Tuesday, October 16, 2007

#37 -- "Africa" -- Toto

Year: 1982
Chart Position: #1
Last year's Worst Songs position: #9

A Top Ten Worst Song from last year, "Africa" was Toto's sole #1 hit in the States. Essentially a love song set near Mt. Kilimanjaro (which I'm pretty sure is not pronounced "kiliman-jairo"), "Africa" tells the story of a man so in love with a woman that wild dogs nor one hundred men nor blessed rains will keep him away from her. Set to faux-Steely Dan studio pop, "Africa" delights in its oddness -- a stumbly metaphor that doubles as a safari travel brochure.

Fun Fact: "Africa" was recorded using two singers -- keyboardist David Paich sings the verses, while frontman Bobby Kimball wails on the chorus.

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