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
Temperature Rising
Les Nubians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no emotions so bright to soothe a pain
How could it be so strong ?
Coz' when the time has come to escape from the storm
Just a little bit of this makes you feel so excited
You'd better pass it on
Before you're too stoned.
Feelin' so high
Temperature rising
Makes me feel so Irie
Temperature rising
Feel so free and special
When the smoky notes fall down on my head and heart
It is so real
Wishing it'll last forever
Coz' I just can't stop this rythm enchantment
Feelin' high
So high
Temperature rising
Makes me feel so Irie
Temperature rising
Ain't no way to stop this voodoo charm
From your left to your, right just pass it on
RAP
Feelin' so high
Temperature rising
Makes me feel so Irie
Temperature rising
Hey, Hey
Feel high
Throw your hands up in the sky
Move on side to side
De gauche à droite
Rising.
The lyrics to Les Nubians's song Temperature Rising express the feeling of being lifted up and out of one's emotional struggles. The opening lines acknowledge that there are no emotions that can compare to the intense joy and upliftment that the artist is feeling, and suggests that this joy is powerful enough to soothe even the deepest pain. The lyrics speak to the strength of this feeling, describing it as almost overwhelming: "How could it be so strong?" However, the song does caution against indulgence, warning the listener to "pass it on before you're too stoned."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the pleasure and freedom associated with this feeling, describing it as "Natural Nubian Vibes," "Feelin' so high," and "Temperature rising." The song suggests that this pleasure is linked to the experience of being part of a community, as it encourages the listener to "pass it on" and suggests that the feeling is strongest when experienced in a group ("From your left to your, right just pass it on").
The lyrics also describe the physical and emotional sensations associated with this feeling, with lines like "When the smoky notes fall down on my head and heart / It is so real" suggesting that the experience is a sensual one. Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of the joy and communion that can come from experiencing a sense of upliftment and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no emotions that make me feel this way
No feeling can compare to the way I feel right now
There's no emotions so bright to soothe a pain
Even the happiest of feelings cannot erase pain
How could it be so strong ?
I am in awe of how powerful this feeling is
Coz' when the time has come to escape from the storm
When things are difficult, this feeling helps me find a way out
Just a little bit of this makes you feel so excited
Even a small amount of this feeling brings me immense joy and excitement
You'd better pass it on
I want others to experience this feeling as well
Before you're too stoned.
But be careful not to overdo it
Natural Nubian Vibes
This feeling is a natural part of who I am as a Nubian
Feelin' so high
This feeling elevates me to new heights
Temperature rising
This feeling makes my temperature rise with excitement
Makes me feel so Irie
This feeling brings me a sense of peace and happiness
Feel so free and special
This feeling gives me a sense of freedom and uniqueness
When the smoky notes fall down on my head and heart
The aroma of this feeling envelops my mind and soul
It is so real
This feeling is authentic and genuine
Wishing it'll last forever
I hope this feeling never fades away
Coz' I just can't stop this rhythm enchantment
I am under the spell of this feeling and cannot resist its rhythm
Ain't no way to stop this voodoo charm
This feeling is enchanting and cannot be denied
From your left to your right just pass it on
Share this feeling with others, from left to right
Throw your hands up in the sky
Express your joy and excitement by reaching towards the sky
Move on side to side De gauche à droite
Dance and move from side to side
Rising.
This feeling is intensifying and growing stronger
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ilegogie Oshokha
This song reminds me of my childhood. Thank you Channel O for exposing me to this glorious tune back in the days.
Melissa Site
right! same here!
Bastet
they sing really good. We need more music like this here. its to many singers out there that can sing. Theses sisters should take over the indusry
Lilac Calandra
OMG I love this song sooo much!!! It used to come on the VH1 Soul Channel all the time!!!
Anwar Talia
Yes! I wish I could feel how I felt during those years of hearing music and seeing videos everyday on VH1 Soul. Where does life go.
Lilac Calandra
@Anwar Talia Seriously, what a different time.
Reezy Feviel
One of the best summer songs of all time
rectifiedspirit
I saw you perform this song in Philadelphia 10 years ago. Your music still keeps me going on bad days. Love you, you have touched my heart with your music and that has been a wonderful gift.
Jenyfer Johnson
Beautiful women with incredible voices! They sing like angels...no matter the language.
Tui Thompson
these ladies are great.love their music.came across them by chance and have just enjoyed their beautiful music since...