Their tracks often feature acoustic guitar and accordion, as well as some tracks containing many other 'traditional' instruments such as piano and brass. Their style is fairly upbeat and energetic on the majority of their tracks, with unusual rhythms, vocals delivered with a generous dose of zeal and vibrant energy, and accompaniment melodies ranging from lilting and distant to eccentric and fast-paced. These two factors give many of their pieces a strong sense of direction.
Les Négresses Vertes arose from the alternative music scene in Paris. The original line-up included singer Helno (born Noël Rota in Paris, December 25, 1963 - January 22, 1993, also known as Helno Rota de Lourcqua), Jo Roz (also known as l'Ami Ro; real name Joe Ruffier des Aimes) (piano), Stéfane Mellino (guitar), Jean-Marie Paulus (bass), Gaby (drums), Matthias Canavese (accordion), Michel Ochowiak (trumpet), Abraham Sirinix (also known as Abraham Braham) (trombone) and Iza Mellino (backing vocals).
The original members were a group of friends, many of whom had not played their instruments before forming the band. The group's name translates as "green black women"; it arose from abuse hurled at them at one of their first concerts. They were initially signed to the independent Off The Track label, and released the punk protest song "200 Ans D'Hypocrisie" in response to their country's French Revolution bicentennial celebrations.
In 1989 they released their first album, Mlah, to good reviews in both France and the UK, where the single "Zobi La Mouche" just failed to reach the charts and where they toured and played the WOMAD festival. They also made a controversial tour of Lebanon. Their second album, Famille Nombreuse, in 1991, featured new drummer Zé Verbalito.
Helno was by this time struggling with serious heroin addiction, and Stéfane Mellino and Canavese replaced him as the main songwriters. Helno died at his parents' house on January 22, 1993.
Several members left the band after Helno's death, but Les Négresses Vertes continued around the nucleus of Mellino, Canavese, Ochowiak and Paulus. In 1995 they released the album Zig-Zague, followed by the live album Green Bus. By 2000's Trabendo, the group's style had shifted to a dub-orientated lounge style. They disbanded in 2001.
Albums
* Mlah (1988)
* Famille Nombreuse (1991)
* 10 Remixes (1993)
* An Aperitif (1994)
* Zig-Zague (1994)
* Green Bus (1996), live
* Trabendo (1999)
* Acoustic Clubbing (2001)
* Les grand deballage (2002) ('Best of' album)
* L'essentiel (2004)('Best of' album)
* À l'Affiche (2006)
Singles
* Il (1989)
* Zobi La Mouche (1989)
* Voila L’ete(1989)
* Hou! Mamma Mia (1992)
* Sous Le soleil de bodega (1992)
* Apres La pluie (1994)
* Mambo Show (1994)
* A Quoi Bon (1995)
* Easy Girls (1999)
* Leila (1999)
* Hasta Llegar (2000) ('Promo' CD - was never released)
* Spank / Abuela (2000)
Hou! Mamma Mia
Les Négresses Vertes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Une étrange lueur qui te glaçait de peur.
Enfant de misère, seul fils de son père
Véritable vaurien qui s’est enfui si loin.
Attaché à la chaîne d’une vie tracée,
Pris dans ce carcan pouvait-il s’échapper?
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! Mamma mia
Que paura me fa.
Sous les jupons de sa mère le temps s’est écoulé
Un beau jour en mariage on vient le demander
Présente-moi ta mère, je veux t’épouser
Si tu dois prendre femme, moi je suis du quartier.
Leur rencontre amoureuse par sa mère écourtée,
Pouvait-il empêcher sa bouche de crier?
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! que paura
Hou! Mamma mia
Que paura me fa.
Maurizio vieux garçon, se fait une raison
La mamma disparue, il sut qu’il était perdu
A l’heure des regrets, la vie est sans pitié
Des femmes de son âge que peut-il espérer?
Un jour sur la colline, si vous le rencontrez
Ne vous enfuyez pas, il ne sait que chanter.
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! que paura
Hou! Mamma mia
Que paura me fa.
The song "Hou! Mamma mia" by the French band Les Négresses Vertes tells the story of Maurizio, a boy who grew up with a strange glow in his eyes, as if he had been touched by something that instilled fear in people. He was the only son of his father, and a genuine rascal who ran away from home. However, he was trapped in a life that had been mapped out for him and seemed impossible to escape.
As time went by, Maurizio remained attached to his mother's apron strings. One day, a man came to ask for his hand in marriage, but Maurizio's mother was not happy about this and screamed in protest. Despite this, the marriage took place and Maurizio was left alone. He became resigned to his situation and accepted that his life would be one of regret and missed opportunities.
The song ends with a call to not be afraid of Maurizio if you meet him on the hill as he is just singing. "Hou! Mamma mia" is a musical memoir of a life that is full of difficult choices and missed opportunities. Despite these setbacks, Maurizio remains determined to live his life with integrity and to sing the songs that bring him joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Du regard de sa mère Maurizio tenait
Maurizio, with a look from his mother, had an eerie glint in his eye that would freeze you with fear.
