First time i heard it was while driving through a thunderstorm in botswana at sunset just as it was slowing and rainbows were coming out, best musical experience of my entire life!
I am in Africa right now because of work. This song is in my head every day- love it! Sometimes, though, I do not bless the rains only because it brings along with it a butt load of insects!
This is one of those songs just something about it. You can't necessarily put your finger on what "it" is.I've loved it since I was a little little kid. It always went hand-in-hand with my own fantasies of saving the world.
Africa is the only song I purchased when I was stationed overseas. Somehow I didn't feel so far away from home when I listened to it. Best song for me.
av8r jacq. I was in USAF also and this song always reminds me of those days. Especially around 81-82 while stationed at Grand Forks, N. Dakota. In '83 was at Taegu AB. Former SP.
Who cares if he stole a comment. If he stole those words, whatever I just typed was stolen by you at some point. What I mean is you have most likely said every word in this paragraph at least once in your life, I can garentee that 🙂
I always get weirdly emotional by the end of each of your videos. They’re really moving and get me thinking. I seriously appreciate all the work you put into these videos and I can’t wait to see more!
That was a great video! Hope to see more from you soon! If you haven't done it already can you do It's My Life, Livin' on a Prayer, or Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi?
I'm glad you're getting the views, but that cover is dull. Just a watered down version of the original. Brings nothing new to it. Now this cover brings something new to it. It really shows what a great song it is. If a song still sounds great when it does in a completely different style from the original, then it's a great song. th-cam.com/video/MH9FyLsfDzw/w-d-xo.html
I have always loved this song by Toto, one of the best bands ever! I love Africa and feel so privileged to live here, even with its problems, it is beautiful.
Wow, what a good video. It's great to know the background of such a fantastic song by this unique and super talented band. It's a beautiful story, by the way. Thanks.
Hey man, I stumbled across your channel after watching videos related to the Toto/Africa being covered by Weezer story. I'm an editor in television for over 20 years, I just wanted to compliment you on your excellent work. You are very talented. Keep it up, don't give up on it. You are a great story teller! Subscribed. 👍
Toto's Africa is probably the best rock song ever recorded and the many, many versions recorded by others are just as amazing. A vision turns a song into an instant classic.
UtopicTech People love the Beatles for their accesible, catchy songs and their more happy feeling. The 60s was filled with worry due to the Cold War. The music of the Beatles and the likes was a bit of an escape.
As a Toto fan, I myself sometimes get confused as to how popular this song is. It's one of the most covered songs on TH-cam, popular in memes and in popular culture, it amazes how this song impacts a lot of people. *AND* most people know "that band (Toto)" because of the song "Africa" and not the (in my opinion) the brighter, much "better" song Rosanna. But anyway, Africa is a great song. Thanks for the explanation to a song that is always sung, analyzed, meme'd, covered, remixed and has countless breakdown videos. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It did break the mold, more mysterious and transformative than the more conventional love song narrative like perhaps Rosanna is. 'Africa' draws one in with a larger scope than just the self, a bigger and more awesome picture than most songs in the genre. It drew me in when originally broadcast back in the early '80s, just something bigger and more awesome about it.
I did too well me and my sister until youtube..I guess I heard a "youngin" back in 2011 on here say "Have you ever heard Africa? That's a cool song" and then I just kept hearing about it after that on here. 80s were good period and I'm not sure what grabs people so much about Africa and I've always loved it but there are a lot of 80s songs that do it for me. I couldn't even begin to name them.
as a kid born in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California in 1997 and raised by two filipino immigrant parents who constantly played 80s music in the house, this is one of my favorite 80s songs of all-time and my favorite karaoke song, the instruments and vocals and beautiful songwriting are unmatched and this video of how it came about was very inspirational and makes me want to keep trusting God in the music creation process, thank you HollyHobs definitely subscribed! - with gratitude, LaynoProd
Bobby’s outro On Africa is one of the greatest ever recorded,so whatever Luke has said over the years I’m guessing has a lot to do with the fact that they would never have got anywhere without Bobby and it’s no coincidence that even Paich admitted that people returned the fifth album after discovering Bobby was gone. It’s one of the best songs ever,but Bobby’s outtro is on another level.
Supervised a bar with a DJ in Raleigh , NC in 1983 . A female high school friend just returned from Africa after leaving her fiancee. I'll always remember getting our DJ playing this song for her .
If memory serves correctly, there is a bit of a story behind that one since Luke was busy writing another song when this one popped into his head and he felt compelled to finish it. Very beautiful song and very underrated.
