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)
Sang Et Nuit
Les Négresses Vertes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De la nature trop belle et trop dure
Je n'ai pas de savoir vivre
Ni même l'étrange peur de mourir
Il n'y a pas de politic
Pour mois l'insect
C'est mon sens critic
Qui m'infecte
J'ai l'œil vif et moqeuer
Et pourquoi pas
Je ris de mon mal de foie
Sang et nuit sont les couleurs
De cette peau
Dans laquelle moi je vis
Sang et nuit sont les couleurs
De cette peau
Dans laquelle moi je vis:
Argonate cephallotorax blues
Pourquoi le cacher
Ma toile est un piège
Qui fait peur aux enfants
On dit que je pique
Les bonnes gens
Si je suis cruel
Sacramental de sacrilège
Je suis l'opprimé
Qu'aurait tant aimé
Avoir des ailes
La douceur d'une coccinelle
Même les crapauds n'osent pas me croquer
On ne prend plaisir
Qu'à m'écraser
Sang et nuit sont les couleurs
De cette peau
Dans laquelle moi je vis
Sang et nuit sont les couleurs
De cette peau
Dans laquelle moi je vis:
Argonate cephallotorax blues
En sursis sans sursauts
Sans sursauts endurcis
Du haut d'la cuticle
Piqué d'la tarentule
Dieux qu'elle est belle
Diaboliquement femelle
Mais quand j'avance
V'la qu'elle recule
Comment veut-elle
Que l'on copule
J'entends grincer
Ses mandibules
Ha quel stratège
Sacramental de sacrilège
L'amour bat son fort
Puis elle me dévore
Et pourquoi pas
Madame est nécrophore
Sang et nuits sont les couleurs
De cette peau dans laquelle
Moi je vis
En sursis sans sursauts...
Endurcis!!!
Argonate!!
Cephallo-thorax
Blues!...
The lyrics of Les Négresses Vertes's song 'Sang et nuit' speak to the feeling of being an outsider, a misfit. The singer apologizes to the laws of nature for not having proper manners, explaining that they don't fear death or adhere to politics. They liken themselves to an insect that has a critical sense which infects them. However, they also have the eye of an emperor, sharp and mocking, and they even laugh at their own sickness. The title of the song, 'Sang et nuit', which means "blood and night," refers to the colors of the skin that the singer metaphorically wears, a combination of beauty and darkness. They live in this skin and acknowledge that their presence might be seen as frightening or cruel to others. They express a longing for wings and for the tenderness of a ladybug, and they lament that even the toads won't touch them.
The singer, despite their differences, is unapologetic in their existence, and they juxtapose the beauty and violence of the world they inhabit. They recognize that their image can be intimidating to others, but they also express an appreciation for the beauty of their skin. However, they also acknowledge that no matter how much they long for love or tenderness, it is impossible for them to be with another creature due to their gruesomeness. They end the song with a resounding call to arms, declaring themselves to be strong and unyielding, despite their lack of grace, perhaps even reveling in their difference.
Line by Line Meaning
Excusez-moi mesdames messieurs les lois
I apologize to the laws of nature that are both beautiful and harsh.
De la nature trop belle et trop dure
Nature is beautiful but also tough.
Je n'ai pas de savoir vivre
I have no formal training in living life as others expect me to.
Ni même l'étrange peur de mourir
And I don't even have the strange fear of death.
Il n'y a pas de politic
There are no politics involved in my life.
Pour mois l'insect
For me, the insect world governs everything.
C'est mon sens critic
It's my critical sense that governs my beliefs.
Qui m'infecte
Which infects me and shapes my worldview.
Mais comme un empereur
But like an emperor,
J'ai l'œil vif et moqeuer
I have a sharp and mocking eye.
Et pourquoi pas
And why not?
Je ris de mon mal de foie
I laugh at my own liver ailment.
Sang et nuit sont les couleurs
Blood and night are the colors.
De cette peau
Of this skin.
Dans laquelle moi je vis
In which I live.
Argonate cephallotorax blues
It's a bluesy kind of cephalothorax.
Pourquoi le cacher
Why hide it?
Ma toile est un piège
My web is a trap.
Qui fait peur aux enfants
That scares the children.
On dit que je pique
People say that I sting.
Les bonnes gens
Good people.
Si je suis cruel
If I'm cruel,
Sacramental de sacrilège
Holy sacrilege.
Je suis l'opprimé
I am the oppressed one.
Qu'aurait tant aimé
Who would have loved nothing more
Avoir des ailes
Than to have wings.
La douceur d'une coccinelle
The gentleness of a ladybug
Même les crapauds n'osent pas me croquer
Even toads don't dare eat me.
On ne prend plaisir
People take pleasure
Qu'à m'écraser
Only in crushing me.
En sursis sans sursauts
In suspense without any reaction.
Du haut d'la cuticle
From the top of the cuticle.
Piqué d'la tarentule
Bitten by the tarantula.
Dieux qu'elle est belle
Gods, she's beautiful.
Diaboliquement femelle
Diabolically female.
Mais quand j'avance
But when I advance,
V'la qu'elle recule
She moves away.
Comment veut-elle
How does she expect me
Que l'on copule
To copulate with her?
J'entends grincer
I hear a grinding sound.
Ses mandibules
Her mandibles.
Ha quel stratège
Oh, what a strategist.
L'amour bat son fort
Love beats strongly in my heart.
Puis elle me dévore
Then she devours me.
Madame est nécrophore
Madam is a burying beetle.
En sursis sans sursauts...
In suspense without any reaction...
Endurcis!!!
Hardened!!!
Argonate!!
Argonate!!
Cephallo-thorax
Cephalothorax
Blues!...
Blues!...
Contributed by Wyatt F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.