SOUNDTRACK: Xander in Africa — Alegria

[liz_marcs]

Welcome to Disc Two of my Xander in Africa soundtrack, Xander in Africa: Alegria.

Again, I grant you (very readily) that not all songs are from Africa, but this CD is chock full of world music. I've posted translations for the lyrics whenever possible, but, alas, there are five tracks that remain untranslated. I did my best, but all my Google-fu skills over the past 10 months have come to naught. Truthfully, 10 months ago, the number of untranslated songs was a lot higher.

The songs on this CD are, in general, a lot more upbeat and, in some cases, downright playful, than the track selection on Disc One to reflect the generally more upbeat emotional design.

The CD opens by carrying on the more meditative sound of the first CD, even if the lyrics are notably more upbeat. [Interesting side note: the Gayatri Mantra is believed to be the oldest known mantra. Fans of the new Battlestar Galactica series will recognize it from the miniseries.] This is to reflect Xander beginning to let go of past baggage and learning to be comfortable in his own skin as he operates on his own.

The middle leg of the CD reflects a crisis that interrupts this happy interlude, one big enough that Xander and his allies have to fight it. It ends in victory, but as everyone celebrates around him, Xander himself has too much experience to really enjoy it since he knows there's always another battle.

The ending leg should (hopefully) illustrates Xander continuing with his work in Africa, but as the network and Slayers gain more confidence and experience, he begins to feel the tug back home to his friends. The overall arc ends with several Slayers accompanying Xander back to London where his friends are waiting for him.

Heh. Even in a soundtrack, I can't resist a happy ending.

Once more, applause for mara_sho who designed the gorgeous cover art for discs one and two.

Opens in new window: (Disc One: Xander in Africa — World on Fire)







Xander in Africa: Alegria

1. Gayatri Mantra from The Essence
Deva Premal
[Support the Artist]
For the full meaning, read this article from the Times of India

Translation (very rough):
O Lord, direct our intellect and understanding towards Thee.
Be kind to us so that your love can grow in our hearts,
And we find you are always with us


2. Storms in Africa, Part 2 from Watermark
Enya
[Support the Artist]
Rains wash the earth away
Dark skies fall down
Into another day.
Rains have now come
From storms in Africa
Time will go on
Through storms in Africa.


3. Rules of Travel from The Rules of Travel
Rosanne Cash
[Support the Artist]
Now that you've made your mistake.
Now that you know how the heart bends and breaks.
Just throw away the book, and take a second look,
A guided tour
Of what we came here for.


4. Uzak from Karma
Tarkan
[Support the Artist]
Translation:
From those offended by friendly remarks,
From those who freeze up from their own suspicions,
From those who seem friends to their enemies,
Keep away from me, far away!


5. Halla Halla from Talakik
Hakim
[Support the Artist]
No translation available.


6. Kikirikiki (The Chicken Song) from Mama Africa: The Very Best of Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
[Support the Artist]
No translation available.


7. The Lioness Hunt from The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast)
Lebo M.
[Support the Artist]
Translation:
Hunting,
We are going hunting.
Let us go and hunt.


8. Shofc Ya Albi from Talakik
Hakim
[Support the Artist]
No translation available. All I can tell you is that "Ya Albi" means "My Heart."


9. Tas from Karma
Tarkan
[Support the Artist]
Translation:
Nowhere can you go so fearlessly.
I will search and find your trace,
You know I'm completely crazy.
I'll utterly destroy everything, I'll come after you
I'll be a stone on your roads,
You'll trip and fall.


10. Place of No Return (In Zaire) from Place of No Return (In Zaire), Single
Reamonn
[Support the Artist]
Feel the sun upon your face.
Who has led us to this place?
Feel the ground beneath you burn,
In this place of no return
In Zaire.
On this ground they came to fight.
What would pass would change their lives.
One would stand and one would fall.
He who stood would take it all,
In Zaire.


11. Alexander the Great from Born
Bond
[Support the Artist]
Instrumental.


12. Forever After from Chimera
Delerium featuring Sultana
[Support the Artists]
Translation:
Whether life is too short
Or life is too long
I don't have the answers,
But I wish I knew less.
'Cause sometimes life
Is a sad happiness.