As well as I Wont Hold You Back Now. Though I'll Be Over You does boast backup from my main man Michael McDonald and it's hard not to adore anything that guy's done. Ever.
Simple, back woods Virginia girl, here. In 2001, I was "blessed" to travel to South Africa and honestly, had Toto's song stuck in my head for a month. (And I was in love with this song in 82) but let's face it, by high school (85-89) we were sick to death of it. THANK YOU WEEZER, for renewing it in a different light for me. AWESOME, AWESOME cover!!! ~~ I'm in love again, and get to relive my Namibian memories..... thanks for the backstory.
Furthermore, during Africa's studio recording ,Steve Porcaro (The other keyboard player of the band) wrote the song Human Nature for Michael Jackson ;)
@@robertspicer3716 no, he is the other keyboard player as correctly stated. Toto were the studio band who played mostly all the music for the album Thriller. The band or a member of the played on so many records for so many artists Its said that 95% of the world's population has heard a performance by at least one of them. They composed and played the soundtrack to Dune and Steve Lukather is widely recognised as the world's greatest guitarist by those in the business. He and the band also co-wrote songs for Alice Cooper, The Eagles, George Benson to name a few. He played the guitar solo to Running In The Night by Lionel Ritchie as well as most of the other songs on that album. Steve also plays drums, bass and piano The above info is only around 2% of what the band has achieved. It makes for amazing reading.
This is now my favorite song story lol this gave me chills. I've wondered where this song came from for a long time, and I just stumbled across your video. Glad I did! Thank you, and cheers!
Who knew that David would come up with one of the greatest songs of the 1980s? It's right up there with 1980s hits like "Don't Stop Believin'", "Livin' on a Prayer", and "Billie Jean".
That was such a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing that. It makes a lot of sense. I relate to the song a lot. It's one of my all time favorites. I've never seen any of your videos before, i will watch more for sure!
Great Job with this song and history!! Growing up on the 80's, I didn't have a favorite song...there were too many, but this was one of the cool ones to listed to when just relaxing. I now have a bigger appreciation for this one, so thank you!!!!
David Frank Paich is a true artist who finds inspiration even in the smallest treasure he comes across - and always creates something GREAT which wavers fake pride, and rewrites mindsets. I was so enchanted what a sweet and witty man he is when last year, I first saw Toto live. My friend standing beside me, said "let's accept him as our Grandad!".
BEAUTIFUL. thank you. Song really means a lot to me, living in Africa, and born here. I am also blessed to reach the notes of this song and can sing it whole heartedly.
I've been in Africa on three trips from 2004 to 2014, for the US military and Children of the Nations, for a mere total time of six plus months and a variety of the countries there. This song resonates, for some reason. Thanks, Toto. Thanks, HollyHobs for this video.
Don't know why this song / it's video has been so shit on. As if it should've been dissected intellectually & criticized for banal lyrics. That's total BS. The song gives a memorable vibe. It works. I love it.
I live in South Africa and listening to this song makes me appreciate the beauty of Africa,I just wish some of the people could be this beautiful in their hearts aswell....
Thank you for this beautiful video detailing the story of this song, it just popped up in my recommended but it was exactly what I needed right now. It inspired me deeply being an aspiring songwriter and musician myself and I hope I can have the faith that David Paich had to God Bless You!
The rains are amazing in Africa. Even enya has a song about that. I was lucky as hell to be posted in a village in Niger, west Africa in the Sahel just under Sahara during my peace corps service. In the village where I was posted there were food and water security issues - very deep well, rain-dependent subsistence millet farmers. When the rain finally came it was amazing - truly amazing. For weeks prior you would see and hear distant storms in the evening - everyone hoping our village will get the rains next. Timing of planting is of crucial importance too as you probably assume since it is rain dependent. Song is good, not really about real Africa experience, but adds to the western mythology of the place. Though slightly colonial, was instrumental in getting me there to learn the difference between sustainable development and foreign aid.
Not exactly, but Isaac's comment hints of a sort of cultural colonialism. This is a lovely song with evocative lyrics,a very good song in its own right, but let's not turn it into an icon of Africa. Those icons can only come from the great African musical artists, of whom there are many. One example, Salif Keita's Africa. The lyrics are evocative, the music haunting. www.metrolyrics.com/africa-lyrics-salif-keita.html
@@gatrfbt my comment is in regards to geographical facts and historical facts and the lyrics to a song written by Americans. I am not a colonist nor a colonialist nor an advocate of colonialism nor a colonizer of any kind and I reject your label and your dismissal. Address your victimhood fantasies elsewhere. Thanks for the artist recommendation, though.
