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.
Madazulu
Deep Forest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fukai Mori
Fukai Mori(Deep Forest)
Fukai fukai mori no oku ni ima mo kitto
okizari ni shita kokoro kakushiteru yo
Sagasu hodo no chikara mo naku tsukare hateta
hitobito wa eien no yami ni kieru
Chisai mama nara kitto ima demo mieta kana
Bokutachi wa ikiru hodo ni
nakushiteku sukoshizutsu
itsuwariya uso o matoi
tachi sukumu koe mo naku
Aoi aoi sora no iro mo kizukanai mama
sugiteyuku mainichi ga kawatteyuku
Tsukurareta wakugumi o koe ima o ikite
sabi tsuita kokoro mata ugoki dasu yo
Toki no RIZUMU o shireba mou ichido toberu darou
Bokutachi wa samayoi nagara
ikiteyuku dokomademo
shinjiteru hikari motome
aruki dasu kimi to ima
Bokutachi wa ikiru hodo ni
nakushiteku sukoshizutsu
itsuwariya uso o matoi
tachi sukumu koe mo naku
Bokutachi wa ikiru hodo ni
nakushiteku sukoshizutsu
itsuwariya uso o matoi
tachi sukumu koe mo naku
Bokutachi wa samayoi nagara
ikiteyuku dokomademo
furikaeru michi o tozashi
aruiteku eien ni
Tachi sukumu koe mo naku
ikiteyuku eien ni
The lyrics to Deep Forest's Madazulu paint a picture of a deep, dense forest where the singer's heart is hiding. The first verse speaks of the weariness of life and the fact that people disappear into the eternal darkness of the forest. The chorus emphasizes the loss and deception that the singer has experienced, and the fact that they are slowly losing their voice in this vast wilderness.
The second verse describes the passage of time and how the world around the singer is constantly changing while they remain hidden in the depths of the forest. However, the realization of the constructed complexity of life is soon followed by the hope that, by understanding the rhythm of time, one can fly again. And the final verse speaks of how the singer is walking towards eternity with another person who is seeking the same light that they are, and how they will continue to walk in the midst of deception until they find it.
The lyrics convey a sense of emotional depth and introspection while providing a glimpse into the awe-inspiring nature of the rainforest. This song's message is ultimately one of hope and the strength to keep moving forward despite the deceptive and ever-changing environment that surrounds us.
Line by Line Meaning
Fukai fukai mori no oku ni ima mo kitto
Even now, surely, within the deep forest, there exists a profound stillness
okizari ni shita kokoro kakushiteru yo
My heart hides away, abandoned and alone
Sagasu hodo no chikara mo naku tsukare hateta
Exhausted, having searched all the way without finding any strength
hitobito wa eien no yami ni kieru
People disappear into eternal darkness
Chisai mama nara kitto ima demo mieta kana
If I were small, surely I could see it even now
Bokutachi wa ikiru hodo ni
As we live each day
nakushiteku sukoshizutsu
We lose a little piece of ourselves
itsuwariya uso o matoi
Clad in deception and lies
tachi sukumu koe mo naku
Without even the strength to stand and struggle
Aoi aoi sora no iro mo kizukanai mama
Not even noticing the color of the blue, blue sky
sugiteyuku mainichi ga kawatteyuku
Every passing day continues to change
Tsukurareta wakugumi o koe ima o ikite
Living in the created framework of life
sabi tsuita kokoro mata ugoki dasu yo
A rusted heart moves once again
Toki no RIZUMU o shireba mou ichido toberu darou
If you know the rhythm of time, you can fly once more
Bokutachi wa samayoi nagara
As we wander
ikiteyuku dokomademo
Living on, no matter where we go
shinjiteru hikari motome
Seeking the light that we believe in
aruki dasu kimi to ima
Starting to walk with you, here and now
furikaeru michi o tozashi
Closing off the road we've already traveled
aruiteku eien ni
And walking towards eternity
Tachi sukumu koe mo naku
Without even the strength to stand and struggle
ikiteyuku eien ni
Living on towards eternity
Contributed by Ella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michał Solarz
I was born in 1992, my Dad bought all the records and this is the first music i have ever heard. I listen to it until today, it is everything for me. I'm 30 today and Deep Forest is my life. My new born son is one month now and he listens to it too <3
Kimberly Gutiérrez
Oo
Milly Roberta
Another 1992 here all this music is just my mother 😂❤❤
Sula Rodriguez
Same for me, it brings back memories... back then I was the only one who had the cds so friends will come over to listen to Deep Forest
Naitoraven951
Outstanding rhythm. Deep Forest never disappoint.
Ceci G
Bella música, gran calidad en todo. Ojalá trabajos con esa calidad tuvieran una mayor difusión. Me entristece ver tanta música y artistas que están sobrevalorados.
Saludos desde México ;)
Lucas Piatnicki
México es uno de los más talentosos países para música y letras románticas de calidad
llezzamagu1
Lo bueno hay que buscarlo... es un logro y no todo el mundo tiene la capacidad para amar la música underground 👍👍
yakuza
Opino lo mismo
ちきちん
尊い。
本当に、素晴らしい曲。
ありがとうございます!