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.
Kassav'
Kassav' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
P/M: J.-Ph. Marthély
Chantè: J.-Ph. Marthély/P. Saint-Eloi
Hé hé hé
Sé pa lapenn nou pété tèt nou han hé
Doudou, nou ni an chans fok nou pwofité
Ni an lo moun ki pa jen konnet lanmou
Gadé ki jan i ka ba nou bon lafos han han
Pou nou pé wè douvan nou
Kan nou ka dékolé tjè nou toujou ansam menm
Menm lè nou lwen yo ka bat menm jan han han
Fo pa douté doudou lanmou ké ba nou an mèyè dèmen
Si mwen ka di'w sa sé paskè mwen ja wè
Lanmou-a nou planté a ich nou ki ké rékolté'y
Papa yo, manman yo lé yo ansanm han han
Sa pé mé té yo dwèt, ékilib-la sé vré sa ké sèvi yo ho hé han han
Tjenbé (tjenbé), an nou tjenbé
Pou dèmen pé pli klè
Lanmou sé pa djendjen
Sé pa djendjen
Réfléchi avan'w chwazi
Désizion nou sé li ka fè chimen ich nou
Ho...
Si zot fè sa, zot ké wè si sa pé ké chanjé ayayayayay
Frè mwen sé mwen, mwen ka mandé réfleksyon, réfleksyon
Hein ah
souflan-
kè-
Si mwen ka di'w sa, sé paskè mwen ja réfléchi
Djendjen sé pa djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
Lanmou sé pa djendjen, lanmou sé pa djendjen
kè-
Si mwen ka di'w sa sé paskè mwen ja réfléchi
Djendjen sé pa djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
Pa pran'y pou djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
pon-
kè-
Si mwen ka di'w sa, sé paskè mwen ja réfléchi
Djendjen sé pa djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
souflan-
Sé pa pawol anlè, sé pa pawol anlè, mé sé pawol antiè,
kè-
Piti ké vini gran pou demen pé pli klè
Lanmou ka fè lafos, "l'union" pa menm palé
kè-
Pa rété la kon sa, pas tan a ka filé
Rouvé zié lévé tèt, pa kité douvan pran'w
Oh baby
kè-
Piti ké vini gran pou demen pé pli klè
Lanmou ka fè lafos, "l'union" pa menm palé
Demen pé pli klè
kè-
Pa rété la kon sa, pas tan a ka filé
Rouvé zié lévé tèt, pa kité douvan pran'w
Pou matjé teks-tala, nou sèvi létid GEREC-F liméro 2.
The song "Sé Pa Djendjen" by Kassav' is a call to reflect on the importance of love and unity. The song starts with the chorus singing, "Sé pa lapenn nou pété tèt nou han hé", which means "We shouldn't let things get to our head". The song goes on to say that we have a chance to take advantage of the love that we have, and there are people who don't know how to love. One of the most important messages of the song is that it's not just about physical attraction, but also about unity within ourselves.
The lyrics are essentially an ode to love and unity, and the chorus states that "Lanmou sé pa djendjen" which means "Love is not a joke". The song goes on to encourage reflection and thoughtful decision making in terms of relationships, and the importance of staying grounded and reflective even as one's life and relationships move forward. The song ultimately ends with a message about the importance of keeping our heads up, paying attention to our surroundings and our decisions, and not giving up on the pursuit of love and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hé hé hé
The song starts with an exclamation sound to catch the audience's attention and create a cheerful atmosphere.
Sé pa lapenn nou pété tèt nou han hé
It's not worth giving ourselves a headache over trivial matters.
Doudou, nou ni an chans fok nou pwofité
My dear, we have the opportunity, let's take advantage of it.
Ni an lo moun ki pa jen konnet lanmou
There are people who don't know what love is.
Sé pa selman ko dan ko, sé tet-la ki enpotan
It's not only about the body, but it's also about the heart.
Gadé ki jan i ka ba nou bon lafos han han
Look at how love can give us happiness.
Pou nou pé wè douvan nou
So we can see what's in front of us.
Kan nou ka dékolé tjè nou toujou ansam menm
When we take off, we are always together.