I grew up listening to 60's rock. When the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan that night it changed my life, as it did so many others. I have always loved all kinds of music, however in the 80's with the punk rock, and techno. sound I tuned out. Africa by Toto was, what I thought the best song of that decade, as well as many others. Africa still has that fresh sound, and doesn't seem dated like some songs. There are a few songs that travel with us through life, and are always very relavent, and strong. Africa by Toto is one of those songs for me.
As someone who already knew the story behind this song, as someone who never liked this song, as someone who never liked this band, as someone who hated the video for this song and the endless number of times MTV would play it, and as someone who is not in the habit of coming to videos of songs that he doesn't like just tell others about how much he doesn'tt like them....I have to say good job Mr. Hobs. Only you could get me to watch something on this particular subject matter and only you could do it well enough that I'd actually end up liking it. (Your video about it, not the song...lol) BTW, long time no see. I hope you are well and it's doing things that you love that are keeping you away from us. Take care.
I’ve loved it since the 80’s. Just saw TOTO a couple years ago. Still rocking ! Another great story song is Adious written by the great Jimmy Webb and performed by Linda Ronstadt .. check it out
It was also co-written by the Drummer, Jeff Porcaro. The story behind his ideas on the song weren’t included in this and his contribution to the song is what also made the song as great as it is.
It was added to their 4th album last minute even after recording it. They tend to record songs without including them into their albums which isn’t always bad. It left them room to release songs later, as seen in their Xx album. But adding it last minute is also why it is their last track on Toto IV.
Meh, it was just a bunch of abstract ideas that came together. No one was 'compelled' or 'inspired' or whatever bollocks. It's just a really great song that took on a life of its own. All the 'inspirational' stories were largely constructed AFTER the success. Hate to piss on the parade, but that's the way it is.
Frazzle Face Dude the video explained where the idea for the came from, even a bunch of abstract ideas don't come from nothing. I think David Paich was inspired to create the keyboard lines and program the synth patches like he did.
svens - Often you'll find songwriters coming up with some grand vision for a song because they don't want to disappoint the fans by saying it doesn't really mean anything
That is a very interesting backstory. _Africa_ gets so much right in the composition, I don't see how it could be anything less than a hit. I must admit, though, for my money, you just can't beat _Hold The Line._ ;) (But that's 70s Toto, not 80s Toto)
I bought Toto 4 my senior year in college. My roommate and I loved side 1 so much that we played that side for a month constantly on the turntable without turning it over and hearing Africa. LOL Great tune!
I hope not, As a brown guy who sings most of his songs written by the British it would be terrible for me. I say ethnicity has nothing to do with people sharing art. We should encourage people to not identify with what they look like but who they are as individuals.
Soon? The time is now. Haters are everywhere. You got this wrong. This song is standing the test of time. It will be here tomorrow. And so will the haters. I love the 80s!
I was a kid in the 80’s And grew up to that song and Have always loved it! now when I hear it on the radio and oddly I’ve heard it the past four days on the radio, every time I hear it, It reminds me of my childhood
I have not been able to get this song out of my head all summer. Sirius XM Plays it all the time on channel 70, as well as Georgie Porgie. I open the windows of the old Buick, and blast that song as loud as I can! The best thing is when other cars pull up next to me and they start singing it too! Who the heck does not like this song? IT IS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OUT THERE, AND IT'S AGELESS AND TIMELESS!!!! I had to download a copy of Toto IV just so I can hear it whenever I want :)
What? He was inspired by starving kids on TV and claimed he wasn't smart enough to come up with "Blessed the rains in Africa", but then later admits he got the idea from missionaries who said they would bless the African rain. And somehow from all that, you think Jesus is coming? This isn't a song from God, just a religious band player who thinks it is.
![Ringo Starr and Steve Lukather (Toto) - Africa / Rosanna / Hold The Line [live 2019]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7CsRgAJRoko/mqdefault.jpg)
![Ringo Starr and Steve Lukather (Toto) - Africa / Rosanna / Hold The Line [live 2019]](/img/tr.png)
Check out my new video for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY!
th-cam.com/video/TJJWF8Oi7Pk/w-d-xo.html
The HollyHobs fc cn
The HollyHobs Watch this th-cam.com/video/uwqbLyI3XIw/w-d-xo.html
Do one about Take On Me!
I don't fcks wit Queen......but I like the rest of your vids.
Listening to Africa while in Africa is truly a religious experience trust me
Woah that sounds awesome!
