Yannick Noah

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Yannick Noah

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This CD is simply fantastic and I am not sure that a 5 star rating can truly convey how great a recording this is! Noah's debut album is full of African rhythyms and Reggae beats. Steel drums play a prominent role but there is clearly a more mainstream feel to this music that makes it easy to understand why Yannick Noah is soaring up the pop charts in France.

While most of the CD is in French do not let that stop you from buying it. As a French speaker, I can assure you that a lack of fluency in the French language (or not speaking French at all, for that matter) will not hinder your enjoyment. This is about the music and the music is phenomenal. The lyrics are not complex and often repeat. My guess is that, French speaker or not, you will soon be singing along with Noah.

My favorite tracks, if I am forced to choose amongst such a well put togther CD, include "Madingwa," "Simon Papa Tara," and "Jamafrica." Frankly, I can't get "Simon Papa Tara" out of my head.

Never would I have believed that tennis great Yannick Noah (yes, the musician and the tennis player are one in the same!) could create such an incredible album. Noah's debut CD will stay in my collection of favorites for a long time.

Say the words "Yannick Noah" to most teenagers now, and all they will say is "Yannick was born in Sedan, France, 18 May 1960" - or something equally banal. They haven't seen or understood his mastery of the ukelele. This was a skill that Yannick developed when on the tennis circuit, so I gather, reportedly while doing a tie-breaker banjo-off (Deliverance-style) against Ivan Lendl. It's obviously stood him in good stead, as anyone who's had the pleasure to hear Yannick Noah [IMPORT] will know.

The only reason I'm giving this three stars rather than five is because I bought it by mistake, trying to get a copy of a book by the fabulous Yanni.