Toto - Africa (cover by The Novelists)

Hats off to the incredible Toto. They are constantly an inspiration to us, so here is our tribute to them from our April 2016 Breaking the Script CD Release.
The Novelists:
Joel Ackerson - lead vocals, guitar
Eric Andersen - lead vocals, electric piano
Zack Teran - vocals, bass
Guest musician:
Justin Kruger - vocals, drums
Videography and editing by Tyler Bourns
Audio mixing by David Peters

[@JohnHWelch63]

It makes me happy to still be hearing this song like 40 years after it was on the charts. Always been one of my faves.

[@thenovelists]

Thank you!

[@KarisGarra]

Underrated band, this is f*cking beautiful.

[@josephmatthews3767]

God, the drums are great, the guitarists are amazing, the pianist is phanominal. Everythings great

[@antoniofernandez3122]

I agree. But the bassist on next level!

[@backupher0]

Slap that bass! Love it.

[@SubhansVault]

I love it when a drummer feels the song instead of just filling in the song

[@guillermoyepez4273]

So great

[@0retro0]

That guy tryna get everyone to clap but then no one clapping is just such a mood

[@princesslouiseianna]

The band and crowd loves the song..that is harmony..

[@brandonlumby888]

And the way he dominates the ivories is nuts... my guy

[@aniilaydn]

ooaahhh perfect bass solos

[@dudacader2775]

this is the best africa cover i’ve ever seen.

[@thenovelists]

That is very kind. Thank you.

[@rodolforosas6417]

best live cover, by far

[@joelek19]

Insane

[@thenovelists]

From one Joel to another, thank you!

[@srincrivel1]

Holy god! That drummer is feeling the music! Hahaha

[@jksonic111]

why thank you ! If you don't feel it , why do it ? haha :)

[@sttommore]

Thing is, you're not wrong.

[@ikerespinozalopez7214]

the best cover ever

[@VamosFalardeAirsoft]

Flawless, absolute perfection.

[@danielmasedo7190]

this is the best cover EVER! OMG Im crying. so perfect!

[@robertebirch1]

OUTSTANDING!!!

[@sploosh578]

This deserves WAY more views!

[@slapitman]

I found this track totally by mistake. Blown away. How f*#ing good this!!! That bass player is off the charts with those grace notes - super tight.

[@thenovelists]

That's our bassist/lead guitarist, Zack Teran. Thank you!

[@slapitman]

@@thenovelists He's a great player

[@bsanks5346]

This is a masterful performance. Don't call it a cover, these guys just inherit the time period when Toto wrote and performed this. I keep going back and replaying this when I want to hear an amazing performance. No one is mentioning the vocals. All 3 absolutely KILLED it - in the good way!

[@thomm54]

Quelle reprise fantastique. Vraiment bravo. Félicitations 😊

[@2k98matty]

Tight harmonies, great vocals and great vibes! :)

[@MichaelCravith]

This deserves far more views than it's received thus far. It's quite possibly the best Africa cover I've heard yet. Well done.

[@Tianjalaarga]

Spectacular!

[@wildnites558]

OUtstanding keyboard chops! The song just can't be done without great sounding accurate keyboard ability.

[@TheMDGMobile]

Hats off to you too. It's a superb song and you gave it your spice and flavour. Truly inspiring!

[@Victorl3363]

Super

[@kodibassInsideoutboards]

Been 2+ Years WTF ,,, These R The Best Ever Toto Band Ever... Com'on Guy's.

[@brandonlumby888]

This whole performance is amazing but when Eric sings that chorus my socks literally blow off my feet... most talented dude I've ever met. Rock on my brother!

[@zippers2]

what a blast singing along with this at the top of my lungs !!!! just do it...!!

[@kelseywoodham167]

Loved the bass player jumping in with his background high harmony!

[@TheMDGMobile]

Bassist Vocals ! and Chops!!!

[@RubyBandUSA]

how can you forget the drummer?!! Shades of J. Porcaro!

[@more_cowbell]

I just LOVE IT!!! That was such a fun surprise.

[@ET_Don]

In my opinion this is easily the best cover of Africa I have seen thus far. Very nicely done Gents.

[@KarlstadDrums]

This cover is awesome! The drummer is really good! Nice groove and I love that fill at 2:34 !

[@b.hofmann6271]

great stuff, one of the best covers of Africa i have ever heard. funky and smooth. bass line is my favourite, nice and percussive thanks guys 🙏🏼

[@ericackerson3506]

You guys made this great song even better.

[@StateofSeptember]

Fantastic cover guys! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Wasn't expecting the pianist to come in as lead on the chorus, but when he did - WOW!

[@rudineumahr3369]

The best Cover of this Song 👍

[@lucianofernandes8609]

More views for this amazing cover, please!

[@3004jac]

Fantastic.

[@ganondorfdragmire7886]

The Novelists are excellent!

[@briansemoso3926]

Beautiful !

[@saulravenhudson5873]

Awesomely done!

[@thenovelists]

Thank you!

[@bsanks5346]

#1 rendition. Amazing gentlemen.

[@teyoph8479]

great, one of my favorite cover so far. Good job guys

[@jameshowland7393]

OH MAN!!!!! AWESOME!!

