New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Global pop star and three-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo has unveiled her re-imagined version of Talking Heads' iconic song "
Once In A Lifetime" - from the 1980 landmark album 'Remain in Light.' The result turns the existential crisis of the original into a triumphant celebration of West African horns and percussion, all tied together with the joyous power of Angélique's voice. It is the second song to be released from her radical track-by-track version of 'Remain in Light' (June 8/Kravenworks Records). An official music video for the song will be released soon. Angelique will also be performing the song with her band on Jimmy Kimmel Live on May 9.
Angélique partnered with super producer and 2016 Grammy Producer of the Year Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Rolling Stones, Beyonce) for her version of 'Remain in Light,' which brings the original 360 degrees back to the styles and cultures that inspired it. The album also features appearances by Ezra Koenig, Blood Orange, Tony Allen, Antibalas Horns, Angélique's longtime guitarist Dominic James, and Magatte Sow (percussionist for the 'Black Panther' film score). Visual artist Kerry
James Marshall collaborated on the album artwork.
The original 'Remain in Light' has always been very close to Angélique's heart. She first encountered it after fleeing Communist Benin for Paris in 1983 and was immediately struck by how this American new wave album seemed to draw from West African musical traditions (she found out later that
David Byrne had been greatly influenced by Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti in the album's creation).
This spring and summer, Angélique will be touring extensively, including special 'Remain In Light' performances in Los Angeles and New York City. Full list of dates below.
Watch the video for lead single "Born Under Punches" (directed by Jeff Bhasker and conceptualized by Kerry
James Marshall) and read a Q&A with Angélique and Jeff at Rolling Stone.
Angélique Kidjo is known for her visionary music and her wide-ranging activist efforts. She is a three-time Grammy winner whom NPR has called "Africa's greatest living diva." Angélique has collaborated with Alicia Keys, Bono,
Carlos Santana and countless more, and her "Ifé" project found her performing three all-new Phillip Glass compositions in the Yoruba language. Angélique travels the world advocating on behalf of children in her capacity as a UNICEF
Goodwill Ambassador while her charitable foundation, Batonga, is dedicated to supporting the education of young girls in Africa. The Guardian has named Angélique one of its "Most Inspiring Women in the World."
TRACKLIST FOR 'REMAIN IN LIGHT'
Born Under Punches
Crosseyed and Painless
The Great Curve
Once in a Lifetime
Houses in Motion
Seen and Not Seen
Listening Wind
The Overload
TOUR DATES:
May 02 - Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall*
May 04 - Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre*
May 05 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel*
June 01 - Warzberg, Germany @ Africa Festival, Talavera Mainwisen
June 08 - London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall*
June 09 - Cardiff, UK @ Cardiff Wales Millenium Centre*
June 17 - Neuchatel, CH @ Festi'neuch
July 09 - Vienne, FR @ Theatre Antique^
July 11 - Arles, Fr @ Theatre Antique
July 26 - Vic-Fezensac, Fr @ Tempo
Latino CC%
July 28 - Katonah, NY @ Caramoor Center for
Music and the Arts
August 6 -
Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia*
August 7 - Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap*
August 9 - Denver, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens*
August 10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre*
September 27 - New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage*
* - 'Remain in Light' performance
^ - "Sheba" performance with Ibrahim Maalouf
% - "Angélique Kidjo's Tribute to Salsa" performance
