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)
Marcelle Ratafia
Les Négresses Vertes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elle calcule ses fafiots She calculates her banknotes
Si il lui manque un bifton If a buck is missing
Alors il why a baston Then there's a beating
Do genre qui rigole pas of the kind that isn't funny
Et un coup de pompe dans le chat And a kick of the cat
Elle descend au bistro She goes downstairs to the bistro
Siffler ses quinze Pernods Whistles her 15 Pernods
Sa presence laisse muet. Her presence leaves them speechless
Marcelle Ratafia Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia The madonna of the mafia
Marcelle Ratafia Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia The madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia She's the madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia she's the madonna of the mafia
Elle a cinquante cinq piges She's 55 years old
Faut pas lui faire la pige But that doesn't leave her in the dust
Oui see'est la reine do racket Yes, she's the queen of the racket
Discute pas paie tes dettes Don't talk, pay your debts
Narvalo ou nervi Narvalo or hatchet man
Touchez pas au grisbi Don't touch the loot
Les routiers sont sympas The truck drivers are nice
Dans la sueur et le caca In the sweat and the caca
Ratafia les assume Paf Ratafia takes charge in a jiffy
Ratafia les deplume Ratafia plucks them
Marcelle Ratafia Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia The madonna of the mafia
Marcelle Ratafia Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia The madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia She's the madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia she's the madonna of the mafia
Dans ses yeux on peut lire In her eyes one can read
Moi, j't'eclate la tirelire Me, I blow up the moneybox
P'tits bourgeois, commercants The little bourgeois, tradespeople
Attention au serment Pay attention to the oath
Toutes ses dents sont en or All her teeth are of gold
Son parfum purodor Her heady perfume
Vous laisse a desirer leaves you all to desire
Mais Marcelle quelle beaute But Marcelle what a beauty
Why'en a pas deux comme elle There aren't two like her
Marcelle est tant cruelle Marcelle is so cruel
Marcelle Ratafia Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia The madonna of the mafia
Marcelle Ratafia Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia The madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia She's the madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia she's the madonna of the mafia
The song "Marcelle Ratafia" by Les Négresses Vertes tells the story of a woman named Marcelle, who is the leader of a mafia. The lyrics describe her as a calculating woman who goes to the bistro to drink Pernod and assert her power. The song talks about her age, her beauty, and her cruelty. The chorus repeats her name twice, calling her the "madonna of the mafia." This suggests that Marcelle is a powerful and respected figure within her community.
The lyrics also describe the violent nature of Marcelle's racketeering business. The word "baston" is used to describe the beating that occurs when a "bifton" (buck or note) is missing. Additionally, the lyrics mention "narvalo" and "nervi," which are Italian for hatchet man and enforcer, respectively. The line "discute pas paie tes dettes" (don't talk, pay your debts) emphasizes the no-nonsense attitude of Marcelle and her associates.
Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of Marcelle Ratafia and the world she inhabits. The lyrics suggest that she is a woman of power and influence, but also someone to be feared and respected.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour oublier ses kilos
To forget her pounds
Elle calcule ses fafiots
She calculates her banknotes
Si il lui manque un bifton
If a buck is missing
Alors il why a baston
Then there's a beating
Do genre qui rigole pas
Of the kind that isn't funny
Et un coup de pompe dans le chat
And a kick of the cat
Elle descend au bistro
She goes downstairs to the bistro
Siffler ses quinze Pernods
Whistles her 15 Pernods
Arrivee au troquet
Arriving at the cafe
Sa presence laisse muet.
Her presence leaves them speechless
Marcelle Ratafia
Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia
The madonna of the mafia
Elle a cinquante cinq piges
She's 55 years old
Faut pas lui faire la pige
But that doesn't leave her in the dust
Oui see'est la reine do racket
Yes, she's the queen of the racket
Discute pas paie tes dettes
Don't talk, pay your debts
Narvalo ou nervi
Narvalo or hatchet man
Touchez pas au grisbi
Don't touch the loot
Les routiers sont sympas
The truck drivers are nice
Dans la sueur et le caca
In the sweat and the caca
Ratafia les assume Paf
Ratafia takes charge in a jiffy
Ratafia les deplume
Ratafia plucks them
Dans ses yeux on peut lire
In her eyes one can read
Moi, j't'eclate la tirelire
Me, I blow up the moneybox
P'tits bourgeois, commercants
The little bourgeois, tradespeople
Attention au serment
Pay attention to the oath
Toutes ses dents sont en or
All her teeth are of gold
Son parfum purodor
Her heady perfume
Vous laisse a desirer
Leaves you all to desire
Mais Marcelle quelle beaute
But Marcelle what a beauty
Why'en a pas deux comme elle
There aren't two like her
Marcelle est tant cruelle
Marcelle is so cruel
Marcelle Ratafia
Marcelle Ratafia
La madonne de la mafia
The madonna of the mafia
See'est la madonne de la mafia
She's the madonna of the mafia
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE), BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEAN-MARIE PAULUS, MATHIEU CRESPIN, MATTHIEU PAULUS, NOEL ROTA, STEPHANE MELLINO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrPeterpc2
these guys are real deal .the french pogues
vital guillin
Not so wrong.....
Nadège GUDEFIN
Toute ma jeunesse