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.
Ba Nou Zouk La
Kassav' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Manman mwen di mwen pa janmen / Pété tèt' mwen pou an ayen / Si la vi ya pa ka maché / Sé pas' i ka woulé / Mwen kouté nouvèl , sa pa chanjé / Déyè do gran mon' la / la djè pété / Si yo té konnèt' mizik an nou / Yo té ké ka gouté sa ki lanmou / Lèw ka gadé lot' bô, moun' ka kouri / Pou gen-yen lajan , yo pa ni tan domi / E lè sanmdi rivé , yo ja krazé / Ka konté , égri , yo pa ka menm' zouké / Si sé tandrès' ou vlé / Zouk la ké sa chayey / Ti bwen raj' ou kolè / Zouk la ni sa an tchey / La vi ya / Kon sa / Ba nou zouk la / Sé sa / Ba nou sa / Kon sa / Ba nou zouk la / Sé sa menm'... /
The song An Ba Chen'n La by Kassav is a celebration of Caribbean music and culture, specifically zouk music. The lyrics refer to the joy and energy of the music, and the way it brings people together in unity and happiness. The first verse describes how people rush around during the week, busy with work and responsibilities, but on Saturday they can relax and enjoy themselves, dancing and having fun. The chorus repeats the phrase "Ba nou zouk la," which means "give us the zouk," stressing the importance of the music in their lives.
The second verse is a reflection on the importance of staying grounded and not losing one's sense of self. The singer's mother has advised him to never give up or lose himself in anything, emphasizing the importance of balance and self-care. The bridge of the song emphasizes the connection between music and love, and how those who appreciate Caribbean music can understand true love and connection. Overall, the song is a tribute to the power of music to bring people together and create joy and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
La vi ya
Life is like this
Kon sa
That's the way it is
Ba nou zouk la
Give us some zouk music
Sé sa
That's what we want
Ba nou sa
Give us that
Kon sa
That's the way it is
Ba nou zouk la
Give us some zouk music
Sé sa menm'
That's exactly it
An ni gadé dèwo, moun' ka kouri
We see people running behind money
Pou travay, présé, yo pa ka pwan tan ri
In a hurry to work, they don't take time to laugh
E lè sanmdi rivé , yo byen krazé / Pou chèché , touvé , an plézi amizé / Woy ... Amizé ... Wé ! / Défoulé ... Wé !
And when Saturday arrives, they are exhausted / To look for pleasure and have fun / woohoo... fun... yeah! / Unwind... yeah!
An nou gadépou nou pé wè ... Wé !
Let's look at what we can see... yeah!
Nou ka kontinué ... Wé !
We continue... yeah!
Manman mwen di mwen pa janmen
My mother told me never
Pété tèt' mwen pou an ayen
To lose my head over nothing
Si la vi ya pa ka maché
If life isn't going well
Sé pas' i ka woulé
It's not because it wants to
Mwen kouté nouvèl , sa pa chanjé
I listen to the news, it doesn't change
Déyè do gran mon' la / la djè pété
Behind the back of the big man/ they are laughing
Si yo té konnèt' mizik an nou
If they knew our music
Yo té ké ka gouté sa ki lanmou
They would taste the love in it
Lèw ka gadé lot' bô, moun' ka kouri
When you look at other things, people are running
Pou gen-yen lajan , yo pa ni tan domi
To have more money, they don't even sleep
E lè sanmdi rivé , yo ja krazé
And when Saturday arrives, they are already exhausted
Ka konté , égri , yo pa ka menm' zouké
Counting their anger, they can't even dance zouk
Si sé tandrès' ou vlé
If it's tenderness you want
Zouk la ké sa chayey
Zouk music is what you need
Ti bwen raj' ou kolè
A little glass to calm your anger
Zouk la ni sa an tchey
Zouk music has what it takes
Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: BEROARD, DESVARIEUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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