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.
Jénérasion
Kassav' Lyrics
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Enmé son-la ritm, grouv épi flow Dérayé yo
Jénérasion zayé sa indestwa Dérayé yo
É seksi, men toujou koul Dérayé yo
Manman-mwen jwé chokaché
Mwen menn osi jwé zwel séré
Sé timoun-la yo sé sikriyé
Adan milflè ki soti wouvè
Yo ba'y miel épii dousè
Jénérasion chouvalbwa, konpè zanba Dérayé yo
Pa vwè télévizion Dérayé yo
Jénérasion « tichèw-la, fo vini'w la » Dérayé yo
Tifof ba yo leson Akyelman sé sa nou ni
Koulizé'w, pa flipé
Edikasion, télévizion
Sé, jénérasion ki si présion, mé
Koulizé, pa flipé
Evolision, kontradiksion
Lajénes ka gazé plen kesion
Tjenbé, tjenbé
Sousé sousé, kenbé, kenbé
Sa ou simen, sa"w rékolté
Pa ka ni lafjmen si pa té ni difé
Sé iasosiété ki toujou fè jénès-kon i'yé
Sé lasos été,ki toujou fè jérfës kon'i yé
Yo présé, yo kondisioné
Piblisité ka'fé yo bousté
Toulongalé yo ka eksité
Lavi sé oni gran touniket
Sé li ka fet, sé li ka défet
Alé toudwet, pou pa disparet
Nou ka alé, nou ka alé, nou ka alé,
Nou ka alé, nou ka alé
Nou a alé, nou ka alé, yes, nou ka alé
Nou ka alé, nou ka alé
Sikriyé fet pou yo sousé
Adan an flé ki soti wouvè
Onlo bel flè ki plen koulè
Sikriyé, gadé yo lianné, yo libéré
Ka fé sa yo vlé
Yo ka chèché la pou yo alé
Nou ka alé, nou ka alé
Jénérasion ki ka rivé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
Jénérasion ki pi présé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
Jénérasion ki enstalé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
Jénérasion ki ja kalmé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
The song Jénérasion by Kassav is about the youth and their way of life. The lyrics talk about how this new generation is different from the one that came before it. The first stanza describes the generation as being cool, sexy, and with a flow that defies tradition. The second stanza describes how the youth learn from their parents and elders, but they also have their own way of doing things that is independent of the older generation's ways. They are described as being rebellious, but still sweet like honey.
The chorus encourages the youth to hold on to their culture and roots. They are instructed not to be afraid of the contradictions they face, but rather to embrace them and move forward. This generation is different from previous ones because they don't rely on television or external sources to guide them. They are independent thinkers and are confident in themselves. The song ends on a positive note, encouraging the youth to follow their dreams and to take control of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Jénérasion si pla Dérayé yo
This generation is attractive and captivating, but they are also misguided and lost.
Enmé son-la ritm, grouv épi flow Dérayé yo
They love the rhythm, groove, and flow of the music that speaks to them, which is why they are drawn to it.
Jénérasion zayé sa indestwa Dérayé yo
This generation wants to assert their independence and uniqueness, which sometimes causes them to veer off course and lose themselves.
É seksi, men toujou koul Dérayé yo
They are attractive and alluring, but still struggle to find their true identity and purpose in life.
Manman-mwen jwé chokaché
My mother used to play hide-and-seek with me.
Mwen menn osi jwé zwel séré
I used to play marbles too.
Sé timoun-la yo sé sikriyé
These children are the ones who are carefree.
Sikriyé fet pou sousé
Carefreeness is made for enjoyment.
Adan milflè ki soti wouvè
In the fields where flowers bloom.
Yo ba'y miel épii dousè
They receive honey and sweetness.
Jénérasion chouvalbwa, konpè zanba Dérayé yo
This generation is strong and resilient, like the wood of the horse-chestnut tree and the Kompe Zanba rhythm of Haitian music, but they are still lost and misguided.
Pa vwè télévizion Dérayé yo
They don't watch television because they feel like it doesn't speak to them or their experiences.
Jénérasion « tichèw-la, fo vini'w la » Dérayé yo
This generation believes that you have to come to them if you want to understand them and their struggles.
Tifof ba yo leson Akyelman sé sa nou ni
The elders give them lessons to guide them.
Koulizé'w, pa flipé
Don't be scared, take risks and try new things.
Edikasion, télévizion
Education and television.
Sé, jénérasion ki si présion, mé
This generation is under a lot of pressure, but they are still searching for their identity and purpose.
Koulizé, pa flipé
Don't be scared, take risks and try new things.
Evolision, kontradiksion
Evolution and contradictions.
Lajénes ka gazé plen kesion
Youthfulness is full of questions and uncertainties.
Tjenbé, tjenbé
Sousé sousé, kenbé, kenbé
Hold on tight, persevere and never give up.
Sa ou simen, sa"w rékolté
You reap what you sow.
Pa ka ni lafjmen si pa té ni difé
There would be no smoke without fire.
Sé iasosiété ki toujou fè jénès-kon i'yé
Society is the one always making young people feel lost and misguided.
Sé lasos été,ki toujou fè jérfës kon'i yé
It is society that still causes young people to feel like they don't belong.
Yo présé, yo kondisioné
They are guided and conditioned by the older generation and society.
Piblisité ka'fé yo bousté
Advertisements boost their ego and self-importance.
Toulongalé yo ka eksité
They are excited by the aesthetics and pleasures of life.
Lavi sé oni gran touniket
Life is an enormous rollercoaster of emotions and experiences.
Sé li ka fet, sé li ka défet
Life can make you or break you.
Alé toudwet, pou pa disparet
Keep moving forward, so you don't lose yourself.
Nou ka alé, nou ka alé, nou ka alé,
We are moving, we are moving, we are moving.
Nou a alé, nou ka alé, yes, nou ka alé
We are going, we are moving, yes, we are going.
Jénérasion ki ka rivé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
This generation has arrived, they are here.
Jénérasion ki pi présé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
This generation is the most pressured and burdened.
Jénérasion ki enstalé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
This generation is settled in society but still searching for their purpose and identity.
Jénérasion ki ja kalmé Akyelman sé sa nou ni
This generation has already calmed down and matured.
Lyrics © PEERMUSIC FRANCE, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GEORGES DECIMUS, PIERRE-EDOUARD DECIMUS, JACOB DESVARIEUX, JEAN-PHILIPPE MARTHELY, JEAN-CLAUDE NAIMRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Mwen di ou awa
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