Nothing sounded like 7 seconds in the summer of ’94. It had a grip with its ominous atmosphere, a mixture of longing and sadness. It was a real clash walking in Tampico while it blasted from my walkman. “Should I learn Senegalese?” I asked myself, not knowing he was singing in Wolof. The french part I sorta understood, Neneh Cherry’s parts were pretty clear. A massive hit for Youssou, I knew quite a few people who bought Wommat only for this track. I eventually listened to the whole album, not my cup of tea, but this track is perfection.

Sorry for being curt today. It’s been a long week and nothing much has happened. This track reminds me of happy times and right now, I’m on the opposite pole. I wish I could feel like I felt when I first heard this song, so alive, so depressed, so full hope for the future. The future happened and it’s not good at all. It’s been 32 years and yes, it does feel like seven seconds. Life’s passed us so fast. It doesn’t feel fair.

Hopefully tomorrow’s post will be a better one. Take care of each other.

-Sam J. Valdés López