Africa (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "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 | ||
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| Toto singles chronology | ||
| Make Believe | Africa | I Won't Hold You Back |
"Africa" is a song by '80s rock band Toto. The song's catchy chorus is a metaphor for how much the writer loves his woman, hence "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you/There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do/I bless the rains down in Africa". The comparison of missing something magnificent to be with the one he loves.[citation needed] 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.
[edit] In the media
- This song was featured in the game 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 has been covered by Umphrey's McGee 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 2006. The episode was a homage to The Wizard of Oz and the use of this song was an obvious reference to Dorothy's dog, Toto.
- This song has been a popular cover for a cappella groups.
- The song has also been covered by singer-songwriters Olivia Lufkin (in her 2001 single, Sea me) 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".
- Marcus Levin 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 when Steve meets an African girl.
- The Lawrence University Great Midwest Trivia Contest has used Africa for the past several contests as sort of theme song for the contest -- one of the triviamasters was never able to get it played when he was playing, so when he became grandmaster, he played it almost nonstop. They have featured several versions of it, including playing it backwards, backwards and forwards mixed together, and claimed to have hidden subliminal answers in the music.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
| Preceded by "Down Under" by Men at Work |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single February 5, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Down Under" by Men at Work |
| 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 | I'll Be Over You | Mushanga | Bottom of Your Soul |
