The duo produces music that mixes traditional Mali sound with rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptian ney, Colombian trombones, Indian tablas and Dogon percussion. All these elements put together have been referred to as "Afro-blues".
In 2004 they put out an acclaimed album produced by Manu Chao.
In 2006 they were acknowledged with BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in the two categories: Africa and Album of the Year (for the "Dimanche à Bamako" release).
www.amadou-mariam.com
Taxi Bamako
Amadou & Mariam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Où tu veux , je t'emmène
Taxi Bamako
Tu m'appelles je suis là
Taxi Bamako
Je suis le plus rapide
Taxi Bamako
Tu es ma seule cliente
On traverse le pont
Je fais ma course au ciel
J'évite tous les
trafics, les problèmes
mécaniques...
Je suis le plus rapide
On traverse le pont...
Je fais ma course au ciel
Tu t'assois, je conduis...
The lyrics to Amadou & Mariam's song "Taxi Bamako" convey the idea of a taxi driver who is dedicated to transporting and satisfying his one and only client in Bamako, the capital city of Mali. The driver, through a combination of skill and speed, can navigate through thick traffic, avoid mechanical problems and deliver his client to her destination quickly, safely and seamlessly. By using the taxi driver as a metaphor, the song reveals the hardships encountered by many African commuters in their everyday lives, as they travel through congested routes to work, school and other destinations.
The repeated use of the phrase "Je fais ma course au ciel" (I make my way to the sky) towards the end of the song gives us a sense of the driver's determination to go beyond the physical and transport his passenger to the place of their dreams- a place that exists beyond the present and the mundane. By singing about the taxi driver’s ability to transcend his immediate environment, the song evokes a sense of hope for all those who seek to transcend the barriers that confine them.
Line by Line Meaning
Taxi Bamako
Amadou and Mariam's song about a taxi that operates in Bamako, the capital city of Mali.
Où tu veux , je t'emmène
The taxi driver will take the passenger wherever they want to go.
Tu m'appelles je suis là
The taxi driver is always available if the passenger calls.
Je suis le plus rapide
The taxi driver claims to be the fastest in the city.
Tu es ma seule cliente
The singer is addressing a female passenger and she is his only customer at the moment.
Tu t'assois, je conduis
The passenger should sit down and relax while the taxi driver takes them to their destination.
On traverse le pont
The taxi is crossing a bridge in the city.
Je fais ma course au ciel
The driver is confident and aspires to succeed in his profession.
J'évite tous les trafics, les problèmes mécaniques...
The driver is very efficient and avoids all kinds of traffic and mechanical issues.
Contributed by Ruby N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexisleblanc-roy5489
Bon on y va !
@nah8380
Mon titre favoris ♥️
@laurineakinyi2654
I love this song it .
@ruthdixon7807
manu is very much at the controls on this gentle lilt of a track. absolutely fantastic music!!
@sunsavvy3893
The whole album reads as at least 1/3 manu chao, but not stealing the spotlight either really
@freddillon9372
bien taxi au ciel
@astridastrid2532
C'vn
@pieterwestera903
Amadou & Mariam used to be great. But then came Manu Chao and turned them into Manu Chao clones. Horrible!