First time i heard it was while driving through a thunderstorm in botswana at sunset just as it was slowing and rainbows were coming out, best musical experience of my entire life!
I hope to do that one day
That is on my bucket list
listening to atlantis is calling in atlantis is even better
I am in Africa right now because of work. This song is in my head every day- love it! Sometimes, though, I do not bless the rains only because it brings along with it a butt load of insects!
duaneredman: I bless the bugs down in Africa...just doesn't have the same effect, does it?
Shout out to Kilimanjaro, Olympus, and the Serengeti.
I bless all of their rains.
Olympus is in Greece. However, the song is Aeolian mode, which is a Greek scale.
You mean Serenge-TEE
Olympus? You mean nimbus (it's a type of cloud)
+Annette Unsworth: I much prefer lenticular clouds...
This is one of those songs just something about it. You can't necessarily put your finger on what "it" is.I've loved it since I was a little little kid. It always went hand-in-hand with my own fantasies of saving the world.
This is the best made video describing a song that I have ever seen. Great narration full of feelings and not draggy at all. Please keep them coming
Africa is the only song I purchased when I was stationed overseas. Somehow I didn't feel so far away from home when I listened to it. Best song for me.
You were military? Where were you stationed?
The HollyHobs Kunsan air base South Korea. 1983 to 1984. Assigned to the 8th supply squadron of the 8 tactical fighter wing
av8r jacq. I was in USAF also and this song always reminds me of those days. Especially around 81-82 while stationed at Grand Forks, N. Dakota. In '83 was at Taegu AB. Former SP.
James Manky thank you my fellow airmen for your service..
I can’t believe they named a continent after a song
Repost
jdot_11 unoriginal comment and stop taking somebody's *original* comment.
yeet
Stolen!
Who cares if he stole a comment. If he stole those words, whatever I just typed was stolen by you at some point. What I mean is you have most likely said every word in this paragraph at least once in your life, I can garentee that 🙂
I believe the best songs come to us in the most irregular ways
Exactly, and sometime you have to fight for your art to be appreciated.
Dan Craver absolutely ! I’m homesick now😏
I love Africa and Toto! They have changed my taste in music. I’m going to their concert in August!
Now I'm jealous!
Omg! Where?
I am going TONIGHT in Melbourne Florida...woot!
@@mgal6234 - I went to see them in August and am going again this weekend in Augusta, GA. :)
I always get weirdly emotional by the end of each of your videos. They’re really moving and get me thinking. I seriously appreciate all the work you put into these videos and I can’t wait to see more!
Thank you so much, that's very kind of you.
How perfect that you posted this video days before Weezer's cover of the song broke the internet.
What incredible luck huh!? It's definitely doing well because of that cover.
That was a great video! Hope to see more from you soon! If you haven't done it already can you do It's My Life, Livin' on a Prayer, or Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi?
The HollyHobs The only reason I got this video recommended to me is because I’m a huge fan of weezer.
I'm glad you're getting the views, but that cover is dull. Just a watered down version of the original. Brings nothing new to it. Now this cover brings something new to it. It really shows what a great song it is. If a song still sounds great when it does in a completely different style from the original, then it's a great song. th-cam.com/video/MH9FyLsfDzw/w-d-xo.html
W Clark is sooo right! What an incredible epic cover of Africa.
I have always loved this song by Toto, one of the best bands ever! I love Africa and feel so privileged to live here, even with its problems, it is beautiful.
I would love to visit Africa one day!, Sounds like a dream.
I love it,too
A beautiful story for a beautiful song.
Thank You, Such a pleasure to be able to tell it.
Wow, what a good video. It's great to know the background of such a fantastic song by this unique and super talented band.
It's a beautiful story, by the way.
Thanks.
You're welcome! Thank you!
Hey man, I stumbled across your channel after watching videos related to the Toto/Africa being covered by Weezer story. I'm an editor in television for over 20 years, I just wanted to compliment you on your excellent work. You are very talented. Keep it up, don't give up on it. You are a great story teller! Subscribed. 👍
Oh wow thank you so very much for that. I can't tell you how much that means to me. I wont give up.
Toto's Africa is probably the best rock song ever recorded and the many, many versions recorded by others are just as amazing. A vision turns a song into an instant classic.
This song is pure magic.
Thanks for posting this, I remember hearing this back in 1982 on the radio. Amazing song, on my phone’s playlist ❤️ #80sforever
You're very welcome.
damn the Beatles wrote Africa too... truly ahead of their time
Canaan Meister hit after hit as the Beatles even after their break up. We love a talented band 💕
I really like this comment haha
>:(
The Beatles are so overrated, their songs are complete music trash!
