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Youssou N'Dour — 7 Seconds
Album: The Guide (Wommat)
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1077









Released: 1994
Length: 4:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale

Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using
On the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won

And when a child is born
Into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in

It's not a second
Seven seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
Seven seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting

J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de races qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les deux mains ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer

Seven seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
Seven seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting

And when a child is born
Into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it's living in

And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what you should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second

We're seven seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
For just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
Seven seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
Comments (60)add comment
Just W O W
Posted 23 hours ago by daisyterra1219    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour -" 7 Seconds" Live-video (1994):

"The song is about that every 7 seconds a child is born on earth. In this 7 seonds your fate is being decided of being born in a rich family in a developed country or in a poor family in some poor part of the world. "

Not to nitpick, but that 7 sec estimate is off by a factor of 30 or so. According to UN data, there were 135M births in 1994 and there are ~31.5M seconds in a year, so it’s more like 0.23 seconds. The lyric wouldn’t have been as good though.

Pardon my pedantry.
Posted 3 months ago by Talus1    [ Reply ]
Just over 30 years old now (about 946 million seconds). This song is officially grown up.
Posted 6 months ago by Murray    [ Reply ]
A lovely tune with backing vocals from Nenah Cherry, but the lyrics are meaningless, go nowhere and say nothing. All too common.
Posted 7 months ago by Devaplan    [ Reply ]
 hfillmore wrote:

How can this song only rate 6.8? It's nearly perfect. Just a gorgeous tune.




I  Agree totally!   Thanx RP!   
Posted 11 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
How can this song only rate 6.8? It's nearly perfect. Just a gorgeous tune.
Posted 2 years ago by hfillmore    [ Reply ]
This song hasn't worn well for me but I still love this album overall. Life is one my favorite tracks of his.
Posted 3 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
bouncy
Posted 3 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 1wolfy wrote:
yup...Bill said so   
 



yes my dear, the singer was Neneh Cherie /Cherry
Posted 3 years ago by UliB    [ Reply ]
yup...Bill said so   ecorunner wrote:
This female singer sounds like Neneh Cherry...Is it her? Anyone. My life depends on knowing the answer.
 

Posted 3 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
excellent duet...their voices really go well together
Posted 3 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
10 from me, one of the best tunes ever.
Posted 4 years ago by Silvervanman    [ Reply ]
10 years since the last comment...wow...that was a long 7 seconds!!
Posted 4 years ago by Pioneer_Sing    [ Reply ]

Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour -" 7 Seconds" Live-video (1994):

"The song is about that every 7 seconds a child is born on earth. In this 7 seonds your fate is being decided of being born in a rich family in a developed country or in a poor family in some poor part of the world. "
Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]

Youssou N'Dour & Zazie - "7 Seconds" Live (2005):
"creo que a nadie le sale mejor que la version original con Neneh Cherry ... "

