Wondering why Labi Siffre is not better known

[Lapsidasicle]

About 10 years ago I discovered Labi Siffre and his music really moves me. I’m in my late 30s and had never heard of him. He’s now one of my favourite artists of all time.

I’m just baffled as to why so few people have heard of him and he never had a top selling record? Was he really well known in the 80s and just faded away? He has written some amazing music and lyrics- and he was also a great performer with a fabulous voice. His songs have also been sampled loads by modern artists.

I’m wondering whether the lack of commercial success was due to racism / homophobia as he was black and openly gay. Or perhaps because he was a black folk singer, maybe unusual?

He’s a truly talented man and needs to be more celebrated! I‘be been looking for recorded interviews or documentaries about him. But mainly found recordings of performances from the 80s.

I love .... Watch Me, I Got the, Must be Love, Crying Laughing Loving, Something inside so strong (probably the best known).

Perhaps other people just think his songs are ‘meh’ but honestly think ‘I got the’ is such a phenomenal song.

I'm a fan through my mum who loved his music. I've never watched Gavin and Stacey but will now. I recognise Margaret John. She had a filthy and ridiculous sense of humour. 😂

Something inside so Strong. Fabulous song. Although now when I hear it I immediately recall Dawn Butler reciting the lyrics at meeting after meeting rather than giving a regular candidate speech. Which was beyond cringe

BBC has a 2022 documentary on IPlayer about Labi Siffre (Imagine with Alan Yentob). It’s very good and they call him an enigma and reference his lack of recognition given his talent. He talks about how race and homosexuality have impacted his life and career.

I went to see him live once. I do like him, but I wouldn't say he's in my top 5 ever, but his live concert was one of the best I've ever been to. He was phenomenal.

He’s sings a new song in his documentary and he’s still got it. Age 76. What a dude.

I predict a comeback!

@BenoitBlanc what a special memory

I know his music but didn't know a lot about the man, this a great read www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/31/i-had-the-perfect-life-then-both-my-husbands-died-singer-labi-siffre-on-love-loss-and-happiness

Seen many of his live poetry gigs, in the '90s, simply beautiful material and delivery. Not great commercial success but I understood that he wanted to be known as a poet

At one, someone asked him whether he was still singing. He burst into 'something inside so strong' and then said something along the lines of 'Im a poet now'

I was listening to a Spotify playlist with a friend and when ‘watch me’ came on she said what’s this? Had never heard of him but said she’d be checking him out.

Apparently he is working on a comeback album after 30+ years! Perhaps he should call it ‘Man out of Time’ - double meaning as a gay, black man in his twilight years, who struggled to make the mark his talent deserved. I’ve got visions of Johnny Cash’s swan song album and a legend set at Glasto with cameos from JayZ, Madness and Eminem 😎

@FinallyHere what a special moment! His lyrics are stand out, so imagine his poetry is great

Definitely well known on the 80s. He did a gorgeous cover of "It Must Be Love", amongst other things.

He played at the Student Union when I was at university. It was over twenty five years ago and I still think that it was one of the best gigs I've been to. Also don't understand why he's not better known as he's great.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads he wrote that song- Madness were the ones who covered it

The BBC documentary is fab, rewatched it enjoyed it so much the first time