UtopicTech People love the Beatles for their accesible, catchy songs and their more happy feeling. The 60s was filled with worry due to the Cold War. The music of the Beatles and the likes was a bit of an escape.
I end up with tears every time I watch HollyHobs videos.
Love the history, the inspiration and the personal links you provide. Well done.
As a Toto fan, I myself sometimes get confused as to how popular this song is. It's one of the most covered songs on TH-cam, popular in memes and in popular culture, it amazes how this song impacts a lot of people. *AND* most people know "that band (Toto)" because of the song "Africa" and not the (in my opinion) the brighter, much "better" song Rosanna.
But anyway, Africa is a great song. Thanks for the explanation to a song that is always sung, analyzed, meme'd, covered, remixed and has countless breakdown videos. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Tony Lancer The sound and vibe of this song is directly connected to the vibe and scenery in Africa that’s why so many people relate to it!
I love Rosanna too lol but both are amazing!!
It did break the mold, more mysterious and transformative than the more conventional love song narrative like perhaps Rosanna is. 'Africa' draws one in with a larger scope than just the self, a bigger and more awesome picture than most songs in the genre. It drew me in when originally broadcast back in the early '80s, just something bigger and more awesome about it.
Im still shocked how this song has 354 million views and Justin Bieber's Sorry has 2,945 mill views
Hold the line has always been my fav, Africa a close second
Thanks so much for sharing! One of my favorite bands. Saw them last year. Saw them 15 years ago! Amazing band! Cheers!
I thought it was just me that loved Toto's africa so much.
Dufoth you’re lying
I did too well me and my sister until youtube..I guess I heard a "youngin" back in 2011 on here say "Have you ever heard Africa? That's a cool song" and then I just kept hearing about it after that on here. 80s were good period and I'm not sure what grabs people so much about Africa and I've always loved it but there are a lot of 80s songs that do it for me. I couldn't even begin to name them.
same
as a kid born in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California in 1997 and raised by two filipino immigrant parents who constantly played 80s music in the house, this is one of my favorite 80s songs of all-time and my favorite karaoke song, the instruments and vocals and beautiful songwriting are unmatched and this video of how it came about was very inspirational and makes me want to keep trusting God in the music creation process, thank you HollyHobs definitely subscribed! - with gratitude, LaynoProd
This warmed my heart
Thank you, I'm glad!
Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for sharing, I love Toto!!
I had this album and loved all the songs on it.
What were some of your other favorites?
Larry Starstruck I have this album. It's by far my favorite by the band, and arguably the best. My favorite tune is Rosanna but I love all of them.
Bobby’s outro On Africa is one of the greatest ever recorded,so whatever Luke has said over the years I’m guessing has a lot to do with the fact that they would never have got anywhere without Bobby and it’s no coincidence that even Paich admitted that people returned the fifth album after discovering Bobby was gone.
It’s one of the best songs ever,but Bobby’s outtro is on another level.
Supervised a bar with a DJ in Raleigh , NC in 1983 . A female high school friend just returned from Africa after leaving her fiancee. I'll always remember getting our DJ playing this song for her .
That's a neat story!
My favorite song hands down it hits home as a mid 30’s adult… lost love, adventure….. awesome harmony.. 10/10 touches the heart every time
I think I'LL Be Over You should get as much credit as Africa and it barely made top 40.
Good song for sure.
If memory serves correctly, there is a bit of a story behind that one since Luke was busy writing another song when this one popped into his head and he felt compelled to finish it. Very beautiful song and very underrated.
i am praying to the Lord for a blu ray of all their music videos!
And I won’t hold you back
As well as I Wont Hold You Back Now. Though I'll Be Over You does boast backup from my main man Michael McDonald and it's hard not to adore anything that guy's done. Ever.
Simple, back woods Virginia girl, here. In 2001, I was "blessed" to travel to South Africa and honestly, had Toto's song stuck in my head for a month. (And I was in love with this song in 82) but let's face it, by high school (85-89) we were sick to death of it. THANK YOU WEEZER, for renewing it in a different light for me. AWESOME, AWESOME cover!!! ~~ I'm in love again, and get to relive my Namibian memories..... thanks for the backstory.
Furthermore, during Africa's studio recording ,Steve Porcaro (The other keyboard player of the band) wrote the song Human Nature for Michael Jackson ;)
Nice piece of information, Thank you!
he was the drummer not the keyboard player.