13. Mama from Mondo Platinum Sampler
Khadja Nin
[Support the Artist]
No translation available.


14. Sisters from Beyond Words
Bobby McFerrin
[Support the Artist]
No translation available.


15. One by One from The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast)
Lebo M.
[Support the Artist]
Translation:
We can see
They wanted to hold
Us back.
They will not succeed.
We will win.
They will not succeed.
We will win
Because
We know who we are.


16. Persistance of Memory from Volume 3: Further in Time
Afro Celt Sound System
[Support the Artist]
When I’m out here on my own
And it all cuts through me
I see you’re safe alone
Ah, then it hits me
And I know, you’re here in this moment
Right where it’s flowing
You are what you want to be.


17. Aicha from Sahra
Khaled
[Support the Artist]
Translation:
I would speak words of poetry
I would play the music of the heavens
I would take the rays of the sun
To light up your regal eyes.


18. Alegria from Alegria (Original Cast Soundtrack)
Cirque du Soleil
[Support the Artist]
Alegria.
I see a spark of life shining.
Alegria.
I hear a young minstrel sing.
Alegria.
Beautiful roaring scream
Of joy and sorrow, so extreme.
There is a love in me raging.
Alegria
A joyous, magical feeling.


All downloads are good for a minimum of 30 days from MegaUpload
Cover art by mara_sho

Download Tracks 1—6 (Zipped File): MegaUpload

Alternate Download if MegaUpload does not work for you: ShareBigFile (Instructions: First, click the "Friendly" button. Then click on the file name to download. Do not click delete when you're done downloading.)


DownloadTracks 7—12 and cover art (Zipped File): MegaUpload

Alternate Download if MegaUpload does not work for you: ShareBigFile (Instructions: First, click the "Friendly" button. Then click on the file name to download. Do not click delete when you're done downloading.)


Download Tracks 13—18 and track listing (Zipped File): MegaUpload

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Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/slowdescent_/]

That is AWESOME. And also, awww, eye patch! How sad.

Party in my eye socket and everyone's invited!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Glad you like it!

Art by mara_sho, so I can't take credit.

[learnedhand-dj.livejournal.com]

Totally off topic, of course, but is your icon meant to remind people of this album cover? Different facial expression, but the cropping and the green shirt are the same.

[http://users.livejournal.com/slowdescent_/]

Heh. No, it's not supposed to be, but you're right, it does look similar. Is that a band you like?

[learnedhand-dj.livejournal.com]

I've got the album, and a couple of other ones. It's not something that I usually think of picking out of my collection, but whenever I do, I enjoy it.

The woman on the album cover is someone I went to college with. Evan Dando (he who is The Lemonheads) used to come out and visit my school a lot. (Obviously, this was pre-record deal.) I'm not sure if he knew her from before and that's why he was visiting or if he was visiting someone else and met her.

[stultiloquentia.livejournal.com]

Both discs are brilliant. Burning them as I type. Thanks so much!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy it!

It's an interesting mix, that's for sure. Hopefully, minimum of overlap with other fanmixes.

[stultiloquentia.livejournal.com]

Here I am again, after reading the translations and listening to both discs during the Thanksgiving cooking extravaganza. I'm really struck by how well these mixes work as *fanfic*. I'm used to vids, and I've had ideas like, "oooh, a mix chronicling Spike's character arc from 'I Spy' to 'We are the Champions'!" but I didn't expect this to work so smoothly and strikingly on so many levels. It's a really nifty contribution to the fandom.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it!

I have no vidding ability (or graphics making ability), but fanmixes are something I can do. I've got roughly 1,600 CDs, thanks to working at Borders and 10 MG of MP3 tunes. If you have a large enough library, you'd be shocked what you can pull together.

Although, I've found, that having a mix of unusual songs with well-known ones work best. I admit, I tend to favor unusual songs. I'm not sure if that increases the number of DLs my mixes get or if it decreases it. The way I view it, it's free, and people get to sample new artists. I know that's what usually attacts me to a mix.

If you're interested in having fun with fanmixes, here are some communities you should check out:

fandomsounds

fanmix

themedmix

You'll have to join as a member, because they're all FLocked communities, but the User Info pages are chock-full of good information of how to put together a fanmix and resources that can help you spread the love.

The one caveat is that all three communities demand that you have at least cover art to go with your mix, which is usually my big stumbling block for posting mixes outside my own LJ. Thankfully, mara_sho had some stunning covers for me.

