Lefel's mother was from French Guiana and her father from the island of Martinique. She moved with her parents to Martinique when she was three. It was there that she was exposed to the rich musical traditions of the Caribbean. During the 1970s, when Lefel was growing up, creative young artists with Haitian bands were just beginning to create the zouk sound. Groups such as Les Frères Déjean, Le Ska Shah Number One and Tabou Combo drew on a combination of traditional African, Caribbean and European rhythms, including belair, biguine and mazurka, to produce their unique music which became another global phenomenon in the decades following the death of Bob Marley.
In her 14th year, Lefel and her mother left for France, settling in the Saint-Denis suburb of Paris. There she continued her studies in law, occasionally singing with her brother's folk rock group, and, in 1984, launched her career as a professional singer. The turning point in her career came when she met the Maffia band leader Jean-Michel Cambrimol. He invited her to accompany the band on a tour of the French Antilles, and recorded the hit single "My doudou" with her. Lefel's success on that tour led to more offers, including one from Jean-Luc Lazair of Lazair, with whom she recorded the single "Ich Maman". In 1987, she accepted an offer from the famous Martinican group Malavoi, appearing as a chorus singer on their album La case à Lucie. She earned her nickname "la sirène" by singing a song of that title on Malavoi's 1993 album Matebis. During the same period she met the arranger and producer Ronald Rubinel, whom she later married and with whom she had twin sons.
The year after Lefel first appeared with Malavoi she recorded her first solo album, La klé (The Key), which won the Prix de la SACEM for its producer, Georges Debs, in 1988. The album included a duet between Lefel and "Latin Crooner" Ralph Thamar - one of many collaborations Lefel recorded during her career with famous musicians, including Gilles Voyer, Dominique Zorobabel, Jean-Philippe Marthély, Sylviane Cédia and Mario Canonge. She explained to an interviewer for the RFI Musique website that when she hosted a house party she invited the people she loved the most, and she felt there was no reason why a recording session should be any different.
By 1992, Lefel had become well-known throughout the Caribbean and her reputation had spread to Mozambique. In that year she released her second album,Mèci (Thanks), which was honored with the Sacem trophy for the best female singer of the year. Mèci broke records for Afro-Caribbean independent artists, selling in excess of 40,000 units. Her third album Rendez-vous, released in 1996, continued to build her reputation as one of the leading female interpreters of Afro-Caribbean genres.
But that same year Lefel took her career in quite a different direction, with a live recording made at the famed Olympia theater in Paris. In Edith Lefel a l'Olympia, the artist expanded her repertoire to include French and English language material, including some of the Parisian street songs that had been popularized by Edith Piaf. She explained that her parents had listened to Piaf when she was young (along with other classic French-language chanteurs like Jacques Brel and Charles Aznavour), and that she had often imitated Piaf at home for their entertainment. On the evening of the Olympia concert, May 11, 1996, Lefel impressed the audience with her immense talent, supported by her friends Ralph Thamar and Jean-Luc Alger, and her husband and children.
A very attractive woman whose likeness graced the covers of many prominent French magazines, Lefel died at the height of her powers and popularity[1] in January 2003, at only age 39. She died in her sleep. Autopsy results revealed a combination of smoking and birth control pills as the cause of her death. Edith Lefel is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Contents
[hide] 1 Discography 1.1 Albums
2 References
3 External links
Nathalie
Edith Lefel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nathalie ich mwen
Kouté sa paren-w ka di-w
Lavi a pa dwòl
Pa fonsé two vit
Kouté konsèy paren-w ti fiyèl mwen
Enmen mizik mé pa fè kon an fòl
Ki pè mantjé tout bal
Jòdi ou djé dèmen ou tris
Kouwi lavi
Pa pè afwonté sé jenn jan an
Baraten yo tout ni
Véyé yo
Nathalie ich mwen
Kouté sa paren-w ka di-w
Mwen ké rivini
Konsèy mwen pa rich
Kouté konsèy paren-w ti fiyèl mwen
Nathalie
Enmen mizik
Mé pa fè kon an fòl
Ki pè mantjé tout bal
Jòdi ou djé dèmen ou tris
Kouwi lavi
Pa pè afwonté sé jenn jan an
Baraten yo tout ni
Véyé yo
Nathalie ich mwen
Kouté sa paren-w ka di-w
Mwen ké rivini
Konsèy mwen pa rich
Kouté konsèy paren-w ti fiyèl mwen
Nathalie
Nathalie
Nathalie
Nathalie
Interprète: Edith LEFEL, Malavoi
The lyrics to Edith Lefel's song Nathalie are about a young girl, Nathalie, who is given advice by her parents to take her life slowly and not rush into things. The song emphasizes the importance of listening to the advice and wisdom of those who have come before us, especially parents, in order to make the most of our lives. The lyrics also suggest that music can be a source of comfort and guidance in difficult times.
Throughout the song, the repetition of Nathalie's name emphasizes the personal connection and importance of the advice being given. The lyrics also suggest that life can be challenging, and it is important to have support and guidance from those who care about us. The song seems to be directed towards Nathalie herself, urging her to slow down and take her time in life, even if it means missing out on some of the excitement and chaos of youth.
Overall, Nathalie is a heartfelt and emotional song about the importance of listening to the wisdom of those who have come before us, and the value of taking things slow and steady in life. The song's themes of guidance and support are universal, and the simple yet powerful message is sure to resonate with listeners of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Nathalie ich mwen
Nathalie, it’s me
Kouté sa paren-w ka di-w
Listen to what your parents are telling you
Lavi a pa dwòl
Life is not a joke
Pa fonsé two vit
Don't sink too fast
Kouté konsèy paren-w ti fiyèl mwen
Listen to the advice of my little girl's parents
Enmen mizik mé pa fè kon an fòl
Love music but don't go crazy about it
Ki pè mantjé tout bal
That can make you lose sight of everything else
Jòdi ou djé dèmen ou tris
Today, tomorrow, you're sad
Kouwi lavi
Take life
Pa pè afwonté sé jenn jan an
Don't be afraid to face the youth
Baraten yo tout ni
They're all faced with obstacles
Véyé yo
Watch over them
Mwen ké rivini
I'll come back
Konsèy mwen pa rich
My advice is not rich
Nathalie
Nathalie
Writer(s): Julio Iglesias, Ramon Arcusa Alcon, Ed De Haan
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-qj4sq3bn1p
Musique traditionnelle et afro dans toute sa plénitude accompagnée du jazz, j'adore.
@user-qj4sq3bn1p
Musique traditionnelle et afro dans toute sa plénitude accompagnée du jazz, j'adore.