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
Sugar cane
Les Nubians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
History takes me back to the basement of our culture
I can't hide myself anymore
Beneath this so-called of civilized men
The sands of time is what I've been made with
The hand of the past may help to lay back relax
And what you've got to do is just take care of
That inner black beauty that shines through
Your melanine tone
And take care of everything you got visible or invisible.
For not so long ago they didn't love none of us
At all.
I'd like to tell you something
It's all about my own thing
Now I know what is sweet
I know what is sweet as sugar cane
And the promises they made at these times
Of struggle and fight must provide change in your mind.
For life is for lore
All praises are for the Lords.
So the souls descending from the
Tribe of Atkaptah will have to
Reminisce and unified on strong.
So don't go dreamin' on the edge of their land
Oh no! No! You'll go flyin' high, you'll go too high
And now for the rest, let's remind the pledge:
Each time you'll taste the fruit of the cane
Don't forget the whip, the field, their sweat.
(So this heritage will be as sweet as sugar cane )
I'd like to tell you something
It's all about my own thing
Now I know what is sweet
I know what is sweet as sugar cane
The song "Sugar Cane" by Les Nubians is a powerful exploration of the history and ongoing impact of slavery and racism on black people. The opening lines speak to the deep roots of this history, referring to the "basement" of our culture and recognizing the ongoing need to confront and acknowledge the legacy of racism in our society. The singer notes that they can no longer hide from this reality, recognizing that beneath the surface of so-called civilized society lies a history of violence and exploitation.
The song goes on to call for a celebration and recognition of the inner beauty of blackness, encouraging people to take care of themselves and embrace their visible and invisible qualities. The singer notes that not long ago, black people were not loved or valued at all, emphasizing the need to fight against ongoing racism and discrimination in all its forms.
The song ends with a powerful call to remember the painful history that lies behind the sweetness of sugar cane. The singer encourages listeners to always remember the suffering and oppression faced by black people, recognizing that this history is intertwined with the sweetness of black culture and heritage.
Overall, "Sugar Cane" is a powerful and reflective song that explores the difficult and complex history of black people in the face of ongoing oppression and racism.
Line by Line Meaning
History takes me back to the basement of our culture
The history of our culture and ancestors is important to me
I can't hide myself anymore
I cannot ignore my identity and roots
Beneath this so-called of civilized men
Despite claims of civilization, there are still injustices and inequalities
The sands of time is what I've been made with
I am a product of my ancestry and history
The hand of the past may help to lay back relax
Learning from the past can bring a sense of ease and comfort
If we check it now.
If we examine our past and present, we can make meaningful change
And what you've got to do is just take care of
It's important to value and care for oneself
That inner black beauty that shines through
The beauty of Blackness is something that comes from within
Your melanine tone
The pigment in your skin that gives you your unique color
And take care of everything you got visible or invisible.
Nurture and appreciate all aspects of yourself, both visible and unseen
For not so long ago they didn't love none of us
There was a time when society did not show love or respect to Black people
At all.
Not even a little bit
I'd like to tell you something
I want to share my perspective with you
It's all about my own thing
This is my personal experience and viewpoint
Now I know what is sweet
I have learned something valuable
I know what is sweet as sugar cane
I understand the importance of my heritage and history
And the promises they made at these times
During times of struggle and resistance, promises were made
Of struggle and fight must provide change in your mind.
Resisting and fighting injustice should lead to a shift in mentality
For life is for lore
Life is filled with lessons and knowledge to be passed down
All praises are for the Lords.
We should give thanks to the divine for all that we have
So the souls descending from the
Those of us who come from the lineage of
Tribe of Atkaptah will have to
The people of Atkaptah are responsible for
Reminisce and unified on strong.
Reflecting on our history and coming together as a community builds strength
So don't go dreamin' on the edge of their land
Be aware of boundaries and limitations put in place by those in power
Oh no! No! You'll go flyin' high, you'll go too high
Trying to exceed these boundaries can lead to danger
And now for the rest, let's remind the pledge:
Let's not forget our promise to honor our history and ancestors
Each time you'll taste the fruit of the cane
When enjoying the sweetness of life, of our success,
Don't forget the whip, the field, their sweat.
Remember the struggles and hardships that came before us
(So this heritage will be as sweet as sugar cane )
(Honoring our heritage will bring joy and sweetness to our lives)
Writer(s): Thierry Nicolas
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.