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.
Sweet Lullaby
Deep Forest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O angi si nau boroi amu
Ni ma oe e fasi korona
Dolali dasa na, lao dai afuimae
Afuta guau mauri, Afuta wela inomae
Sasi sasi ae o angisi nau
Boroi nima oe e fasi koro na
Afuta guau mauri, Afuta wela inomae
The lyrics to Deep Forest's "Sweet Lullaby" are in the native tongue of the Solomon Islands, and they describe a simple and beautiful lullaby. The first couple of lines of the song describe the gentle motion of a swaying boat, while the next few lines translate to "I am here, you are here, we are here together, singing a lullaby under the bright moon." The remainder of the lyrics describe the peacefulness of the moment and the singer's hopes for a bright and happy future.
What is particularly interesting about the lyrics of "Sweet Lullaby" is that they are in a language that is not widely known or used, and yet the song became a massive international hit. This is a testament to the universal appeal of music and the ability of songs to bring people together across cultures and languages. The fact that the song is a lullaby also adds to its appeal, as lullabies are a soothing and comforting form of music that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sweet Lullaby" are a beautiful and evocative expression of love, peace, and hope that transcends language and cultural barriers.
Line by Line Meaning
Sasi sasi o to aro aro
Whispers of the wind blowing softly and slowly
O angi si nau boroi amu
The sound of birds chirping and singing in the morning
Ni ma oe e fasi korona
A mother's gentle voice humming a sweet lullaby to her child
Dolali dasa na, lao dai afuimae
The calmness and peace of a baby falling asleep
Afuta guau mauri, Afuta wela inomae
The love and protection of a mother watching over her child as they sleep
Sasi sasi ae o angisi nau
The wind continues to whisper and the birds continue to sing
Boroi nima oe e fasi koro na
The mother's lullaby brings comfort and tranquility to her child
Dolali dasa na, lao dai afuimae
The baby drifts into a peaceful sleep, feeling safe and loved
Afuta guau mauri, Afuta wela inomae
The mother's love and protection continue to surround and comfort her sleeping child
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Eric Mouquet, Michel Sanchez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@King-lala
This song just proves to me there is such thing as humanity …
How many decades this song was made ,
Till this day 2023 23rd April it’s still being searched , it’s still sought after by hundreds if not thousands because there is some sort of connection we all feel together with this one song we have no understanding of the words but at the same time we all feel a sense of loss , happiness , nostalgia , a sense of meaning and belonging .
First time I heard this was nearly 28 years ago , I’m 33 right now in bed with my 7 year old daughter and just randomly off the top of my head thought I would play this on my phone in the background while she fell asleep , hoping to give her the exact same feeling maybe one day when she ever heard this …
I love you all I’m glad there’s so many of us all together looking for the same thing but not even looking … just Being here in the moment , listening and playing the song for whoever is next to us to hear to play it again for someone else and carry this song on for another 30 years .
Much love . Daniel lala x
@djprojectzero8
Little brother, little brother, hush now, hush now
You keep crying, but there's no one else to carry you
No one else to care for you, we're both orphans now
From the island of the dead, their spirit will look after us
And take care of us like royalty, with all the wisdom they'll find there
Little brother, little brother even in the gardens
This lullaby will reach every corner
From the island of the dead, their spirit will look after us
Little brother, little brother, hush now, hush now
You keep crying, but there's no one else to carry you
No one else to care for you, we're both orphans now
From the island of the dead, their spirit will look after us
@deadlyxenomorph3505
Brings back memories of SBS in Australia.
The original lyrics of the traditional Baegu lullaby "Rorogwela" from the Solomon Islands, which inspired Deep Forest's "Sweet Lullaby," along with their English translation, are as follows:
*Original Lyrics:*
```
Sasi sasi ae ko taro taro amu
Ko agi agi boroi tika oli oe lau
Tika gwao oe lau koro inomaena
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
Tabe ta wane initoa te ai rofia
Sasi sasi ae kwa dao mata ole
Rowelae e lea kwa dao mata biru
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
Sasi sasi ae ko taro taro amu
Ko agi agi boroi tika oli oe lau
Tika gwao oe lau koro inomaena
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
(repeat x 3)
```
*English Translation:*
```
Little brother, little brother, stop crying, stop crying
Though you are crying and crying, who else will carry you?
Who else will groom you, both of us are now orphans
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us
Just like royalty, taken care of with all the wisdom of such a place
Little brother, little brother even in the gardens
This lullaby continues to the different divisions of the garden
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us
Little brother, little brother, stop crying, stop crying
Though you are crying and crying, who else will carry you?
Who else will groom you, both of us are now orphans
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us
(repeat x 3)
```
These lyrics depict a touching scene of an older brother comforting his younger sibling, both orphans, with assurances of protection and guidance from the spirits of their ancestors.
@georgeezescalantez
Who else is here in 2024? Like so that I can come back play the song again. Such marvelous nostalgia ❤
@sonofgodalmighty
Nostalgia is the name of the music game these days fo' sho!
@nymaksco1835
The movie this song was featured in was my late husband’s and my first date, he died in 2017. It’s now 2024.
@milanaagbariya
I am 👋🏽
@Dezignr93
Used to listen to the whole album back in ‘94!! Can’t believe I finally found it again!
@srvfan454
Tried to sing along back in the day lol
@sbcomputerentertainment
The original version of this lullaby is called "Rorogwela" and it's from Solomon Islands, The oldest recording of it is that from a person named Afunakwa and was recorded in 1970 and the lyrics translate to: Young brother, young brother, be quiet You are crying, but our father has left us He has gone to the place of the dead To protect the living, to protect the orphan child.
@guizadas4171
Thanks for info mate
@PaletaLee
Finally I got it, THANK you
@sbcomputerentertainment
@@tuulikannel It didn't ruin it for me, I suppose it's like a folk song, kinda like somebody covering "happy birthday to you", just because the recording is older does not mean it's also the origin of the song.