Featuring Neneh Cherry."7 Seconds" is a song composed by Youssou N'Dour, Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey and Jonathan Sharp, released in 1994 as a single performed by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry. It reached the top three in several countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Portugal, Germany, Australia, Russia and Poland. The song also appeared on N'Dour's album “The Guide” (Wommat), released shortly after the single. In 1996, it was included on Neneh Cherry's album “Man”.

The song is trilingual: N'Dour sings in Wolof, a Senegalese language, and French (plus singing chorus in English), Cherry sings in English. "7 Seconds" tells about first seven seconds in the life of a newborn, arguably unaware of problems in the world. The black and white music video is directed by Stéphane Sednaoui. It features people of different races walking by while the two are singing. When they sing the chorus, different kinds of people's faces appear. (Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Seconds_%28song%29 ).

Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale

Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms

For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in

It's not a second
But 7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting

J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer

7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay

I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting

And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what she should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second

7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting

It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting

Youssou N’Dour said, “Seven Seconds” it’s a message talking about love against racism. It’s a story not really sad but it’s an explanation about life from the birth to the end passing by the difficulties of our world. The fact to turn around the figure 7 was also important it can be 7 seconds, 7 weeks 7 years 7 is also very important for us this mean your youth period because for example us in Africa we have a lot of traditions behind the number 7. So you see it’s a song with many significance, this song tells a lot about how we live daily, about life.  7 seconds its also a way to tell that time in life is limited and of course it’s a choice of words. I think it’s a big part of the song’s success.” (Taken from  http://english.cntv.cn/program/facesofafrica/20121022/100541_4.shtml )