Une étrange lueur qui te glaçait de peur.
That glint was strange and could chill you to the bone.
Enfant de misère, seul fils de son père
Maurizio was a poor child, the only son of his father.
Véritable vaurien qui s’est enfui si loin.
A true rogue, he ran away from home.
Attaché à la chaîne d’une vie tracée,
He was bound by the chains of a prescribed life,
Pris dans ce carcan pouvait-il s’échapper?
and he wondered if he could ever escape.
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! Mama mia
Hou! que paura
Hou! What fear
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! Mama mia
Que paura me fa.
What fear it brings me.
Sous les jupons de sa mère le temps s’est écoulé
Time passed under his mother's care.
Un beau jour en mariage on vient le demander
One day, a proposal for marriage came his way.
Présente-moi ta mère, je veux t’épouser
Introduce me to your mother, I want to marry you.
Si tu dois prendre femme, moi je suis du quartier.
If you must take a wife, I am from the area.
Leur rencontre amoureuse par sa mère écourtée,
Their courtship was cut short by his mother.
Pouvait-il empêcher sa bouche de crier?
Could he have stopped her from objecting?
Maurizio vieux garçon, se fait une raison
Maurizio, an old bachelor, resigned himself to his fate.
La mamma disparue, il sut qu’il était perdu
When his mother died, he realized he was lost.
A l’heure des regrets, la vie est sans pitié
At the time of regret, life is merciless.
Des femmes de son âge que peut-il espérer?
What could he hope for from women his age?
Un jour sur la colline, si vous le rencontrez
One day, if you meet him on the hill,
Ne vous enfuyez pas, il ne sait que chanter.
don't run away, he only knows how to sing.
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PauMartinezFerre
HOU! MAMMA MIA
( Stéfane Mellino )
· Stéfane Mellino — chant, guitare
· Noël 'Helno' Rota — chant
· Matias Canavese — accordéon, choeurs
· Joël 'Jo Roz' Ruffier — piano, guitare, choeurs
· Michel 'Mich' Ochowiak — trompette, choeurs
· Abraham 'Sirinix' Braham — trombone, choeurs
· Jean-Marie Paulus — basse
· Zé Verbalito — batterie
· Ortoli — derbouka
· Iza Mellino — guiro
· Julot — choeurs
Produced and mixed by Clive Martin & Sodi 'Ozone'.
Artwork by Gégé Lo Monaco, Objectif Lune.
* * * * *
Du regard de sa mère Maurizio tenait
Une étrange lueur qui te glaçait de peur
"(L'enfant du misère, seul fils de son père)"
"(Véritable vaurien qui s'est enfui si loin)"
Attaché à la chaîne d'une vie tracée
Pris dans ce carcan, pouvait-il s'échapper?
[ Refrain ]
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! que paura
Hou! Mamma mia
Que paura me fa
Sous les jupons de sa mère le temps s'est écoulé
Un beau jour en mariage on vient le demander
"(Présente-moi ta mère, je veux t'épouser)"
"(Si tu dois prendre femme, moi je suis du quartier)"
Leur rencontre amoureuse par sa mère écourtée
Pouvait-il empêcher sa bouche de crier?
[ Refrain ]
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! que paura
Hou! Mamma mia
Que paura me fa
Maurizio, vieux garçon, se fait une raison
Sa mère est disparue, il sut qu'il était perdu
"(À l'heure des regrets, la vie est sans pitié)"
"(Des femmes de son âge que peut-il espérer?)"
Un jour sur la colline, si vous le recontrez
Ne vous enfuyez pas, il ne sait que chanter
[ Refrain ]
Hou! Mamma mia
Hou! que paura
Hou! Mamma mia
Que paura me fa
@samdz06aitidir62
Déjà tellement d années...mais ces chansons sont toujours présentes et comme ça fait du bien rip helno
@Lady_Sekhmet
C'est vrai qu'il est fabuleux ce clip. Surtout si on remet dans le contexte de l'époque !
@morenoreceputo903
R.i.P Helno,super vos, clips et , vraiment un Style qu'ils ont Tout le Groupe
@francoisebelmudes7994
Toujours le même son et la même énergie c'est cool
@emiliennekremer1495
Formidable c'est ma jeunesse on s s'amusait à cette époque on sent c est une équipe de copains et qu ils s s'amusaient dommage qu elno se soit drogué il serait encore en vie et l on continuerait à rigoler
@domenicomanzo1873
musica bellissima ! sono 20 anni che la sento ! voce magica!
@denisbintar
troppo forti,indimenticabili
@pascaldeschamps4834
R.I.P. Helno
@steampunk44
26 ans se sont écoulés (la moitié de ma vie) avant que j'ai le plaisir de les revoir en concert à Nantes au Stéréolux le 03 Avril 2018
@arnaudmahu8996
Salut de Nantes camarade