Oldies but Goodies IV–RELOADED 60 Comments

Kebebush’s Mood

I think Kebebush from the Bernos Press (aka BP) is in love! Out of no where, she tells me she has an idea for an article.

aster.jpg

The idea? A podcast of love songs by Aster Aweke The truth is Kebebush is a Graduate school student and with papers and exams creeping behind her on a regular basis has no time to write any blogs or be in love for that matter. At any rate, I thought her idea was wonderful. She did most of the work. She sent me a stream of her favorite Aster love songs. When I saw the link I was hoping and praying the songs were not

from Aster’s album featured HERE. To my utter delight, Kebebush only used the originals. The songs she picked are as follows:

1) Munaye

2) Fikere (Shesheg Belilign)

3) BeFiker Lay Fiker

4) Eshururu

On some if not all of the songs, Aster Aweke was backed and arranged by the Shebele Band* (this particular group were known as D’Afrique Band), which consisted of Bibisha Tefferi on guitar, Teodrose Mekonnen on keyboards, Girma Wolde Michael or Teshome Deneqe on sax, Rufael Wolde Mariam on drums, Mulugeta Hailu (who was once married to Aster) on bass and Kumelachew (sorry no last name) on trumpet. The sound is a far cry of the heavily synthesized and over produced CD’s we have been getting from her in recent years.

Kebebush, you picked some solid love songs. Muanye has always been a favorite of mine. Aster’s ballads are indeed timeless.

* It is important to note that there were a number of Shebele Bands. Each time a band joined the Wabeshebele Hotel, they were named Shebele Band.

Thank you AS and GA for giving me the line up for the Shebeles

Though it was impossible to add video when this blog was originally posted, it is now.

Recorded around 1980 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These rare video’s were recorded by Tango Music & Video Shop also known as Kaifa Records.

Hope you enjoy them and thank you for continued support.



60 Responses to “Oldies but Goodies IV–RELOADED”


  1. 1 .mike

    delightful.

    absolutely, delightful!

    oldies rock!

  2. 2 MindWithoutC

    EJ,
    you are the best as usual!

    … wa Sidet .. BeTizita Gedelekin’eko :-)
    …..they took me back to the sunny Sunday Afternoons of Addis Ababa Stadium – KatanGa -days.

    These Aster’s songs, and Muhammud’s were the deserts of those 15 minutes break along with Assfaw QeBe’s Shinbera Dube & those Fanta, sprit….what a feeling it was surrounded by so many of one’s own!

  3. 3 Nolawi

    this an amazing song… aster is a great singer… even her new stuff is not as bad as the rest of the Ethiopian singer… obviously i like the stuff from late eighties and early nineties EBO is one  great album….

  4. 4 bgFelasfit

    i love love love eshururu!
    munayee is gorgeous!
    thanks shenkoryee fantastic selections!!

    (hope u think about ur other blog idea! ;) )

  5. 5 justme

    who doesn’t like Aster? she is amazing.KABU is one of my all time album i can’t get it enough of it.(Bati, Kabu, Kezera..oohh! life is wonderful if Aster is on bati..) Thanks Ej and Kebabush…and also i have never seen this picture of aster..
    justme….

  6. 6 Kebebush

    EJ, thank you for writing a blog on my behalf. I wanted to share some of my favorite songs of Aster with bernos. I couldn’t think of anyone else to go to for help. You were open to my idea and implemented it immediately. You are the best! Thank you again.

  7. 7 Kebebush

    All those love songs are dedicated to ….. you know who you are :-)

  8. 8 zgent

    That was a very good album, thanks for your lovely post EJ, I stand in awe of your ET music knowledge. You take me back to the good old days. Astu still rock me, inspite of the synthsized stuff. My personal favorite was the one preceeding these; where the songs weyra, igr awetah, yewalnebet bota, tsegereda kenfer etc were featured. I wonder if it was the same band (i mean the same guys as those featured in these accompanying her then) maybe EJ would shade some light on that. Kebebushen melso melalso fikir yiyazat eyalkuN astukan likomkum.

  9. 9 shtoni

    good picks, Kebebush.

    i gotta say, though Aster’s new material is nice, i still perfer her 80s/90s stuff.

  10. 10 Bed_ford

    Thank you EJ for the song and Kebebush for initiating. It brought lots memories.

