Essence Ordinaire

Product Description
New Album Currently on French Charts. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Essence Ordinaire,Zebda,Musicrama, Inc,French,World Music

Average customer rating:

A great French lesson!

Worth learning French for!

It beats "swinging your pants"

On y va!

Zebda rocks, even if you don't know french!

Essence Ordinaire
Zebda
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
International | Imports | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00000GAU1
Release Date: 1998-10-07

Tracks:

Y'a Pas D'arrangement
Tomber La Chemise
Double Peine
Tombes Des Nues
Quinze Ans
Je Crois Que Ca Va Pas Etre Possible
Je Suis
Tout Semble Si...
On Est Chez Nous
Oualalaradime
Le Manouche
Ne Dans La Rue
Le Petit Robert

Album Details

New Album Currently on French Charts.

Customer Reviews:

A great French lesson!.......2003-12-09

"Essence Ordinaire" is a very beautiful example of what (and how much!) contemporary French music can deliver. Bands like Mano Negra and Les Negresses Vertes in the late eighties opened the way for groups like Zebda in the nineties by bringing new blends of sounds to the public that reflect very much French society today. The music is a canvas of rap, reggae, rock, funk, ska and rai, creating a harmonious mix of influences from several geographic areas, and in particular North Africa. Before all, the beats are joyful and dynamic. But there is much more to Zebda than their great "hip shaking" beats and obvious musical talents, and that you can discover in their lyrics. If the music tells in many ways about their mixed culture of French-of-Arabic-descent-living-in-Toulouse, the words tell a lot about what the band stands for: equality, the fight against social and cultural gaps, integration and identity, self-reliance, positivism, political engagement against the infamous "extreme droite francaise", among other things... The band's writer and representative, Magyd Cherfi, has a quiet sense of humor and irony. The lyrics are fun and serious at the same time and, even when the reality that he talks about seems dark and unfair, it is always told with lightness and sharpness. Zebda is a band of well-grounded, intelligent individuals with cold heads and warm hearts, a lot of enthusiasm, strength and perspective. Tout un programme!
I personally don't care for keg-party songs like "Tomber la Chemise", and I would not recommend that one (but it is good in its own style), even if it is the most famous Zebda hit so far. Listen to "Ca va pas etre possible", "Tout semble si..." (my favourite) and "Le Petit Robert", and enjoy!

Worth learning French for!.......2003-12-04

"Essence Ordinaire" is an excellent example of what (and how much!) contemporary French music can deliver. Bands like Mano Negra and Les Negresses Vertes in the late eighties opened the way for groups like Zebda by bringing new blends of sounds to the public that reflect very much the face of French society today. The music is a canvas of rap, reggae, ska, rai, etc.; creating a harmonious blend of influences from several geographic areas - in particular North Africa - and the beats are joyful and dynamic. There is however much more to Zebda than their great "hip shaking" beats and obvious musical talents. And that "much more" you can discover in their lyrics. If the music tells in many ways about their mixed culture of French-of-Arabic-descent-living-in-Toulouse, the words tell about what the band stands for: equality, the fight against social and cultural gaps, integration and identity, self-reliance, positivism, political engagement against the infamous "extreme droite francaise"... The band's writer and representative, Magyd Cherfi, has a quiet sense of humor and irony. The lyrics are fun and serious at the same time and, even when the reality that he talks about seems dark and unfair, there is always a ray of light coming through, somewhere, in a corner of the picture. Zebda is a band of well-grounded, intelligent individuals with cold heads and warm hearts, a lot of enthusiasm, strength and perspective. Tout un programme!
I personally don't care for keg-party songs like "Tomber la Chemise", and I would not recommend that one (but it is good in its own style), even if it is the most famous Zebda hit so far. Listen to "Ca va pas etre possible", "Tout semble si..." (my favourite) and "Le Petit Robert", and enjoy!

It beats "swinging your pants".......2003-11-30

Reminds me of a long hot summer holiday at Camping La Sirene in the South of France. You didn't even have to speak french you caught on by whipping of your shirt along with the locals and swinging it round your head for the duration of "Tombez le Chemise" and acting crazy when the following track was "Follow the Leader / The Roof is on Fire" by the Soca Boys, contrary to popular belief those chic french know a thing or two about partying.......
All 5 stars for this track alone!

On y va!.......2003-05-07

I popped this CD into my car stereo and didn't take it out for a month. Listen to any CD ten times in a row, at the end you'll either love it or hate it--this one's a keeper. Essence Ordinaire contains so many different styles, groovin' rhythms, and pointed lyrics that I still haven't wanted to listen to anything else. People at stop lights may want to know why I'm bouncing in my seat, exhorting them to "tombez la chemise", but hey--they should try it!

Zebda rocks, even if you don't know french!.......2002-12-28

I first found this CD while flipping through the CD's at Middlebury College's music library. The cover looked interesting so I checked it out. I was amazed by the smooth beats and catchy lyrics. I don't even speak french. Their songs bounce between france's problems with immagrents and parties adding a nice mix to the ablums rock, regge, rap, african feel. I have given this CD to most of my friends and they all love it. BUY ZEBDA!!!