Mamani

I came across this gem years ago and, boy, am I glad I did! While entirely in German (and I know none) except for one track, the musicality leaves nothing up for interpretation! Joy Denalane is a soul singer with a sound all her own. She and her husband, German rapper, Max Herre, produce the music that will have you signing these German melodies (even if you know none) constantly. Definitely worth purchasing!

OMG !!!She is the German version of Mary J. Blige. Absolutely phenomenol !Freaking get the CD...that's all I am going to sayP.S. Yes, she's speaking German ( I know). Let us not forget that music is universal....translation not needed.

Her music is transformative. I didn't want to say more but in order for my review to count I need to say it.

First let me say, I do not speak/read/understand a word of any language in which Joy sings besides English! Secondly, I first came across this sistah's work when I bought a CD called Global Soul which included Hochste Zeit on the compilation. About six months ago I listened to samples of other songs from Mamani online and was determined to get this CD. I asked a friend of mine in England to see if she could get it for me. I got it in the mail yesterday. Now, I can not speak to what the lyrics are saying specifically, but that is not even important here. Many other reviewers have compared her to comtemporary "Neo Soul" artists. Maybe the comparsions are due to similarities in lyrics, but in terms of sound, depth, passion, and talent, Ms. Denalane's sound is closer to that of pure R & B artists of the 70s and earlier. THIS is refreshing! The grooves on her slower songs are those that make you want to grab a partner and have a nice slow dance the way you did when you first Shirley Murdock! Her guests singers sound as beautifuly as she, and the muscians, particuarly those on the African influenced songs, make this cd just come alive. Not everyone can cover a Billie Holiday song this well. Gettng the chance to hear her sing it in English only further solidified the opinion I had begun to devlop about this singer while listening to the other songs. Simply put, this is one of the best new voices I have heard in a long time. In English, this would easily be a chart topper in the U.S.! And if our radio stations were more open to playing international music, it very well might be a hit even without translation! Good job to everyone who worked on this project! I will be spreading the word about this woman! Now, to find an English translation of the lyrics!

This is one of those chill out and relax with your peeps type of albums. Imagine a lot of Mary J. and Jill Scott with just a hint of Sade. Joy Denalane makes R&B and the German language mesch well. My favorite tune is "Kinderlied". It's an absolutely beautiful song. I do have a few small, small problems: During the break at the end of "Was auch immer", another great song, Ms. Denalane comes extremely close to loosing the key of the song. As a trained musician, this is painful to listen to. Production wise, the sax on the first track is too loud. Also, my other favorite tune is the very last on the cd. It's the last of the hidden songs after track 18. It's a little different from everything else. An almost Hip-hop beat with rappers. I'm a little disappointed because there are no lyrics/title printed for this song. Being someone who only speaks "Advanced Tourist German", I'd love to know more about this song. She also does a nice version of "I Cover The Waterfront". One can definitely hear the Billie Holiday influence in her voice. I'd recommend this cd to anyone who's into R&B/Pop, especially from musicians other than Americans.

Because if you don't own this album, you are at a severe loss. Joy Denalane is a wonderfully powerful soul singer in a any language she may sing. The album is primarily sung in German with a few songs sung in the indigenous languages of South Africa and two songs in English. The production is straight-up, hip hop influenced, groovin' R&B. If you are a big fan of the first Les Nubians album, this will certainly satisfy your craving for that same caliber of 'EuroSoul'. Expect a live album from Joy Denalane July 2003 and collaborations with stateside producers (sorry, no names given). See why she's considered the 'Erykah Badu of Germany' and buy this CD, NOW!