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...
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Corneille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je reverrai le jardin
Où j'ai laissé reposer les corps des miens un beau matin
Je retrouverai aussi ces braves
Qui nous cachaient de la fin
Je leur chanterai qu'on s'en rappelle toujours au nom de tous les miens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Le long couloir du désespoir,
Le grand exode, le long chemin
Et au bout toujours l'animal qui a changé mon destin
Qui, fatigué, m'a dit va, je laisse le plaisir au prochain
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Je reverrai mon pays
Les mille collines et les vents chauds
Et les rues où j'ai tout appris
Je retrouverai mes vieux amours
Et ma première fois peut-être
Celle que j'aimerai toujours
Mais qui je crois ne doit plus être
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Je me reverrai petit homme
Grand de coeur et de courage
Mais tout petit comme tous les hommes
Prendre de l'élan sans recul
Pour se défaire d'un passé trop lours
Sans savoir que l'heure viendra
Où il faudra qu'il y retourne
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Vais-je enfin pleurer de peine
Vais-je en vouloir à la terre
D'avoir laisser vaincre la haine
Vais-je vouloir leur faire la peau
À ces maudits fils de chiennes
Les grands comme les petits bourreaux
Où vais-je rester peace quoi qu'il advienne
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Faudra bien qu'on y retourne un jour
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
The song "Sur la tombe de mes gens" by Corneille is a touching tribute to the singer's ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. In the first verse, he talks about visiting the garden where his loved ones are buried and reuniting with those who protected them. He promises to keep their memories alive forever.
In the second verse, Corneille remembers the difficult journey he took to get to where he is today. He talks about the animal that changed his destiny, and how it was tired and passed on the pleasure to the next person. The lyrics here suggest that life is full of challenges and struggles, but we have to keep moving forward and finding joy in the little moments.
In the final verse, Corneille reminisces his childhood and the lessons he learned in his country of Rwanda, including the love he experienced and his first time falling in love. He talks about how he was once a small, brave boy who had to overcome a heavy past. He reflects on the fact that no matter how much we move forward, we will all eventually return to the same place where our loved ones are buried.
Overall, "Sur la tombe de mes gens" is a deeply emotional and powerful song that reminds us of the importance of our loved ones and the memories we share with them, even after they are gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Je reverrai le jardin
Où j'ai laissé reposer les corps des miens un beau matin
Je retrouverai aussi ces braves
Qui nous cachaient de la fin
Je leur chanterai qu'on s'en rappelle toujours au nom de tous les miens
On the graves of my people, I will see the garden where I left the bodies of my loved ones one fine morning. I will also meet the brave people who helped to hide us from the end. I will sing to them that we always remember them in the name of all my people.
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Je reverrai le chemin
Le long couloir du désespoir,
Le grand exode, le long chemin
Et au bout toujours l'animal qui a changé mon destin
Qui, fatigué, m'a dit va, je laisse le plaisir au prochain
On the graves of my people, I will see the path of the long corridor of despair, the great exodus, the long road. And at the end, the animal that changed my destiny will always be there. The animal, tired, told me to go and leave pleasure for the next one.
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Je reverrai mon pays
Les mille collines et les vents chauds
Et les rues où j'ai tout appris
Je retrouverai mes vieux amours
Et ma première fois peut-être
Celle que j'aimerai toujours
Mais qui je crois ne doit plus être
On the graves of my people, I will see my country, the thousand hills, the warm winds, and the streets where I learned everything. I will find my old loves and maybe even the first one who I will always love. But I think she shouldn't be there anymore.
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Je me reverrai petit homme
Grand de coeur et de courage
Mais tout petit comme tous les hommes
Prendre de l'élan sans recul
Pour se défaire d'un passé trop lours
Sans savoir que l'heure viendra
Où il faudra qu'il y retourne
On the graves of my people, I'll see myself as a little boy, big-hearted and courageous, but small like all men. Taking off without looking back to get rid of a past that was too heavy without knowing that the time will come when he'd have to return there.
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Vais-je enfin pleurer de peine
Vais-je en vouloir à la terre
D'avoir laisser vaincre la haine
Vais-je vouloir leur faire la peau
À ces maudits fils de chiennes
Les grands comme les petits bourreaux
Où vais-je rester peace quoi qu'il advienne
On the graves of my people, will I finally cry in pain? Will I blame the earth for letting hatred win? Will I want to kill those damned sons of bitches, the big ones like the little executioners? Or will I remain at peace no matter what happens?
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Faudra bien qu'on y retourne un jour
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
Sur la tombe de mes gens
On the graves of my people, we will have to return one day. On the graves of my people, on the graves of my people, on the graves of my people.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CORNEILLE NYUNGURA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
benedicte masson
2021 et j’écoute encore et encore ♥️..merci Corneille🙏
Karash
je ne sais meme pas par où commencer. C'est 2017 et cette musique a toujours le meme effet sur moi. Juste magnifique
Le sage Incompris
Pleins de douceur, Corneille le brave rwandais ayant réussit a surmonté ce drame effroyable que personne n'aurais imaginer, une epreuve aussi pertubante est généralement loin d'etre pardonné, mais l'incroyable Corneille lui pardonne, Corneille est la preuve qu'on peut partir vraiment d'un rien pour devenir ce que l'on souhaite
BrutalBeastify
+rosetagada minecraft parle pour toi. moi je trouve que c'est un magnifique message très attentioné.
Solene_gbt
ta fais mal a la tête a toute les personnes qui on lu ton msg
Saarah Kbm
Cette chanson est magnifique (a)
Lucas Konta
tous simplement magnifique
Nitika Gosain
Cette chanson est magnifique
Mimi Charles
Mon père, ma mère, mes soeurs, mon frère 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Jean Martial Mbena
Tu me parles!!! Tu chantes mon histoire en d'autres circonstances...