1,290,962 plays (264,304 listeners)
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.
Video
Added by outatime77
Music video for "Africa" by Toto from the very successful album "TOTO IV". This song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1983, and is one of the most immediately…
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Shouts
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LostChord_Mark wrote:
mesmerizing song - one of Toto's best!!
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Corvair1963 wrote:
Check out Andy McKee's acoustic guitar version of this tune. He also does a great version of "I'll Be Over You."
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newromantistic wrote:
Классика мелодик-рока 80-х
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kleef01 wrote:
Fantastic song, always fine to hear.
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Marjo47 wrote:
Afrika the sometimes forgotten continent. such a shame.
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Trusso32 wrote:
Oh HEEEEELLLLL YES! If you don't know this song your pretty much a loser and if you don't like this song then you're definitely a loser!
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cergo43 wrote:
Вещь.
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edel-sonny wrote:
epic song.
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ROCKPOPCLASSIC wrote:
G****
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Crush1800 wrote:
Really love this group. The Christmas mix to this is awesome. PEACE
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Jaymeister69 wrote:
Its still a bit cheesy but hey, what the hell ... I like it :-)
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myfavnotes69 wrote:
I did this song when i was in 8th grade choir, always loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lure_ wrote:
I love this song ..
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AscentOfStan wrote:
Really good relaxation song.
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TheLoveGuru wrote:
Great song but Rossana still my Toto's favorite song.
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phillybird wrote:
makes me wanna drive around Miami.....shotgun on deck.
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cakeordeath824 wrote:
I love the 80s so much <3 This song takes me back.... good times
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billfires wrote:
tops......
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tercero2 wrote:
Desde Panama, la era musical de los 80s nos encanta
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quietland wrote:
i love the 80s
Toto
Africa
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Recent Activity
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perfectford added Africa to the playlist untitled 2. 7 minutes ago
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perfectford added Africa to perfectford’s library. 7 minutes ago
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mtvsiper, KoeAssassin and rugbylad88 loved Toto – Africa. 39 minutes ago
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meozma added Africa to meozma’s library. 4 hours ago
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DEZZNUBBS21, Swelker1, grizzlyjambo and 4 other people loved Toto – Africa. 4 hours ago
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Gundel1502 tagged Africa with ‘classic rock’. yesterday evening
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TuRtlLeX, domeks18, dyanasid and 15 other people loved Toto – Africa. yesterday evening
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chadmo added Africa to chadmo’s library. yesterday evening
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CChesh1re, cpip and logan2995 loved Toto – Africa. yesterday evening
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blakelylaw tagged Toto – Africa with los angeles connections, california connections, american and 4 other tags. yesterday afternoon
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