A native of Guadeloupe, Colonel Reyel spent his childhood in Paris, France. Before entering the reggae dancehall scene, Reyel had a passion for rap. In the early 2000s, he sang in a band of deejays known as the Septentorial Crew. The group's line-up has changed several times since then. Septentorial Crew now consists of Mad Mike, Mäster Mägnum, Twente and Colonel Reyel.
It was in 2004 when Reyel's passion for dancehall music was born after his stay in the Antilles. Back in France, he decided to create his own group by choosing an original stage name: "Colonel Reyel". According to him, his main mission is to serve His Imperial Majesty Hailé Selassié I, Emperor of Ethiopia considered the legitimate leader of the land from the Rastas.
Colonel Reyel began his singing career by performing in the Parisian districts with his fellow dancehall soldiers between 2004 and 2006. He became known to the general public due to his many freestyle filmed demonstrations. As such, a video freestyle riddim in which he appears alongside his friends Edalam and Little T. Très, revealing his talent, was highly appreciated by the public, generating a large number of views online.
Two years later, Colonel Reyel released an album entitled "Boomaz Mixtape Vol 1", including the title "Crise de l’emploi."
After a long journey into the world of music, the group Septentorial Crew released in 2010, a compilation entitled "Sound Storm." This album contains over 28 tracks mixing hip-hop and dancehall, with four songs performed by Reyel, namely: "Il faut se battre", "Chanjé a tan," "Lyrikal tsunami" and "Texto".
On his own, Colonel Reyel prepared, during the same year, the release of a new compilation called "100% ragga zouk", which contained a highly appreciated track "Celui". The production of this album, released under the label Step Out, was handled by Krys, a famous reggae-dancehall artist originally from Guadeloupe, known by his real name, Pédro Pirbakas.
Another underground riddim, produced by Septentorial Crew, followed shortly in late 2010. Colonel Reyel also plans to release a new production in 2011.
D'où je viens
Colonel Reyel Lyrics
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La vie ma déja mis le monde tourner, souvent beaucoup plus que je n'l'espéré
Je n'oublie jamais d’ou je viens, tout en je n'étais presque rien.
Et le bonheur des souvenirs d'enfances, en voyage sur mon île ou j'ai trouver ma chance.
La force et les racings sont là, pour vous mais nous ressemble pas.
Je revoie ces images, et l'amour dans les yeux de ces visages
La d'ou je viens, je rêver d'elle de musique Back To Soul et Jamaîque, yeah!
Pour etre a jour sur les lumières, que de moi on soit fière
Si je chante devant vous et si toucher ces rêve vous rendre fou, je n'oublirais jamais rien, ja-ja-ja je c'est d'ou je viens
D'ou je viens, je c'est d'ou je viens
C'est vrai, je m'apprenais pas mieux mon père car et jamais un peu de ma mère
D'ou je viens, je c'est d'ou je viens
C'est vrai, elle est ma force et mon espoir comme le bonheur et provisoire
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Lalala, lalala
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Lalala, lalala
Yeah!
Bien souvent au cours de mes voyages, trar les mers au-dessus des nuages
Je pense au bonheur d'autre fois, ces gens que j'ai laisser là-bas
Mais en porte au fond de mes bagages, même si la lune nous fais tourner des pages
Même si les gens nous laisse des traces, vera si j'les voies dans ma glace
Ou l'amour de ma mère, et bien plus fort que toutes les chênaie
Sa rassure ou sa fais tant de bien
Là d'ou je viens, et même dans la spirale, si dans les yeux des filles j'vois des étoiles
Si j'suis souvent dans les lumières que de moi on es fière
Si je chante devant vous et si toucher ces rêve vous rendre fou, je n'oublirais jamais rien, ja-ja-ja je c'est d'ou je viens
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Lalala, lalala
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Lalala, lalala
Yeah!
