"Sabali" by Amadou and Mariam

A translation from the original Bambara is just a Google search away, but all it takes is a human heart to understand that Mariam Doumbia is singing about love. The swirling keyboards and gradually rising dance beat (produced by ex-Blur front man Damon Albarn) are pure '80s pop and sweeter than cheap champagne — but with soul to ground them; it's like a Cyndi Lauper tune sung by Vera Hall. The fact that Mariam is singing to her husband and decades-long musical partner makes it even better.

• 
• Click to Print

• Find this article at:
• https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1944027_1944050,00.html