"I am a huge Zazie fan and I do enjoy this but she does have a problem sometimes with covers. At least her own work she does write, compose and produce her own work she is not a robot popstar with her people doing her stuff for her. Neneh would have just as much nervousness doing Zazie songs. "
Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
tupicetti wrote:
I wonder where this hatred comes from. I am unease with the fact that everybody seems to love Yossou N'dour while he does chorus and back voices for Peter Gabriel but simply hate the man when he tries something different. Is an unwittingly but serious subtle tinge of racism underlying these comments? Why is that some are allowed and welcome to try new sounds when 'others' are no good unless they play 'their thing'?
You're probably right about the racism -- unless of course the offending poster is black; then it's not. Somehow. Or when a poster (of any color) likes a white artist when contributing to a black artist's recording but dislikes the solo work -- that's not racism, either. Somehow.
Posted 18 years ago by lester    [ Reply ]
stubbsz wrote:
I think your girlfriend has it right. This is horrible. It's the kind of song that all those !@#ing lite-rock stations are playing when you're driving through an area you don't know deperately trying to find something to listen to.
I wonder where this hatred comes from. I am unease with the fact that everybody seems to love Yossou N'dour while he does chorus and back voices for Peter Gabriel but simply hate the man when he tries something different. Is an unwittingly but serious subtle tinge of racism underlying these comments? Why is that some are allowed and welcome to try new sounds when 'others' are no good unless they play 'their thing'?
Posted 18 years ago by tupicetti    [ Reply ]
I find this too obvious an attempt by N'dour to crossover into western pop music. Compared to his other work, it sounds like he's uncomfortable singing this and holding back on his vocal abilities.
Posted 18 years ago by thatch    [ Reply ]
African version of Heather Nova's "Gloomy Sunday"?
Posted 18 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
I'm seven seconds away from turning this crap off.......
Posted 19 years ago by kevbo77    [ Reply ]
Bad link. sbosque wrote:
This is the link to the excellent Live 8 version he did with Dido in London https://mp.aol.com/video.index.adp?pmmsid=1356943&referer=http%3A//music.aol.com/artist/main.adp%3Fartistid%3D70992%23&_AOLFORM=w708.h344.p7.R10 https://music.aol.com/artist/main.adp?artistid=70992# Just wished there were more guests from Africa.
Posted 19 years ago by ad4tise    [ Reply ]
This is the link to the excellent Live 8 version he did with Dido in London https://mp.aol.com/video.index.adp?pmmsid=1356943&referer=http%3A//music.aol.com/artist/main.adp%3Fartistid%3D70992%23&_AOLFORM=w708.h344.p7.R10 https://music.aol.com/artist/main.adp?artistid=70992# Just wished there were more guests from Africa.
Posted 19 years ago by sbosque    [ Reply ]
For those who think their taste in music differentiate them form the mob: THERE'S A THIN LINE BETWEEN ELITICM AND FACISM!
Posted 19 years ago by mkd    [ Reply ]
Definately not as bad as people make it out to be. It's catchy. Definately an easy listen, but perfect for a Wednesday morning at work. Who says every song has to tax your intellect?
Posted 19 years ago by eurotransient    [ Reply ]
I dont know why some of you guys hate this song. As i think its actualy a good song. And whats wrong with pop? As long as its good pop. This is relitivly an old track. And i also happen to love Neneh Cherrys vocals on it.
Posted 19 years ago by NutsyUK    [ Reply ]
NiceGuy2005 wrote:
Girfriend thinks this song is pop crap. She likes world music, but this is too pop-american.
Pop isn't necessarily bad. Good music is good music whatever the style is. Pidgeonholing music into specific styles both inhibits your own appreciation of music and helps to stifle creativity. Bob
Posted 19 years ago by CowboyBob    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
This is a beautiful song...the lyrics are spot on!
Feel the same here. The fact that it's been overplayed on commercial radio doesn't mean it's bad by default. As far as I heard, on average a child is born around the world every 7 seconds.... not sure though.
Posted 19 years ago by pyxxel    [ Reply ]
N'dour has better tunes than this one. If some folks don't like this tune, I wouldn't say it's because they don't like world music, because I'd classify this one as pop. N'dour's other tunes are generally much better. Funny how the best tunes on a CD hardly ever get radio play. (Radio Paradise being an exception of course. Yah RP!)
Posted 19 years ago by Darbuka    [ Reply ]
NiceGuy2005 wrote:
Girfriend thinks this song is pop crap. She likes world music, but this is too pop-american.
I think your girlfriend has it right. This is horrible. It's the kind of song that all those !@#ing lite-rock stations are playing when you're driving through an area you don't know deperately trying to find something to listen to.
Posted 19 years ago by stubbsz    [ Reply ]
Girfriend thinks this song is pop crap. She likes world music, but this is too pop-american.
Posted 19 years ago by NiceGuy2005    [ Reply ]
Larswede wrote:
Generally I note that "world music" gets short thrift.
I think you meant to say short shrift. Just FYI. I happen to agree with you to a point.
Posted 19 years ago by MrSpaz    [ Reply ]
This is a beautiful song...the lyrics are spot on!
