Saga Africa

Infobox Single
Name = Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Yannick Noah
Album = Black & What
A-side =
B-side = "Night of Blues"
Released = 1991
Format = CD maxi
7" single
7" maxi
Cassette
Recorded = France
Genre = World
Length = 3:57
Label =
Writer = Yannick Noah
Daisy Mac Neels
Milan Zdravkovic
Producer =
Audio sample? =
Certification = Gold France, 1991
Last single =
This single = "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (1991)
Next single = "Don't Stay" (1991)
Misc =

"Saga Africa" (subtitled "Ambiance Secousse" in smaller letters on the single cover) is a song recorded by the former professional tennis player Yannick Noah, released in 1991 as the first single from his debut album, "Black & What". The song is also available on the singer's album entitled "Live", released in 2002.

Background, writing, music and lyrics

The album "Black & What" was a success (certified Gold), and the single "Saga Africa", that mixes a special and sportive dance (a kind of African caterpillar), became one of the summer hits in France. Yannick Noah created the surprise performing the song on December 2, 1991, at the Palais des Sports of Gerland, Lyon, during the honour tour of the Davis Cup just after the victory of the French team that he was the captain, accompanied by his team for the dance. [Elia Habib, "Muz hit. tubes", p. 210 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)]

Yannick Noah composed himself the words, a mixture of French and Cameroonian expressions, while the rest of the album "Black & What" is mainly in English-language. He sings voluntarily with a relatively pronounced accent. The lyrics include a tribute to the footballers of the Cameroon national football team named Les Lions Indomptables, especially Roger Milla, Francois Omam-Biyik and Thomas Nkono, whose names are mentioned in the words. He also refers to Paris and Yaounde, soukouss and makossa. The music uses a sample of a Snap!'s song, "Mary Had a Little Boy".

Chart performances

The single was charted in France. It went straight to #6 on the SNEP Singles Chart on June 1, 1991. It reached #2 two weeks later and stayed there for four not consecutive weeks, and was unable to disloge at #1 first Mylène Farmer's "Désenchantée", then Les Inconnus' "Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy". It totaled 15 weeks in the top ten and 22 weeks on the chart (Top 50)."Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)", in French Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yannick+Noah&titel=Saga+Africa&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved May 6, 2008)] The single achieved Gold status awarded by the SNEP for a minimum of 250,000 copies sold.Yannick Noah's certifications in France [http://www.chartsinfrance.net/certifications/artiste-631.htm Chartsinfrance.net] (Retrieved May 6, 2008)] According to Infodisc website, the song was sold about 318,000 copies, remaining the second most successful song of the singer, behind "La Voix des Sages". [Yannick Noah singles sales in France [http://www.infodisc.fr/S_Certif.php Infodisc.fr] (Retrieved May 6, 2008)]

Track listings

; CD maxi
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (single version) — 3:57
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (savana club mix) — 4:46
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (special club mix) — 5:00
# "Night of Blues" — 3:45

; 7" single
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" — 3:57
# "Night of Blues" — 3:45

; 7" maxi
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (single version) — 3:57
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (savana club mix) — 4:46
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (special club mix) — 5:00

; Cassette
# "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" — 3:57
# "Night of Blues" — 3:45

Charts and certifications

{| class="wikitable sortable"! bgcolor="#ebf5ff"|Country! bgcolor="#ebf5ff"|Certification! bgcolor="#ebf5ff"|Date! bgcolor="#ebf5ff"|Sales certified
-
France
align="center"|Gold
align="center"|1991
align="center"|250,000
-

References

External links

* [http://www.paroles.net/chanson/21487.1 "Saga Africa", lyrics + music video]