Meadowlands

[@leopold23756]

Natural live singing music is so wonderful here.

[@killa46464]

The South Africans have shown us that music can be used in so many ways to lift the spirits and express the emotions and thoughts in some of the most trying and oppressed conditons. They set an example of endurance and strength in mind ,body and spirit.Thankyou for showing sharing with many of us your traditions & culture. The world is a better place for it!!

she actually sings in Tswana...! how awesome is that..?

[@zwelzmg]

LOL... You guys had fun with the song. And that's whats important... Made me smile. NICE

[@vincentmothapa2421]

very nice song, love the performance...

[@chinangwa]

Very very good!!! I love it.

[@karinblumer2143]

Brilliant vibe!

[@riansteff]

Well done Melbs I liked your version and even know the lyrics so well. I was jiving in my computer seat.

[@88motho]

l love it, it makes me proud as a South African.

[@andyrigby4347]

Yeah, man. We get it. Never suggested it was funny, and always pay respect to the history in our intros. Also understand from South African friends the irony of the song and how it has been embraced by a whole generation as a tongue-in-cheek part of the struggle.

[@patrickprinsloo649]

This was actually a song protesting at the forced removals. The SABC was conned into thinking it was the converse. It was one of the very few black pieces of township music played on white radio.

[@daveyewart4289]

nice one . see some #invyhorn people moonlighting . great

[@hjeancnky001]

Where can I find the version performed by Nancy Jacobs and Sisters?

[@NDNewitt]

For 70 years, European jazz musicians have been playing music which largely originated with Afro-Americans. In the sixties, white British rock groups like the Rolling Stones popularised black rhythm & blues. South Africans should be proud of their musical roots and whilst it does seem strange that white Australians should be singing about the force removals of the Apatheid era, it is no stranger than the late George Melly singing the songs of Bessie Smith.....

[@niceliades]

Hey people, at least they are keeping this song alive. I dont see may other options on youtube, hey? SO whatever with yoru big old chip on your big old shoulder. AMANDLAAAAAAAAAAAA! A WETHU. IT IS OURS.

[@killa46464]

Obviously some mixed emotions form various people about this performance. At the end of the day music is music, free for all to enjoy, exeperience,indulge in and perform. It may originate somewhere but travels and can be spread to many other cultures. If we all stuck to singing our own local music, it would be pretty sad. Since I have not yet produced my OWN song, everything I sing is from someone and somewhere else. It's about sharing the joy of music and also the roots & stories & history.

[@riansteff]

YeaH jiving in my seat too. where do you perform?

[@carlenslin5590]

Nice! but also listen to "The Meteors with Archie Coker Meadowlands 1962" Carl Enslin.

[@marlenesteffensen308]

ariyeah like like like it

[@lisamariestube]

if you don't mind a new arrangement chec out the musical UMOJA's arrangement

[@kayem11]

Good to see how music actually knows no bounds between humans! Let's get the meaning of the song right, though. It was sure a protest song, residents of Sophiatown resisting their forced removal to Meadowlands - at the time a 'God-forsaken' patch of land miles away from vibrant Jo'burg life. Sophiatown was seen by the authorities in apartheid SA as an unwelcome black spot in white territory. Strike Vilakazi composed a happy jive tune quite incongruous, one might say, with the anger it expressed. Vs1 (sung in the South Sotho language): Listen, the white folks are saying we must move to Meadowlands, Meadowlands, my love. Vs2 (in an mixture of South Sotho and street Afrikaans ununderstandable to the Afrikaner): (But) listen, the street boys are saying we're not budging; we're here to stay. Here to stay, my love. In the original take of the song (Manhattan Brothers?) a further verse (sung in the Zulu language) said: I will go all day and night, in search of Thandiwe (girl's name). Thandiwe, my love. Even in SA the song was smash crossover hit - white folks madly jiving away and oblivious to the irony of the song about 'them'. An all-time classic!

[@WhiskeyTango-TM]

I'm working on a paper about Sophiatown and the music during apartheid. Could you point me towards any good sources of information? I currently have a few books and the DVD Amandla: Revolution in four part harmony.

[@musicbykg]

you should be flattered that they tried!

[@bonehead110]

Yeah and look what your anc is doing for the poor downtrodden people of South Africa.dont bother to reply I am not interested.

[@digitalasset1]

ignorance is bliss...

[@lemonnlimelight2760]

Go find a hole somewhere cretin.