Celebrating Neneh Cherry, born 10th March 1964, and in my opinion one of the greatest artists ever to grace this planet.
Sometimes, this blog virtually writes itself, the planets aligning to provide serendipitous moments and opportunities.
Realising a short while ago that it was Neneh's 60th birthday today kick started this week's entire birthday-themed posts.
Today is Mother's Day. Sundanese is the second largest language spoken in Indonesia. The Sundanese word for mother is...Neneh.
Chérie translates from French as darling, but Neneh also adopted the name for an EP of remixes by French artists in 1997.
So really, it was always going to be Neneh Cherry today, whether I was consciously aware of it or not.
On the surface, Neneh has 'only' released four solo albums since Raw Like Sushi turned the world on its head in 1988. But her work and cultural impact goes much deeper and wider than that.
School drop out at 14. Arriving in London at 15 and hooking up with The Slits. The Cherries. New Age Steppers. Rip Rig + Panic. Hanging out with The Wild Bunch in Bristol and the origins of Buffalo Stance as a B-side remix for Morgan-McVey (the latter soon-to-be husband and musical partner Cameron McVey).
And then there's Neneh continual collaboration and reinvention, with Matt Johnson (The The), Tricky, Seven Seconds with Youssou N'Dour, appearing on Top Of The Pops whilst pregnant, effortlessly brilliant in the 2007 BBC2 cookery show Neneh and Andi – Dish It Up with bezzy mate (and Rip Rig + Panic bandmate) Andi Oliver.
Continuing to astonish in the 21st century, Neneh has worked with Swedish trio The Thing and formed cirKus with husband Cameron McVey, daughter Lolita Moon and Matt Kent. Neneh's last two albums have been a further evolution of her music in partnership with Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet.
Bearing all of this in mind, there's no way that I could do justice to Neneh with merely one Dubhed selection. So, to celebrate, here are two one-hour selections, twenty-two tracks strong. Not a comprehensive career-spanning collection - no New Age Steppers, for example - but it does attempt to convey why I think Neneh is one of the greatest artists ever to grace this planet.
There's a self-deprecating comment attributed to Neneh as a "singer that does a bit of rapping". She is - and always has been - so much more. An icon and a legend, in the true sense of the words.
Happy birthday, Neneh, and thank you. You are loved.
Volume One
1) Money Love (Perfecto Mix By Paul Oakenfold & Steve Osborne): Neneh Cherry (1992)
2) You're My Kind Of Climate (Party Mix): Rip Rig + Panic (1982)
3) Weightless (Album Version By Kieran Hebden): Neneh Cherry (2014)
4) Buffalo Stance (Give Me A Muthuf***ing Breakbeat (Sukka Mix) By The Dynamik Duo): Neneh Cherry (1988)
5) Unattended Bag (Whatever/Whatever Unreleased Mix By Justin Strauss & Bryan Mette): cirKus (2009)
6) Kong (Parris Remix By Dwayne Parris-Robinson): Neneh Cherry (2018)
7) Kisses On The Wind (Moody Mix By David Morales): Neneh Cherry (1989)
8) You've Got Me Thinking (Unreleased Mix): The Beloved ft. Neneh Cherry (1993)
9) Think Twice...: Groove Armada ft. Neneh Cherry (2002)
10) Undecided (Deep Radio Mix By Deep Forest): Youssou N'Dour ft. Neneh Cherry (1994)
11) Buddy X (Masters At Work R&B Version): Neneh Cherry (1993)
12) Had You In Me: Neneh Cherry ft. Tricky (1998)
Volume Two
1) Bob Hope Takes Risks (12" Version): Rip Rig + Panic (1981)
2) Slow Train To Dawn (12" Version): The The ft. Neneh Cherry (1986)
3) Dream Baby Dream (Remixed By Four Tet aka Kieran Hebden) (Cover of Suicide): Neneh Cherry & The Thing (2012)
4) Crack Baby: Neneh Cherry (1996)
5) Koochie (Air Remix By Jean-Benoît Dunckel & Nicolas Godin): Neneh Cherry (1997)
6) Together Now: Nearly God ft. Neneh Cherry (1996)
7) Everything (Vilod High Blood Pressure Mix By Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer): Neneh Cherry (2014)
8) Accordion (Jim O'Rourke Remix): Neneh Cherry & The Thing (2012)
9) Manchild (Smith N Mighty Remix By Rob Smith & Ray Mighty): Neneh Cherry (1989)
10) Woman (La Funk Mob Remix): Neneh Cherry (1998)
Inspired choice Khayem - brilliant artist and weird to think we have been listening to her for 43 years!!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing Neneh with Rip Rig + Panic in a Smash Hits poster as a pre-teen and I never forgot her.
DeleteNeneh even manages to uplift the otherwise awful Love Can Build A Bridge with Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton (though it also gets a pass as it raised money for Comic Relief).
Great stuff Khayem, two comprehensive mixes. She's great, love Neneh.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adam, it was tough keeping it to just two, to be honest!
DeleteThanks for this. Heard her first on Dutch radio on R,R&P's Bob Hope Takes Risks on a late night show I recorded at the time. Of course I didn't know who she was until much much later ;-)
ReplyDeleteSurprised at how active she has been in later years!
That was a bonkers single, wasn't it? I liked that The Cherry Thing, Neneh's 2012 album with The Thing, evoked the spirit of Rip, Rig + Panic although I'm also excited by the (relatively) more recent collaborations with Four Tet. An amazing artist, ever evolving. Thanks, Dalebanon!
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