Africa (song)
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| "Africa" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Toto | ||
| from the album Toto IV | ||
| Released | 1982 | |
| Format | vinyl record 7", compact disc | |
| Recorded | 1982 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4 min, 13 sec | |
| Label | Columbia Records | |
| Producer(s) | Toto | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
1 (USA), 3 (UK) |
||
| Toto singles chronology | ||
| Make Believe | Africa | I Won't Hold You Back |
"Africa" is a song by '80s rock band Toto about a young girl's mystical journey through Africa. The song was included on their 1982 album Toto IV, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1983. The song was written by the band's keyboardist David Paich, who also sings lead vocals on the song, and drummer Jeff Porcaro.
The outline on the single's cover art is a visual pun on the shape of the continent of Africa, and it resembles a silhouette of a human face. Notably the face can be identified as an example of the early human Australopithecus africanus.
[edit] In the media
- This song was featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (see Grand Theft Auto: Vice City soundtrack)
- This song is commonly covered by Virginia Coalition during their live shows.
- This song was played in the 2000 movie Ed.
- This song was played in the episode "My Way Home" of the NBC sitcom Scrubs in 2004. The episode was an homage to The Wizard of Oz and the use of this song was an obvious reference to Dorothy's dog, Toto. The song "Africa" was featured again in a 2006 episode of the show.
- This song has been a popular cover for a cappella groups.
- The song has also been covered by singer-songwriters Olivia Lufkin and Howie Day.
- The song was extensively used for the South African Castle Lager marketing campaign.
- American rapper Nas used a sample from the track "Africa" in his own song "New World".
- American rapper Ja Rule used a sample from the track "Africa" in his own song "Murder Reigns".
- American rapper Xzibit used a sample from the track "Africa" in his own song "Heart of Man".
- DJ Eric Prydz used a sample from the track "Africa" in "Take Me Away."
- Singer JoJo sampled "Africa" in her song "Anything" from the album The High Road
- Sketch comedy troupe These People featured "Africa" as the end theme to their 2006 short film "2 Guys and a Mannequin."
- In the animated television show American Dad!, the character Stan Smith is heard quietly singing the lyrics to Africa while getting his bosses' laundry from the cleaners, in the episode Bullocks to Stan. The song is also played at the end of the episode. "Africa" was also sampled in the episode Camp Refoogee.
[edit] External links
- Billboard Chart Listing - Allmusic.com
- An editorial on the song's meaning
- Guitar chords
- Lyrics to the song
[edit] References
| Preceded by "Down Under" by Men at Work |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single February 5, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Baby, Come to Me" by Patti Austin and James Ingram |
| Toto |
| Steve Lukather | Bobby Kimball | Mike Porcaro | Simon Phillips | David Paich | Greg Phillinganes |
| David Hungate | Jeff Porcaro | Steve Porcaro | Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen | Joseph Williams | Jean-Michel Byron |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio Albums: Toto | Hydra | Turn Back | Toto IV | Isolation | Fahrenheit | The Seventh One | Kingdom of Desire | Tambu | Mindfields | Through the Looking Glass | Falling In Between |
| Compilations, live albums, & soundtracks: Dune | Past to Present 1977-1990 | Absolutely Live | Toto XX | Livefields | Live in Amsterdam | The Essential Toto |
| Famous singles: Hold the Line | Rosanna | Africa |
 |
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