The Ultimate South African Song Medley is to thank healthcare professionals and other essential workers at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During Lockdown, a group of talented young South African artists have joined together in their individual homes in Johannesburg and via technology to record The Ultimate South African Song Medley, as a ’thank you’ to all the healthcare professionals and other essential workers out there putting their lives at risk daily so that the rest of us can stay at home and keep safe and well.
Adcock Ingram OTC’s Sponsors of Brave Campaign in association with Stageworx Performing Arts School, released a video of The Ultimate South African Song Medley to not only thank our heroes who don’t wear capes, but to uplift the nation through local music.
To quote one of the greatest heroes, Nelson Mandela, “Music is a great blessing. It has the power to elevate and liberate us. It sets people free to dream. It can unite us to sing with one voice. Such is the value of music.”
The Ultimate South African Song Medley
The Ultimate South African Song Medley integrates 28 of the most instantly recognisable classic South African songs from music icons across diverse genres, from the last fifty years, all woven into a seamless tapestry by well known music arranger and maestro extraordinaire, Bryan Schimmel, and performed by fifty students and alumni from Stageworx Performing Arts School in Johannesburg.
- Music from Brenda Fassie to Kurt Darren, Mandoza to PJ Powers, Yvonne Chaka Chaka to The Parlotones, Miriam Makheba to Four Jacks and a Jill, Sonja Herholdt to Mafikozolo to name but a few – are all included to showcase the rich musical culture of South Africa.
Says Schimmel of the Medley, “It’s very nostalgic and gives people that “oh-wow-I-forgot-about-that-song” feeling.” The Ultimate South African Song Medley introduces the youth of today to the wealth and heritage of great South African music that was produced long before they were even born. The result is a multi-cultural and cross-generational musical celebration.
Gemma Marinus, Director of Stageworx Performing Arts School that is currently teaching students via online classes as well as conducting workshops and other projects, explains that brief was sent out to approximately 160 of the Stageworx students (current and alumni) including some who have already made a name for themselves in the Arts industry such as John Tsenoli, Phil Higgins, Yahto Kraft and Marianthe Panas.
“Everyone jumped at the chance to be part of the project. Our enthusiastic students were sent harmonies and certain lead lines that they had to record at home on their cell phones and we were sent back all the recordings.”
From there, Matthew Marinus mixed all the vocal recordings that were sent back for everyone to record their videos, again on their cellphones. Through this medley, it is also hoped that all South Africans to go to
To view The Ultimate South African Song Medley video, click here
