"Mario"
Vinyl label of 12" Kenyan release.
Single by Franco and the TPOK Jazz
from the album Mario
LanguageLingala
Released1985
Recorded1985
StudioStudio Mademba, Libreville
GenreCongolese rumba
LabelÉditions Populaires
Songwriter(s)L'Okanga La Ndju Pene Luambo Luanzo Makiadi

"Mario" is a song by Congolese guitarist Franco and his group TPOK Jazz from his eponymous 1985 album. It is considered to be the musician's biggest hit.[1]

Written and composed by Franco, the theme of the song is the story of a gigolo who lives with an older woman. Although he is a graduate, he prefers to spend his partner's money.[2]

“Mario” was reportedly certified gold after selling over 200,000 copies in Zaire.[3] The song has been recorded three times by TPOK Jazz (each with different interpretations of Mario's story): the original, "Mario 2" (also released in 1985) and "Mario 3" (released in 1987 on the album "L'Animation Non Stop"). The song was also covered by several artists including salsa group Africando[4] and rapper Marshall Dixon.

Background

The Kinshasa society had a slippage at the time when Franco composed "Mario". Young girls publicly preferred mature men for financial reasons. The same goes for young boys, they preferred mature women.[5] This inspires Luambo to compose the song.[6]

Recording

The song was recorded in 1985 under the direction of Elvis Kemayo at Studio Mademba[7][8] during a trip of the group TPOK Jazz to Libreville.

Composition

"Mario" is a Congolese rumba song. It was composed in the key of C-flat major, with a moderate tempo of 115 beats per minute. "Mario" has a C, F, G, F chord progression throughout the song.

The song begins with Franco's mi-solo guitar, he is then joined by rhythm guitarist Gégé Mangaya. Drums (played by Nado Kakoma), congas (played by Dessoin Bosuma) and bass (played by Decca Mpudi) also come in when Mangaya's guitar starts up. Franco pronounces the first lines of the song, followed by the chorus, sung by Madilu System. The solo guitar is played by Papa Noel Nedule.

"La Réponse de Mario"

A sequel to the hit "Mario" was recorded in 1987 under the title "La Reponse De Mario" (Mario's response).[9] An answer from the target of the previous song where he gives his version of the story: according to him, it is rather the mature woman who comes to seek him, humiliates him in front of women of his age, forces him to be his lover and interferes in his studies.

Credits

Musicians who participated in the recording of "Mario (original version)":

  • Franco Luambo – songwriter, lead and spoken vocals, mi-solo guitar
  • Madilu System – lead vocals
  • Papa Noel Nedule – lead guitar
  • Gégé Mangaya – rhythm guitarist
  • Decca Mpudi – bass guitar
  • Nado Kakoma – drums
  • Dessoin Bosuma – congas

References

  1. ↑ "Mario : le plus grand succès de Franco, en vidéo sous-titrée". pan-african-music.com (in French). 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  2. ↑ "Franco Luambo : Mario Lyrics, words, translation". kenyapage.net. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  3. ↑ Stewart, Gary (2003). Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos. Verso. pp. 292–293. ISBN 978-1-85984-368-0.
  4. ↑ "Africando - Ketukuba". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  5. ↑ Jewsiewicki, Bogumil (1993-01-01). Naître et mourir au Zaïre: un demi-siècle d'histoire au quotidien (in French). KARTHALA Editions. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-2-86537-390-1.
  6. ↑ congolaise, Univers Rumba. "LUAMBO MAKIADI : Mario, tableau d'un gigolo désavoué - Univers Rumba Congolaise". www.universrumbacongolaise.com (in French). Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  7. ↑ Mario 1 (Franco) - Franco & le T.P. O.K. Jazz 1985, retrieved 2021-09-12. Listen from 14:18: an interview to Papa Noel Nedule, where he talks about the recording of "Mario"
  8. ↑ "Les immortelles chansons d'Afrique : " Mario " de Franco Luambo Makiadi | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  9. ↑ musica (2015-05-16). "La Response de Mario (Lyrics and Translation)". Kenya Page. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
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