Understanding Toto's Africa

Do you hear the drums echo in the night, or do you hear only whispers of some quiet conversation? Either way, we're taking a look at one of the most famous songs on the internet, Africa, by Toto. It sounds simple, but Toto was full of brilliant session musicians, and they managed to bury a lot of really clever touches in it, including possibly the most interesting piece of harmony we've looked at yet. Plus, it's got one of the most iconic riffs of all time, so that's pretty cool.

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[tone]

Some people have pointed out that the last chord in the chorus is actually E/G#, not G#mi. That's my bad, I was working from a couple different transcriptions and I trusted the wrong one there. The analysis is still pretty similar, though: It's facilitating a walk-up in the bass, it's just adding the V chord back in in order to get a stronger resolution back to the A chord in the riff.

[AlexBallMusic]

Most confusing part of this song is how they managed to fit this lyric in:

"As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti"

[ronlucock]

I'm not a musician. I wouldn't know a key from a lock. When i saw your title, I thought it was about understanding the imagery & context of the lyrics. From what I've just learnt however, there is clearly a very high level of technical skill which makes the song sound so unique/good. A level of technical effort that the ordinary person listening to the song (me) could never understand or appreciate. And I also think that you are likewise incredibly talented & clearly musically intelligent, yet posses the gift of communicating that to people who have no idea what you're talking about yet remain interested & inspired nonetheless. Well done.

[junejohnson]

I think what makes the song so memorable for me is the powerful change from 'floaty', non-directional progressions in the verse, to just about the most forward pointing, directionally charged, stable progressions you can get. It's the teasing and enticing towards the listener, and then the big payoff that feels so satisfying, and is the reason why I have to listen all the way to the chorus every time.

[Seltaeb_]

That little joke at the end is really what makes this channel so special.
It doesn't come off as corny, forced... or even funny tbch, but it brings the tone down from a highly analytical, academic one, to a much more casual one.
It makes you seem less like a teacher and more like a friend that's just nerding out to music theory, and makes you much more charismatic, which wasn't totally absent before.

I might also be reading too much into it, who knows...?

[AdamNeely]

I dislike analyzing chord progressions divorced from melody - it would be rather ridiculous to try and force the verse melody into an "A lydian." It's about as "B major" as you can get.

[i.m.errr]

Interesting. I understood about a tenth of this.

[Carlos.Eduardo.Garcia]

you deserve more subscribers. like this isn't even for people interested in music theory anymore. literally everyone loves this song.

[gooseabuse]

The drum beat makes that song, RIP Jeff Porcaro

[Felixkeeg]

I don't understand a word and I am convinced music is made of magic.

[slitbodmod]

literally just got this song out of my head, THANKS FOR THAT!

[scs]

I personally hear that famous 3 chord intro as tonasizing the c# minor chord: VI v i. Using the natural minor chords, using the major five chord makes it sound baroque rather than it's classic floaty feeling. And the verses are definitely in B using the flat VII chord to emphasize the usage of the lowered seventh pitch.

[albske]

6:31 "stop"ing at every other chord "Along the way". Can't have been the only One hearing that...

[SleepSoul]

Given you talked about the song getting stuck in your head, this isn't a surprising one.

[RainbowLizardOne]

This video is pretty interesting, as sure as kilimanjaro rises like olympus from the serengeti

[Ltellin]

im glad im not the only one who understands nothing but still enjoys watching

[brynnadavis]

So, I just want to start with thank you. You have showed me that there is more to music than chords and beats. I actually want to go to college for music theory. Its also really cool to see a leftie because we are not so common. So, like I said, thank you!

[LaurensHellemons]

Great video! I love the alternative take on the verse with the tonic at A; I always heard it as the verse and intro being set in B while the chorus moves to F#m (they do the same kind of thing with G and F in Can't Stop Loving You, for example). But hearing all these different possible progressions at the same time is undoubtedly part of what makes the song so addictive to listen to!

[fabdav]

This video reminds me the reason why I studied music. Music is so beautiful, complicated yet so simple and magical. Thank you for reminding me why I love music so much

[killerful]

I have no idea what you said during any point in this video, but this is amazing!!!