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About This Track
The song was included on their 1982 album Toto IV, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1983 and number three on the UK Singles Chart the same month. The song was written by the band’s keyboardist David Paich, who also sings both verses of the song, and drummer Jeff Porcaro. Bobby Kimball sings the chorus.
The song almost cut from the Toto IV record prior to its release. Having spent an incredible amount of time producing the tune, the band became so tired of the song that they didn’t want it on the album. The song itself was very different from anything the band had done before, and some members felt that it didn’t sound like Toto.
“I didn’t think it was very good,” said Steve Lukather (Classic Rock Revisited, 2003). “That tells you what can happen when we pick our own singles!”
David Paich, who co-wrote the song with Jeff Porcaro, said that it “could have been the beginning of a solo project because it was so different. I thought I’d save it… World Music wasn’t around then.”
The initial idea for the song came from David Paich, playing on his piano. Jeff explains the idea behind the song: “… a white boy is trying to write a song on Africa, but since he’s never been there, he can only tell what he’s seen on TV or remembers in the past.”
Musically the song took quite some time to assemble, as David and Jeff explain below.
The song almost cut from the Toto IV record prior to its release. Having spent an incredible amount of time producing the tune, the band became so tired of the song that they didn’t want it on the album. The song itself was very different from anything the band had done before, and some members felt that it didn’t sound like Toto.
“I didn’t think it was very good,” said Steve Lukather (Classic Rock Revisited, 2003). “That tells you what can happen when we pick our own singles!”
David Paich, who co-wrote the song with Jeff Porcaro, said that it “could have been the beginning of a solo project because it was so different. I thought I’d save it… World Music wasn’t around then.”
The initial idea for the song came from David Paich, playing on his piano. Jeff explains the idea behind the song: “… a white boy is trying to write a song on Africa, but since he’s never been there, he can only tell what he’s seen on TV or remembers in the past.”
Musically the song took quite some time to assemble, as David and Jeff explain below.
Send ‘Africa’ Ringtone to Cell Similar Music
Play Toto RadioWith: Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams, Mr. Mister, Journey and more…
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Albums featuring this track
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Past to Present 1977-1990
Toto
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Shouts
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Kera_MarieDB wrote:
LOVE the music video.... haha.
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Zoltanrah wrote:
i go loco for Toto <3
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mbocean wrote:
My favorite song of Toto!!! Love the rhythm that always makes me jiggle my foot up and down.
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CerysCole95 wrote:
im probably too young to like this song, but it is certainly ESTUPENDO !!!
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jelene wrote:
this isn't africa
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davidbowiegirl wrote:
Great song
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CrimsonXero wrote:
One of the best songs ever of all time!
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EASTstroud13 wrote:
Not Africa, but at least they got the amount of letters in the song title right.
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DATA310 wrote:
Where is Toto's Africa?
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CaliHoosier wrote:
Please get this right ........ soon!
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dragonswings wrote:
Fun, but not "Africa"
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musicbox01 wrote:
Awesome song bloody love it lol
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CaliHoosier wrote:
Wrong song .................. still!!!!!!
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JellyBean1994 wrote:
I do quite enjoy this song.
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KingFahtah wrote:
kilimanjaro rises like olympus above the serengeti? Not really
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retrowens wrote:
Ha...it's playing "Pamela" on mine also, saying it's "Africa"..."Pamela" is a good song also in my opinion, although not nearly as good as "Africa" of course
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kiteo wrote:
Anyone else hearing Pamela? God, it's terrible.
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bunikkk wrote:
MUST HEAR IT! MUST HEAR IT! great great song! one of my best ones
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tim123456789101 wrote:
a great tune from back in the day :)
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Tr1xx wrote:
awww nawww . . . it's been covered by Jason Derülo as "Fight For You" & absolutely trashed
Track Stats
2,325,500 Scrobbles
439,350 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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Lepracor, R-BOTTOM, nivesich and 1 other person loved Toto – Africa. 17 minutes ago
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froger21 added Africa to froger21’s library. yesterday evening
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froger21 added Africa to the playlist. yesterday evening
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DJ_Chendo added Africa to the playlist Get Psyched Mix. yesterday evening
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spaced44444, SonnyG9056, jasin2106 and 2 other people loved Toto – Africa. yesterday evening
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sylwek74 added Africa to sylwek74’s library. yesterday afternoon
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sylwek74 added Africa to the playlist moje ulubione. yesterday afternoon
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jimtheknight, Serenna3 and chrissbryson loved Toto – Africa. yesterday afternoon
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Rassmusss added Africa to Rassmusss’s library. yesterday afternoon
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pantermo86 added Africa to the playlist Rock. yesterday afternoon
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