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.
Rété
Kassav' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ou za la ou ké rété
Ou za la ou ké rété
Ti chéri jou ta la, sé té on jou ki béni (ayayay)
Dé jou kon sa sé yo ka toujou, toujou pli bel o, pli bel wo woy woy.
mwen gadé tchè mwen chanté lanmou, malgré tou sa zié mwen enki rété fèmé.
REFRAIN
Ou za la ou ké rété
Ou za la ou ké rété
2 fois
Menm si ni dé jou nou pa bien, menm si dé fwa mwen menm ka fè-y alé.
Nou chèché pou sa pa rivé ankô.
Mè non doudou fo pa ou fè sa pé ké kité-w alé.
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété, rété.
Rété, rété
Instrumental
Ou za la ou ké rété
Ou za la ou ké rété
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
Sa sé vré, sa sé vré
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
Sa sé vré, sa sé vré
Instrumental
Hum sa sé vré sa sé vré
Ou za la ou ké rété ou za la ou ké rété
Instrumental
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
Sa sé vré, sa sé vré
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété, rété.
Kassav's song "Rété" is about the power of love and the importance of staying together through hard times. The refrain emphasizes the idea of staying and not leaving, "Ou za la ou ké rété" translating to "You're here, you will stay." The first verse describes a blessed day spent with a loved one. Despite all the beauty, the singer realizes that they are ultimately closed off emotionally. However, they've come to the realization that their significant other is their life, and they thank God for them.
The second verse acknowledges that there may be days where things aren't going well, but both parties need to work together to make sure they don't get to a breaking point. The instrumental section after the second verse serves as a break in the lyrics and amplifies the song's positive message of staying together. The final section summarizes the song's message, with a repetition of the refrain and the sentiment that the singer knows their loved one won't change, but by staying together, they will reach their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Ou za la ou ké rété
You are here and you will stay
Ou za la ou ké rété
You are here and you will stay
Ti chéri jou ta la, sé té on jou ki béni (ayayay)
Sweetheart, today is a blessed day
Dé jou kon sa sé yo ka toujou, toujou pli bel o, pli bel wo woy woy.
Days like these, they are always more beautiful, more amazing
mwen gadé tchè mwen chanté lanmou, malgré tou sa zié mwen enki rété fèmé.
I look into my heart and sing of love, and despite all that I see, my eyes remain closed.
A prézan doudou mwen konstaté, sé ou ki lavi mwen, mèsi, mèsi bondié.
At this moment, my dear, I realize that you are my life. Thank you, thank you God.
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
I know you cannot be resisted, you talk to me too much!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
You make me understand that we can do great things together to get to where we want.
Sa sé vré, sa sé vré
That's true, that's true
Menm si ni dé jou nou pa bien, menm si dé fwa mwen menm ka fè-y alé.
Even if we have some bad days, even if sometimes I can make it go away.
Nou chèché pou sa pa rivé ankô.
We're looking for it so it won't happen again.
Mè non doudou fo pa ou fè sa pé ké kité-w alé.
But no, darling, you must not do that, it will make you leave.
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété
It will make you leave, but if you're here it's to stay.
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété, rété.
It will make you leave, but if you're here it's to stay, stay.
Ou za la ou ké rété
You are here and you will stay
Ou za la ou ké rété
You are here and you will stay
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
I know you cannot be resisted, you talk to me too much!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
You make me understand that we can do great things together to get to where we want.
Sa sé vré, sa sé vré
That's true, that's true
Mwen sav ou pé pa tchimbé, ou za palé ban mwen twop!
I know you cannot be resisted, you talk to me too much!
Ou za fè mwen kompwann ki nou pé fè an lo bagay ansanm pou nou rivé la rivé la.
You make me understand that we can do great things together to get to where we want.
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété
It will make you leave, but if you're here it's to stay.
Pé ké kité-w alé, si ou la sé pou rété, rété.
It will make you leave, but if you're here it's to stay, stay.
Contributed by Adalyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@KevinRicardoGustanLopezJarami
Vendredi 26 Janvier 2024 qui l' écoute toujours ? 👌🇲🇶
@m-yt4397
Jeudi 21 mars 2024 , 19h06 🇫🇷
@Fpresti444
Je l ai écouté le début du mois de mars 🥰
@maryvonnecoler6103
Aàà@@Fpresti444
@maryvonnecoler6103
@@Fpresti444²²aaààa
@beyonder1918
Les années d'insouciance totale! La joie, la famille, la bonne bouffe, les copains bref c'etait le paradis sur terre et je remercie le Bon Dieu d'avoir vécu ces si beaux moments. Les anciens Dakarois des années 80 sauront de quoi je parle. Paix!
@hadizabeidou6074
Alhamdoulilah Dieu merci le musulman croyant est toujours en paix même les larmes aux yeux. Macha Allah.
@dylangirardot5638
00p⁰
@thiernoabdoudiatta1287
Tubas raisons mon frère j'ai envie de pleurer
@mrjohn8114
❤️