The Beginning Live

Last updated

The Beginning Live
Zahara's The Beginning Live DVD cover.jpg
Video by
Zahara
ReleasedSeptember 3, 2012 (2012-09-03)
RecordedJune 8–9, 2012
Carnival City, Ekurhuleni
Genre Afro-soul
Length110 minutes
Language Xhosa, English
Label TS Records
Zahara chronology
Loliwe
(2011)		The Beginning Live
(2012)		 Nelson Mandela
(2013)

The Beginning Live (stylized as Zahara: The Beginning Live) is a live DVD by South African singer Zahara. It was released by TS Records on September 3, 2012, and features additional performances by LeRoy Bell, DJ Sbu, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Riot. The DVD was shot at Carnival City in Ekurhuleni on June 8 and 9. During her two-day performance, Zahara was backed by an eight person band led by percussionist Tlale Makhene. [1] [2]

Contents

The Beginning Live was distributed by Musica, Kalahari and SoMusi. [3] [4] [5] It features performances of songs from Zahara's debut studio album, Loliwe (2011), along with her rendition of Brenda Fassie's "Vuli Ndlela". The Beginning Live received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Zahara's live performances of the songs. The DVD was commercially successful, selling over 40,000 copies and reaching double platinum status in South Africa. Moreover, it was one of the fastest selling DVDs released by a South African artist. [6]

Background and concert performances

Rehearsals for the two-day event were held at the Pyramid Venue & Conference Centre. As part of the DVD recording, Zahara and Leroy Bell performed some of their biggest songs. In an interview with The Sowetan , Leroy Bell said he felt in love with Zahara's music after googling her and was honored to be part of the DVD production. In the same interview, Zahara said she was nervous about the prospect of working with Bell. She also said she loves Bell's voice and found it coincidental that both of them have a song on their respective albums titled "Brand New Day". [7] Zahara paid tribute to Brenda Fassie and Miriam Makeba during her two-day performance. [8]

Commenting on the success of the concert and DVD recording, Zahara stated: "I feel that God has favoured me, this is just a blessing. It shows that if you remain true to who you are people will support you and remain faithful to you." [6]

Reception

Critical reception

Drum magazine praised Zahara, saying she "pulls at the heart strings with her passionate and honest rendition" and commended her for being a "consummate entertainer who knows her way with a live audience and takes them along for a ride in her musical train." [1]

Accolades

The Beginning Live was nominated for Best Live DVD at the 19th annual South African Music Awards. [9]

Track listing

DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Liza Lisidinga Lakho" (featuring Soweto Gospel Choir)6:12
2."Xa Bengina Mama (Live)"4:57
3."Destiny (Live)"5:44
4."Ndiza (Live)"5:34
5."Umthwalo" (featuring Soweto Gospel Choir)7:05
6."Thekwana (Live)"4:19
7."African Sunset (Live)"4:37
8."Promises (Live)"1:55
9."Vul’indlela (Live)"3:17
10."Thetha Nami" (featuring Riot Zungu)6:04
11."Hold on (Bambelela)" (featuring LeRoy Bell)6:57
12."My Guitar (Live)"8:46
13."Incwadi e Ncane (Live)"6:07
14."Loliwe" (featuring Soweto Gospel Choir)7:43

Credits and personnel

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
South AfricaSeptember 3, 2012 CD/DVD, digital download TS Records

Related Research Articles

Brenda Nokuzola Fassie was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the "Queen of African Pop", the "Madonna of The Townships" or simply as The Black Madonna. Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for "outrageousness"; ironically, her Xhosa name, Nokuzola, means "quiet", "calm", or "peace".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Music Awards</span> Annual music industry award ceremony

The South African Music Awards are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are typically announced at the end of March. The winners receive a gold-plated statuette called a SAMA.

Palm World Voices: Mandela is a DVD Box set featuring Nelson Mandela. It includes Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation DVD, as well as the Mandela Original Soundtrack CD: The Essential Music of South Africa and a 48-page book with art images, photos and an essay by British journalist Robin Denselow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebecca Malope</span> South African gospel singer

Batsogile Lovederia "Rebecca" Malope is a South African gospel singer. She is known as "The Queen of Gospel." Her music career spans more than three decades. She has sold at least 10 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time. Most of the 36 albums she has released have reached multi-platinum status.

Deborah Fraser was a South African gospel singer. She began her career in 1985 as a backing singer, and recorded her own album in 2000, titled Abanye bayombona, which became commercial success sold over 1 million copies in South Africa.

Sello "Chicco" Twala is a South African singer and record producer. He has produced many hit singles for well-known artists in the country, including Nkosana Kodi and Brenda Fassie. In the 1970s, he played in soul bands including Umoja and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse's Harari, as well as forming his own band, Image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lira (singer)</span> South African singer (born 1979)

Lerato Moipone Molapo, known professionally as Lira, is a South African singer. Her name translates to "love" in Sesotho and she speaks four languages. She is a multi-platinum selling and an 11-time South African Music Award (SAMA)-winning Afro-soul vocalist, who refers to her music as "a fusion of soul, funk, elements of jazz and African."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zahara (South African musician)</span> South African musician (1987–2023)

Bulelwa Mkutukana, known by her stage name Zahara, was a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist. Her music was classified loosely as "Afro-soul", and she sang in Xhosa, her native language, as well as in English.