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
ecorunner wrote:
This female singer sounds like Neneh Cherry...Is it her? Anyone. My life depends on knowing the answer.
Rest assured: it is Neneh Cherry you heard. Gee, it always feels good saving lives...
Posted 19 years ago by amancalledj    [ Reply ]
The duet here reminds me of any number of treacly FM-ready vanilla. Youssou is capable of much much better.
Posted 19 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
This female singer sounds like Neneh Cherry...Is it her? Anyone. My life depends on knowing the answer.
Posted 19 years ago by ecorunner    [ Reply ]
ghoffman wrote:
I'm surprised to see so many "don't like it" comments. I really like the mood of the song and his voice. It's well polished and complex enough to be interesting.
I agree. This is a great song, the mood is magical, and the switching between voices and languages is hypnotic. Sometimes the "cool" rock bias gets in the way of people's ability to appreciate other music. Generally I note that "world music" gets short thrift. Too bad. Thanks Bill for being more broadminded in your appreciation.
Posted 19 years ago by Larswede    [ Reply ]
Unfortunately the song doesn't live up to its title...
Posted 19 years ago by joempie    [ Reply ]
I'll be waiting.... for this song to END.
Posted 20 years ago by bubbanc    [ Reply ]
To the people who don't like this song : I urge you to listen to the rest of the album (for example "my people (samay nit)" or "chimes of freedom"). "7 seconds" is IMHO the least representative of the works of Youssou N'Dour, being one of the most occidentalized songs he made (doesn't prevent me to like it though :)). Another good starter would be "New Africa" he sung in "Eyes open" in 1991 first, and again in "Joko: From village to town" in 2000. Note the difference of tone (hope in the first one, sorrow in the second -unfortunately :(-) Alas, none of these in RP's music list ! :( Note to Peter Gabriel fans : did you recognize the voice ? Yes, Youssou sung on "In your Eyes", starting a long collaboration ("Shaking the tree",...)
Posted 20 years ago by mll    [ Reply ]
it just gets no where :grumpy.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by mitra    [ Reply ]
Visions of a certain Jackson.
Posted 20 years ago by katzendogs    [ Reply ]
Platypus wrote:
i would expect to hear this one while waiting in a dentist's office. or maybe an elevator. blah.
or maybe opening at a Yanni concert. Blah indeed.
Posted 20 years ago by Hasty_Manic    [ Reply ]
The title of the album is Wommat? Does that translate into Vomit? It should!
Posted 20 years ago by ad4tise    [ Reply ]
I'm surprised to see so many "don't like it" comments. I really like the mood of the song and his voice. It's well polished and complex enough to be interesting.
Posted 20 years ago by ghoffman    [ Reply ]
A really GREAT tune and talented artist. I was really surprised to hear him on RP. He is played heavilly in Paris. A good introduction to the talent that exists outside of the US. His album is very moving and contains several socially thought evoking songs. I hope we hear some other songs from the album as well, but this one is by far the most popular and successful.
Posted 20 years ago by dcjenk2    [ Reply ]
This is a tune that really grows over time, it needs a few listenings. I find it very good, though it has been overplayed a bit on the radio channels in Sweden...
Posted 20 years ago by PeterHalvarsson    [ Reply ]
harpsm wrote:
Is it wrong that I want to hear Eminem and Dido cover this?
Yeah, really... (pencil scratching sound) "Dear Slim..."
Posted 21 years ago by Illustr8r    [ Reply ]
Takes a second to say goodbye, say goodbye...
Posted 21 years ago by Illustr8r    [ Reply ]
i would expect to hear this one while waiting in a dentist's office. or maybe an elevator. blah.
Posted 21 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
This song is way overplayed!
Posted 21 years ago by Pusherman    [ Reply ]
Joyfulchristine wrote:
Maybe it's just me, but the male singer just doesn't seem to measure up to the rest of the song. Overall, it is mediocre.
Not just you, me too.
Posted 21 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
To call this mediocre would be high praise indeed!
Posted 21 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]
Is it wrong that I want to hear Eminem and Dido cover this?
Posted 21 years ago by harpsm    [ Reply ]
Joyfulchristine wrote:
Maybe it's just me, but the male singer just doesn't seem to measure up to the rest of the song. Overall, it is mediocre.
It must be you indeed !
Posted 21 years ago by iggy33    [ Reply ]
Is that electronic sound in the background the same on as on \"This is Not America\" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny?
Posted 21 years ago by boulder_jim    [ Reply ]
this sounds like it should go to some soft-core movie shown late at night on Skinemax.
Posted 21 years ago by B-dub    [ Reply ]
Great \"eclectic\" selection. Good job RP.
Posted 21 years ago by cmpguy    [ Reply ]
Maybe it\'s just me, but the male singer just doesn\'t seem to measure up to the rest of the song. Overall, it is mediocre.
Posted 21 years ago by Joyfulchristine    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a song off the soundtrack to a completely forgettable movie.
Posted 21 years ago by richpav    [ Reply ]
I haven\'t heard this tune in an eternity but I know that with each listen I like it more and more. Thanks for the exposure - it makes up for that recent \"rap\" detour...
Posted 21 years ago by tulfan    [ Reply ]