AFRICA by TOTO - BEST SONG EVER?
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| Africe by Toto - best song ever |
Africa - The iconic song by Toto, that is considered the best song of all time by many people, started out as a quick 10 min jam by the keyboard player/main singer (David Paich). It's one of those songs that fits this story line:
- Member of the band inspired by something they saw on TV, writes a few lyrics
- Member of band fiddles around with a melody or some chords to go along with lyrics
- Member of band writes a song that does not sound like a 'typical' band song
- Band members argue over whether the song sounds like 'them' and should be recorded
- Song is a last minute edition to the album
- Song hits #1 on the charts
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| How many times have you listed to Toto Africa? |
That would be the storyline for Africa (get the album here). Paich was inspired by a documentary on the plight of Africa, and those UNICEF commercials. He wrote some lyrics in ten minutes. He played some strange sounds on his keyboard. He brought the song to the band who didn't think is sounded 'soft rock' enough. The band reluctantly recorded it. The song goes number one!
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| Africa Toto - yes please, I'll have another cup of that |
Similar storyling for Van Halen's Jump. Eddie Van Halen fiddles around with a keyboard, Roth inspired by a suicide jumper on TV, they reluctantly record the song that is not 'rock', and they get their only number one hit.
Africa had a bit of a modern resurgence with the meme culture, linking Toto with the dog from the Wizard of Oz. Those are some funny memes.
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| Toto meme |
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| Another Toto meme |
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| Toto - hurry boys she's waiting there for you |
Fast forward 35 years and a cover of the song by Weezer runs the song up the charts for a second time. It would only hit the 50s in the top 100, but still, a pretty good showing for a cover song. Just shows how universal the love is for this song.
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| Love Toto's Africa Love it!!! |
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| When someone doesn't like Toto's Africa |
Apparently, Weezer recorded the song after a fan requested it? See the love.
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| By fan request - TOTO! |
As well, in 2007 Karl Wolf covered, or more precicely, heavily sampled Africa and the song exploded in Canada going all the way to the 2nd rung on the Canadian Hot 100 charts. Canadians love the TOTO!
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| I hear the drums echo in the night |
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| Toto Africa meme |
Personally, I love hearing this song when I'm driving...alone...at night. The primitive beat and then the cymbal crash into the high chorus makes it such a great karaoke style song. Even if I can't hit the high note. Which is kind of why it's best if I hear it while I'm alone.
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| Dad joke karaoke or dead bird! |
This is also one of those songs that the lyrics are often misheard.
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| Is it missed or kissed the rains down in Africa? |
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| Misheard lyrics - TOTO AFRICA |
For me, it is right up there in my top ten best songs of all time. It never seems to get old and worn out - even if the band is getting old and worn out (ouch!).
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| Africa by Toto was written by a man who had never set foot on the continent |
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| I bless the rains down in Africa |
MORE TOTO MEMES
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