Since the early 1980s, Senegalese singer N'Dour had been touted as the man who would take African music into the Western mainstream. By 1994 this was looking unlikely. Then suddenly this duet with British soulstress Cherry was everywhere.
His glittering Wolof-language vocal and her tuneful plea for racial tolerance went straight to the nation's heart, making this one of the biggest-selling records of 1994. While the follow-up bombed, the speed, scale and unlikeliness of the 7 Seconds phenomenon suggest that it could happen again at any time.
Key moment: The warmth, intimacy and delicious unexpectedness of N'Dour's vocal entrance.
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale Roughneck and rudeness, We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms For the sword and the stone Bad to the bone Battle is not over Even when its won And when a child is born into this world It has no concept Of the tone the skin is living in Its not a second 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting Its not a second 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting x3 Jassume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout, Jaimerais quon oublie leur couleur pour quils esperent Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font quils desesperent Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes, Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie Pour quils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas Changer 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting Its not a second 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting x3 And when a child is born into this world It has no concept Of the tone the skin is living in And theres a million voices And theres a million voices To tell you what she should be thinking So you better sober up for just a second 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting Its not a second 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting Its not a second 7 seconds away Just as long as I stay Ill be waiting