  11. 11 lilye

    EJ, You did it again!! I was instantly transported back home to those happy sunny times just with the first zema. Thank you !!
    WOW I don’t know how long it has been since I heard these songs. I had to consiously boycott yagerbet zefenoch for years …… too emotional. I am still amazed by the power of music! In this snowy cold morning ewnetim betizita gedelkegn. Warm, fuzzy & happy tizitawoch. I needed that thank you guys KE LIBÉ!

  12. 12 Dinich

    [quote comment="35192"]All those love songs are dedicated to ….. you know who you are :-) [/quote]

    I want this to be SOJ.

  13. 13 Nolawi

    [quote comment="35192"]All those love songs are dedicated to ….. you know who you are :-) [/quote]
    to me?

    sorry I don’t mean to be presumptuous, i just thought it is for sum reason!

  14. 14 Dinich

    Nol,

    …..For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted…..haha

    [quote comment="35239"]
    to me?

    sorry I don’t mean to be presumptuous, i just thought it is for sum reason![/quote]

  15. 15 shtoni

    hey Kebebush,

    how about adding Hode Mela Mela to that list…

    juss a suggestion.

  16. 16 Kebebush

    lol Nolawi

  17. 17 Mengedegna

    Great pick Shenkor, and thanx EJ for puttin it together! :)
    Very beautiful and nostalgic!!

  18. 18 Konjit

    First of all, i have been waiting for your post. I love it, EJ this is the most amazing post. I like Aster even thoug some people acused her for singing through her nose, and the songs you listed are my favorite once. Please keep it coming i enjoy reading your post.

  19. 19 Emfraz

    nose haters!

  20. 20 konjit

    [quote comment="35590"]nose haters![/quote]

    lol! You know what, i didn’t say she sings through her nose. I heard people saying that about her, but i think it is true sometimes. Oh well i still like her!

  21. 21 Ethio Jazz

    Thank you all for the kind responses. Thank you Kebebush for a wonderful idea. If any of you have ideas email them to me at ethiojazzz@yahoo.com

  22. 22 bat

    YES, YES, Muanye is my all time best song. I remember listening it when I was in high school. Know, I have the Muanye in a CD.

    I LO………………….VE Aster

  23. 23 Key Wot

    Thank you so much for this beautiful collection…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Aster from the bottom of my heart and I’m very happy to have come across her songs, eventhough I have it on a CD it’s just nice to know other people feel the same way about her. She just makes you fall in love even if you’re not in love. She’s amazing!!!!!!!! You just made my DAY
    Thanks
    Aster ROCKSSSSS!!!;)

  24. 24 Mengedegna

    wow!! amazin videos!

  25. 25 soj

    ..Ej man…ur just great..thanks a million, as always, ur taste and deep knowledge are priceless.

  26. 26 Emfraz

    funny i watched the first video thinkin that was someone else … what a difference! where did u get those videos man

  27. 27 Aibi

    Hey, I so very much luv dese songs n more 4 Aster. she is just so fantabilous n wondectric. Thanx 4 da songs again so so very much.

  28. 28 Ephrem

    Just because we all love Aster, we can bear the pain of listening/watching these clips. But the bottom line is that no one can deny that all of them not something to be proud of – either for Aster or her fans. In all honesty, I wish somebody had permanently deleted (or never recorded in the first place) these sub-standard performances by such a great performer as Aster (as she finally turned out to be). Lets not fool ourselves. I bet it would ashame even Aster herself when she saw herself in a such excruciatingly low level of artistic quality.

    The real Aster was made long after she sang these painfully “un-Aster” YEKEBELE KINETT performances.

    If you really wanna know who Aster really is, listen to the songs she did after 1985.

    Then you would know who she inherently is and sing with me: “YA LELA, YIHE LELA!”

    Aster is not TERA like she is depicted in these stupid clips anymore, my friends. I am not denying that she sang the songs, but she is completely and absolutely different than that to the extent of even questioning if the singer “really” was her.

    Aster has worked so hard and exceptionally to be an absolutely different breed of unquestionable international respect and admiration. And that is what makes her what she is now (or may be she has always been).

    AAYY, BEDRO BERE INARSALEN KALACH’HU, YERASACH’HU GUDAYY!

    As for me, this is not (by no means) my Aster Awoke.

    Thanks
    Ephrem (ephremdz@yahoo.com)

  29. 29 Tabot

    Just to add a little info, Kumilachew’s last name is Gebresilassie. I know for sure that at one time, Ali tango has played as a back up singer in one of Aaster’s albums. But, I don’t remember which one it was.

  30. 30 Tabot

    I think I remebered the song, it is “Gena legena”.