Robert Spicer No, Jeff Porcaro was the drummer.
@@robertspicer3716 no, he is the other keyboard player as correctly stated.
Toto were the studio band who played mostly all the music for the album Thriller. The band or a member of the played on so many records for so many artists
Its said that 95% of the world's population has heard a performance by at least one of them.
They composed and played the soundtrack to Dune and Steve Lukather is widely recognised as the world's greatest guitarist by those in the business. He and the band also co-wrote songs for Alice Cooper, The Eagles, George Benson to name a few.
He played the guitar solo to Running In The Night by Lionel Ritchie as well as most of the other songs on that album.
Steve also plays drums, bass and piano
The above info is only around 2% of what the band has achieved. It makes for amazing reading.
Jeff Porcaro was the drummer you don't know what you're talking about. look it up
Dude you nailed this mini biography
phil colins - in the air tonight
Du du du dududum I CAN FEEL IT! Good suggestion!
Yes and figure out why high school football teams (at least in Texas) use it as pre-game locker room song
This is now my favorite song story lol this gave me chills. I've wondered where this song came from for a long time, and I just stumbled across your video. Glad I did! Thank you, and cheers!
beautiful video for a beautiful song. thank you so much for doing this!
You're very welcome Nick.
Who knew that David would come up with one of the greatest songs of the 1980s? It's right up there with 1980s hits like "Don't Stop Believin'", "Livin' on a Prayer", and "Billie Jean".
Oh my god the opening is beautiful!
Thank you! It took me too long to make haha
This is a wonderful story. I used to think this song was cheesy but since I married a woman from Africa I love it.
Every new video you make me love this channel even more
Every nice comment make me love you guys more!
That was such a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing that. It makes a lot of sense. I relate to the song a lot. It's one of my all time favorites. I've never seen any of your videos before, i will watch more for sure!
Do Bohemian Rhapsody... PLEASE!
I'm scared too attempt it but I have to
The HollyHobs will you do the fandango?
THUNDERBOLTS AND LIGHTNING!!!
Zac Hudson ME!
I second this request!
Great Job with this song and history!! Growing up on the 80's, I didn't have a favorite song...there were too many, but this was one of the cool ones to listed to when just relaxing. I now have a bigger appreciation for this one, so thank you!!!!
Amazing video as usual HollyHobs!
Thanks FOX!
This is my first time watching one of your videos. Amazing, great quality, and you definitely need more subscribers
I went to a Ringo concert in November and they played this song. Great show
Mr. Greif Steve Lukather plays in his all star band they also play Rosanna by Toto
I would have loved to have seen that.
The HollyHobs me too but without Ringo! Peace and love, peace and love
I picked my a ss while reading ur post
David Frank Paich is a true artist who finds inspiration even in the smallest treasure he comes across - and always creates something GREAT which wavers fake pride, and rewrites mindsets. I was so enchanted what a sweet and witty man he is when last year, I first saw Toto live. My friend standing beside me, said "let's accept him as our Grandad!".
I love this song ! It was one of the best songs, I fell in love with !
I feel the very same way.
Same here❤️
This was entirely delightful. I love hearing these back stories, and the production is absolutely top notch.
Where can i found this calming instrumental of Africa? anyone knows?
I made it actually, would you be interested in a video with just the song?
Yes!
Yes please :)
Yes!
Yes please!!!
BEAUTIFUL. thank you. Song really means a lot to me, living in Africa, and born here. I am also blessed to reach the notes of this song and can sing it whole heartedly.
Love this song!!! Thanks for the story behind it! :)
No problem!
I've been in Africa on three trips from 2004 to 2014, for the US military and Children of the Nations, for a mere total time of six plus months and a variety of the countries there. This song resonates, for some reason. Thanks, Toto. Thanks, HollyHobs for this video.
Best song of all time
Best comment of all time.
Actually, you're right!
Thank you for the ultra amazing back story on one of my all time favorite songs plus the video was respectful and really really good take care.
Don't know why this song / it's video has been so shit on. As if it should've been dissected intellectually & criticized for banal lyrics.
That's total BS. The song gives a memorable vibe. It works. I love it.
It's a great song with an epic feel. And it's amazing how so many people with different tastes enjoy it.
I live in South Africa and listening to this song makes me appreciate the beauty of Africa,I just wish some of the people could be this beautiful in their hearts aswell....
ironically it's the only song I know from Toto
You gotta check out more my dude!
Toto is one of my all-time favorite bands. I'm so glad to see a new generation discovering them!
