Corneille developed an interest in music early on, and it was an interest his father supported and encouraged. His influences included Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole as well as Prince and other artists.
At 16 years old Corneille made his first recording, and was selected as a finalist in a music contest sponsored by the state run television station in Kigali. Corneille's childhood could be characterized as normal for a somewhat privileged youth brought up in a family with caring, highly educated parents.
Daily life in Kigali changed dramatically in 1994, when former President Habyarimana was assassinated, and the largest, most horrific genocide in modern history claimed over 800,000 victims.
Corneille managed to escape first to Kinshasa, and then to Germany, where he was adopted by friends of his parents. He stayed in Germany for three years completing his baccalaureate studies, before arriving ultimately in Montréal. Corneille enrolled in University when he landed in Montréal, but his focus was immediately diverted to music.
In Montréal at 20 years old, Corneille formed a band called O.N.E., meaning Original New Element. O.N.E. achieved modest success, thanks in part to a Ms. Jodi Richards, who supported and advised the band. When O.N.E. disbanded in 2001, Corneille again turned to Ms. Richards for advice. Ms. Richards imparted the belief that you are only an artist when you know what your art means, which became a guiding principal for Corneille.
In 2002 Corneille released his first studio album, 'Parce Qu'on Vient de Loin.' Initially, 'Parce Qu'on Vient de Loin' went for the most part unnoticed in Canada, but due in large part to promotional efforts made by Wagram, Corneille's label in France, Corneille's first album's sales skyrocketed. 'Ensemble' and 'Sans Rancunes,' were the first two hit singles from the album. Sales of 'Parce Qu'on Vient de Loin' gathered powerful momentum, but the album was still virtually unnoticed in Canada. DKD's (now DEJA Musique CEO) Janie Duquette completely re-released the album, with 'Rêves de Star' as the first single. By 2004 sales of 'Parce Qu'on Vient de Loin' on both sides of the Atlantic were booming. With sales reaching Platinum status in Canada, Corneille received his first Felix Award for Best Male Artist selected by the public at the 'Gala de la Disque' in Montréal. Meanwhile in France sales of the album reached over 500,000 copies.
In 2005 Corneille's ascent continued, as he recorded a song with Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour, in support of Unicef and the fight against AIDS. Corneille is a Red Cross Canada spokeperson, has been made a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, and continues to be active in those and other humanitarian roles.
In 2005 Corneille's second studio album, 'Les Marchands de Rêves' was released to rave critical reviews.
In 2007, Corneille earned and signed contracts with Sony Music Japan, and with UniversalMotown for the World ex-Japan (SMJI), France (Wagram) & Canada (DEJA). With these partners, as well as Universal Music Group partners in the UK and elsewhere, and with help from all of you at corneille.ca, Corneille's fanbase is becoming truly global.
On November 20, 2007, Corneille was given the award for best International Singer-songwriter by SOCAN. Look for 'The Birth of Cornelius' US' release on UniversalMOTOWN in Spring 2008. Corneille, a man of this world, and an artist whose time is now...
Liberation
Corneille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a million dollar view overlooking my neighbor's pain
But that don't phase me, no
'Cause something real good's on my TVO today
But if that's all I need, then why does it seem like
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
As we're paying our way to misery
And we're fools, fools for calling it living free
Living free, living free
Now I'm drinking my days and crying my nights away
I got about a million contacts in my iPhone and no unread message today
But that don't phase me, no
'Cause I got a thing with a dot com girl
And for a dollar a minute we can talk about love
She says she'll marry me some day, some day
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
As we're paying our way to misery
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
And we're fools, fools for calling it living free
Living free, yeah
These are the days of the liberation
These are the days of the soul salvation
These are the days of the liberation
The liberation, yeah!
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
As we're paying our way to misery
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
And we're fools, fools for calling it living free
Living free, yeah
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
As we're paying our way to misery
Oh it's a sad, sad illusion of happy
And we're fools, fools for calling it living free
Living free, yeah!
Living free
It's a sad, it's a sad
These are the days of the liberation
The lyrics to Corneille's song "Liberation" evoke a sense of disillusionment with the pursuit of material wealth and the emptiness that can accompany it. The song's narrator describes a life of excess, characterized by drinking and material possessions, but ultimately concludes that these things are just a "sad, sad illusion of happy." The singer is surrounded by the pain and suffering of their neighbors, but is seemingly unaffected by it, until they realize the hollowness of their own life.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "living free," which serves as a biting commentary on the idea of freedom itself. The singer suggests that perhaps their own pursuit of freedom has led them to a place of misery and sadness, rather than liberation. Ultimately, the song seems to be calling for a different kind of liberation - one that is not based on material possessions or external markers of success, but rather on a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.
Overall, "Liberation" is a powerful song that challenges the listener to think deeply about their own pursuit of happiness and the values that underpin it. It's a call to action to reevaluate our priorities, and to resist the traps of conformity and superficiality that can lead us astray.
Line by Line Meaning
Working my days and drinking my nights away
I work during the day and drink excessively at night to ignore the problems around me.
I got a million dollar view overlooking my neighbor's pain
Although I see my neighbor's suffering, I continue to indulge in my own pleasures instead of trying to help.
But that don't phase me, no
Despite the problems I see, I am unaffected and continue my lifestyle.
'Cause something real good's on my TVO today
I find temporary pleasure in the media I consume as a distraction from reality.
But if that's all I need, then why does it seem like
Even though my current lifestyle seems enough, I still feel dissatisfied and unhappy.
Now I'm drinking my days and crying my nights away
My obsession with pleasure has turned into addiction and now I resort to drinking even during the day.
I got about a million contacts in my iPhone and no unread message today
I have many contacts, but none of them have reached out to me recently which also contributes to my sadness.
But that don't phase me, no
Despite my loneliness, I continue on with my lifestyle and refuse to change it.
And for a dollar a minute we can talk about love
I am willing to pay someone to pretend to love me even though it's fake and temporary.
She says she'll marry me some day, some day
I have delusions that my temporary and fake connection with someone can progress into something more significant and last forever.
These are the days of the liberation
These are times when people have the opportunity to break free from their own illusions and seek true liberation from their problems and negative habits.
These are the days of the soul salvation
These are the times when people can find salvation for their soul by breaking free from their illusions and finding true happiness within themselves.
It's a sad, sad illusion of happy
The idea that pleasure and materialistic things can bring true happiness is a false and sad illusion.
As we're paying our way to misery
By constantly indulging in pleasure and ignoring problems, we are actually creating more misery for ourselves.
And we're fools, fools for calling it living free
We are foolish to think that being controlled by our addictions and illusions is living freely when it's really a form of being controlled and trapped.
Living free, living free
We should strive to truly live free by breaking free from illusions and addictions and finding true happiness within ourselves.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTIN TEREFE, CORNEILLE NYUNGURA, SOFIA DE MEDEIROS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kev dan
j aime bien quand il chante en français
Yahou Odonel FENESTOR
Great 🇬🇧 🎷
koua Fit
Toujour la bonne melodie