Bobby Mcferrin "VOCABuLaries"

One of the kings of A Capella, and the same person who told us to “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is starting off his VOCAbuLarieS album by telling us to keep an eye on the “Baby,” with so many layers of different harmonies, and rounds it’s hard to focus on one. “Say Ladeo,” what the heck? Ohhhh, Simon says “Say Ladeo.” It has this nice beat, and cannot keep you head from bobbing. He has such a nice high alto, or soprano. There is this stop and then this driving hi-hat/bell and muted horn around 6:47. “Wailers” get ready, because this one’s for you. Tribal drums, and beat with some cymbal come and go. Maracas?  3:15 is when this steady beat comes. This song seems as if it is coming straight from Africa; there is a lot of heart in this one. Wait a second, Maybe they also brought some Arabian melodies that decided to stow away on the trip here. Sometimes “Messages” become lost in the mail or in translation. This seems to want you to dance the samba, with some triangles. Like his harmonies, he changes his mind pretty quick, there is some nice saxophone at 5:18 and the there is a change coming around 6:12; drum blasts cause it to sound epic, especially with the vocals as they are, several going on at once, and the notes rise again. A march? Could it be their last stand? No, but it is great music to listen to when you’re thinking or working on something. Why don’t we take a break and sit in “The Garden?” This song is releasing real positive vibes, and has the same feel that “Don’t Worry..” did; except it’s much longer, and it has this nice beat and some whistling around 6:27. He walked to the bus, he missed the plane, he finally learned his lesson, because “He Ran To The Train” which has this quick percussive beat, and almost sounds like one from a techno song. I know hands can drive, but can you be driving handclaps? It has this great beat, and for a second a little flute injection. There is more flute, it’s just that it sounds weird. Would it be oxymoronic if I said that it felt like a “Brief Eternity” while listening to the next, and last song, which was only 6:13 minutes. It felt longer than its length suggests. If I had to choose several songs I would choose: Say Ladeo, Wailers, Messages, and He Ran To The Train.