Africa broadcast the song over and over 9 In a 2017 interview lead singer Claire Johnston said that Another Country was the only Mango Groove song that was overtly political We changed the hearts and minds of people in a way politicians cannot 10 Arthur Goldstuck of Billboard described Another Country as one of the most beautiful songs to emerge from South Africa s transition to democracy 11 Johnny Clegg and Savuka another influential multi ethnic anti apartheid band also released an album during South Africa s crossover period Heat Dust and Dreams 1993 2 For their 2016 album Faces to the Sun Mango Groove re recorded Another Country with a duet between Claire Johnston and Zolani Mahola A music video for the re recording followed the release of the album The video was filmed at a concert the band performed on National Women s Day in August 2016 12 Music videos editThe band recorded music videos for three songs from the album Another Country Nice to See You and Tropical Rain 13 Tropical Rain edit In Tropical Rain which was taped in colour the band wear various costumes as they play and dance in a tropical setting Nice to See You edit The video for Nice to See You is in black and white A Zulu man presents a phonograph with a twelve inch single of Nice to See You to his father and plays it When the music begins Johnston strolls through a mid century town as people dance She travels by train and car to an African music competition which Mango Groove wins As the winning band Mango plays on a variety show Shots of Johnston singing into a microphone at a radio station are interspersed with scenes of her radio listeners The end of the video returns to the original Zulu frame narrative More people approach as the music from the phonograph fades The elder Zulu man praises the record and tells his son to let it play out Another Country edit The video for Another Country opens on a charcoal drawing animation by William Kentridge of a barren landscape dotted with horn loudspeakers of the sort used in public address systems Wind howls in the air but stops when Johnston begins to sing As she does so she raises an arm in gesture and a vessel of water emerges The scene changes to an animated charcoal drawing of a city Protestors fill the streets On one building images materialise of people who have been injured and killed Later in the video the protestors surround the towers of loudspeakers some of which are now covered and bound Johnston stands as a giant in a sea of protestors With a swipe of her arm she destroys one of the towers The wrapping of one of the towers forms a bowl and the protestors leave the streets The bowl fills to overflowing with water and the water floods the streets of the city A radio emerges from the water and the a stream carries away one of the loudspeakers The scaffolding of another loudspeaker collapses and the speaker becomes a bucket from which water flows Johnston gestures again and a giant bowl of water appears in the sky over a field of protestors Their presence is replaced with a lush landscape and the bowl overflows with water Track listing editNo TitleLyricsMusicLength1 Nice to See You Claire Johnston John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden Mduduzi Magwaza4 322 Keep On Dancing Claire Johnston Banza Kgasoane John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden3 213 Follow My Mind Kevin Botha Claire Johnston John LeydenKevin Botha Alan Lazar John Leyden4 414 We Don t Need a Miracle Claire Johnston Alan Lazar John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden3 445 Shake Banza Kgasoane John Leyden Mduduzi Magwaza3 076 Another Country John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden4 167 Kindest Part of Love John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden3 208 Sometimes Claire Johnston John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden3 529 Tropical Rain Kevin Botha Banza Kgasoane Claire Johnston John LeydenClaire Johnston Banza Kgasoane John Leyden3 4910 Sweet Sorrow Claire Johnston Alan LazarAlan Lazar2 3311 A New Kind of Love Claire Johnston John LeydenAlan Lazar John Leyden3 3012 Love Will Find a Way Claire Johnston John LeydenSteve Cooks Claire Johnston John Leyden Mauritz Lotz3 2913 Dream Softly Claire Johnston John LeydenJohn Leyden 14 2 41Total length 46 55Production editAnother Country was recorded over the course of four months at BOP Studios outside the city of Mafikeng The recording engineer was Richard Mitchell who was assisted by Alistair Glyn The album was produced by bandmember Alan Lazar and bandleader John Leyden the executive producer was Robert Schroder of Stave Record Productions Personnel editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items July 2018 Band members edit Claire Johnston lead vocals Belulah Hashe vocals Phumzile Ntuli vocals Banza Kgasoane trumpet Mduduzi Magwaza alto saxophone penny whistle Kelly Pelane saxophone Alan Lazar keyboards piano Mauritz Lotz guitar John Leyden bass vocals Peter Cohen drums percussionSee also edit nbsp South Africa portalHeat Dust and Dreams 1993 Internal resistance to apartheid South African Musicians AllianceNotes edit Mojapelo Max 2008 When Two Cultures Kiss In Galane Sello ed Beyond Memory Recording the History Moments and Memories of South African Music African Minds p 127 ISBN 978 1 920299 28 6 OCLC 966015704 Retrieved 25 November 2017 via Google Books a b Viljoen 2002 pp 330 Viljoen 2002 pp 329 30 Leyden Paula 6 December 2013 Madiba The Butterfly Heart and the Sleeping Baobab Tree Paula Leyden Retrieved 26 November 2017 Quoted in Viljoen 2002 pp 331 Moments Away Love Songs and Lullabies 1990 2006 Media notes Gallo Record Company 2006 Magoulianiti McGregor Nia 2008 Special Star Femina Issues 208 211 Associated Magazines p 14 via Google Books Stella Viljoen sun ac za Stellenbosch University Archived from the original on 1 December 2017 Retrieved 25 November 2017 a b Viljoen 2002 p 331 Guy Duncan 6 May 2017 Claire s hopes for SA to beat blip IOL Independent Media Retrieved 30 July 2017 Goldstuck Arthur 30 April 1994 South African Artists Reflect Optimism but Rappers Remain Defiant of Authority Billboard p 89 Retrieved 14 December 2017 Mango Groove Another Country feat Zolani Mahola Official Music Video YouTube 24 November 2016 Retrieved 11 April 2018 Mango Groove The Essential Media notes Gallo Music Vision 2009 Another Country cassette tape One World Entertainment 1993 Retrieved 2 December 2017 References editViljoen Stella 2002 En Route to the Rainbow Nation South African Voices of Resistance In Young Richard A ed Music Popular Culture Identities Rodopi ISBN 978 90 420 1249 3 OCLC 637458279 External links editAnother Country at Discogs list of releases Another Country at MusicBrainz list of releases nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Another Country Mango Groove album amp oldid 1085019932 Historical context, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
