“Tarhatazed” (2018)

As in classic blues, the guitar in “Tarhatazed” sings and wails as it expresses various trials and tribulations. As in classic rock, the music rejoices in its blissful creation as it builds inexorably to a climax.

Alive with Feeling

After this live performance in 2018, Moctar and his band recorded a version of this track that became the centrepiece of their 2019 album.

While the studio version is also excellent, it hardly compares to the passion and feeling of this superb live rendition. _{(Image source)}

_{note – I could not find any lyrics for this song, either in the original or in translation.}

Mdou Moctar

Mdou Moctar is a Tuareg guitarist from Niger. As a youth, he made his first guitar by hand, using scaps of wood and bicycle wires.

Network Effects

Moctar became well known by playing at weddings. Although he recorded his first album in 2008, it was not released at that time. Nevertheless, his music became popular when it was widely shared over cell phone networks.

Blue + Red = Purple

In 2015, Moctar starred in a “Purple Rain” –like film called “Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai" (or, “Rain the Color of Blue with a Little Red In It.” It was the first-ever feature film using a Tuareg language.

Upon the release of his 2019 album, “The Economist” magazine lauded Mdou Moctar as the “Jimi Hendrix of the Desert.”   _{(Image source)} _{Reference – Wikipedia

Reference – CoolHunting.com

Reference – Economist.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels
The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}

         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)

         2 – “Cover Versions”

         3 – “Honor Roll”

         4 – “Documentaries”

         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...
          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 21–40"

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"

          Vocab-Ability – "Index" to all Chapters and Sections

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"}