Interview in reported speech

While I was in vacation in Senegal, I saw a man passing by next to me. He looked like Akon, but after I asked for his identity, I was shocked to know that the world wide famous singer, Akon, was standing right before me. When I asked him politely for an interview, he responded that he had nothing else to do at the moment, so he accepted.

I asked Akon if he often visited his friends and family in Senegal.

Akon said that he does, about 5 times a year. He also said that he visited his old friends that he had had from when he had been a child.

I asked Akon what he did during his visits.

Akon said that he sung to them some of his songs and he always gave donations to the African Community.

I asked Akon what inspired him to create his music.

Akon said that there were many things that inspired him. He also said that what inspired him the most was the love that he shared between his wife and kids.

I asked Akon why did some of his songs started by a sound of jail doors shutting.

Akon said that he had went to jail a long time ago and, during that time, he had learned a lot about life and he dedicated that sound to the memory that he always had with him.

I asked Akon why he chose “Akon” as his singer name.

Akon said that he had had to choose either “Aliaune”, “Badara”, “Akon” or “Thiam”. He also said that he had asked his friends about that and they had said that “Akon” was the coolest.

I asked Akon if he ever wanted to form a “rap band”.

Akon said that he was more of a one person singer but he sometimes featured songs with other singers.

I asked Akon that I heard that his new album will soon come out in stores, but was he currently working on it?

Akon said that he had started that album a couple of months ago, after he had met with David Guetta, his current producer. He also said that the album was almost finished and that there were some adjustments to make.

I asked Akon if he added something new in that album.

Akon said that he couldn’t have said much but he could have said that there absolutely would be something amazing.

I asked Akon on what he normally spent the money that he got from the studio.

Akon said that he mostly bought cars and houses for himself and his family. But he always donated to the African Community.

I asked Akon if he will, once again, be in the top R&B singers in the world.

Akon said that if his fans adored the music that he had made, then they would adore even more the music that would soon appear.

An interview with Akon

Me: Do you often visit your friends and family in Senegal?

Akon: Yeah, about 5 times a year. I visit my old friends that I had from when I was a child.

Me: What do you do during your visits?

Akon: I sing to them some of my songs and I always give donations to the African Community.

Me: What inspires you to create your music?

Akon: There are many things that inspire me. What inspires me the most is the love that I share between my wife and kids.

Me: Why do some of your songs start by a sound of jail doors shutting?

Akon: I went to jail a long time ago and, during that time, I learned a lot about life and I dedicate that sound to the memory that I will always have with me.

Me: Why did you choose “Akon” as your singer name?

Akon: I had to choose either “Aliaune”, “Badara”, “Akon” or “Thiam”. I asked my friends about that and they said that “Akon” is the coolest.

Me: Did you ever want to form a “rap band”?

Akon: I am more of a one person singer but I sometimes feature songs with other singers.

Me: I heard that your new album will soon come out in stores. Are you currently working on it?

Akon: I started that album a couple of months ago, after I met with David Guetta, my current producer. The album is almost finished; there are some adjustments to make.

Me: Will you add something new in that album? Perhaps some new beats?

Akon: I can’t say much but I can say that there absolutely will be something amazing.

Me: On what do you normally spend the money that you get from the studio?

Akon: Mostly what I buy is cars and houses for myself and my family. But I always donate to the African Community.

Me: Once again, will you be in the top best R&B singers in the world?

Akon: If my fans adore the music that I made, then they will adore even more the music that will soon appear.

Introduction

This Blog is dedicated to the famous singer, Akon.

Akon’s albums comparison

Akon is one of the most successful R&B singers of the 21th century. He currently has 3 complete albums: “Trouble” (2004), “Konvicted” (2006), “Freedom” (2008) and a new album coming soon, called “Stadium Music” (2010). Although Akon has 6 Grammy Award nominations, will his upcoming album be as good as the previous albums? I think Akon has a great and relaxing voice, and I think his songs are both relaxing and rhythmic. I will compare the music, the themes, and the sounds of the albums “Freedom” and “Stadium Music”.

The music of both albums alternates between relaxing music and rhythmic music. The album “Stadium Music” currently has 2 singles: “Nosy Neighbor” and “Party Animal”. These songs, as well as many songs from “Freedom”, are mostly made for parties and other fun occasions. I think Akon’s music is beautiful and a lot of people in the world like him for his voice. Although his songs have different styles, is there something similar in them?

The themes of the albums are close to the theme love. The themes are: falling in love, enjoyment, loneliness and many more. For example, the song “Keep you much longer”, from the album “Freedom”, demonstrates loneliness, and the song “Party Animal” from the other album, demonstrates pure enjoyment. My opinion is that it’s normal to have one main theme because, in this case, there is only one singer with one heart, filled with feelings. Now that the themes are clear, are the sounds of the music as clear?

Most of the sounds of the music by Akon are fast and loud. For example, both songs of the album “Stadium Music” have sounds that are fast and loud. But a couple of the songs from “Freedom”, particularly the song called “Sunny Day”, are rather slow and soft. I think that a good album is an album with a lot of different sounds.

Although the album “Stadium Music” isn’t completed, it seems that both albums have already many similarities. The album “Freedom” was successful and the album “Stadium Music” has a good start. I think Akon always finds something new that everyone will love and dance to the beat.