[stultiloquentia.livejournal.com]

More niftiness! Thanks, I'll check those out.

A Track missed

[(Anonymous)]

I just downloaded the first disc and am about to get this one. Seeing this, after reading the description of Xander's "Army of Africa" reminded me of Joan Armatrading's "Flight of the Wild Geese" which was also the main title of the 1978 movie "The Wild Geese". Not that Xander was a merc, that was just a connection I made in my head. Maybe one to consider if you ever do another Afica disc.

Re: A Track missed

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

I panicked just a little when I saw that heading! I thought a track was missing. *passes out from relief*

I don't know if I'll do another. This was hard enough to put together. Sadly, I only own one sad little MP3 of Joan Armatrading's ('Me, Myself, and I'), so I had never heard the song.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for it.

[aruna-sharat.livejournal.com]

I'm downloading both mixes. Thank you very much for sharing this great music!

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy it! It's slightly off the wall, I'm the first to admit it.

[aruna-sharat.livejournal.com]

I'm listening at the moment. Awesome music and lots of new artist! :)

Re: A Track missed

[aruna-sharat.livejournal.com]

Here's the Joan Armatrading song for you:
http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0OKB7IU9M6N2G1BYJK778U2GSN

Re: A Track missed

[ludditerobot.livejournal.com]

Not to be a pain, but do you have "Love And Affection"?

Re: A Track missed

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the MP3!

DL now...right now.

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

AWESOME! Yes! ((grabbity))

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Hope you like it!

The first and songs especially have a habit of lifting your spirits.

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

I've listened to the first track about 10 x by now -- no kidding. It's lovely. These mixes are going to be in heavy rotation this week.

[selluinlaer.livejournal.com]

All kinds of awesome. Dling. Thanks! :)

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Enjoy the tunes!

[loveflyfree.livejournal.com]

got both soundtracks. these are absolutely fabulous. :)

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-)

[learnedhand-dj.livejournal.com]

When I downloaded these files earlier today, I could have sworn that the name of the collection was "Algeria," not "Alegria." Even when I looked through again tonight, I thought I'd found a typo. It wasn't until I saw it in mara_sho's artwork that I realized Alegria must be the intended name. I'm not sure if it's just because I haven't had much sleep, or because this is an Africa soundtrack after all, or what, but Algeria just made so much sense to me at the time...

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Heeee! Don't ask how long it took for me to remember that it was 'Alegria' and not Algeria or Allegria.

Don't. Ask.

From what I understand 'Alegria' is one of those words that don't have a direct translation. In English it's roughly equivalent to "explosive emotion" or "overwhelming emotion."

[caliadragon.livejournal.com]

Another excellent set of music.


Thanks
calia

[rubywisp.livejournal.com]

I am amazed at the amount of work you've done for this. Thank you so much; I downloaded both!

[raptorkitten.livejournal.com]

What a neat concept. I'm definitely downloading!

[nephir.livejournal.com]

I cannot believe that I missed commenting on this when you posted it originally -- I downloaded the music, burned them to CD and have shared them all around my house with my family and I have to say that both of these are such wonderful compilations.
I realized just recently when I needed to make a new copy of one of the disks (I played it to death) that I'd misplaced the track information, so I'd entered a plea into my LJ looking to see if anyone could remember who'd created the disks and what the songs were.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Glad you were able to find it! :-)

Funny thing is, I'm planning to repost the soundtrack in about a month. I still get a lot of requests for it and because there are some new soundtrack communities where it would fit.

I'm glad that you enjoy the tunes and that other people have enjoyed it as well. I love sharing new tunes and it makes me very happy.

If you're interested, I did another soundtrack project here with 144 MP3s here: http://liz-marcs.livejournal.com/188297.html

And this one only has 10 tunes: http://liz-marcs.livejournal.com/186213.html

Feel free to raid both. :-)

Your Xander in Africa disks

[herbmcsidhe.livejournal.com]

nephir shared them with me over this past weekend (stingy bitch my lovely wife had been hiding them for herself until then!).

I've greatly enjoyed disk one, Ashokan Farewell was unfamiliar to me, as I had not seen "The Civil War" series; it reminds me of a variant of Waltzing matilda in many ways. Thanks for including links to the artists, and expanding my horizons.

nephir - are you grabbing he other two sets, or should I? :)

[seferin.livejournal.com]

Could you please reupload? Thank you.