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.
Will You Be Ready
Deep Forest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another lie for a lie, we'll be wiping out mankind
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musu ranoya
Will you be ready?
Ahuu yuu uri yoi
Itoya kiririba musubimo na ryu uri yoi
Can we let the sun still shine
Or rip into 15 pieces, will you be ready
When it comes
Will you be ready when it takes your heart
Will you know what to say
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musu ranoya
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ahuu ryu uri yoi
Will you still sing out in ecstasy
To know that while you live
Only love can see deep down inside
Will you be ready
Will you be strong?
Throw the love away
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musura yano ya
Tokoyanu suraya no
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musura yano ya
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Tokoyanu surayano
Bai doga joi joi
thx to georgeconstantin@gmail.com
The lyrics to Deep Forest's song Will You Be Ready describe the consequences of living in a world where revenge and deceit are rampant. The first two lines suggest that retaliating with violence will only lead to destruction and a world devoid of compassion. The chorus, sung in the Amami Ooshima dialect, poses the question "Will you be ready?" repeatedly, asking whether the listener is prepared to face the challenges and hardships of life. The following lines ask whether one can maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity, whether they will be able to show love instead of hate, and whether they will remain steadfast when their beliefs are challenged.
The song reflects Deep Forest's philosophy of creating music that promotes ecological awareness and peaceful coexistence among human beings. Through their use of vocal samples from around the world and blending of various musical genres, the duo aims to promote unity and foster understanding between different cultures. Will You Be Ready is a call to action for listeners to recognize the impact their actions have on the world and to strive for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
An eye for an eye, will only make this world go blind
Retaliation only brings harm to everyone involved
Another lie for a lie, we'll be wiping out mankind
Continued deceit and dishonesty will lead to destruction of humanity
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musu ranoya
Are you prepared?
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ahuu yuu uri yoi
Itoya kiririba musubimo na ryu uri yoi
Are you ready to face the challenges ahead?
Can we let the sun still shine
Or rip into 15 pieces, will you be ready
When it comes
Will you be prepared to face destruction and chaos?
Will you be ready when it takes your heart
Will you know what to say
Will you be emotionally and mentally prepared to handle difficult situations?
Will you still sing out in ecstasy
To know that while you live
Only love can see deep down inside
Will you be ready
Will you find joy in the knowledge that love is the only true guiding force?
Will you be strong?
Throw the love away
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musura yano ya
Tokoyanu suraya no
Do you have the strength to reject love and act against your better nature?
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Ennuo kiriri musura yano ya
Are you prepared to face the unknown?
Will you be ready?
(Amami Ooshima dialect)
Tokoyanu surayano
Bai doga joi joi
Will you be ready to let go of your fears and embrace the possibilities of life?
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jamesianp
I love how these guys - Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet - matched up these two great voices. One of the best things Deep Forest has done. So much soul.
Ura the shoddy fan and artist.
This song influenced my childhood deeply. It made me a better person.
Mark Smith
This came out in 2001 I think. A song that your past,present,and future self can feel at the same time. Perfect 💙
sean spencer
To me, this sounds like a Bond theme. I don't know why. Unique tune and well played. Merci, Michel et Eric! Tres bien.
Norma Pio
Simplesmente maravilhoso esse som né cachoeira
Abby McCormick
This hit me hard today. I so needed this.
Carl Strutinski
A song to make us ready for the life in the woods after this mess is over!
Inori
This is the original 糸繰り節 (itokuribushi) sung and Shamisen played by Chitose Hajime.
https://youtu.be/uluR06XBXEY
an old folk song passed on to generation to generation in Amami islands - located between Kyushu and Okinawa in Japan.
It's said the song was made by women forced to work hard to produce thread at cotton mill under the government control, and the lyric means if the thread is ripped, still be able to fix it, but if it were the human relationship, it is not easy to fix it.
kavitheone
remembering my school days when i was listening to the song,,, never imagine how memories will come right now.....wow...
Christopher Robey
i so love deep forest! this is the first time i've heard this song! love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)