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.
Raché Tché
Kassav' Lyrics
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Mwen ka santi ou kouché bo mwen
Kon an niaj’ ka vlopé mwen
Adan rèv’ mwen
Ou ka souri ban mwen lè mwen dékourajé
Adan rèv’ mwen
An zéklé changren ka fann syel tèt’ mwen
Lé la ja rivé fodré mwen pati
Siw pléré ou sav’ tché mwen pé menm raché
Sa dé faw pli rèd’ gadé bato a
Ki kéye chayé mwen lot’ koté lan mé a
Mwen té ké vlé dé ti mo tandrès’
Goje an mwen séré mwen pé pa palé
Lan nuite mwen ka wèw adan rèv’ mwen
Ou adan rèv mwen
Mwen ka santi ou kouché bo mwen
Kon an niaj’ ka vlopé mwen
Adan rèv’ mwen
Ou telman, telman pré
Ki mwen pé menm’ touchéw
Adan rèv’ mwen
Adan rèv’ mwen
La mwen rivé a pa minm’ ni fanmiye
Pa menm’ni bon djé pou mwen pré prié
Mé mwen ka tchembé pas’ mwen ka sonjé
Ki dan yon’ dè jou mwen kay dérivé
I pa ni la linn, i pa ni zétwal
E sa ki pli rèd solèye pas ka kléré
Mé mwen sav’ ou la, lé an ké rivini
Pou séréw anko séréw pli for
Ou ou la la la la la la
Pou séréw pli for
Lan nuite mwen ka wèw adan rèv’ mwen
Ou adan rèv mwen
Mwen ka santi ou kouché bo mwen
Kon an niaj’ ka vlopé mwen
Lan nuite mwen ka wèw adan rèv’ mwen
O… rèv’ mwen
An nou alé
Adan rèv mwen, sé vou ki la la la la
An zétwal filé
An zétwal filé, lan nuite sé tan nou
Lan nuite sé tan nou
The song "Raché tchè" by Kassav is a beautiful love ballad, written in creole. The lyrics are about the singer's dream where he sees his lover and feels her presence beside him. He explains how he feels her near him, as if she is lying right next to him. In his dream, he experiences an intense emotional connection with his lover. He describes how her smile brings joy to him when he feels down and how her presence calms him like the gentle breeze.
The lyrics also speak about the singer's deep feelings of love and devotion towards his partner. He encourages them to stay strong and not give up in difficult times, reassuring them that he will always be there for them. The words show how he admires and adores his lover, conveying a sense of deep longing and desire. The melody and rhythm of the song evoke strong emotions, creating a powerful musical experience for the listener.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love and devotion between two people. It captures the essence of a deep emotional bond between two lovers and the hope to always be there for each other in moments of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
La nuite mwen ka wèw adan rèv’ mwen
In my dreams, I see you at night
Mwen ka santi ou kouché bo mwen
I feel you lying close to me
Kon an niaj’ ka vlopé mwen
Like a cloud covering me
Adan rèv’ mwen
In my dreams
Ou ka souri ban mwen lè mwen dékourajé
You smile at me when I'm discouraged
An zéklé changren ka fann syel tèt’ mwen
In a thunderstorm, my thoughts are scattered
Lé la ja rivé fodré mwen pati
When it's time, I may have to leave
Pa dézèspéré pa décourajé
Don't despair, don't give up
Siw pléré ou sav’ tché mwen pé menm raché
If you cry, you know that I can comfort you
Sa dé faw pli rèd’ gadé bato a
It's harder to watch the boat drift away
Ki kéye chayé mwen lot’ koté lan mé a
That carries me away to another place
Mwen té ké vlé dé ti mo tandrès’
I wanted to dedicate a few words
Goje an mwen séré mwen pé pa palé
My throat tightens and I can't speak
Ou adan rèv mwen
You're in my dreams
Mwen ka santi ou kouché bo mwen
I feel you lying close to me
Kon an niaj’ ka vlopé mwen
Like a cloud covering me
Ou telman, telman pré
You're so, so precious
Ki mwen pé menm’ touchéw
I can't even touch you
Mé mwen ka tchembé pas’ mwen ka sonjé
But I'll hold on and remember
Ki dan yon’ dè jou mwen kay dérivé
That in a few days, I'll be adrift
I pa ni la linn, i pa ni zétwal
There's no moon, no stars
E sa ki pli rèd solèye pas ka kléré
And that's when the sun isn't shining brighter
Mé mwen sav’ ou la, lé an ké rivini
But I know you're there, I'll come back to you
Pou séréw anko séréw pli for
To hold you again, to hold you tighter
Ou ou la la la la la la
You, you're here
An nou alé
Let's go
Sé vou ki la la la la
It's you who's here
An zétwal filé
In shooting stars
Lan nuite sé tan nou
In the night, it's our time
Writer(s): Jean Naimro, W. Fontaine
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vi
on Mwen di ou awa
I Tell You Now / I Am Telling You Now