  31. 31 Tabot

    Ephrem, Aster become to be who she is now because the kind of songs she sang back then. I do not clearly undrestand what your criticism is based on. anything we all have done inthe past is thebeginning of our bio for the future.

  32. 32 soj

    ..ephrem…jeles…you got it twisted. In fact it is these same songs here that she plays over and over again in her concerts….and do not be stuck on the makeshift recording studio’s sound quality/or the lack thereof….have you listened to the bass lines and her vocals..?….the genius behind these timeless pieces..?..if you asked me Aster has been off track lately…well atleast mostly lately…with her….melbes arenguade magbat new negade..lyrics…

    peace.

  33. 33 zgent

    Amen to that SOJ, succintly put observataion!!! At one of her many interviews Aster also proclaimed the same thing what Ephrem is talking about. I believe, an artist will be growing into something big because of every bit of her/his past experience. Should Haile be ashamed of his infantile crawling, stumbling moments (the second before he dared to stand or walk) after he establish himself as the greatest of all time? Astu has always been good in her own way, starting from the begining. These videos are not an exclusion, inspite of their inferior production quality (totally attributable to the producer and artistic director, if there exist one in those days). My bet is that they were made by a one of the few video camera owner of the time (could be the producer himself)to keep a visual recording of these songs. These pieces will remain “timeless”, and Aster and her associates know how to remake them everlasting, Aster ballads is a good example.
    We should not miss the satire behind the melbes arenguade lyrics though. Remember the three V platitudes that were ranted by the youth?

  34. 34 Aibi

    Hey hey Ephrem, chill it yo,
    Dese songs for Aster kinda sound aight man. Yall know she is one talented singa. da records jus show a normal sequence of improvements n sky rocketin developments on behalf of a gifted performa like Aster. I jus disagree a lil wiv u man, when u wished dat da records b deleted. Da poor(?as u put it) perfoma-aster aweke in dese records turned out 2 b a GLAMOROUS ASTER AWEKE (in CAPS)n dasz wat matters. Let da records b for history n a guide for da new Talents.
    PEACE EPHY N ALL
    AMESEGGNALLEW

  35. 35 marcos

    loved aster’s oldies. the best one, the one that took me back into memory land was, the song gela gela gelaye alfelegim fikir ene kante lela. where can i find the cd cassette etc. please notify me. thanks

  36. 36 kebebush

    Marcos, I have the mp3. I can send it to you if you want.

  37. 37 zgent

    Kebebush,
    I would love to get that mp3, if that is not a problem. By the way do you have hode mela mela as well?

  38. 38 ELIM-rx

    Is anyone familiar with the old cassette tape with Aster on the cover with what looks like an Afro? The songs above and more are featured on the tape.
    I’ve been to Ethiosound, but they only had the cassette cover displayed. I had first gotten the tape a long time ago about 1993 at an old ethiomart in S. Spr. but played it so much it broke apart.

  39. 39 Mar

    Aster is my favorite vocalist and currently I only own Etiopiques #13, could someone please send me more oldies or provide me a link or more info on other recordings? Thank you

  40. 40 DOUYA SMITH

    ATM INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT
    OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
    OFFICE OF THE CHIEF AUDITOR
    SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT
    ATTENTION HONORABLE BENEFICIARY

    THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT.

    SECONDLY WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE NONE OFFICIALS IN THE BANK ALL YOUR ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO YOU. WE WISH TO ADVISE YOU THAT SUCH AN ILLEGAL ACT LIKE THIS HAVE TO STOP IF YOU WISHES TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT. SINCE WE HAVE DECIDED TO BRING A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC, THAT IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION FROM MR. PRESIDENT,GOOD LOCK JONATHAN (GCFR) PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.

    THIS CARD CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD,BUT THE MAXIMUM IS FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY, SO IF YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND THIS WAY PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CONTACTING THE CARD PAYMENT CENTER AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO HIM IN ORDER HIM TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY:

    1. FULL NAME…………………
    2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER…………………
    3. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD TO(P.O BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE)………………………
    4. YOUR AGE………………
    5. CURRENT OCCUPATION…………………….
    6. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION ………………….

    HOWEVER, KINDLY FIND BELOW THE CONTACT PERSON:
    Mr hossana
    DIRECTOR, ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
    PHONE NUMBER: +234-806-1591-883
    EMAIL:hossana2010@live.com

    THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT $8,300,000.00 AS PART PAYMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 2010. ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR ATM PAYMENT.

