While in her last year at school, Claire Johnston joined Mango Groove (founded in 1984 by John Leyden, who teamed up with Andy Craggs and ‘Big Voice Jack’ Lerole’). She quickly established herself as the face and voice of Mango Groove.
For the next two decades, they had an enormous impact on the South African music scene. At the time, popular multiracial music groups were not common in South Africa and Mango Groove was seen as a symbol of unity in a country struggling to shake itself free of apartheid.
Their unique blend of marabi, kwela and pop music, together with the voice and presence of Claire Johnston and the penny whistle of Mduduzi Magwaza, made them very popular.
Some of the highlights of Mango Groove’s career include:
* The direct satellite link-up to the The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London in 1992 to an estimated audience of a billion people.
* Their performance in front of 200,000 people at a "Rock Against Racism" concert in Paris
* Their performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival where they received 3 encores.
Hellfire
Mango Groove Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No sentiment or mystery
Incidents in your life
Like pages in our history
There's a roadblock late at night
And a military man
Can't he see we're together
(That) your love burns me like a hell fire ....
And there's a song called hellfire
That everybody plays
Striking chords of memory
In so many different ways
Your love burns me like a hellfire....
The opening lines of Mango Groove's song Hellfire reflect on moments that are remembered without much sentiment or mystery. These moments are seen as mere incidents that are akin to pages in our history. The lyrics suggest that these incidents could be good or bad, but ultimately they're simply recorded events. The context of the song is set as the verses culminate into the chorus, which declares that a person's love for someone else is like a hellfire.
The second verse reveals a particular roadblock incident that hints at the complex social and political climate during the 80s in South Africa when the song was released. The singer of the song speaks of being with someone, but a military man fails to understand their connection. The line "can't he see we're together" might reflect the racially charged situation in South Africa where interracial relationships were not accepted at the time. However, the song doesn't dwell on this for too long, as it goes back to its central theme of comparing love to a hellfire.
In conclusion, Hellfire is an ode to love that burns bright but also makes the listener realize that memories that matter to them might be forgotten by someone else. The song paints an evocative picture of the tensions and emotions that characterised South Africa under apartheid. It is poignant and deeply moving.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember moments
I recall particular events or experiences.
No sentiment or mystery
There was no deep emotional feelings or unanswered questions associated with those memories.
Incidents in your life
These were events that happened in your past and contributed to your personal history.
Like pages in our history
Similar to how pages in a book make up a story, each event makes up our collective personal history.
There's a roadblock late at night
There is a physical obstruction on the road at night.
And a military man
There is a soldier or similar authority figure present.
Can't he see we're together
The soldier is unaware of the romantic relationship between two people present.
But he doesn't understand
The soldier cannot comprehend the love that exists between the two individuals.
Your love burns me like a hellfire ....
The love felt for the other person is intense and all-consuming, like being caught in a blazing inferno.
And there's a song called hellfire
There is a specific song titled Hellfire that is frequently played.
That everybody plays
This song is familiar to a lot of people.
Striking chords of memory
The song triggers various past recollections or emotions.
In so many different ways
Each person's reaction to the song is unique and individual to their own experiences.
Your love burns me like a hellfire....
The love felt for the other person is intense and all-consuming, like being caught in a blazing inferno.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICKY VILAKAZI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacquelynlanghein8439
Beautiful for my wedding one day ❤️
@margaretndungu5031
Wish I can get the beats alone
@Thatoblackchild
In 1989, Mango Groove released Hellfire. The song was banned by SABC at the time for depicting pictures of forceful removal and demolition of sophiatown in 1954.
@ntuthukondlela8224
To think this song was once banned by the SABC 🤯
@alveer3321
T u r n I t ARoundZ 🥊🌕☀️📣🙏 🌟🐾🐾🌟