Et aucune idées de c'que sera mardi et digne de soleil ou bien Oye Rubi
Je garde au fond de toi et pour l'éternité
On ma guider, me réchauffer, me faire du bien
D'ou, d'ou je viens
Oh, oh, oh
Lalala, lalala
Oh, oh
Lalala, lalala
In "D'où je viens," Col. Reyel muses on his roots and past experiences. He acknowledges that life has taken him on twists and turns that he could not have expected, but he never forgets his origin. Though he started with nearly nothing, he still cherishes memories of his childhood in his travels back home, where he found his opportunity. The strength and the roots are there for the listener, but not quite the same as for the artist himself, implying that Col. Reyel's roots are personal and not necessarily universal.
As he travels and moves away from home, he carries the heart of his childhood in himself, knowing that it will always provide him with a sense of reassurance from within. While he knows where he comes from, he claims that he would never forget anything and would always remember where he comes from, even if it made him feel crazy or made others think he is crazy. Although he admits that he did not learn much from his father, and that he did not have much hope, he finds his strength and inspiration from his mother, who is always there for him.
Line by Line Meaning
La vie ma déja mis le monde tourner, souvent beaucoup plus que je n'l'espéré
Life has made the world turn for me, often more than I expected.
Je n'oublie jamais d’ou je viens, tout en je n'étais presque rien.
I never forget where I come from, even though I was almost nothing.
Et le bonheur des souvenirs d'enfances, en voyage sur mon île ou j'ai trouver ma chance.
The happiness of childhood memories, traveling on my island where I found my chance.
La force et les racings sont là, pour vous mais nous ressemble pas.
The strength and the roots are there for you, but they're not like ours.
Je revoie ces images, et l'amour dans les yeux de ces visages
I see again these images, and the love in the eyes of these faces.
Sa rassure ou sa fais tant de bien
It reassures or does so much good.
La d'ou je viens, je rêver d'elle de musique Back To Soul et Jamaîque, yeah!
From where I come, I dream of music that's Back To Soul and Jamaica, yeah!
Pour etre a jour sur les lumières, que de moi on soit fière
To be up to date with the lights, that people will be proud of me.
Si je chante devant vous et si toucher ces rêve vous rendre fou, je n'oublirais jamais rien, ja-ja-ja je c'est d'ou je viens
If I sing in front of you and if touching these dreams will drive you crazy, I will never forget anything, yes-yes-yes, I know where I come from.
C'est vrai, je m'apprenais pas mieux mon père car et jamais un peu de ma mère
It's true, I didn't learn from my father because I never had a little from my mother.
Elle est ma force et mon espoir comme le bonheur et provisoire
She is my strength and my hope, like happiness that is temporary.
Bien souvent au cours de mes voyages, trar les mers au-dessus des nuages
Very often during my travels, crossing the seas above the clouds.
Je pense au bonheur d'autre fois, ces gens que j'ai laisser là-bas
I think of the happiness from earlier times, the people I left back there.
Mais en porte au fond de mes bagages, même si la lune nous fais tourner des pages
But I carry it deep in my luggage, even if the moon turns pages for us.
Même si les gens nous laisse des traces, vera si j'les voies dans ma glace
Even if people leave their marks on us, I will see if I see them in my reflection.
Ou l'amour de ma mère, et bien plus fort que toutes les chênaie
Where the love of my mother is much stronger than all of the oaks.
Là d'ou je viens, et même dans la spirale, si dans les yeux des filles j'vois des étoiles
From where I come, and even in a spiral, if I see stars in the eyes of the girls.
Et aucune idées de c'que sera mardi et digne de soleil ou bien Oye Rubi
And no idea what Tuesday will bring, if it will be sunny or Oye Rubi.
Je garde au fond de toi et pour l'éternité
I keep it deep inside me and for eternity.
On ma guider, me réchauffer, me faire du bien
They have guided me, warmed me up, and done me good.
Writer(s): Wayne Courtney Beckford, Remi Fontaine Berger, Alwio Aloune Desiree, Remi Ranguin, Philippe Baranes
Contributed by Colin Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.