A couple of days back, I decided to participate in in this #MusicChallenge and this happens to be my first post. Here we go...
DAY 01: A Song From My Childhood
Growing up as a child, I remember listening to a lot of songs...thanks to my dad. Some were indigenous Nigerian songs (typically of the highlife genre) and others foreign songs ranging from country, raggae, soul, and even jazz.
Most of the songs were in cassettes, some original cassettes, while others were recorded or 'dubbed' (as they used to put it) while they were playing on the radio. I guess they didn't see this as piracy! Lol.
My dad had this Sharp stereo which we were always playing song with. I'm pretty sure that the stereo was the first piece of electronic device that I knew how to operate. Even with new electronics available in the house, we still preferred playing songs with the stereo most of the time. We all developed a kind of sentimental attachment towards the stereo. It took the stereo being damaged beyond repair for us to finally get rid of it!
Oweing to this, there were tons of cassettes at home, and we still have a couple of them around, although I can't tell if there are still working.
Frankly. It's a bit hard to choose just one song from my childhood, because I can still remember tons of songs back then. They were Fela's songs (arguably Nigeria's best recording artist ever), Bob Marley, Kenny Rogers, Don Williams, ABBA, Peter Tosh etc.
Then again, if I have to choose one song from my childhood, it has to be Bob Marley's Buffalo Soldier.
Buffalo Soldier was my most listened to and cherished Bob Marley's song. Funny thing us, it's not even close to being the best Bob Marley's song! But I just love it. Anytime it's playing, everybody in my family always sings along, including my mom who is not as passionate about music as the rest of us.
Why Buffalo Soldier?
My mom told me that when she was pregnant with me, she preferred listening to Bob Marley, and that Buffalo Soldier was her best track. According to her, she enjoyed the rhythm, and it was easier for her with the weight of her pregnancy, to sway to the beats of the song, than the other high-tempo Nigerian songs. So the song was virtually on replay for her, even till after she gave birth.
Then when I was a little above 1 year old, I'm told that I used to do a little dance, with a wide smile on my face each time the song was played! My mom always joked about me hearing and loving the song while I was still inside her.
So it made my parents play the song even more and more, just to see their little baby 'do the dance'! Lol.
Till today, each time I'm with my family and the song is played, my parents still asks me to 'do the dance', and I never disappoint!
Ladies and Gentlemen, here is Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley...
You want to sing along? Here are the lyrics
Buffalo Soldier"
Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlocked Rasta
There was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America
Stolen from Africa, brought to America
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
I mean it, when I analyze the stench -
To me it makes a lot of sense
How the Dreadlocked Rasta was a Buffalo Soldier
And he was taken from Africa, brought to America
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Said it was a Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlocked Rasta -
Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America
If you know your history
Then you would know where you're coming from
Then you wouldn't have to ask me
Who the heck do I think I am
I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America
Stolen from Africa, brought to America
Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier win the war for America
Said he, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Buffalo Soldier troddin' through the land, wo-ho-ooh!
Said he wanna ran, then you wanna hand
Troddin' through the land, yea-hea, yea-ea
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier win the war for America
Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlocked Rasta
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Driven from the mainland to the heart of the Caribbean
Singing, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Troddin' through San Juan in the arms of America
Troddin' through Jamaica, a Buffalo Soldier -
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlocked Rasta
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy! [fadeout]
Thanks for reading till the end.
You too can join the #MusicChallenge let's flood stremit with good music.
Here's the complete list