+Bonnie Half-Elven im old school. i grew up around older so im gen X-ish.
+Bonnie Half-Elven i grew up hanging around older people, so I'm gen X-ish.
You should hear "Rosanna" and "Hold the Line" by Toto as well
Thank you for this beautiful video detailing the story of this song, it just popped up in my recommended but it was exactly what I needed right now. It inspired me deeply being an aspiring songwriter and musician myself and I hope I can have the faith that David Paich had to God Bless You!
Excellent! I wish if I can continue to sing or play this song in Heaven.
Not a bad wish at all.
The rains are amazing in Africa. Even enya has a song about that. I was lucky as hell to be posted in a village in Niger, west Africa in the Sahel just under Sahara during my peace corps service. In the village where I was posted there were food and water security issues - very deep well, rain-dependent subsistence millet farmers. When the rain finally came it was amazing - truly amazing. For weeks prior you would see and hear distant storms in the evening - everyone hoping our village will get the rains next. Timing of planting is of crucial importance too as you probably assume since it is rain dependent. Song is good, not really about real Africa experience, but adds to the western mythology of the place. Though slightly colonial, was instrumental in getting me there to learn the difference between sustainable development and foreign aid.
A God-given song :)
It feels that way!
Love this
Timeless, never gets bored!
The song makes me think of the headwaters of the Nile, and therefore the source of Western civilization.
Interesting.
So it's an evil song?
Not exactly, but Isaac's comment hints of a sort of cultural colonialism. This is a lovely song with evocative lyrics,a very good song in its own right, but let's not turn it into an icon of Africa. Those icons can only come from the great African musical artists, of whom there are many. One example, Salif Keita's Africa. The lyrics are evocative, the music haunting.
www.metrolyrics.com/africa-lyrics-salif-keita.html
@@gatrfbt my comment is in regards to geographical facts and historical facts and the lyrics to a song written by Americans. I am not a colonist nor a colonialist nor an advocate of colonialism nor a colonizer of any kind and I reject your label and your dismissal. Address your victimhood fantasies elsewhere. Thanks for the artist recommendation, though.
I grew up listening to 60's rock. When the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan that night it changed my life, as it did so many others. I have always loved all kinds of music, however in the 80's with the punk rock, and techno. sound I tuned out. Africa by Toto was, what I thought the best song of that decade, as well as many others. Africa still has that fresh sound, and doesn't seem dated like some songs. There are a few songs that travel with us through life, and are always very relavent, and strong. Africa by Toto is one of those songs for me.
As someone who already knew the story behind this song, as someone who never liked this song, as someone who never liked this band, as someone who hated the video for this song and the endless number of times MTV would play it, and as someone who is not in the habit of coming to videos of songs that he doesn't like just tell others about how much he doesn'tt like them....I have to say good job Mr. Hobs. Only you could get me to watch something on this particular subject matter and only you could do it well enough that I'd actually end up liking it. (Your video about it, not the song...lol)
BTW, long time no see. I hope you are well and it's doing things that you love that are keeping you away from us. Take care.
I'm glad Ace, Thank you for that. I've been well!
The HollyHobs
Gonna take a lot to take you away from us
If you want to know good Toto songs... Better World, kingdom of Desire, Pamela, falling in Between, Holy War
I hear what your saying and I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
Hurry, dude, the fanboys are coming here for you...
Love this video. Had to check out more about this song and learn the inspiration. Thanks!
I’ve loved it since the 80’s. Just saw TOTO a couple years ago. Still rocking !
Another great story song is Adious written by the great Jimmy Webb and performed by Linda Ronstadt .. check it out
I'll check it out for sure, Thank You!
I like this well put together video, very interesting. I also like the sound of your voice a lot, you've earned yourself a sub!
What a nice thing to say! Thank you and glad to have you!
My fav toto song is georgy porgy.
Great song!
Same!!
One of my fav!
Good tune, live Segway version is good too
Pamela its amazing too!
When I saw this video on MTV as a kid it was like a beautiful, bizarre, fairy tale song.
There’s still information missing about this songs composition. There’s so many more songs by Toto that are amazing.
What do you like about the songs composition?
It was also co-written by the Drummer, Jeff Porcaro. The story behind his ideas on the song weren’t included in this and his contribution to the song is what also made the song as great as it is.
It was added to their 4th album last minute even after recording it. They tend to record songs without including them into their albums which isn’t always bad. It left them room to release songs later, as seen in their Xx album. But adding it last minute is also why it is their last track on Toto IV.
I really like the effort you put into your videos.
