Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest edit: Feb. 11, 2022
This post also quotes comments that provides information about the meaning of the title and the meaning of a few other lyrics in Focalistic's original song "Ke Star".
That post also showcases a YouTube sound file of the 1994 South African record "Tsiki Tsiki Yo" (also given as "Tsiki Tsiki" or "Tsikitsiki") by Kwaito pioneer singer, musician, and composer M'Du Masilela. Information about M'Du Masilela is included in this post.
Selected comments from this video's discussion thead are also included in this post.
for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases the 2014 official YouTube video of the South African song "Tsiki Tsiki" by Duncan Skuva and a YouTube video the original videovy Duncan and the remix of that song by Duncan Skuva featuring Mampintsha, Professor & AKA.
That post also includes information about Focalistic, Vigro Deep, and Davido.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, aesthetic, and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Focalistic Maradona, Vigro Deep, and Davido for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
LYRICS:
(Focalistic Maradona)
[Intro: Focalistic]
Ase trap tse ke...
Ase trap tse ke pina tsako kasi
[Verse: Focalistic]
Spetlele, spetlele (Spetlele)
Sparr tlaq, ketlele (Ketlele)
Angle, angle (Angle)
Ao, tlisa re settle
Spetlele, spetlele (Spetlele)
Sparr tlaq, ketlele (Ketlele)
Angle, angle (Angle)
Ao, tlisa re settle
Spetlele, spetlele (Spetlele)
Sparr tlaq, ketlele (Ketlele)
Angle, angle (Angle)
Ao, tlisa re settle
[Chorus: Focalistic]
Spetlele, spetlele (Spetlele)
Sparr tlaq, ketlele (Ketlele)
Angle, angle (Angle)
Ao, tlisa re settle
[Chorus: Focalistic]
Ene ke star, bare "Qum
shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele
Eh'na re on, on, on, on, on
Maradona o dlala rough, rough, rough,
rough, rough
Eh’na re on, on, on, on, on
Vigro o dlala rough, rough, rough,
rough, rough
Ene ke star, bare "Qum
shelele!"
Midnight Mkhelele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele
Ene ke star, bare "Qum
shelele!"
Midnight Mkhelele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele
[Pre Chorus: Focalistic]
Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! Tsikitsiki, yho!
Tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! Tsikitsiki, yho!
Tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho, Yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! Tsikitsiki, yho!
Tsikitsiki, yho!
Yho, yho, yho, yho, yho, yho
Tsikitsiki, yho! Tsikitsiki,yho!
Tsikitsiki,yho!
[Bridge: Focalistic]
Tju, tju, tju, tju
Tju, tju, tju, tju
Ase trap tse ke Pina tsako Kasi
[Chorus: Focalistic]
Ene ke star, bare "Qum
shelele!"
Midnight Mkhalele, tlako sebele
Bula Sekele
Eh'na re on, on, on, on, on
Maradona o dlala rough, rough, rough,
rough, rough
Eh'na re on, on, on, on, on
Vigro o dlala rough, rough, rough,
rough, rough
From https://genius.com/Focalistic-ke-star-lyrics
-snip-
The English meanings for a few of these words are given below.
Most of the lyrics for "Ke Star" are in Pitori (Sepitori). That song also includes some English words. Some information about Pitori is given below.
I haven't found any English translations of this song or its remix. Please help provide an English translation for this song (even though its beat is more important than its lyrics). Thanks in advance!
ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT THIS SONG
From
https://www.okayafrica.com/the-30-best-south-african-hip-hop-songs-of-2020/?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2 "Best Of 2020: The 30 Best South African Hip-Hop Songs of 2020 Ranked" by Sekese Rasephei [no publishing date given]
“We rank 30 of our favourite South African hip-hop songs of
2020.
The year 2020 has been a gut-punch to most. But, as always,
music has served as a sweet escape. Despite the circumstances, there was no
shortage of great music releases.
South African hip-hop continues to grow in leaps and bounds, with an eclectic string of songs that draw off different inspirations, from amapiano, to boom bap, all the way to trap.
Here is a countdown of 30 of our favourite SA hip-hop songs of 2020.
30. "Ke Star" is one of the biggest songs of the
year. It actually has a very strong case for overall song of the year as it's a
good blend of amapiano, kwaito and some semblance of hip-hop. Focalistic
cleverly weaves chants of Sepitori, making for an entertaining tune laden with
stylistic lingo. It is the appeal rooted in amapiano and Sepitori that has made
it such a fan favorite and consequently earned it a spot in our favourite SA
hip-hop songs of the year."...
****
INFORMATION ABOUT SEPITORI (also called "Pitori")
Here's information about Pitori (Sepitori)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretoria_Sotho#:~:text=Pretoria%20Taal%2C%20or%20Pretoria%20Sotho,Bantu%20languages%20of%20the%20region.
"
It is a very dynamic and fluid language that changes over time. Words such as stelle, stocko and wadijaja are new concepts used and did not exist a decade ago. Another interesting feature is that different parts of the city of Tshwane have different variations of the language. The Garankuwa, Mabopane and Hammanskraal regions, which are dominated by Tswana-speakers, speak a form that is closely linked to Setswana. The areas Soshanguve, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville are dominated by Sepedi - Speakers, and speak a form that is closely linked to Sepedi hence the use of words like: Bolela or Nyaka instead of Bua or Batla in Tswana. SoShaNguVe remains the most diverse as the name suggests SOtho (both Setwana and Sepedi) SHAngan ( Tsonga ) Nguni and Venda.