<i>Loliwe</i> 2011 studio album by Zahara

Loliwe is the debut studio album by South African singer Zahara, released on 6 September 2011. The album's production was handled by Robbie Malinga and Mojalefa Thebe. It was supported by two singles: "Loliwe" and "Ndiza", and features a guest appearance from Georgyn Kanana. It sold over 20,000 copies and reached gold status within 72 hours of its release. Four weeks after it was released, it sold 210,000 copies in South Africa. Furthermore, Loliwe sold 350,000 copies after four months of being on the market. It is the second fastest selling album in South African history behind Brenda Fassie's Memeza, which sold over 500,000 copies.

<i>Phendula</i> 2013 studio album by Zahara

Phendula is the second studio album by South African singer Zahara. It was released by TS Records on September 13, 2013. The album's production was primarily handled by Robbie Malinga and Mojalefa Thebe. Phendula features guest appearances from Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Anele & Neliswa, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Mukengerwa Tresor Riziki and 2 Face Idibia. It was supported by the singles "Phendula", "Impilo" and "Stay". Upon its release, the album was made available for purchase on iTunes and Musica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phendula (song)</span> 2013 single by Zahara

"Phendula" is a song by South African singer Zahara. It was released on September 6, 2013, serving as the lead single from her second studio album of the same name. The song peaked at number six on South Africa's EMA Airplay chart on October 8, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Soil (band)</span> South African Afro-Soul band

The Soil is a South African a cappella group from Soweto founded in 2003, consisting of the lead singer Ntsika Ngxanga, beatboxer Luphindo, and vocalist Theo Matshoba.

Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba, known professionally as Samthing Soweto, is a South African singer and songwriter. Samthing is best known for his vocals on Sun-El Musician's song "Akanamali" and his number 1 single on spotify "Akulaleki".

Zonke Dikana, known simply as Zonke, is a South African singer-songwriter and record producer. Her rise to stardom came in 2011 following the release of her third album, Ina Ethe, which was certified double platinum and was nominated at the 18th South African Music Awards. In 2013, she recorded and released Give and Take Live, which was certified gold just two months after its release and earned her a place in the Channel O list of "Africa's Top 10 Female Singing Sensations". In September 2015, Zonke released Work of Heart, her fifth album, to critical acclaim with nominations in several categories at the 15th Metro FM Music Awards and 22nd South African Music Awards. She signed a record deal to Sony Music Entertainment in 2013. On 15 June 2018, she released L.O.V.E, her fifth studio album, with Sony.

<i>Mango Groove: Live in Concert</i> 2011 South African film

Mango Groove: Live in Concert is a concert video released by South African fusion group Mango Groove in 2011.

<i>Greatest Hits: The Queen of African Pop (1964–2004)</i> 2004 greatest hits album by Brenda Fassie

Greatest Hits: The Queen of African Pop (1964–2004) is a posthumous greatest hits album by South African Afro-pop singer Brenda Fassie. The album was released on November 30, 2004 via EMI Music Distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weekend Special</span> 1983 single by Brenda and the Big Dudes

"Weekend Special" is the debut single by the South African recording group Brenda and the Big Dudes taken from their debut studio album Weekend Special (1983). It was written by Melvyn Matthews, as was the B-side "Life Is Going On". "Weekend Special" features production by Blondie Makhene and Matthews.

<i>Mama</i> (Brenda Fassie album) 1994 studio album by Brenda Fassie

Mama is the eleventh studio album by South African singer Brenda Fassie, Released on November 4, 1993 by CCP Records. It went on to be sell over 100 000 albums in South Africa by mid 1994.

The seventeenth season of South African Idols premiered on 11 July 2021 and concluded on 21 November 2021 on the Mzansi Magic television network. The season was won by Berry Trytsman and the runner-up was Karabo Mathe.

Freddy Gwala is a South African musician born in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. He started his career as a musician in Soweto.

References

  1. 1 2 "Zahara The Beginning live DVD out now". DRUM. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Owen, Therese (29 August 2012). "Beginning part 2 of her journey". IOL . Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Beginning Live (DVD) : Zahara". SOMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Beginning Live". Kalahari. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Beginning Live". Musica. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Zahara's Live DVD Goes Double Platinum in Three Days". RollingStone. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Tsumele, Edward & Bambalele, Patience (6 June 2012). "Brand new day for Zahara and Leroy Bell". The Sowetan . Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Tsumele, Edward (12 June 2012). "Zahara, guitarist Bell wow fans". The Sowetan. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "THE 19TH ANNUAL MTN SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES". SAMA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.