Amazon.com's Editorial Emelin Michel:
" Here on Rasin Kreyol (which tran… Read Full Bio ↴Amazon.com's Editorial Emelin Michel:
" Here on Rasin Kreyol (which translates as "Creole Roots"), reigning queen of Haitian song Emeline Michel covers a lot of ground, writing songs that draw upon Haitan compas, twoubadou and rara as well as jazz, rock, pop, bossa nova and samba. Whichever direction the singer goes, her voice is clear and forceful as she dramatically imparts her political lyrics in Haitian Creole and French, offering up messages about AIDS, social justice and peace. She does this skill and class: Michel repeats the line "Tell me, where is peace?" to chilling effect on "Mon Rêve," where she's joined by background singers, flute and voodoo hand drums. At the other end of the spectrum, "Ban'm La Jwa" is uplifting with its driving calypso-jazz grooves. While the singer has released a handful of albums as imports over a 15-year career, Rasin Kreyol, her Times Square records debut, is a standout that should help U.S. audiences catch up with the French speaking world that already adores her. "
-- Tad Hendrickson

Jodiya
Emeline Michel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Si jodi a m'ta soti
m'pa ta tounen aswè a
si tout rèv nou bati
grif lanmø
ta poze
mwen pa vle regrete
sa mwen te
si mwen ta

mwen vle ba'w
san konte
lamou san kalkile
san limit nèt ale

se pou sa mwen vle'w
sonje
jodi a
si nou pa wè demen
jodi a
m'ap ba'w tout sa mwen genyen
jodi a
pa chèche rezon
ayayyy
koulye a
se pi bon jou
pou lanmou
mwen gade'w
kè'm kase
m'pa wè kote tan'w pase
wap souri
wap kouri
m'wè bondye ekziste
mwen swete pou'w vole
kote'm p'ap jan'm rive
pou'w pa pè depase

tout sa'w imajine
pou'w pa jan'm pè tonbe
se pou sa
mwen vle'w sonje
jodi a
si'm pa wè demen
jodi a
m'ap ba'w tout sa'm genyen
jodi a
pa chèche rezon
ayayyy
koulye a
se pi bon jou pou lanmou
ou s'on koub
ki chanje wout
lavi'm
m'pa pè di
mwen kon'n sak pi fø ke renmen
tout moun ka fè
move zafè
ou rete pi bèl bagay mwen fè

Overall Meaning

The song "Jodiya" by Emeline Michel speaks about the present moment, emphasizing the importance of living in the present and cherishing it with love. The singer expresses her desire to remain in the present and not think about the future or the past. She sings that if she were to leave today, she would not want to think about the night, but instead wants to leave her mark on the world alongside her lover. She talks about the need to cherish moments because life is fleeting and unpredictable.

The lyrics highlight the importance of love and how it can be the one thing that makes everything better. Michel sings about how love has no limits, no restrictions and can allow someone to soar to great heights. She urges the listener to remain present and not worry about tomorrow or the past. Instead, she wants us to focus on the current moment, to be happy, to smile, to enjoy the company of loved ones and to seize the day.

Line by Line Meaning

Si jodi a m'ta soti
If today I were to leave, I wouldn't come back tonight

m'pa ta tounen aswè a
I wouldn't come back tonight

si tout rèv nou bati
If all of our dreams come true

grif lanmø
The grip of love

ta poze
Will ease

mwen pa vle regrete
I don't want to regret

sa mwen te
What I did

si mwen ta
If I were to

mwen vle ba'w
I want to give you

san konte
Without counting

lamou san kalkile
Unconditional love