In 1981, at the age of 16, she left Cape Town for Soweto, Johannesburg to seek her fortune as a singer. Brenda first joined the group Joy and later became the lead singer for the township pop group Brenda And The Big Dudes. She had a son, Bongani, in 1985 by a fellow Big Dudes musician. Brenda married ex-convict Nhlanhla Mbambo in 1989 but later in 1991 got divorced. It was around this time that she became addicted to cocaine and her career suffered.
With very outspoken views and frequent visits to the poorer townships of Johannesburg, as well as songs about life in the townships, she enjoyed tremendous popularity. Known best for her songs "Weekend Special" and "Too Late for Mama", she was called by Time Magazine in 2001 "The Madonna of the Townships".
In a drug-related incident in 1995 she was discovered unconscious with the body of her lover, Poppie Sihlahla, who had died of an apparent overdose. Fassie survived, underwent rehabilitation, and got her career back on track. However, she still had drug problems and returned to drug rehabilitation clinics about 30 times in her life.
Since 1996 she released several solo albums like "Now Is The Time", "Memeza" (1997, the best selling album in South Africa) or "Nomakanjani?". Most of her albums became multi-platinum sellers in South Africa.
On the morning of 26 April 2004, Brenda collapsed at her home in Buccleuch and was admitted into the Sunninghill hospital in Johannesburg. The press were told that she had suffered cardiac arrest but later reported that she had slipped into a coma brought on by an asthma attack. The post-mortem report revealed that she had taken an overdose of cocaine in the night of her collapse, and this was the cause of her coma. She stopped breathing and suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. Brenda died at age 39 on 9 May 2004 in hospital without returning to consciousness after her life support machines were turned off. According to the South African Sunday Times and the managers of her music company, the post-mortem report also showed that she was HIV-positive. Her manager, Peter Snyman, denied this aspect of the report.
She was voted 17th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.
Source: Wikipedia
External link: Brenda Fassie: A very human hero (BBC News)
Shame
Brenda Fassie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
One step forward and one step back
Turn around and clap your hands
One step left and one step right
Come on everybody
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
One step forward and one step back
Turn around and clap your hands
One step left and one step right
Turn around and change you body
Come on everybody
Brenda Fassie's song "Shame" primarily consists of the repetitive chorus "Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)", which serves as a catchy and energetic motivator to get people dancing. The rest of the lyrics encourage people to move their bodies in different ways, with instructions such as "One step forward and one step back" and "Turn around and change your body". The overall message of the song appears to be a call to action, urging people to not be ashamed of their bodies or their ability to dance.
Given the limited lyrics of the song, it is difficult to draw any deeper meaning beyond its surface level energy and appeals to dance. Nevertheless, the song's upbeat tempo and Brenda Fassie's powerful vocals create an infectious and irresistible vibe that makes it difficult to stand still while listening.
Line by Line Meaning
Mitoto toto (Tolala tito)
Repeating meaningless words to fill the space and make it appear as though the song has content.
One step forward and one step back
Making little to no progress, as actions are counterproductive and cancel each other out.
Turn around and clap your hands
Performing empty and superficial actions for the sake of public approval or to portray a sense of happiness.
One step left and one step right
Moving in different directions without purpose or direction.
Turn around and change your body
Attempting to alter one's outer appearance or behavior to conform to societal norms, rather than embracing individuality.
Come on everybody
Urging others to join in on the meaningless and unproductive actions in order to create a false sense of community.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENDA FASSIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kesentseng Qonyevu Miss Kay
on Matshidiso
I loved Brenda Ma B with all my heart i still do nd forever will. Rest in eternal peace Queen of Pop
Lionel Mbayiwa
on Undikolota Malini
This song reminded me when I was still young and living in Zimbabwe,it painted an imagery picture of how South Africa looked like then I could see people dancing and very happy.
Since I had never set my foot in SA then and didnt understand what it means but there was a feeling within.
Now I'm listening to it and I'm residing in SA the song is taking me back home when I was young and living in an imaginary world.
Ngwanona song.i love it.
Ayanda Ndaba
on Kuyoze Kuyovalwa
zimbi iindaba...kuyoze kuyo closwa...iuyithululele iduku le iNGOMA...Hey he he he hey hola hops...hay' suuka
Nomacala Scaca Mpunzi
on Mama
why we don't get the track stay away(from my man) by brenda fassie?