Saga Africa

"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.

"Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)"
Single by Yannick Noah
from the album Black & What
B-side"Night of Blues"
Released1991
RecordedFrance
GenreReggae
Length3:57
Songwriter(s)Yannick Noah
Daisy Mac Neels
Milan Zdravkovic
Yannick Noah singles chronology
"Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)"
(1991)		 "Don't Stay"
(1991)

Background, writing, music and lyrics

The album Black & What was a success (certified Gold), and the single "Saga Africa", that mixes a special and sporty 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.[1]

Yannick Noah composed the lyrics himself, a mixture of French and Cameroonian expressions, while the rest of the album Black & What is mainly in English. He deliberately sings 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, François Omam-Biyik and Thomas Nkono, whose names are mentioned in the words. He also refers to Paris and Yaoundé, 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 dislodge 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).[2] The single achieved Gold status awarded by the SNEP for a minimum of 250,000 copies sold.[3] 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".[4]

Track listings
CD maxi
  1. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (single version) — 3:57
  2. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (savana club mix) — 4:46
  3. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (special club mix) — 5:00
  4. "Night of Blues" — 3:45
7" single
  1. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" — 3:57
  2. "Night of Blues" — 3:45
7" maxi
  1. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (single version) — 3:57
  2. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (savana club mix) — 4:46
  3. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" (special club mix) — 5:00
Cassette
  1. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)" — 3:57
  2. "Night of Blues" — 3:45

Charts and certifications

References
  1. Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 210 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  2. "Saga Africa (ambiance secousse)", in French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved May 6, 2008)
  3. Yannick Noah's certifications in France Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved May 6, 2008)
  4. Yannick Noah singles sales in France Infodisc.fr (Retrieved May 6, 2008)
  5. "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 (51–52): 21. December 21, 1991. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via American Radio History.
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