" 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
Tankou melodi
Emeline Michel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tout boutik finn fèmen
m'chita m'pa bouje
wap ban'm de ti kout pye
ou pap tann fevriye
Solèy te gen dømi nan je
lø nou t'ap karesetout kø'm te pran dife
men'm rèl nou te mele
nou te fèk kømanse
yon jou yon promès yon foli
demen lapli rèv toutouni
pran kè'w ak de men
føk ou ka goumen pou mwen ¨
Solèy la met dømi nan je
moun lavi sakaje
choublak te mèt fennen
zetwal met pa limen
ou men'm wa wè demen
Solèy la gen dømi nan je
tout boutik finn fèmen
se lavi' k'pral tanmen
boujonnen nan vant mwen
tankou yon melodi
yon jou yon promès yon foliiiii
yon move tan rèv toutouniiii
pran kè'w ak demen
føk ou kon'n goumen pou mwen
si'w tande mwen
n'a wè lakansyèl
men n'a viv lesansyèl tou lejou
lanmou va di
doulè mwen fini
lanmou pa nou tankou yon melodi
(tankou melodiiiiii)
hhmmmmm
(Tankou melodi)
si'w tande mwen
nan wè lakansyèl
pou yon jou
men n'a viv lesansyèl
toulejou
lanmou va di
doulè nou finiiii
lanmou pa nou
tankou yon melodi
(tankou melodi)
(tankou melodi)
(2 fwa)
(tankou melodi)
(tankou melodi)
In the song "Tankou melodi" by Emeline Michel, the singer reflects on the fleeting nature of life and love, comparing them to the passing of a melody. The first verse speaks of the sun setting and closing up shops, while the singer remains stationary and urges the listener to act before it's too late. The second verse continues with the imagery of the sun, lamenting how it can't protect people from the hardships of life, such as heartbreak and disappointment. The chorus repeats the title phrase "Tankou melodi" (like a melody) to emphasize that love and pain can be beautiful in their own way but don't last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Solèy la gen dømi nan je
The sun has closed its eyes
tout boutik finn fèmen
All the shops have closed
m'chita m'pa bouje
I am sitting still, not moving
wap ban'm de ti kout pye
You'll give me a little kick
ou pap tann fevriye
You won't wait until February
Solèy te gen dømi nan je
The sun used to look at us lovingly
lø nou t'ap karese
When we used to hug each other
tout kø'm te pran dife
All our hearts were on fire
men'm rèl nou te mele
But we still mixed up our feelings
nou te fèk kømanse
We had just begun
yon jou yon promès yon foli
One day, a promise, a madness
demen lapli rèv toutouni
Tomorrow, rain, dream all in a muddle
pran kè'w ak de men
Take your heart with your hands
føk ou ka goumen pou mwen
You have to fight for me
Solèy la met dømi nan je
The sun has closed its eyes
moun lavi sakaje
People's lives are stolen
choublak te mèt fennen
The shutters have been closed
zetwal met pa limen
The stars are not shining
ou men'm wa wè demen
You also want to see tomorrow
Solèy la gen dømi nan je
The sun has closed its eyes
tout boutik finn fèmen
All the shops have closed
se lavi' k'pral tanmen
It's going to be the end of life
boujonnen nan vant mwen
Bubbling inside my stomach
tankou yon melodi
Like a melody
yon jou yon promès yon foliiiii
One day, a promise, a madness
yon move tan rèv toutouniiii
A bad time, a jumbled dream
pran kè'w ak demen
Take your heart with tomorrow
føk ou kon'n goumen pou mwen
You have to know how to fight for me
si'w tande mwen
If you hear me
n'a wè lakansyèl
We'll see paradise
pou yon jou
For a day
men n'a viv lesansyèl tou lejou
But we'll live eternally every day
lanmou va di
Love will say
doulè mwen fini
My pain is over
lanmou pa nou tankou yon melodi
Our love is not like a melody
(tankou melodiiiiii)
hhmmmmm
(Tankou melodi)
Like a melody
si'w tande mwen
If you hear me
nan wè lakansyèl
In seeing paradise
pou yon jou
For a day
men n'a viv lesansyèl toulejou
But we'll live eternally every day
lanmou va di
Love will say
doulè nou finiiii
Our pain will be over
lanmou pa nou
Our love is not
tankou yon melodi
Like a melody
(tankou melodi)
Like a melody
(tankou melodi)
Like a melody
(2 fwa)
(tankou melodi)
Like a melody
(tankou melodi)
Like a melody
Contributed by Lauren N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jean Roosevelt Ostine
on Gade Papi
bonjou emeline michel mw pa konnen ki sa pou mw fe pou atis pam nan se yo nan moun mw fou poli ok mw prnte pou bay kem pouli wi .........