Lyrics analysis of 2 great songs

Lyrics to Gangsta Bop :
[Laugh]
Konvict
Aye aye aye aye aye go gangsta
Aye aye aye aye aye go gangsta
Keep boppin'
Rock wit me
Let's get this bitch poppin'
Up front!
Go gangsta
Keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'

See nowadays seems like everybody wanna be killas
Gorillaz gettin' high off their weed and liquor
You die quicker
Paramedics drive back slow to the hospital
You get pronounced dead before the hospital
Stop frontin' when you know you won't pull nothin'
First nigga to retreat when the tools bust
Playin' with it is bad for your health
All your homeboys are gone
You the last one left now
They heart's beatin' but these niggas be scared
The real ones are all locked up or dead
Nowadays you can't find a good connect
But if you do you might be the feds so

I don't know you
You don't know me
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only when you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute guaranteed you gonna bleed
Cause that's how we was raised
Growin' up in these streets

Go gangsta
Keep boppin
Rock wit me
Let's get this bitch boppin'
Go gangsta
Keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'

See it's hard gettin' good
Easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meetin' wit new people
Just put the money in the bag and I'll leave you

Then we cop evesil
You make a hundred dollars
To the streets you made a G
When you coppin' hoes
They swearin' you move keys
Feds gettin' close
And the rats in the g's
And they tryin' to find those birds
Not the ones that sleep in trees
We got that bird
We got that blue
You want short skirts?
We got that too
Whatever ya need my nigga
Show me the cheese
And baby you can believe
That we can make that true

I don't know you
You don't know me
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only when you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute guaranteed you gonna bleed
Cause that's how we was raised
Growin' up in these streets

Aye aye... [in the background]
Go gangsta
Keep boppin
Rock wit me
Let's get this bitch boppin'
Go gangsta
Keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'

Streets been watchin
And they don't blink
Sidewalk got ears
The pavement don't sleep
The fittest will survive
The weak just don't eat
Everybody in between just gettin' a rap sheet
The streets been watchin
And they don't blink
Sidewalk got ears
The pavement don't sleep
The fittest will survive
The weak just don't eat
Everybody in between just gettin' a rap sheet

I don't know you
You don't know me
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only when you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute guaranteed you gonna bleed
Cause that's how we was raised
Growin' up in these streets

Aye aye... [in the background]
Go gangsta
Keep boppin
Rock wit me
Let's get this bitch boppin'
Go gangsta
Keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'

See it's hard gettin' good
Easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meetin' wit new people
See it's hard gettin' good
Easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meetin' wit new people
[ Gangsta Bop Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Lyrics analysis:

Many repetitions of words. I think that the verse “Like back when a nigga was clockin’” means “when a black man was in jail”. Sometimes life is very hard for gangsters. Their friends die or go to prison quickly. Akon’s neighbourhood was mostly dangerous; you could get shot if you stayed on the street for a long time. It’s sometimes hard to do good, but always easy to do evil. In this case, it’s probably a bank robbery. The police have secret agents who spy on suspects of crimes. The suspects have hidden the stolen money but they still continue to make more, using prostitution of women. People around you know something about you and they could use that to get rid of you. The theme is living in a bad neighbourhood.

Lyrics to I Can't Wait :
I can't wait
I can't wait

[Verse 1]
I think of you
When the morning comes and the nighttime goes away (all day)
Don't you ever think that we won't be okay (no way)
There is nothing stopping me from loving you
Touching and rubbing and kissing and hugging you
What's this feeling taking over me
Baby that's love and it ain't no stopping it
I don't know as far as the eyes can see
Pick up the pace and it aint no dropping it
Always forever I'll be by your side
You're my Bonnie I'm your Clyde
That's the way that its gonna be
I'm in love with you and you in love with me

[Chorus]
(I can't wait)
Sit down and talk for a minute
Go outside and take a walk for a minute
It's you and me
(I can't wait)
Sit down and talk for a minute
Go outside and take a walk for a minute
It's you and me

[Verse 2]
(I can't wait)
I can't believe
That someone like you will love me endlessly (forever)
If this goes our way my love will always be (eternally)
You have set my mind my love my heart so free
Together forever however just you and me
What's this feeling taking over me
Baby that's love and it aint no stopping it
I don't know as far as the eyes can see
Pick up the pace and it aint no dropping it
Always forever I'll be by your side
You're my Bonnie I'm your Clyde
Cause that's the way that it's gonna be
I'm in love with you and you're in love with me

[Chorus]
(I can't wait)
Sit down and talk for a minute
Go outside and take a walk for a minute
It's you and me
(I can't wait)
Sit down and talk for a minute
Go outside and take a walk for a minute
It's you and me

[Bridge]
(I can't wait)
To have you right next to me
Here by my side
(I can't wait)
To kiss and caress you girl
While holding you tight
(I can't wait)
Can't imagine life without you
It just ain't right
(I can't wait)
I got a whole lot of loving
And you gonna get it tonight

[Chorus]
(I can't wait)
Sit down and talk for a minute
Go outside and take a walk for a minute
It's you and me
(I can't wait)
Sit down and talk for a minute
Go outside and take a walk for a minute
It's you and me
I can't wait
I can't wait
I can't wait
[ I Can't Wait Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Lyrics analysis:

He can’t wait to talk with her, personally. He will love her forever, and be with her forever. He is in love with someone and he wants to be with her forever. He only wants her, and it won’t be right if she wasn’t there. The themes are loneliness and love.

Mini-Biography of Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam

Akon is one of the most successful R&B singers of the 21th century, with 6 Grammy Award nominations.

Akon was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, but he lived in Dakar, Senegal, until the age of 7. Now he lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. His albums are: “Trouble”, “Konvicted”, “Freedom” and, the album that will soon be released is “Stadium Music”. He rose to fame in 2004 following the release of “Locked up”, his first single. His full name is not fully verified, as his date of birth, because of the travel between the United States and Senegal. There are rumors that Akon has three wives, but he has only revealed one: Tomeka. He claims to have six children from three different women. He wants to protect his personal life from the public eye. His father is a Senegalese percussionist, named Mor Thiam.

His unique blend of West-African-Style, skills and moves makes him one of the best R&B singers.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akon