Michel Sanchez came up with the idea of mixing Baka Pygmy chants with modern music after hearing on-site recordings of these tribes. Along with Eric Mouquet they created the project Deep Forest. Their first self-titled album (nominated for a Grammy) was released in 1992, with Sweet Lullaby being the smash single which would put Deep Forest on the musical map (UK Top 10 hit). The song "Sweet Lullaby" is adapted from a traditional song from the Solomon Islands. The album Deep Forest was dance-driven and the samples were heavily digitised and edited. It was re-released as a limited edition in 1994 under the name World Mix.
For their second album Boheme, Eric and Michel left behind the sounds of the forest and ventured into Eastern Europe bringing tender, lonesome Hungarian and Gypsy chants with upbeat, yet sad, music. The chants were no longer brief, instead extended phrases had been sampled from Hungarian, Russian and Transylvanian sample CDs. Marta Sebestyen performed on this album.
The duo also performed and produced the remixes for the Youssou N'Dour single "Undecided" in 1994, with guest vocals by Neneh Cherry (who featured on n'Dour's break-through single "Seven Seconds"). That same year Deep Forest made remixes for Jon Anderson's "Deseo", Apollo 440's "Liquid Cool" and Cesária Évora's "My Fatigue is Endless". In 1996 Deep Forest collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the song While the Earth Sleeps, which was written for the film Strange Days.
The follow-up third album, Comparsa, contained sounds and chants from Madagascar and Cuba. The music is often upbeat and celebratory. The last song from the album Media Luna, which was also released as a single, features a duet of Syrian and Spanish singers Abed Azrei and Ana Torroja from Spanish band Mecano. The duo collaborated with Joe Zawinul during the recording of the album. A recording of their live concert in Japan was also released on a CD called Made in Japan. Although all the songs featured in the show are from the previous three albums, they have new often-longer arrangements and all the chants are performed and reinterpreted by live performers.
In 1999 Deep Forest worked with Cheb Mami and Catherine Lara on the song "L'Enfant Fleur" which had been composed for Sol En Si (a French charity which helps HIV families).
In 2000, Deep Forest released a music for the movie Le Prince du Pacifique, Pacifique. It mixes pacific and island beats with electronic music. Music Detected was the title of their fifth much-anticipated official Deep Forest album which saw the duo turn its attention to the Far East and the Orient for inspiration. It also signalled a change in musical style for Deep Forest, from dance to a more rock-influence.
In 2008 Eric Mouquet released Deep Brasil, this album is a collaboration with Brazilian artist Flavio Dell Isola Amazonia.
In 2009, 2010 Eric Mouquet went on tour and prepared the upcoming album Deep Africa.
This album should be released in summer 2011 and will feature lot of African artists, Lokua Kanza, Blick Bassy, Oliza, Wasis Diop, Zama Magudulela, and Wes's brother, Dany Dikoume.
Deep Weather
Deep Forest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jangankan biar hilang semua yang telah diberi
Jangankan pergi rasa manusiawi dan naluri diri
Biar bumi tetap bersinar di bawah mentari
Agar kita tetap bersinar di bawah mentari
Chorus
Let there be joy and harmony
All that we have under the sun
Singing loud in unheard sounds
Telling us that we are one
(Bahasa)
Jangankan biar hilang semua yang telah diberi
Jangankan pergi rasa manusiawi dan naluri diri
Biar bumi tetap bersinar di bawah mentari
Agar kita tetap bersinar di bawah mentari
(Bahasa) - Background Vocals
Jangankan lenyap keindahan diri
Kesucian hati
(Bahasa)
Di bawah mentari
(Bahasa) - Background Vocals
Jangankan lenyap keindahan diri
Kesucian hati
The lyrics to Deep Forest's song "Deep Weather" speak of the importance of maintaining our humanity and instincts in order to coexist harmoniously with our planet. The first verse acknowledges the value of what we've been given and the innate qualities that make us human. The next line, "Biar bumi tetap bersinar di bawah mentari" translates to "let the earth continue to shine under the sun" emphasizing the need to preserve and nurture our planet. The chorus then calls for joy and harmony from the sky to the sea, recognizing that we are all interconnected and "telling us that we are one". The repetition of "Jangankan" throughout the song emphasizes the idea that even if we lose everything else, nature and our humanity are indispensable.
The background vocals in Bahasa, "Jangankan lenyap keindahan diri, kesucian hati" which translates to "let beauty and purity stay" emphasize the beauty that exists both in nature and within our hearts. The phrase "di bawah mentari" which is repeated several times, means "under the sun," and serves as a reminder of our physical connection to the earth.
Overall, "Deep Weather" is a call to action for humanity to take care of our planet and to be mindful of our interconnectedness with it. The lyrics urge us to maintain our humanity and embrace our innate qualities so that we may live in harmony with the earth.
Line by Line Meaning
Jangankan biar hilang semua yang telah diberi
Even if everything that we have been given disappears
Jangankan pergi rasa manusiawi dan naluri diri
Even if our humanity and instincts disappear
Biar bumi tetap bersinar di bawah mentari
Let the earth keep shining under the sun
Agar kita tetap bersinar di bawah mentari
So that we may keep shining under the sun
Chorus
Let there be joy and harmony. From the roof of the sky above to the deep blue sea. All that we have under the sun, singing loud in unheard sounds. Telling us that we are one.
Jangankan lenyap keindahan diri
Even if our beauty disappears
Kesucian hati
The purity of our hearts
Di bawah mentari
Under the sun
Jangankan lenyap keindahan diri
Even if our beauty disappears
Kesucian hati
The purity of our hearts
Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bridget Rossi
my mom used to own this album when i was a little girl and we would listen to it in the car all the time together. i would WANT my mom to put this cd in. still to this day i find this music interesting and the history behind it!!
bowie3986
I listen to their songs every night before going to beds d it calms my soul every time ...especially this song
blueearth5000
Beautiful song has never be faded ! I love Deep Forest so much !
Edgardo Gregorini
Deep Weather appears on The third studio album of The french duo in 1997. The album called "Comparsa": Deep Forest III. A beautiful composed by Eric Mouquet & Michel Sánchez introducing in The tropical atmosferic climate of The mixed ethereal & relaxing sounds of The jungles of Madagascar and Central América ethnic Music and chants.
Saša Živković
what a refrain... and whole song for that matter... one of the best of DF...
Ganesar
An excellent song. Thanks for posting.
cobyveron
Very spiritual,,,hits hard💗
Alberto7688
Bellissima!!!Viva i Deep Forest!!!!
E.B.E. s
Que recuerdos!
Luna Ribas
Genial!!!