People in the Garankuwa and Mabopane areas would say 'Keya
ko nna' for 'I am going home'. Residents of Mamelodi and Atteridgeville for
example would say, 'Ke ya jarateng' they also might use 'keya ko nna' as well.
While residents of Soshanguve for example would say 'keya jointeng or keya
dladleng'"...
-snip-
Here's a related comment about the song "Ke Star" from the discussion thread for a reaction vlog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i69lN79URbw&t=114s&ab_channel=KAYESS
Kamogelo Moraba, 2020
"Its a genre from South Africa called amapiano
Focalistic represents south africas capital city Pretoria
He speaks setswana with a pretoria accent which is informal
React to more amapiano to catch the fire"
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "KE STAR" & EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE ENGLISH MEANINGS OF A FEW OTHER WORDS & PHRASES IN THAT SONG
1. English translation for this song's title; Ke Star
a) Carpet and Rug Cleanix, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ "Focalistic Ke Star (Official Music Video) ft Vigro Deep" published by Focalistic Maradona, Sep 18, 2020
Thank us later😉
**
b) Chrispen Manyeruke, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ "Focalistic Ke Star (Official Music Video) ft Vigro Deep" published by Focalistic Maradona, Sep 18, 2020
"What is the meaning of the song can someone translate pliiizzz"
**
Reply
c) 2dREX Gaming, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ "Focalistic Ke Star (Official Music Video) ft Vigro Deep" published by Focalistic Maradona, Sep 18, 2020
"Basically he's saying he's a star"
**
d)
"Silk Worm, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIfTM6dTXyQ&ab_channel=ThatFireLA "Focalistic - Ke Star Ft. Vigro Deep | TFLA Reaction", published by That Fire LA , July 3, 2020
"Your moves bro it’s lit, he’s saying rough in local accent not Ralph LOL . Pretty sure he singing in seTswana though sounds like Sotho too. Ke Star means I’m a Star, just like “ ke Big Ralph” will be “ I’m Big Ralph “ but the vernacular sound for the “e” on “Ke” takes a sound of “i” when doing the 5 major letter vowels e.g the 1st “e” on word “Theme” . Hope I make some sense, perfect reaction though"
**
Reply
e) Thabiso Magoro, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIfTM6dTXyQ&ab_channel=ThatFireLA "Focalistic - Ke Star Ft. Vigro Deep | TFLA Reaction", published by That Fire LA , July 3, 2020
"He is singing in northern Sesotho/ Setswana, but actually it's se'pitori a language from Pretoria. And ke star means am a star"
2. English Translation for "Ha se trap tse ke di pina tsa ko kasi"
a) B- boy Mr M., 2020
"In the beginning of the song he is actually saying "This is not Trap its the songs from the Hood"
**
" 'Hase Trap, ke di pina tsa ko kasi" - so basically hes saying : This isnt trap like trap ( trap music) , its songs from the hood , the location ."
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6qwz7H4T6Q&ab_channel=UbunifuSpace
a) Bheka Gasa, 2020
"The song ["Ke Star"] samples one of the Godfathers of house
music(Kwaito) the song titled "Mdu- Tsiki Tsiki". Had it not been for
this song, there wouldn't be a Gqom or Amapiano genre today. If you listen to
"Lorch" song you will hear them say "Thabo Mooki, tsiki
tsiki". Thabo Mooki was a Kaizer Chiefs Soccer player who was awarded the
nickname "Tsiki Tsiki" because he use to touch the ball like a Dj
playing a disc that "tsiki tsiki" sound it makes. And the
"Yoh" is a word that describes a disbelieve or shock when someone
does an awesome thing. So commentators in soccer use to say "Tsiki tsiki
yoh" whenever Thabo Mooki touched the ball. Mdu as an artist took this and
made the biggest Kwaito anthem of the 90's. "...
**
b) Skhweziwe Myeni, 2020
"The song is Heavily HEAVILY influenced by kwaito elements
even though its Amapiano. Guys are just going back to that whole element. The
"yo yo yo yo yo yo YOOO, Tsiki Tsiki yooo Tsiki Tsiki toooo Tsiki Tsiki
yoooo is actually an old song by one of the founders of Kwaito Music - Mdu,
Tsiki Tsiki. The song dropped around 1995 there. But ya it's totally epic 👌🏾"
**
c) KelssDX, 2021; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ "Focalistic Ke Star (Official Music Video) ft Vigro Deep" published by Focalistic Maradona, Sep 18, 2020
"Tsiki Tsiki Yoh derives from the sound when a DJ scratches a record
and it was a nickname to a legendary SA soccer player called Thabo Mooki who played for Kaizer Chiefs. Yoh is
just the expression of shock or awe like OMG"
**
Reply
d) Mongie Esihle Zangwa, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ "Focalistic Ke Star (Official Music Video) ft Vigro Deep" published by Focalistic Maradona, Sep 18, 2020
"It's a tribute to a song by Kwaito
legend Mdu Masilela 'Tsiki Tsiki' you should listen to it, it's a South
African 90's hit"
****
4. A few other Sepitori words in that song
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9_da2P5JjQ "Focalistic Ke Star (Official Music Video) ft Vigro Deep" published by Focalistic Maradona, Sep
18, 2020
"It's even more dope when you understand
what's been said, kedlele=car, mengele =plan, dlala fog =naughty,
spetlele=hospital."
****
This concludes Part IV of this five part pancocojams series.
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Visitor comments are welcome.
