liz_marcs: Jeff and Annie in Trobed's bathroom during Remedial Chaos Theory (Xander_Africa_Scatterlings)
liz_marcs ([personal profile] liz_marcs) wrote2005-10-08 02:22 pm

SOUNDTRACK: Xander in Africa — Alegria

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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 [livejournal.com profile] mara_sho

Download Tracks 1—6 (Zipped File): MegaUpload

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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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[identity profile] stultiloquentia.livejournal.com 2005-10-11 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] liz-marcs.livejournal.com 2005-10-11 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
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:

[livejournal.com profile] fandomsounds

[livejournal.com profile] fanmix

[livejournal.com profile] 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, [livejournal.com profile] mara_sho had some stunning covers for me.

[identity profile] stultiloquentia.livejournal.com 2005-10-11 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
More niftiness! Thanks, I'll check those out.