50% Insightful
50% Meme
Nooiiice
You know I do love my memes.
Song writing most time is a spiritual thing
Would you please do rocket man Elton john
I love that song!
I don't think Elton John is desperate enough to have sex with Kim jong-un...
Damn this was a top quality video production. Thanks
You should focus on The Beatles solo works as well. Stuff like Plastic Ono Band, All things Must Pass, Ram, etc. Would love to see that.
Not a bad idea at all. I'm on it!
As an artist, I can totally relate to the vibe that created this song.
Thanks Hollyhobs
Just stopping by to check if your sore throat has healed yet. Sorry to hear it hasn't! Good luck
Thank you for caring haha
You deserve more credit for the awesome background music in your videos!
I'm not crying, You're Crying.
I'm CRYING TOO!
I am 49. I have loved so many generations of music. This song is my hands down favorite.
Meh, it was just a bunch of abstract ideas that came together. No one was 'compelled' or 'inspired' or whatever bollocks. It's just a really great song that took on a life of its own. All the 'inspirational' stories were largely constructed AFTER the success. Hate to piss on the parade, but that's the way it is.
I like how you put that. It's awesome to hear different perspectives on any story. Thanks for that.
Frazzle Face Dude the video explained where the idea for the came from, even a bunch of abstract ideas don't come from nothing. I think David Paich was inspired to create the keyboard lines and program the synth patches like he did.
svens - Often you'll find songwriters coming up with some grand vision for a song because they don't want to disappoint the fans by saying it doesn't really mean anything
HollyHobs - cheers, sorry if my comment was a touch negative. I did enjoy your video and your take on the song.
@@frazzleface753 Nice try troll...
I never thought much about this song in the 80s, but now that I started hearing it on the radio recently, it has intrigued me.
That is a very interesting backstory. _Africa_ gets so much right in the composition, I don't see how it could be anything less than a hit. I must admit, though, for my money, you just can't beat _Hold The Line._ ;)
(But that's 70s Toto, not 80s Toto)
Hold the line is so epic, love that song.
I bought Toto 4 my senior year in college. My roommate and I loved side 1 so much that we played that side for a month constantly on the turntable without turning it over and hearing Africa. LOL Great tune!
I need to know the deep lore of the song "Ocean Man" by Ween.
I have lived in Africa. You do bless the rains down in africa
HAAA if Steve thinks that Africa is bad I wonder what he was thinking when they made the music video for 99 😂
Haha
At the time Steve didn't like it, but over time he came to like it :-)
Probably the same thing he was thinking when he and Jeff Porcaro did the video for Paul Mccartney's Silly Love Songs LOL!
I think he didn’t like it initially but came to like it over time.
A brilliant song indeed and played by one of the greatest band ever. Iconic!
Soon people are gunna hate on it for cultural appropriation
I hope not, As a brown guy who sings most of his songs written by the British it would be terrible for me. I say ethnicity has nothing to do with people sharing art. We should encourage people to not identify with what they look like but who they are as individuals.
Don't give the Internet ideas... it'll happen!
Soon? The time is now. Haters are everywhere. You got this wrong. This song is standing the test of time. It will be here tomorrow. And so will the haters. I love the 80s!
I would fight those people if civil war broke out over this.
Sour Orange
And..if you do your homework, you'll find out the members of Toto are all liberal. They played at many Obama's support campaigns
I was a kid in the 80’s And grew up to that song and Have always loved it! now when I hear it on the radio and oddly I’ve heard it the past four days on the radio, every time I hear it, It reminds me of my childhood
I love that songs😁😊
It's so good!
I have not been able to get this song out of my head all summer. Sirius XM Plays it all the time on channel 70, as well as Georgie Porgie. I open the windows of the old Buick, and blast that song as loud as I can! The best thing is when other cars pull up next to me and they start singing it too! Who the heck does not like this song? IT IS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OUT THERE, AND IT'S AGELESS AND TIMELESS!!!! I had to download a copy of Toto IV just so I can hear it whenever I want :)
TOTO rules
Yes they do!
This song has always been my most favorite song of all time! You can just feel the energy and emotion in it and how it makes you feel!
David paich confirmed second coming of jesus
Love it!
What? He was inspired by starving kids on TV and claimed he wasn't smart enough to come up with "Blessed the rains in Africa", but then later admits he got the idea from missionaries who said they would bless the African rain. And somehow from all that, you think Jesus is coming? This isn't a song from God, just a religious band player who thinks it is.
@@YourMajesty143 r/whooosh
YourMajesty143 over a year late but you’re stupid af