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.
Ekue Ekue
Deep Forest Lyrics
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Slaves And Masters
The Cut Runs Deep (B, g, t, l, p) 5 42
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Got your finger on the trigger
Your cold eyes taking aim
You took a shot at my heart
Let the bullets fly
What about the heartache
What about the emptiness inside
It doesn't just fade away
Turning the knife
How much can I bleed
The cut runs deep
I can't find no salvation
Can't find no healing touch
Reaching out for mercy
A stranger in your eyes
I want you too much
What about the heartache
What about the emptiness inside
It doesn't just fade away
Turning the knife
How much can I bleed
The cut runs deep
The song "1716" by Deep Forest has no direct relation to its title, rather it speaks about the pain and heartache the singer is going through. The opening line, "Got your finger on the trigger," could be a reference to being in a vulnerable position to someone who could hurt you at any moment, as if they were hovering with their finger over the trigger of a gun. The singer describes how their "cold eyes" are taking aim and shooting at their heart, causing immense pain. They ask if one of the bullets has their name on it, a metaphor for the intention of the person causing this pain.
The chorus is a cry for help as the singer asks the person causing the pain about the "heartache" and the "emptiness inside," that cannot just fade away. They talk about their deep emotional wound that keeps bleeding and being cut deeper, which is a way of saying that the pain is relentless and they cannot seem to find any solace. The last line of the chorus is a plea for the person causing the pain to recognize what they are doing and stop, as the singer is a stranger in their eyes and they need them to be merciful. The song speaks about how the singer once wanted the person so badly, but now that they have caused such intense pain, the desire has turned into despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Got your finger on the trigger
You are in control and ready to act
Your cold eyes taking aim
Your intentions are clear and calculated
You took a shot at my heart
You hurt me emotionally
Let the bullets fly
Do what you will; the damage is already done
Tell me has one of them got my name
Am I the target of your aggression?
What about the heartache
What about the pain and suffering this has caused?
What about the emptiness inside
What about the emotional void that remains?
It doesn't just fade away
This pain doesn't just disappear over time
Turning the knife
Continuing to cause pain and suffering
How much can I bleed
How much more can I hurt?
The cut runs deep
This wound is severe and has lasting effects
I can't find no salvation
I am unable to find a way to feel better
Can't find no healing touch
I cannot find anything to help me heal
Reaching out for mercy
Asking for compassion and understanding
A stranger in your eyes
You are distant and uncaring
I want you too much
Despite everything, I cannot help but desire you
Writer(s): Eric Mouquet, Michel Sanchez, Eric Marie Mouquet Copyright: Michel Sanchez Music S.a.r.l., Eric Mouquet Publishing, Eric Mouquet Publishing S.a.r.l.
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Karen
Siempre me ha gustado Deep Forest, varias son mis favoritas. Sin embargo, me doy cuenta de la hermosa composición de esta canción. Fabulosa mescla. Otra favorita al playlist 💚❤️🙌
Manuel Zun
A mí me encanta la parte en el minuto 3:32
rover saul hidalgo aliaga
Cómo es que está música no es apreciada en todos lados.
JJ's Top Facts
Impeccable track...how didn't I even come across such a beautifully composed music all these years...the sound mixing from 2:20-3:33 is sheer work of a genius!!! 😍😍👏👏👍👍👌👌😘😘🙌🙌🙏🙏
Syed Feroz
Love n love alone
Christian 89129
@Luis C. Rodriguez You couldn't have said it better!
Luis C. Rodriguez
Everything Deep Forest made is such a masterpiece!!! After 'sweet lullaby', Comparsa for me means creativity, culture, ecstasy, peace, happiness, celebration... Thank to every single God in universe for this musical masters
Laur's Woodwork
the entire comparsa album is impecable
Reiki_Martha
hermosa, para todas las edades, gracias a estos genios-
GHELIO KYAROWE
☀️☀️☀️QUE BELEZA D MÚSICA BOA.. GOSTEI BOM D+...☀️☀️☀️