When I heard Thandiswa Mazwai would be performing at the last Analogue Nites of 2010, I knew it would be a once in a lifetime experience to watch a legend perform.
The chilly Joburg night took off with DJ Kenzhero and his famous soul mix but there's always been something new and exciting with Kenzero over these past months. He's been including South African '80s bubblegum music in his mix, while the other resident DJ1D has never gone wrong with old school kwaito and new age hip-hop. How the two genres mix is beyond understanding but it sounds way too good.
The venue filled pretty fast with music fans and celebrities like Lupe (from Metro FM), Noni Gasa, Claire Mawisa, Shaka Sisulu, Anele, Kaos Matu, and Thapelo Mokeona. Eventually the doors had to be closed, which never happens, due to the sheer number of people wanting to catch the iconic singer Thandiswa.
But first, recent winners of etv 'Popstars', Nne-Vida, warmed the stage with songs that will be featured on their upcoming album. Although their first song sounded like a badly produced Afrikaans track, with the beats and vocals not synching in most parts, they followed it up with a good party starter, paving the way for the main event.
Thandiswa started her memorable performance with 'Nizalwa Ngobani?' from her debut 2004 album, 'Zabalaza', which provided most of the evening's material. While she was on stage, Simphiwe Dana joined her for an epic out of the blue collaboration that quashed all rumours of the two talented ladies' 'beef.'
Ending her performance with 'Ingoma', taken from her latest release, 'Ibokwe', she kept on saying goodbye before singing the song again with more jazz and just bass.
As soon as Thandiswa stepped off the stage, DJ1D got on the decks and took the early Friday morning of 2010 to 1996. He played the 'break-out' song from Thandiswa's first band, Jack Knife, moving to Boom Shaka's 'Thobela', 'Thebe', 'Ungwawa Kum' and many more hits from a decade ago.
You would think, with an hour-long set of old school jams, ladies in heels would be sitting down, but no. It was only later, when more commercial tracks were, played that slowly people finally decided to go home after what must have been the best Analogue Nites of 2010.
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