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.
Endangered species )
Deep Forest Lyrics
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Be it animal or human
Crawling on the ground or on the roof
Hunting like the lonely, lonely fighter
Picking up the truth behind the messages
Turning to the Gods of technology
Wisdom far beyond the galaxies
But not enough to cure the last disease
Endangered species
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Telecommunication
Counting every crater on the moon
Roaming like the only, only rider
High upon the back of flaming dragon rockets
Carrying the messages of the Gods of technology
Wisdom far beyond the galaxies
But not enough to save the Almighty
Endangered species
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Endangered species
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The butterfly, the tiger
Nothing but a shadow in the stone
Flamingo, future dinosaur
Underneath the urban sun
Victims of the truth behind the messages
Of the stoic saints of profit
Victims of the truth behind the messages
Of the stoic saints of profit
Smiling as the wonders of all nature
Crumbling in their pockets
Flying to another galaxy
Leaving Mother Earth
Endangered species
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Endangered Species
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Endangered Species
In Deep Forest's song Endangered Species, the lyrics describe the current state of the natural world and human behavior towards it. The lyrics express concern for both animals and humans who are endangered, regardless of whether they are crawling on the ground or living on rooftops. It portrays people as lonely fighters, at odds with the natural world they are part of. The use of the phrase "picking up the truth behind the messages" suggests that humans have become disconnected from nature and its messages. The song implies that when people look for answers to the crisis through technology and other sources of information, they often miss the point. The lyrics describe the situation as one where people are fearful of the meanings of messages they receive, and this fear drives them to turn to technology and wisdom far beyond the galaxies.
The lyrics mention "endangered species" several times, highlighting the theme of the song. The spoken lyrics about the telecommunication industry and moon craters suggest our obsession with technological advancement and exploration of space. The image of the "flaming dragon rockets" symbolizes the danger to the environment that comes with technological progress. The repetition of the phrase "victims of the truth behind the messages" suggests that humans are often blind to the harm they cause to nature.
The final lines speak of the wonders of nature that are disappearing, and how humans are literally taking them with them as they leave the planet. The lyrics could be interpreted as a call to action, urging people to recognize their impact on the environment and work to preserve and conserve the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Be it animal or human
Whether it's a living being like an animal or human
Crawling on the ground or on the roof
Moving on the ground or the roof, indicating different types of habitats
Hunting like the lonely, lonely fighter
Acting like a lonely fighter, possibly in search of food or resources
Picking up the truth behind the messages
Trying to understand the hidden messages or signals
So fearful of the meanings
Being scared of the potential implications or consequences of the messages
Turning to the Gods of technology
Relying on advanced technology as a solution
Wisdom far beyond the galaxies
Possessing knowledge that extends beyond the observable universe
But not enough to cure the last disease
Despite such technological advancements, not being able to cure certain diseases
Endangered species
Referring to species that are in danger of extinction
Telecommunication
Communicating over long distances using technology
Counting every crater on the moon
Possibly referring to the level of detail in technology
Roaming like the only, only rider
Roaming around like the only traveler in a vast, open space
High upon the back of flaming dragon rockets
Traveling with the help of advanced rocket technology
Carrying the messages of the Gods of technology
Delivering messages related to advanced technology and its potential solutions
But not enough to save the Almighty
Despite such technological advancements, not being able to save the planet or humanity
The butterfly, the tiger
Examples of endangered species
Nothing but a shadow in the stone
Being insignificant or powerless in a world dominated by humans and technology
Flamingo, future dinosaur
Referring to another endangered species, a bird with unique characteristics
Underneath the urban sun
Living in an urban environment where natural habitats are often destroyed
Victims of the truth behind the messages
Becoming vulnerable to the impacts of messages related to profit and human progress
Of the stoic saints of profit
Referring to humans who prioritize profit over the environment and its inhabitants
Smiling as the wonders of all nature
Being indifferent to the destruction of the natural world
Crumbling in their pockets
Being destroyed or damaged due to human activities and neglect
Flying to another galaxy
Escaping from the problems on Earth by traveling to another galaxy
Leaving Mother Earth
Abandoning the planet Earth and all its inhabitants
Endangered Species
Repeating the title and emphasizing the seriousness of the problem
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEVERLY SCOTT, ERIC MOUQUET, MICHEL SANCHEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind