Despite receiving a lukewarm reception in France, they have become one of the most successful French-language musical groups in the U.S. Apart from their two albums, they have also made appearances on songs by the Black Eyed Peas, Talib Kweli, and Yerba Buena.
Website: http://www.lesnubians.org/
September: Third Album "Nü Revolution" is released!
An unconventional female duo that came out of Bordeaux, France, in the 1990s, Les Nubians offered a jazzy, sophisticated style of R&B that combined French lyrics with the influence of Sade, Soul II Soul, hip-hop, and African pop. The duo consists of sisters Helene and Celia Faussart, who were born in France to a French father and a Cameroonian mother. After living in France as children, the siblings moved with their parents to the African country of Chad in 1985, when Helene (born 1975) was ten and Celia (born 1979) was six. The sisters lived in Chad for seven years before returning to France as teenagers. Helene and Celia had been singing most of their lives, and when they first formed Les Nubians, they were an a cappella group that specialized in covers of R&B, reggae, and African songs. Eventually, they started working with bands and performing original material. Helene and Celia absorbed a variety of music along the way, and they have expressed admiration for artists ranging from Ella Fitzgerald and Abbey Lincoln to the Fugees and African icons Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti. Their promising debut album, Princesses Nubiennes, was released by Virgin worldwide in France, Switzerland, and Belgium in June 1998 before coming out on Omtown/Higher Octave in the U.S. in September of that year. It became America's most successful French-language album in more than a decade, and Les Nubians also graced recordings by Talib Kweli and Black Eyed Peas, as well as a Red Hot tribute to Fela Kuti, Red, Hot & Riot. Sessions for their second album brought the pair to Jamaica, Cameroon, London, and Paris, including a host of intriguing collaborators: top underground rapper Talib Kweli, fellow Cameroonian Manu Dibango, pianist Ray Lema, and broken-beat maestro IG Culture. The results appeared as One Step Forward, released in March 2003 by Higher Octave. In 2004, they recorded the track "Going All the Way" featuring reggae star Beres Hammond for UNITY: The Official Athens 2004 Olympic Games album. In 2005, Les Nubians issued Nubians Present Echoes, Chapter One, a collection of spoken word pieces by poets and hip-hop artists from the U.S., France, and Africa. The duo also covered "With or Without You," for inclusion on the compilation In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2, in 2008. Les Nubians finally re-entered the recording studio in 2010, emerging with the EP Nü Revolution Nubiatic in the latter part of the year and the full-length, Nü Revolution in the spring of 2011. ~ Alex Henderson and Thom Jurek, Rovi
Brothers & Sisters
Les Nubians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give thanks and praises to the Almighty
Un sang, un souffle, un son qui nous unit, ma s'you're
You are my friend for life
It's Jah love that binds us together
Le passe, les blessures, les soucis
Partages ne pesent plus rien
And give us strength so
Brothers and sisters
Give thanks and praises to the Almighty
For He gave us life through the grace of love
So it's only right to send this praises up
And who else could it be but the Almighty
To help us through our adversity
For in this life His love conquers all
And give us strength so
Brothers and sisters
Give thanks and praises to the almighty
Mojo verse
Non pas de soucis, non pas d'ennemi
See'est dans la même energie que nous releverons le defi
Libere ton esprit
Des maintenant souviens-toi
Qu'hier encore, nous etions reines et rois
Pour mes freres et s'urs
Brothers and sisters
Rockers
The song "Brothers & Sisters" by Les Nubians is a beautiful tribute to the power of love, unity, and faith in the face of adversity. The lyrics speak of the unifying force of music and friendship, and the importance of being thankful to the divine for the gift of life. The opening lines "Brothers and sisters, give thanks and praises to the Almighty" set the tone for the song's message of gratitude, humility, and hope.
The first verse speaks of the power of Jah love to unite us, even in the face of past hurts and worries. It reminds us that our shared humanity and love for each other are what gives us strength to face life's challenges. The chorus reinforces this message, with the repeated call for "Brothers and sisters, give thanks and praises to the Almighty" as a way of acknowledging the source of our strength and resilience.
In the second verse, the lyrics become more personal, speaking of the challenges that the singer has faced, and the importance of turning to the divine for help and guidance. The verse ends with the line "For in this life His love conquers all and gives us strength", which is a powerful reminder that no matter what struggles we may face, faith and love can help us through.
Line by Line Meaning
Brothers and sisters
Addressing everyone as family
Give thanks and praises to the Almighty
Expressing gratitude and acknowledging a higher power
Un sang, un souffle, un son qui nous unit, ma s'you're
Our blood, breath, and sound unite us as friends for life
You are my friend for life
Affirming the strength of their friendship
It's Jah love that binds us together
Love from a divine source connects them
Le passe, les blessures, les soucis
The past, wounds, and worries
Partages ne pesent plus rien
Sharing lessens the burden
For in this life His love conquers all
Belief that divine love overcomes all challenges
And give us strength so
Providing support and resilience
For He gave us life through the grace of love
Acknowledging divine gift of life through love
So it's only right to send this praises up
Expressing gratitude through prayers
And who else could it be but the Almighty
Acknowledging the only source of divine power
To help us through our adversity
Belief that a higher power can assist in overcoming challenges
Mojo verse
Referring to a specific section of the song
Non pas de soucis, non pas d'ennemi
No worries, no enemies
See'est dans la même energie que nous releverons le defi
Working together with the same energy to overcome challenges
Libere ton esprit
Free your mind
Des maintenant souviens-toi
Remember from now on
Qu'hier encore, nous etions reines et rois
Acknowledging their inherent worthiness as royalty
Pour mes freres et s'urs
For my brothers and sisters
Rockers
A style of reggae music
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CELIA VICTORINE FAUSSART, HELENE FAUSSART, MORGAN HERITAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind