I like Teddy’s Music, respect his talent and feel like he is a grade above the rest of the new Ethiopian musical artists.
I saw the Lamba Dina video yesterday, and I must say I was in shock. Apparently, the director whoever he is decided to make the video as an impersonation of the late great Ray Charles. Teddy has black sunglasses and shakes his head as blind pianists do—left to right and right to left with a smile.
Influence from the west, is good but imitation, is a horrible scheme. As it ensued that, the director(s) opted to make a ghastly rendition of Michael Jackson’s thriller dance for another video. The production of the videos’ as a whole was good; what I have a problem with is the blatant replication from the west. Moreover, the fact that they geared Teddy as blind was tasteless, and horrible. Who ever made the choice to make a Ray Charles impression should be ashamed.
Published by April 10th, 2006 in Design and Music.Send this post to a friend
Nolawi, I agree with your disgust. I really have a lot of admiration for Teddy Afro. His lyrics are top notch. Where I have a problem with is his music and music coming out of Ethiopia in general. The music, arrangements and producing. Tacking a sample of “Thriller” at the beginning of “Alamen Alena” is unecessary. Has our music writers run out of options that they have to resort to such measures. It seems that we’ve stopped looking to the our own past for inspiration and concentrated on downright thievery from western muziqa.
hah ya the song did feature a sample from thriller aydel…that is so funny… and not necessary might i say
Those video-clips are TERRIBLE!!! beTam yasaferal! I would have expected something much better from a person like Teddy Afro! big *mTs*
C’mon guys, the folks back home will absolutely love this video. Yes, it might not suit our westernised “politically correct” tastes and yes I too find Teddy’s blind man act cringeworthy. Nonetheless, the vast majority of the Ethiopians who watch this video will dig it and will find Teddy’s blind man act very moving. Job well done, Mr Video Director.
I didn’t like the Lampadina video much, or any of the other videos, for that matter. I do think they’re ‘different’, and that Teddy’s trying to push the envelope. To what end, I’ll have to wait and see). But I am baffled by the reaction I am reading here, which can be summed up as that of disgust by most.
Why is it disgusting for Teddy to impersonate Ray Charles, but for Jamie Foxx to win an Oscar for the same? Maybe Teddy (the song) was inspired by Ray Charles? I don’t think Teddy’s character was half as believable as J Foxx, but then again that’s why one’s winning perstigious awards, and the other not. But ‘cringeworthy’, ‘asafari’, and ‘disgust’, I’m definitely not feeling.
well… I guess it’s a part of Ethiopian mentality / humour / minamin I’ll never understand… for me these things are nothing but cheap…
Dear Tobian,
Your comparison is out of touch. Jamie Fox impersonated Ray Charles in a film called “RAY”, a tribute to a great musician. On the other hand Teddy’s impersonation is a tasteless mockery which has no bearing with Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Teshome Asegid or whoever he wanted to portray. I agree with the others that was a big minus on Teddy’s or the director’s part, it ruined it for me.
what makes you guys think that he’s impersonating Ray Charles?…just because he’s wearing black glasses and moves his head left and right?…Teshome Assegid does that too….Stevie Wonder as well…i guess most blind people…the song is about a blind person if you’ve heard the lyrics…so impersonating a blind person for the video is wrong?…haven’t seen the Thriller thing..so,i can’t comment….
deteled- sorry no spammin!
Eneem Betaam neew yedeberegn yaa video….Nolawi & T you guys are on point. It lacks originality & creativity. The only video i saw of teddy was the ‘tarik tesera’ video and I LOVED IT….i was disappointed at this….
Tarik Tesera was great… Yasteseriyal is also great…
Come on Venus,
Having a name eternally linked with LOVE how come you missed to see that Teddy’s Lambadina about love not a blind person.
I think blind people would find the video offensive, but hey they won’t watch it anyways. Hmmmm… maybe this comment is more appropriate on qedada.com
Where here we go again with the disconnect of the diaspora and the locals. Well one’s reaction is the byproduct of your point of reference. For those of us who have seen Jamie Fox and other MTV clips yes watching Teddy is more nauseating. But for those millions of folks back home they will think that Teddy’s performance is a notch up.
Anyway I am greatful for this site!!
