At the 2024 Paralympic Closing Ceremony in Paris, the event producers wanted to continue celebrating all things French culture. Thus, performances from regional singers and an epic multi-DJ set under the guiding light of the legendary Jean-Michel Jarre were included.
Yet partway through, two blind musicians from Mali took the stage, and Amadou & Mariam, the desert blues specialists who have crossed global boundaries with their sound several times over, performed the Serge Gainsbourg classic “Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M’en Vais” in front of a string quartet. It was a moment when the duo took on the work of a certified icon while simultaneously signaling their place in a great musical lineage.
While their early recordings often found Mariam Doumbia’s emotive voice hovering over Amadou Bagayoko’s brittle and shifting guitar lines, they have since branched out their sound to incorporate everything from European dance music to Western indie rock. Their unique and approachable take on Tishoumaren has allowed them to sustain themselves in the industry for over 35 years. Just when you think they will take some time off to celebrate with a new greatest hits album, they also announced they have a brand new full-length right around the corner.
La Vie Est Belle isn’t Amadou & Mariam’s first greatest hits collection, but it is their first proper one since 2009’s The Magic Couple: The Best of Amadou & Mariam 1997–2002. Since 2002, they have been nominated for a Grammy, scored a Top 40 hit in France, and have collaborated with everyone from Santigold to Sofi Tukker. Several of these collaborations, like their TV on the Radio featuring track “Wily Kataso” off of their excellent 2012 full-length Folila, are to be found here, although, according to the duo, picking which songs to keep and which ones to dismiss was a part of the challenge.
“Choosing the tracks for La Vie Est Belle was an exciting yet challenging journey!” exclaim the pair when speaking to PopMatters. “We aimed to balance old favorites like ‘Wily Kataso’ with new material like ‘Mogolu’ and ‘La Vie Est Belle’ and remixes, focusing on songs that highlight our evolution and themes of love, joy, and resilience. Some hard cuts were necessary since we have many beloved songs, but we wanted to create a cohesive narrative for the past years of our musical career.”
While this album covers much of their material after they started seeing commercial success in Europe, the record wasn’t explicitly designed to be a simple “Beginner’s Guide” to their long and varied discography.
“La Vie Est Belle was indeed created with a broader purpose in mind,” Amadou & Mariam note. “We wanted to put together the most relevant songs from the last 20 years. By including classic tracks like the Eclipse Version of ‘Je Pense à Toi’, we aimed to showcase the evolution of our music and the journey we’ve taken over the years. We want listeners to feel the essence of our music—the joy, the struggles, and the cultural richness that defines us.”
While some inclusions were expected—from the Damon Albarn-produced “Sabali” off of 2008’s Welcome to Mali to their breakthrough hit “Sénégal Fast Food” with an assist from Manu Chou — La Vie Est Belle dares with some smart remixes as well as brand-new material, including lead single “Mogolu”, which reunites Amadou & Mariam with Chou after several years apart.
“Working with Manu Chao again was an exciting opportunity, and we invited him to join on a jam in Barcelona,” the duo explain. “While we’ve collaborated on many projects in the past, this song represents a fresh expression of our musical connection. It perfectly fits the vibe we wanted; however, it was not conceived for the compilation. We’re thrilled to include it as part of this special collection!”
While some of the songs collected here are nearly two decades old, the compilation isn’t presented in chronological order (“We focused on songs that flowed well together and captured the spirit of our journey,” Amadou & Mariam clarify) but was instead sequenced to give the record a “natural flow.” Yet, by including so many tracks from their back catalog, one has to wonder how often the group listens to their old full-lengths.
“This is a very active part of the creative process,” they admit. “We don’t listen to our records straight through very often, but when we do, it’s a special experience. It’s a way to reconnect with our music and reflect on how our sound has evolved.“
“It’s fascinating to hear how our voices and playing have evolved over the years,” notes Bagayoko. “My voice has matured, gaining more depth and emotion, while Mariam’s vocals continue to shine with her unique strength and warmth.”
So imagine releasing this new compilation on the exact same day as the Paralympic Closing Ceremony they were performing at. Per Amadou & Mariam, such a coincidence was kismet.
“Indeed, the timing of releasing La Vie Est Belle alongside the Paralympic closing ceremony felt like fate!” the duo exclaims. “Performing Serge Gainsbourg’s legendary song in front of a global audience was an incredible honor for us. The idea came from the producers, who wanted to pay homage to French music while also showcasing our unique style. We believe that music transcends boundaries. It was a celebration of inclusion, resilience, and the power of music to unite us all. Being in France and connecting with the audience in such a significant setting made it truly special for us.”
Yet despite being torch carriers of such a beautiful musical tradition, Amadou & Mariam’s ears remain firmly to the ground, keeping an ear out for current trends and emerging voices. This is partly why their collaboration with Somali rapper K’naan also appears on La Vie Est Belle.
“We enjoy a variety of music at home and love listening to the radio!” the duo tell us. “We like artists like Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Fatoumata Diawara, and great classics like Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour, as well as Cuban music. We appreciate all styles and types of artists, from traditional Malian musicians to contemporary sounds.”
So that begs the question: Will any of these new styles find their way into Amadou & Mariam’s new full-length, continuing the increasingly dancey direction their records have taken?
“Our new album will explore fresh sounds while staying true to our roots,” hints Bagayoko. “It will blend a variety of influences, including traditional Malian music and blues, and we will for sure keep our essence of experimenting with new rhythms. We are hopeful we will share some new music very soon! We can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”
After having presented their music to a global audience so recently, on top of the compilation released, it is enough to make one get wistful, which is why even with a new album on the way, Amadou & Mariam were asked to take stock of their high points and low points all the same.
“Looking back on my career, I wouldn’t say I have any major regrets,” Bagayoko admits. “Every experience has contributed to our growth as an artist and as a person. There have been challenges, but they’ve taught us valuable lessons and shaped our music. As for our proudest accomplishment, I would say it’s the ability to connect with people through our music. Sharing our Malian culture with a global audience and seeing how our songs resonate across different cultures is incredibly fulfilling.”