Menm lè nou lwen yo ka bat menm jan han han
Even when we are far away, we fight in the same way.
Fo pa douté doudou lanmou ké ba nou an mèyè dèmen
Do not doubt my love, it will give us a better tomorrow.
Si mwen ka di'w sa sé paskè mwen ja wè
If I say this, it's because I've seen it before.
Lanmou-a nou planté a ich nou ki ké rékolté'y
The love we cultivate here is what we will reap.
Papa yo, manman yo lé yo ansanm han han
Fathers and mothers want to be together.
Sa pé mé té yo dwèt, ékilib-la sé vré sa ké sèvi yo ho hé han han
That may be their wish, and balance is what will help them.
Tjenbé (tjenbé), an nou tjenbé
Hold on, let's hold on together.
Pou dèmen pé pli klè
So tomorrow can be clearer.
Lanmou sé pa djendjen
Love is not a game.
Sé pa djendjen
It's not just a game.
Réfléchi avan'w chwazi
Think before you choose.
Désizion nou sé li ka fè chimen ich nou
Our decisions are what make our path.
Si zot fè sa, zot ké wè si sa pé ké chanjé ayayayayay
If you do that, you will see if things can change.
Frè mwen sé mwen, mwen ka mandé réfleksyon, réfleksyon
My brother is me, I ask for reflection, reflection.
Hein ah
A sound to cheer and energize the audience.
Si mwen ka di'w sa, sé paskè mwen ja réfléchi
If I say this, it's because I've already reflected.
Djendjen sé pa djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
It's not just a game, don't take it as one.
Lanmou sé pa djendjen, lanmou sé pa djendjen
Love is not a game, love is not a game.
Pa pran'y pou djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
Don't take it as a game, don't take it as a game.
Pa pran'y pou djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
Don't take it as a game, don't take it as a game.
Si mwen ka di'w sa, sé paskè mwen ja réfléchi
If I say this, it's because I've already reflected.
Djendjen sé pa djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
It's not just a game, don't take it as one.
Pa pran'y pou djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
Don't take it as a game, don't take it as a game.
Pa pran'y pou djendjen, pa pran'y pou djendjen
Don't take it as a game, don't take it as a game.
Sé pa pawol anlè, sé pa pawol anlè, mé sé pawol antiè,
It's not just empty words, it's full words.
Piti ké vini gran pou demen pé pli klè
Children will grow up, and tomorrow will be clearer.
Lanmou ka fè lafos, "l'union" pa menm palé
Love gives us happiness, but union is not always spoken.
Pa rété la kon sa, pas tan a ka filé
Don't stay like this, time is passing by.
Rouvé zié lévé tèt, pa kité douvan pran'w
Open your eyes, lift your head, don't let anything stop you.
Oh baby
A sound to express tenderness and affection.
Piti ké vini gran pou demen pé pli klè
Children will grow up, and tomorrow will be clearer.
Lanmou ka fè lafos, "l'union" pa menm palé
Love gives us happiness, but union is not always spoken.
Demen pé pli klè
So tomorrow can be clearer.
Pa rété la kon sa, pas tan a ka filé
Don't stay like this, time is passing by.
Rouvé zié lévé tèt, pa kité douvan pran'w
Open your eyes, lift your head, don't let anything stop you.
Pou matjé teks-tala, nou sèvi létid GEREC-F liméro 2.
To finalize these lyrics, we used study GEREC-F number 2.
Contributed by Brooklyn L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-oq5pf3ql4d
Les () percus diaboliquement efficace et beau
@rootshaker4773
That is pure Guadeloupian Sound !!! Mass a Sen Jen !!! Levé O Ka !!! the zouk beginnings !
@fredericbiraud1109
Pure bass line !!!
@nicolefelix2285
Beau temps de ma jeunesse
@stevengerard7808
jaime bien cet versoin des iles
@Toglos
Awesome
@markdesousa
Love this song...
@ghonchehification
anyone know if this song is available on spotify? can't get enough!
@christopheranguiley4103
No this sound is not available on Spotify
@sidharthwarrier9001
It is now .