I have a question…although I saw the video i dont recall the lyrics. Does the song have anything to do with a blind man? I ask this because if he was playing a role of a blind man…then hey maybe that’d be acceptable. As far as the thriller video is concerned I was initially annoyed. But then I thought about all the remakes even within the states. I remember when Murder Inc. remade scenes from Good Fellas and Grease for their videos. I don’t believe Teddy or his directors are wrong for sampling western videos. In fact, as Dan mentioned those who haven’t seen the previous works might appreciate these videos.
T,
yeah…you’re right…it’s a love song…but about a blind guy in love…have you paid attention to the lyrics?
i must say i didn’t like teddy’s video because it doesn’t show his creativity.
Worest videos I ever came across. What was Teddy thinking?
I do respect teddy’s talent … but he can’t act men . he can’t dance teddy needs some professional dance instructor . and why ray charles why not some ethiopian blind singers like teshome, yerdaw … appreciate what we have ……..
I think teddy can dance; i dont know what you are talking about cant dance?
I admit teddy has a killer voice and smile…. the whole ‘music video thing’ ( especially the MTV/BET style) is very foreign to us. and I wish…. instead of imitating, that teddy and many upcoming others, learn and experiment their creativity. a very good example would be our own African Boomerang by Daara J.
good luck teddy/many others … drop the copied garment and bring your own talent … that… surprise us mesmerize us and hypnotize us.
selam koyu
Teddy it is better if u just sing. please don’t embarrass us.
mts
Yr blog posts r very interesting
I like lambadina WHEN I LISTEN IT ONLY IN CD AUDIO,BUT THE CLIP MISINFORMED THE MESSAGE OF THE MUSIC,TEDDY MADE MISTAKE WHEN HE PUT HIS MUSIC IN TO VIDEO,
WHAT EVER IT IS HE IS GREATE ,
I love your song. Keep going good job.
I am his fan and i like his music, but i have to agree with you on those two vedios Nolawi. I have seen both of those vedios, and i have called them disappointments.
hey teddy i love ur song. keep going.
much love
Recently I was searching on the web about teddy afro
and I found these truthful messages about his video clips
mainly about Lambadina.What I can say is, you all are right Teddy made a big mistake.But I still believe he can make better things in the future.
Teddy Is an inspiration for the young generation.
True!But we don’t see him much in the
media telling us his own views, opinion, and his latest
musical works!Long live for our Teddy Afro!
Teddy can and I hope he will bring more music………Like many other new Ethiopian singers his work luck originality. I loved his lyrics , but most of his melodies are stolen from west, Jamaica or African music. Regrading his video…please Tedy let someone do the work for you..who know a bit about music video. He writes music that goes with the current situations..which makes him even more famous. I like the guy , but I hope he develops his own melody or let someone do it for him.
People do you really want to know what things made Teddy
Afro so famous is his wealth and his looks!
Most girls in Addis would be glad to marry him as the 100th wife of his.
When I came back to Addis last month allmost every girl I met used to talk about him.His money, his car,His smile.Unfortunatly I got tired of listening about this guy. Sorry!
Hey all!
Can anybody tell me the meaning of the lyirics Lambadina by teddy Afro? some people say it also has political meaning, I am Rwandan and I don’t understand amharic, so please tell me roughly the meaning. My E-mail is sebericson@yahoo.fr, I am in Kigali, rwanda.
I think its a cliche too.Some body made a really bad interpretation of Lambadina. Personaly,I don’t even think the lyrics are refering to a physicaly blind person. I Just can’t understand ,as creative as he is ,why did teddy took part in that terrible Clip?
He made another similar one.Its a total imitation of John Legend’s -Ordinary People clip.
lambadina is kuraz, and the lyrics are referring to light… kinda of like “you are the light in my eyes” analogy…
[quote comment="106028"]Hey all!
Can anybody tell me the meaning of the lyirics Lambadina by teddy Afro? some people say it also has political meaning, I am Rwandan and I don’t understand amharic, so please tell me roughly the meaning. My E-mail is sebericson@yahoo.fr, I am in Kigali, rwanda.[/quote]
eric,
that is so lame… and corny to leave your e-mail address here, when you can easily get answer right here on blog
oh blog ettiquette yibalale
:0
can anyone publish or try to write any of his lyrics in english
besmam- bochachekachut teddyn
I think teddy can dance
I think it lack creativety. but the point or the content of the lyrics is more important than the video