Search - Johnny Clegg :: Cruel Crazy Beautiful World

Deborah J. from VISALIA, CA
Reviewed on 8/7/2006...

1989 album by legendary S. African Johnny Clegg.

One of the greatest African albums of all time

Mark A. Taylor | 08/01/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album simply rocks on every level - the songwriting, the backing vocals and instruments, Johnny Clegg's absolutely fabulous interpretations. And a big bonus - the CD actually sounds good, unlike the poor production and mastering that too often hides the brilliance of African musical artists. Whereas Paul Simon's attempt to meld African and Western styles was well-intentioned but lacking in authenticity, Johnny Clegg is the real deal. He paid his dues in every conceivable way. And as the only white guy to "get it right" and join the ranks of Fela, Rogie, Prince Nico, Manu Dibango, Olatunje, Mahotella Queens, Black Mambazo, Rochereau, Sonny Ade, Salif Keita, Miriam Makeba and Youssou N'Dour as true continental superstars, it's surprising how little respect he seems to get in his homeland. Any second-rate US musician is well-known in SA (at least in the mid-Rand and up-country where I anecdotally polled) and pulls thousands into the stadiums, but you get embarrassed sideward glances if you bring up Johnny Clegg's name in white or mixed areas. The black Africans tend to give him more credit, but if the world were fair and music were apolitical, this album (and Savuka in general) would be an unqualified epiphany."

The Man Who Helped Topple That Wall

Mark A. Taylor | Tucson, AZ United States | 02/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Neglected in the US, Johnny Clegg is a huge star in Europe and is as precious as all those diamonds and gold mined in South Africa. Johnny would rather we focus on the music than his politics but the man's impact on the destruction of the apartheid state is indisputable - go to his web site to see picture of Johnny on stage accompanied by a dancing Nelson Mandela.... This is wonderful, joyful, powerful music and I must quote one of Clegg's lyrics to convey the music's impact. "When I feel the hidden power that lies inside your sound, like the ghost inside the atom that spins it round and round." The power his music unleashes is like the power in an atom and it's a great metaphor for what he's accomplished through his music. Once again, skillfull production by Hilton Rosenthal adds to the powerful delivery of Johnny's work.I saw Johnny Clegg and Savuka 3 times in the early 90's. Fantastic musical performances from a man who danced Zulu style with all the athleticism of a... say Michael Jordon or John Elway! At one show in Boulder Colorado, the audience would not let the band leave, they did a staggering 5 encoures! After the show, I spotted Johnny walking to his car, I was on the street. I shouted "Hey Johnny" and he was humble enough to walk across about 50 yards to come over and have a word. This man is the real deal. Considering what was going on in South Africa when he made this recording, he's lucky to be alive. God Bless Johnny Clegg, his music is definitely a divine gift."