Kassav' (Haitian and Antillean Creole for a local dish made from cassava) i… Read Full Bio ↴Kassav' (Haitian and Antillean Creole for a local dish made from cassava) is a Francophone zouk band which was formed in 1979. The core members of the band are Jocelyne Beroard, Jacob Desvarieux, Jean-Philippe Marthely, Patrick St. Eloi, Jean-Claude Naimro, Claude Vamur and Georges Decimus (who left the band to create another band, Volte Face, before returning to Kassav' later) along with several other, more minor members. The total number of albums by the band and its members is approximately 30.

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.

Wep
Kassav' Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

MWen di wèp wèp wèp wèp
Souplé bon djé démaré mwen
Ba mwen létè pou i dékolé
An ti zinzin pou i ladjé mwen (2 fois)

An frimè té di, i pa an nonm si i pa rivé
Fè ti madanm'la ki sizé pa bò finet'la
Rop i pran dé piéye, fè ti bren sinéma

Aye lévé fanm'la, la i té sizé a

Madanm la o sérié
I pa ka plézanté
Ki manniè ou ké pé bwazé
Madanm la o sérié
Dé, i pa ka plézanté
Ki manniè ou ké fè bwazé

Lan mè a té bèl, i santi i ké navigué
Fanm la té dousi, yo alé wè la linn'wondi
Avan i palé, madanm la pran douvan
Diye san ènèrvé, "ou pé ké ladjé mwen non...!"
Wololoye wololoye wolololoye

I pa té ka wè sa kon sa.
Pa janmen sonjé a pli ta
Fanm la li menm lé ni asé sèvi bétize
Alo i déklaré :
Tchembé kow, mwen diw tchembe kow la

Ki manniè alè rakonté
Ti manzèl la i kontan a
I pa té menne ye an zouk la
Sé li ki té di avan i pati :
Tchembé kow la, mwen diw tchembe kow la

Mwen di wép wép wép wép
Souplé bon djé démaré mwen
Ba mwen tétè pou i dékolé
An ti zinzin pou i ladjé mwen

Bèkèkè, bèkèkè

I pa té mennen ye an zouk la
Sé li ki di avan i pati :
Tchembé kow la, mwen diw tchembé kow la

Tchembé
Woye, laé wè la linn' anko
Tchembé
Fè bel fwas, fè yo tonbé
Alé vwè la linn'anko

Kriyé wèp wèp wèp wèp
Souplé non djé démaré mwen
Ba mwen tétè pou idékolé
Am ti zinzin pou i ladjé mwen

Bèkèkè, bèkèkè

Overall Meaning

The song "Wep" by Kassav is a rhythmic, upbeat dance tune with lyrics that touch on themes of seduction and empowerment. The repetition of the phrase "Wep" throughout the song is perhaps an onomatopoeic representation of the sound of desire and passion. The lyrics describe a woman who is confident in her sexuality and not afraid to assert herself when it comes to matters of love and pleasure.

In the first verse, the singer is asking for someone or something (perhaps a lover or a car) to help them take off and fly away into a world of pleasure. The second verse describes a woman who is not easily won over by flattery and empty promises. She demands respect and is not afraid to stand up for herself. The chorus repeats the phrase "Tchembé kow la," which can be translated to "Hold on tight" or "Hang on," reinforcing the idea of taking control and not being afraid to go after what you want.

The bridge of the song employs call-and-response between the lead singer and backup vocals, creating a festive and energetic atmosphere. The song concludes with a fun and light-hearted repetition of the chorus and the onomatopoeic phrase "Bèkèkè."

Overall, "Wep" is a celebration of sensuality and confidence, with a lively beat that is sure to get people moving.

Line by Line Meaning

MWen di wèp wèp wèp wèp Souplé bon djé démaré mwen Ba mwen létè pou i dékolé An ti zinzin pou i ladjé mwen (2 fois)
I say 'wep wep wep', please start the music, give me wings to fly and a little instrument to guide me.

An frimè té di, i pa an nonm si i pa rivé Fè ti madanm'la ki sizé pa bò finet'la Rop i pran dé piéye, fè ti bren sinéma Aye lévé fanm'la, la i té sizé a
In the beginning, it was said that he's not a man if he can't make love to a woman who seems unobtainable. He took two steps back, made a little drama and then raised the woman who seemed aloof.

Madanm la o sérié I pa ka plézanté Ki manniè ou ké pé bwazé Madanm la o sérié Dé, i pa ka plézanté Ki manniè ou ké fè bwazé
This woman is serious, she's not joking, and you have to approach her in a proper manner. She's no joke, you have to know how to behave.

Lan mè a té bèl, i santi i ké navigué Fanm la té dousi, yo alé wè la linn'wondi Avan i palé, madanm la pran douvan Diye san ènèrvé, "ou pé ké ladjé mwen non...!" Wololoye wololoye wolololoye
The evening was beautiful, he felt like sailing. The woman was sweet, they went to see the moon rise. But before he could speak, she took the lead, saying without anger, "You can't leave me now...!"

I pa té ka wè sa kon sa. Pa janmen sonjé a pli ta Fanm la li menm lé ni asé sèvi bétize Alo i déklaré : Tchembé kow, mwen diw tchembé kow la
He couldn't see things as they were. Never forget that a woman can play tricks on you. So, he declared, "Hold on tight, I'm telling you to hold on tight."

Ki manniè alè rakonté Ti manzèl la i kontan a I pa té menne ye an zouk la Sé li ki té di avan i pati : Tchembé kow la, mwen diw tchembé kow la
How can we tell the story of the girl who liked it? He didn't take her to the carnival. It was she who said before leaving, "Hold on tight, I'm telling you to hold on tight."

Bèkèkè, bèkèkè
Sound of the instrument.

Tchembé Woye, laé wè la linn' anko Tchembé Fè bel fwas, fè yo tonbé Alé vwè la linn'anko
Hold on tight, let's see the moon again. Hold on tight, let them fall. Let's go see the moon again.

Kriyé wèp wèp wèp wèp Souplé non djé démaré mwen Ba mwen tétè pou idékolé Am ti zinzin pou i ladjé mwen Bèkèkè, bèkèkè
Call out 'wep wep wep', please start the music, give me wings to fly and a little instrument to guide me. Sound of the instrument.

Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: JOCELYNE BEROARD, GEORGES DECIMUS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS