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...
Redemption Song
Corneille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sold I to the merchant ships
But minutes after they took I
To the bottomless pit
But my hand were made strong
By the hands of the almighty
We forward in this generation
So won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom
Is all I ever had
Redemption song
Emancipate yourself from the mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Don't be afraid of atomic energy
'Cause none of them cannot test the time
So how long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand around and look
They say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
So won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
Is all that I ever had
Redemption song, redemption song
Redemption
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Emancipate yourselves from the mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Don't be afraid of atomic energy
'Cause none a them cannot test the time
So how long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand around and look
They say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
So won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
Is all that I ever had redemption song
Redemption song
Redemption song
The lyrics of Corneille's Redemption Song are a powerful call to action against the institutionalized oppression of black people. The opening lines, "Old pirates, yes they rob I/Sold I to the merchant ships," refer to the history of the transatlantic slave trade, in which millions of Africans were forcibly captured and sold into slavery. The singer then asserts that he has been cast into a "bottomless pit," a metaphor for the brutal conditions of slavery.
But despite his suffering, the singer finds strength in his faith: "But my hand were made strong/ By the hands of the almighty." He calls on his fellow black people to unite and fight for their freedom: "We forward in this generation/Triumphantly." The chorus, "So won't you help me sing/These songs of freedom/Is all I ever had/Redemption song," is a plea for solidarity and collective action.
The second verse confronts contemporary forms of oppression, including mental slavery and the threat of nuclear war. The singer reminds his listeners that only they can liberate their minds from the mental chains of racism: "None but ourselves can free our minds." He also urges them not to fear the destructive power of atomic energy, as it is ultimately transitory: "none of them cannot test the time."
The final lines of the song return to the theme of prophetic voices being silenced by the forces of oppression. The question, "So how long shall they kill our prophets/While we stand around and look," is a challenge to the listener to take action to protect the voices of the marginalized and oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Old pirates, yes they rob I
I have been robbed by old pirates.
Sold I to the merchant ships
I was sold to the merchant ships.
But minutes after they took I to the bottomless pit
Shortly after being taken, I was brought down to a hopeless situation.
But my hand were made strong by the hands of the almighty
My hands have been given strength by a higher power.
We forward in this generation triumphantly
We continue to move forward through this time with great success.
So won't you help me sing these songs of freedom
Please join me in singing these songs of liberation.
Is all I ever had redemption song
This song of redemption is everything I own.
Emancipate yourself from the mental slavery
Free yourself from psychological enslavement.
None but ourselves can free our minds
Only we have the power to liberate our thoughts.
Don't be afraid of atomic energy
Do not fear nuclear energy.
'Cause none but a them can stop the time
Nobody can stop the march of time.
So how long shall they kill our prophets While we stand around and look
How much longer will we allow our leaders to be killed without taking action?
They say it's just a part of it We've got to fulfill the book
Some say that these deaths are inevitable and we must accept it as part of our destiny.
So won't you help to sing These songs of freedom Is all that I ever had redemption song
Please help me sing these songs of liberty. This song of redemption is all that I have.
Redemption song Redemption song Redemption song
This is a song about redemption and liberation, repeated for emphasis.
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@franckvenegas5624
C'est reprise est frissonnante bravo Mr Corneille <3
@kassimkebe
Magnifique reprise de Bob Marley
@milgro2002
Souveniiiiiiiiirs
@nanatheron5155
Corneille la grande classe se devine en pensant à ton prénom ;( et ensuite quand nous voyons réelment comment et ta façon de penser ça me fait pleurer de voir qu y a de la merde dans la musique surtout aux états unis avec jay z et les autres cancres
@rifkiachmadalamudi7263
bad voice
@nassiraaustin6724
Oh yeah? Can't wait to hear you sing...