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.
Zouk la sé sel medikaman
Kassav' Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
M'paka konpran'
Zot ka viv' kon si
Pa ni pwoblém'
Poutan zot sav'
La vi la réd’
Ki jan zot fé
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
M'paté konèt
Sèkré lasa
Ban mwen plan la
P'man pé sa konpran'
Ban mwen plan la
M'poko sézi'y
Pousi on jou man
Rivé tombé malad
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Si sé sa malad zouké
Ni comme ça
Ni comme ça
Ni comme ça
Comme ça. Comme ça
Comme ça. Comme ça
Comme ça. Comme ça
Comme ça ...
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
An malad
An malad
An malad
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
The lyrics to Kassav's song "Zouk la sé sel medikaman" convey the healing power of music, particularly zouk music, which is a popular dance style from the Caribbean. The singer is puzzled by how people can live their lives as if there are no problems, yet they still know that life is hard, and they must overcome difficulties. However, they find solace in the zouk music, which is like medicine to them. The lyrics suggest that the music is a remedy that cures their problems, whether physical or emotional. The singer is not aware of the secret of the music, but he is sure that it remains the only cure they have.
The song also speaks to the power of community, as the people in the song celebrate in the joy and togetherness of the zouk music, which they see as a healing balm for their struggles. It underscores the importance of coming together as a group, whether family or friends, to share in the joy that music brings, particularly in times of adversity. The song is a testament to the power of music as a source of strength and hope, a message that resonates with many people, regardless of their culture or background.
Overall, the song is an uplifting and infectious celebration of life, love, and the power of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ki jan zot fé
What are they doing?
M'paka konpran'
I don't understand
Zot ka viv' kon si
They are living as if
Pa ni pwoblém'
There are no problems
Poutan zot sav'
But they know
La vi la réd’
Life is tough
Ki jan zot fé
What are they doing?
Pou pé sa tchembé
To deal with it
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
M'paté konèt
I did not know
Sèkré lasa
The secret is there
Ban mwen plan la
Give me the plan
P'man pé sa konpran'
I still don't understand
Ban mwen plan la
Give me the plan
M'poko sézi'y
I am not yet convinced
Pousi on jou man
One day I will wake up
Rivé tombé malad
And suddenly become sick
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Si sé sa malad zouké
If that's what makes someone sick from zouk
Ni comme ça
It's like this
Ni comme ça
It's like this
Ni comme ça
It's like this
Comme ça. Comme ça
Like this, like this
Comme ça. Comme ça
Like this, like this
Comme ça. Comme ça
Like this, like this
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
An malad
Sick
An malad
Sick
An malad
Sick
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni ( Sa kon sa )
Zouk is the only medicine we have (That's how it is)
Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: Evariste DECIMUS, Jacob DESVARIEUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-xu9db9kl6x
Konbyen mounn ki stil ap tandel an 2024
@soy-vene-ff
Jodiam Yandel bz 2024
@maxantoinecajuste5563
If your Haitian you know this song. All my West Indian stand up. 🇭🇹🇭🇹
@pauldcb3453
Max antoine Cajuste YEP
@fedemartos7557
Max antoine Cajuste aquí en España 🇪🇸 también la escuchábamos 😍
@joeniati7903
shit even we Congolese know this too!!!
@fredwarsaw5782
We Liberians know this song too. Our parents played this song a lot in the 80s.
@jimmybo0m
Haitians adopted this song , but they low key from Guadalupe
@user-fq9fe4jx4t
Konbyn mun ki dansel an 2024mnm janm avem❤❤
@Balrogg310
Rip Jacob Desvarieux
Merci pour Kassav, Dis L'Heure 2 Zouk
Repose en paix l'artiste 🙏🏿