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.
Terra de índio
Deep Forest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mulheres e crianças
Caraíbas e Tapúias
Cantos de esperanças
Terra de índio
Terra de índio
Sangue de guerreiro
Primeiros caçadores
Índio brasileiro
Terra de índio
Terra de índio
Faz bem mais de dez mil anos
Na América do Sul
Antes dos conquistadores
Antes do Alto do Xingú
O verdadeiro brasileiro
Pataxó, Xeréu, Kraho
Em harmonia e natureza
Pioneiros do amor
Salvem nossos índios
Ajudem Pindorama
Terra das palmeiras
Seu povo reclama
Terra de índio
Terra de índio
O Brasil precisa
Amar seus nativos
Seus irmãos de alma
E mantê-los vivos
Terra de índio
Terra de índio
Faz bem mais de dez mil anos
Na América do Sul
Nossas tribos e caciques
Penas de arara azul
Viva o chefe Tabajara
Viva Mário e Araribóia
Viva o último Tamoio
Os que fazem nossa história.
Karajá, Ava -Canoeiro, Botocudo, Kaiapó,
Aruá, Gavião, Potiguara, Yanomâmi, Tukúna,
Guajá, Suruí, Terena, Tupinambá...
The lyrics to Deep Forest's song "Terra de Índio" speak about the indigenous people of Brazil and their significance in the country's history. The first stanza describes the different tribes and their customs, including dancing and smoking pipes. The chorus repeats the phrase "Terra de índio," which means "land of the Indian," emphasizing the importance and presence of indigenous cultures in Brazil.
The second stanza delves deeper into the history of these tribes, highlighting their warrior past and their role as the first hunters of the land. The names of several specific tribes are mentioned, including Guarani, Xavante, Pataxó, and Xeréu. The lyrics suggest a connection between these tribes and nature, describing them as pioneers of love and living in harmony with the environment.
The final stanza brings attention to the current struggles of indigenous people in Brazil and calls for their protection and recognition. The lyrics mention specific tribes and figures from history, showcasing the rich diversity and contributions of indigenous cultures in Brazil. The song ultimately serves as a tribute to the land of Brazil and the people who have inhabited it for thousands of years.
Line by Line Meaning
Danças e cachimbos
Celebrations and traditional tobacco pipes
Mulheres e crianças
Women and children of the tribe
Caraíbas e Tapúias
Different tribes of indigenous people
Cantos de esperanças
Songs of hope and encouragement
Terra de índio
Land of the indigenous people
Sangue de guerreiro
The bravery and fighting spirit of the indigenous people
Primeiros caçadores
The earliest hunters of the land
Guarani, Xavante
Two of the many tribes of indigenous people in Brazil
Índio brasileiro
The indigenous people of Brazil
Faz bem mais de dez mil anos
For more than ten thousand years
Na América do Sul
In South America
Antes dos conquistadores
Before the conquistadors arrived
Antes do Alto do Xingú
Before the Xingú region became populated
O verdadeiro brasileiro
The true natives of Brazil
Pataxó, Xeréu, Kraho
Names of different indigenous tribes
Em harmonia e natureza
Living in harmony with nature
Pioneiros do amor
Pioneers of love and wisdom
Salvem nossos índios
Save our indigenous people
Ajudem Pindorama
Help preserve Pindorama (what Brazil was called before colonization)
Terra das palmeiras
Land of palm trees
Seu povo reclama
Their people are calling out for help
O Brasil precisa
Brazil needs
Amar seus nativos
To love and appreciate its native people
Seus irmãos de alma
Their brothers and sisters in spirit
E mantê-los vivos
And to keep them alive and thriving
Nossas tribos e caciques
Our tribes and chiefs
Penas de arara azul
Blue macaw feathers, a symbol of indigenous American culture
Viva o chefe Tabajara
Long live Chief Tabajara, a famous Brazilian indigenous leader
Viva Mário e Araribóia
Long live Mário and Araribóia, two other famous indigenous leaders
Viva o último Tamoio
Long live the last of the Tamoio people
Os que fazem nossa história.
Those who make up our history
Karajá, Ava-Canoeiro, Botocudo, Kaiapó,
Names of different tribes of indigenous people in Brazil
Aruá, Gavião, Potiguara, Yanomâmi, Tukúna,
More names of different tribes of indigenous people in Brazil
Guajá, Suruí, Terena, Tupinambá...
And even more names of different tribes of indigenous people in Brazil
Writer(s): Eric Mouquet, Flavio Dell Isola
Contributed by Michael N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.