Hey everybody...

I've discovered Freshlyground 3 years ago in South Africa, thanks to François and Raph... I fell instantly in love with the light, deep, soft and strong voice of Zolani... The lyrics are beautiful, talking directly to all your feelings, crying of joy, laughing of pain, soften the hard parts in you, breaking slowly your own boundaries.


Sometimes with such a charateristic african sense of humour, transporting you directly in South Africa'heart, or in Botswanna, just as if you were just fallen in an Alexander McCall Smith' M'ma Ramatswe' story...




I cried the first time i actually listened to 'I'd Like'.
I felt exaltation and joy while listening to 'Mowbray Kaap'. Same for 'things have changed'
I laughed at the story of Pamela...
etc...
I closed my eyes and began to move without thinking of it for their albums...

Sadly, Freshlyground doesn't  seem to reach France. I've waited for so long for them to play in France...
So, when i saw they were playing in Beijing, hey, i couldn't miss the opportunity... And you know me... Right?
So you do perfectly know how "world-glamour" it sounds to me to go to see a South-African in Beijing... It's sooooo VIP... ;-)

Whatever it took!

I had to jump into a local moto-taxi, and find the place. The concert took place in Yugong Yishan, on Zhang Zizhong Road, in the Dongcheng district... A lovely club/show place. With a nice programmation, i shall say.

That was AMAZING. I was almost sitting on the scene, enjoying the moment. Which was just perfect.   

You've got to understand.... This is just like a pure, striking, enlightning moment of Joy, in its plaint form.
Physically, emotionnaly. You're full of music, you're vibrating.  You're HERE. You ARE.

I had the opportunity to talk with the band after... I was as shy as a little girl. Not knowing how to communicate them the way they touch my heart and the absolut gift of joy they have given to me. I know, it sounds girlie, corney and tart. I almost understood what it is to be a Celine Dion or a Julio Eglesias' fan... Geeeeeee.... Awkward!
They will be playing tonight again and invited me to come again. I'll see... ;-)