    FOR ORAL DISCUSSION, I CAN BE REACHED ON OR EMAIL ME BACK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FURTHER DIRECTION AND ALSO UPDATE ME ON ANY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED OFFICE.

    NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-411) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE CARD CENTER BY USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.

    BEST REGARDS,
    DOUYA SMITH.

  41. 41 Rene Dewolff

    It seems to me that site doesn

  42. 42 p90x workout

    Protein: Protein builds muscles and increases your experiment prior to workouts to determine
    what works best for you. Our diet determines the way we
    look, the – Believe me, it is! Every day that you log in to WOWY Super Gym and
    enter have to loop them for more resistance. The P90x kit, which is designed by
    Tony helps to reduce cholesterol and can help prevent gallstones and bowel
    cancer.

  43. 43 jelly gamat gold g

    Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you will be
    a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back
    in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage you
    to ultimately continue your great job, have a nice morning!

  44. 44 Sheldon Clarey

    As a website developer I believe the material here is truly fabulous, regards.

  45. 45 Mohammad Dach

    Many thanks for sharing these wonderful posts. In addition, the optimal travel and also medical insurance strategy can often reduce those concerns that come with travelling abroad. A medical emergency can rapidly become costly and that’s absolute to quickly impose a financial problem on the family’s finances. Putting in place the perfect travel insurance package deal prior to leaving is worth the time and effort. Thanks a lot

  46. 46 soundcloud plays and likes

    A lot of of what you assert happens to be astonishingly accurate and it makes me wonder the reason why I had not looked at this with this light previously. Your piece truly did switch the light on for me as far as this particular subject goes. Nevertheless at this time there is actually one particular issue I am not really too comfy with and whilst I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual main idea of the point, permit me observe just what all the rest of your readers have to point out.Well done.

  47. 47 Berna Blalack

    Manual

  48. 48 Everett Lanciotti

    Hmm …I completely believe you.

  49. 49 ??????? ??????????

    ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????.?????????HP????!!???????????!!!??????????????????(*^v^*)??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????:???? ????????? ??? ??? ???????.???????????:???.??? .?? .?????. ??.?????.???????????????????????????????????(?)?????????????????????.(*^v^*)
    ??????? ?????????? https://www.bagtojapan.com/product/6497.htm

  50. 50 ?? ???? ?? ??

    ??????????????

    ????????????????????????????&????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    ?????(S??),?????????(N??),??(N??)???(N??),?(N?),??(N??),???(N??),???(N??),???? (N??)

    ???????????????????????????????.??????.

    ??????????(????)

    ?????????????24???????????
    ?? ???? ?? ?? https://www.bagssjp.com/product/detail-6863.html

  51. 51 Seo Proxies

    It’s nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people for this topic, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks

  52. 52 ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????

    ????????????????????
    ??????????????????????????????????
    ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? https://www.tentenok.com/product-8754.html

  53. 53 ?? ???? ?? ????? mk

    ??????????????
    ??????????????????????????
    ?????????????
    ?????????????????
    ????: ???????????????24???????????
    ?? ???? ?? ????? mk https://www.taka78.com/products-3443.html

  54. 54 ?????? ???? ????

    ????????????????????
    ??????????????????????????
    ???????????????????????????????????????????????
    ????????????????????????
    ??????????????
    ????:??????????
    ?????? ???? ???? https://www.bbagok.com/watch/rolex/daytona/1ba9170700fc7d3e.html

  55. 55 RaymondGep

    Cool Bitcoin on chill snow. Christmas crypto offer with tremendous benefits.
    Coddle yourself to something delightful before New Year!

  56. 56 search engine optimization

    hello there and thank you for your info ? I?ve certainly picked up anything
    new from right here. I did however expertise several
    technical points using this site, since I experienced to reload
    the website many times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
    I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining,
    but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score
    if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I?m adding this RSS to my email and can look
    out for much more of your respective exciting content.
    Make sure you update this again very soon..

    my homepage: search engine optimization

  57. 57 RaymondGep

    Cool Bitcoin on freeze snow. Christmas crypto request with huge benefits.
    Coddle yourself to something adorable before New Year!

  58. 58 Buy Premium Proxies

    I absolutely love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you build this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own website and would love to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Many thanks!

  59. 59 Buy Cheap Proxies

    Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, superb blog!

  60. 60 Marylouise Lanctot

    Appreciating the commitment you put into your site and detailed information you present. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

Leave a Reply