[@RichiJamesMusic]

I’m usually pretty pessimistic when it comes to people covering Africa. But they nailed this!

[@3004jac]

Fantastic

[@SydOfTheFunnyHat]

This just gets better and better every time I watch it. Pretty much like all your videos. :)

[@sttommore]

I've got to say, this is a tremendous performance of a wonderful song. It's just a great rendition in its own right, without respect to any expectations of preconceptions. I love the performance on the drums, and the sound created by a four-piece here is quite amazing. Also really enjoyed the production of the sound. Great mix, and an awesome sound out of that snare.

[@thenovelists]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@bastienpouliot7115]

great job this is the best cover on youtube I cant stop watching it

[@thenovelists]

That huge, Bastien, thank you!

[@danievandermerwe4670]

Love it.best bass player

[@jillbissett941]

Freaking amazing!!!

[@SatrioKuncoroNugroho]

The Great bass tones & feel

[@akselisuutari7226]

I think this is The Best cover video on KZbin. The groove was so awesome that I smiled whole time when I listened to this :)

[@EdgarRodriguez-gi9mw]

Akseli Suutari you haven't seen the angel choir cover aren't you?

[@KaiWolf18]

They all have such full singing voices, its nice!

[@mrtrublu347]

This is great stuff

[@kodibassInsideoutboards]

I watch them every day, This video is always @ the top. They R so good. When will the TOTO guys do a vid with them, Come on Steve,, Do it. kodibass

[@drepalla]

Excellent cover of a great song, great talent!

[@adolfolopez7880]

Best cover i've ever seen!

[@DennisdeLange]

Stunning performance! You really caught the soul of this song

[@ProducersVault]

You all ROCK by far the best Africa Cover on the web up there with MIKE MASSE

[@sionnachs_workshop]

lmao my new hobby

[@Homitu]

I've literally spent my last 2 hours just listening to various Africa covers, and thus far, I agree: this and Mike Masse's are the tops.

[@sionnachs_workshop]

Homitu I think a lot of people went down that rabbit hole lmao

[@steveryan1799]

Holy moly it is good!

[@JRDISTURBED]

Africa cover by ninja sex party

[@ezequieltgarciaiii9888]

WEll Done !

[@fortuner123]

Great recording. Sounds brilliant. Excellent. Well done. As a drummer myself I really appreciate his playing. Good luck guys!

[@HarmonixAnimations]

Amazing drumming love it!!

[@downfall82]

Best cover

[@mcowman5741]

Best cover!!

[@Toonami15187553]

I love that drummer! He's so hip!

[@brendanoneil3489]

too hip nice groove just too fussy

[@brandonlumby888]

And Joel and Zach also kill it... Joels voice is perfect for this... but Eric really shines in this. I can't remember the drummers name but he also does a phenomenal job.

[@stuartjohnson5238]

Holy SHIT! That was insanely good!!

[@motenai343]

Super cover:)!!

[@elrads]

Sweet singing. Sweet music. A job well done, guys. Kudos!!!!!

[@olimcfly]

Gotta love those basslines

[@JamesJones-zt2yx]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@skanklepuss]

Excellent job... one of the most difficult songs to cover, for a lot of reasons... harmonies, percussion, multiple keys... Well done!

[@tkk7324]

Great drumming

[@giu.c.5080]

Una tra le migliori versioni di "Africa": bravi!!!

[@cohall46]

Great cover of Toto.

[@user-fx9vq7gf3j]

the keyboardist has a powerful voice especially at that octave..i also enjoyed the drums and the bass..

[@kodibassInsideoutboards]

SOOOOOO, Good! the piano,,,,drummer..... Dammmmm. then the bass player throws the tag vocals @ the end... chills 4 sure. goooooood stuff. !!!!! love'm. , kodi

[@4himsanctified]

Excellent!

[@adamlange4115]

This cover is beast... awesome, guys!

[@franciscoholanda1430]

That music is storm

[@boulder89984]

I'm impressed. Wow!

[@jonw8789]

Absolutely brilliant !

[@junefendora]

Gave me goosebumps

[@celestialburst]

excellent as usual !

[@SimoneOrtisi]

YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!

[@rogermoore8154]

Splendid! 👏👏👏

[@js1968rip1]

Perfect from every aspect!! Well done!

[@hugoantunesartwithblender]

Uau. Its amazing!

[@tankmaster1018]

You earned a new fan in around 20 seconds... Holy shit you guys are one of the tightest and most disciplined bands that I have ever seen!

[@livemusic8248]

Is this toto? You guys sound great! just an awesonme cover

[@jamiecrandon]

Best cover of Africa I have ever herd amazing job.

[@TgnMuslim]

vocals are on point! what a cover. awesome

[@emanueleemiliosilvestre219]

BRAVISSIMI

[@GoldenSessions]

Amazing job! Congrats from Brazil!

[@perraccca]

💗💗💗💗💗💗🙌

[@rodocarda]

As much as I love Toto, and had the privilege to see them perform "Africa" live, this is definitely the best versione ever, at least live. Of course the original voices of Toto dig deep in a fan's emotion, but truly this is a technically and emotional performance that outperforms any other version. The rhythm section, drums and bass, makes this performance unique.