“Africa” is one of music fans’ guiltiest pleasures. Rock critic Steve Almond courageously breaks it down.
We all know Toto sucks. If you don’t know that, we automatically dismiss anything you have to say about 1. music, 2. pop culture, and 3. pretty much everything else. No hesitation allowed. Toto sucks. Period. But we also know that we’re not in a big hurry to change the station when “Africa” comes on the radio. This is a phenomenon—it applies not just to Toto, but to Journey and others best left unmentioned—that most music fans dare not discuss in any company, and certainly not in the company of other music fans. But rock critic and Good Men Project contributor Steve Almond is a brave guy, and in this clip, he breaks it down.
Almond was a contributor to the Good Men Project: Real Stories From the Front Lines of Modern Manhood (excerpted here), and has a new book: Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life. On July 8, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Steve will debut Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life: The Musical, with readings like this one, and music by Danya Kurtz.
[The editors' claim that "Toto sucks" was later retracted, in a post by Matthew Frawley, titled, "Toto, Defended"]
About the Editors
Vocalyze
Toto does not suck. Yes, the song makes no logical sense. It’s stream of consciousness. Still a nice song.
David,
wow–a Toto defender—that’s unexpected. Steam-of-consciousness, I’m not so sure. But I willl give you a point for contrariety—that’s very rock n’ roll.
I think we can agree that It all comes down to what your definition of “suck” is. If the intended meaning here is they “can’t carry a tune”, well, no, they don’t suck. If “suck” means “creating negative air pressure by drawing air in through pursed lips,” then i guess it’s unclear—you could probably say the blow. But if the meaning here is “irretrievably schmaltzy, lame, and very un-rock n’ roll, in their schmaltzy lameness,” then yeah, they suck.
I beg to differ, Toto does not suck. Both Africa and Rosanna are very good pop songs even when listened to these days. Hell, they were huge in their day so obviously millions of people think they do not “suck.”
I now have had “Africa” stuck in my head for 5 days straight. How the heck do you get a song like that un-stuck?
Guilty pleasure candidate: Walk Like an Egyptian
Well, that’s the thing, “porky,” lots of people bought the album, lots of people grooved to it in secret, they just didn’t break it out when their friends came over…
I’ve just been informed that members of Toto (prolific session musicians) were the backing band on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. So I have to grudgingly give them props for that.
Perry- I love “walk like an Egyptian” great pop song. and I’m not even ashamed to say it.
Get a life people!!
Toto don’t suck and they never will either.
I was at a toto consert even yesterday:)
And it was awesome!!
So tell me.
Wiggo music doesn’t suck?
Sensible guy says:
July 21, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Get a life people!!
Toto don’t suck and they never will either.
I was at a toto consert even yesterday:)
And it was awesome!!
So tell me.
Wich music doesn’t suck?
haha toto doesnt suck-infact there an amazing bunch of musicians- keyboardist for the group steve porcaro came up with michael jackson’s ‘human nature’-toto more or less played on that whole thriller album – does the music on that album suck to you? steve’s brother jeff (r.i.p), is regarded by PEOPLE IN THE KNOW ABOUT MUSIC as the best drummer in the world (go google him), all of them can be heard on the most prolific artists records from the mid 70′s through to 80′s.
hey Toto does not suck at all. i mean agree everyone has there own opinions but i have been a fan of them since the late 70′s and they rock and there songs are awesome people change so there bands change too Toto will never suck they will rock on 4ever