Simphiwe Dana is one of the most talented musicians that has come out of Africa since the late Miriam Makeba. She continues to capture audiences with her avant-garde music and style that is very authentic. With her very impeccable voice and her song writing skills she has managed to create a very unique and interesting sound that sets her apart from all other artists.
Despite all of these qualities and a stream of awards including 6 SAMAs she still remains one of the most unpraised singers in her own country. She is constantly being sidelined especially when it comes to radio airplay. This led to her turning to other countries like Germany for support and appreciation, a move that led her gaining international acclaim and even her self -more album hitting no1 on the Billboard world music charts.
Despite all of these qualities and a stream of awards including 6 SAMAs she still remains one of the most unpraised singers in her own country. She is constantly being sidelined especially when it comes to radio airplay. This led to her turning to other countries like Germany for support and appreciation, a move that led her gaining international acclaim and even her self -more album hitting no1 on the Billboard world music charts.
Over the years Simphiwe who came to be known for her very powerful performances and her many appearances in jazz festivals around the world from the Switzerland Avo session to the International jazz festival. The release of the her critically acclaimed third album “Kulture Noir” saw her teaming up with the man who offered her, her big break Sipho Sithole to produce by far the best album of 2010.
With the rise in the release of live DVD’s in South Africa it came as no surprise when she announced the release of a live DVD, which was recorded live on the 1st of December 2010 at the Lyric Theatre to a sold out theatre. The DVD had a few huddles being pushed back a number of times but it was finally released on
the 14th of May and I ran to get myself a copy and I just knew I had to write about it.
The DVD hits off with Simphiwe accompanied by a two piece band, a bass and guitar played by the legendary Themba Mokoena belting off classical tunes like “Malaika” made famous by the late Miriam Makeba. She is then joined by the full band for her famous classics which include the love song “tribe” taken from her debut album “Zandisile”.
With the rise in the release of live DVD’s in South Africa it came as no surprise when she announced the release of a live DVD, which was recorded live on the 1st of December 2010 at the Lyric Theatre to a sold out theatre. The DVD had a few huddles being pushed back a number of times but it was finally released on
the 14th of May and I ran to get myself a copy and I just knew I had to write about it.
The DVD hits off with Simphiwe accompanied by a two piece band, a bass and guitar played by the legendary Themba Mokoena belting off classical tunes like “Malaika” made famous by the late Miriam Makeba. She is then joined by the full band for her famous classics which include the love song “tribe” taken from her debut album “Zandisile”.
After changing to a white lady gaga like outfit she pays tribute to Sophia town with the audience singing along on their feet. The 27 orchestra finally joins her on songs like “Mayine”, “Iliwa Lam” and “Bantu Biko Street” making it a highlight of the show. “Ndiredi” and “Ilolo” have the audience on their feet with Miss Dana showing us that she can get down.
With all the live DVD’s that have been released, this is by far the best DVD that has ever been released by a South African artist along Miriam Makeba’s DVD live at Bern’s in 1966. Unlike the other DVD’s which have been released with a huge production that includes dancers, plasma screens, designer lighting and lasers, in Simphiwe’s there is only one thing that’s at focus and that’s her very mesmerizing voice and her hitting those high notes so effortlessly. She shows us that to pull off a night that will go down as one of the greatest nights in music history, all you need is your god given talent and nothing more. This DVD is worth a buy infact it’s a must have for all the artists because they might learn a thing or two from this tremendously talented woman.
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