Kassav' (Haitian and Antillean Creole for a local dish made from cassava) i… Read Full Bio ↴Kassav' (Haitian and Antillean Creole for a local dish made from cassava) is a Francophone zouk band which was formed in 1979. The core members of the band are Jocelyne Beroard, Jacob Desvarieux, Jean-Philippe Marthely, Patrick St. Eloi, Jean-Claude Naimro, Claude Vamur and Georges Decimus (who left the band to create another band, Volte Face, before returning to Kassav' later) along with several other, more minor members. The total number of albums by the band and its members is approximately 30.

Kassav' was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus, a long-time professional musician who worked with Freddy Marshall. Together, the two of them decided to take carnival music and make it a more modern and polished style. It was the leading band to emerge from the formative years of Zouk. They gave the style a pan-Caribbean sound by taking elements from kompa, salsa, and calypso, and became world famous. Their first album, Love and Ka Dance (1980), established the sound of zouk.

Kassav' continued to grow more popular, both as a group and with several members' solo careers, finally peaking in 1985 with Yélélé, which featured the international hit "Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni" (meaning "Zouk is our only drug" in French Antillean Creole) With this hit, zouk rapidly became a widespread dance craze in Latin America and the Caribbean, and was popular in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Zouk performers became known for wildly theatrical concerts featuring special effects spectacles and colorful costumes.

Avèou Doudou
Kassav' Lyrics

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Doudou sé toujou wou ki soley an mwen
Avè'w mwen ka santi mwen ké rivé lwen
(Avè'w doudou)
Ou sav demen problèm pé rivé chè
(Sé sa ki lanmou)
Bondié ki pé sèlman séparé mwen
(Avè'w doudou)

Pon-

(Avè'w doudou)
Avè'w doudou, avè'w
(Avè'w doudou)

(Avè'w doudou)
Avè'w doudou, avèw
(Avè'w doudou)

Yo di avè tan-la lanmou ka pasé
Sourir ké fè mwen toujou rété avè'w
(Avè'w doudou)
Poutji mwen té ké chèché an lòt koté
(Chèché dòt lanmou)
Lè'w la tout bagay toujou klè an tèt mwen
(Avè'w doudou)

Pon-

(Avè'w doudou)
Man ké rivé lwen doudou
(Avè'w lanmou)

(Avè'w lanmou)
Bondié ki pé sèlman séparé nou
(Avè'w lanmou)

(Avè'w doudou)
Sourir, sourir, doudou sourir
(Avè'w lanmou)

Kè-
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w

Solo clavyé-

Kè-
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w
A A A A A A A A A Avè'w

(Avè'w doudou)
Avè'w avè'w doudou
(Avè'w lanmou)

(Avè'w doudou)
Sourir doudou sourir-la
(Avè'w lanmou)

(Avè'w doudou)
Sourir ké fè mwen toujou rété bò'w doudou
(Avè'w lanmou)

(Avè'w doudou)
Poutji, poutji vou
(Avè'w lanmou)

(Avè'w doudou)
Poutji man té ké chèché an lòt koté
(Avè'w lanmou)

Lè'w la, lè'w la, lè'w la doudou
(Avè'w doudou)

(Avè'w lanmou)
(Avè'w doudou)

(Avè'w lanmou)

Overall Meaning

The song "Avèou Doudou" by Kassav' is a tender love song that expresses the singer's profound love and devotion for their partner. The first verse states that the singer's lover is like the sunshine in their life, and with them, they feel they can go far. There may be problems to come, but with love, they can overcome them. The singer believes that only God can separate them emotionally from their lover. They repeat the phrases "Avè'w Doudou" and "Avè'w lanmou," expressing their desire to be with their love and to remain in love forever.

In the second verse, the singer questions why they would seek love elsewhere when they are content with their current partner. Where love is present, everything is clear in the singer's mind. The chorus repeats the phrase "Avè'w doudou," expressing their need to be with their partner.

The song's repeated expression of love and devotion in the chorus and the verses conveys the idea that the singer is completely dedicated to their partner and their love is unshakeable. The song's soft and gentle melody adds to its emotional impact, making it a popular choice for weddings and romantic occasions.

Line by Line Meaning

Doudou sé toujou wou ki soley an mwen
My love, you are always the sunshine in my life

Avè'w mwen ka santi mwen ké rivé lwen
With you, I feel like I can go far