The Birth of Cornelius CD Review

While growing up I was exposed to many different music styles, from oldies to hard rock and a little country in between. It wasn’t until I met my husband that I heard and learned to appreciate the smooth style of R&B. Among many things, including the soothing voice of Corneille, I was drawn to the story behind his life and music.

I’d love to share with you this story and music from The Birth of Cornelius, Corneille’s English-language debut album.

About the Artist

Corneille Nyungura was born in Fribourg, Germany, where his parents were students. At the age of six, his family returned to Rwanda, their country of origin. “When I went to Rwanda for the first time, there was a sense of going to the place where I belonged,” he says. “But because my parents were very much Westernized, I still felt like I didn’t fit in.”

As a boy, Corneille began to develop an interest in music—initially discovering Michael Jackson , and then the great soul artists who would shape his style: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Prince. At age 16, he made his first recording, and was selected as a finalist in a music contest sponsored by the state-run television station.

But in 1994, Rwanda’s President Habyarimana was assassinated, and the largest, most horrific genocide in modern history claimed over 800,000 victims. Corneille’s parents and other family members were killed in the massacre. He alone managed to escape—first to Kinshasa, and then to Germany, where he was taken in by some family friends.

Listening In

After reading his biography, my heart ached for this man. Corneille says, “Music has been the place where I could go to hide and forget about the world…” I find myself feeling much the same way. When I’ve had a rough day I take this CD and slip away into the bath tub to relax and forget about my day. The soft tones of Corneille’s voice and soothing acoustic-driven R&B sounds make it a great CD to unwind with. My personal favorite was Track 7, Too Much of Everything. In fact, I loved it so much I want to share the youtube video of this song with everyone.

Not only did I listen to the CD, but my husband took it to listen to while at work. After just a few days I noticed my husband singing the sweet lyrics to me in passing. I think it’s safe to say Corneille has a new fan.

I’m curious, what style of music do you listen to? Do you find yourself more drawn to an artist when there’s a real story behind their lyrics?

For More Information

If you find yourself as drawn the Corneille as my husband and I have been, you can view Corneille’s website for more information or even purchase the CD The Birth of Cornelius on Amazon.