The band was founded in 1982 in Angers, France by singer/keyboardist Denis Péan and Richard Bourreau (violin/kora). These two have remained central to Lo'Jo throughout their history. For several years, with a rotating cast of members, they played events locally, working with acrobats, street theatre, mime, dancers and film as part of their overall presentation. They have subsequently maintained a communal lifestyle, based in Angers.
By the end of the 1980s, they were playing throughout Europe and had appeared in New York as part of an artists' collective. Including Nicholas 'Kham Meslien (bass) and Matthieu Rousseau (drums) (later replaced by Franck Vaillant), they consolidated their line-up, and their first album, Fils de Zamal, was released in 1993. In 1995 the group added Berber singer/saxophonist Yamina Nid El Mourid and her sister, Nadia Nid El Mourid, who brought a strong North African influence to the music. In 1996, the new lineup recorded Sin Acabar, and 1997 saw them complete Mojo Radio, both with English producer Justin Adams. Upon the latter's release they found more acclaim in the world music community, getting them on the WOMAD circuit.
In 1999, they journeyed to Bamako, Mali, to begin work on Bohème de Cristal. While in Mali, they became involved in the organization of the Desert Music Festival held in January 2001. They have also collaborated with a wide variety of musicians, including Tinariwen.
In 2002 they released the acclaimed Au Cabaret Sauvage (originally issued in France as L'une des Siens). This was followed by a live album Ce Soir Là (2003), and a new studio album Bazar Savant (2006). In 2009 they released the album Cosmophono, and toured in the UK.
Discography
Studio:
1990 The International Courabou
1993 Fils de Zamal
1994 G7 of Destruction & Artisans of Peace
1996 Sin Acabar
1998 Mojo Radio
2000 Bohême de cristal
2002 L'une des siens
2006 Bazar savant
2009 Cosmophono
2012 Cinéma el Mundo
Other:
1989 Depuis très longtemps (K7)
1995 Le disque dort (33 tours)
2003 Ce soir là... (Live)
2007 Tu connais LO'JO ? (Best of)
Website (Bandinfo): http://www.lojo.org/
Facebooksite: http://www.facebook.com/lojomusic
MusicBrainz:http://musicbrainz.org/artist/a1c1fb23-38e0-4d7f-8fed-3c81fef5ad0f
Deux bâtons
Lo'Jo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ou que je serai acrobatiste en même temps".
J'habite une trompette argentée,
Dieu m'a fait son, sien parmi ses songes,
Parmi des hordes à tutoyer des monstres d'anges;
Spacieux silence je m'installe:
Esprit qui passe par les fentes et
À ta sueur petite dame, à ton courage,
À magie désaxée trompant le voyageur.
Le panorama du bout du monde
Chante ses six milliards de souffles,
Le peuple est réuni pour démêler son sang;
Le décor est urbain de toutes ses lutheries.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
Aux pendules chargées d'heures sur le macadam
Aux ondes brouillées des mégapoles.
Il pleut des cordes sur des instants vides;
On porte dans le même sac: son trésor, sa pacotille.
Bonjour les cendres tamisées
Dans les mailles de l'expérience.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
À ta sueur petite dame, à ton courage,
À magie désaxée trompant le voyageur.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons.
(Texte parlé en géorgien)
The lyrics to Lo'jo's song "Deux bâtons" paint a vivid picture of urban life, filled with the chaos of the city and the struggle to survive amidst it all. The song begins with the voice of a child dreaming of his future, perhaps as a singer or an acrobat. The singer then describes himself as living in a silver trumpet, a dream-like state where he is one with the angels and the monsters.
The singer then introduces the panorama of the world, with its six billion breaths and the people gathered to untangle their blood. The urban landscape is filled with various sounds, from the lutheries to the muddled waves of the megacities. The mood shifts to a tense and anxious tone as the singer describes the rain falling on empty moments and people carrying both their treasures and their junk.
The chorus is a repeated call to action: "Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons" (I plant two sticks, two sticks). It is repeated multiple times, each time emphasizing the importance of perseverance, magic, and courage in the face of the challenges presented in life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Deux bâtons" reflect on the complexities of living in an urban environment and the need for resilience and hope amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Voix d'enfant: "Quand je serai grand, peut-être que je chanterai
A child's voice wonders if they will sing or become an acrobat when they grow up.
J'habite une trompette argentée,
I live in a silver trumpet.
Dieu m'a fait son, sien parmi ses songes,
God made me his, in his dreams.
Parmi des hordes à tutoyer des monstres d'anges;
Among hordes to address monstrous angels;
Spacieux silence je m'installe:
I settle into spacious silence:
Esprit qui passe par les fentes et
Spirit passing through the cracks and
Salue au passage le boulevard insensible,
Greets the insensitive boulevard as it passes,
À ta sueur petite dame, à ton courage,
To your sweat, little lady, to your courage,
À magie désaxée trompant le voyageur.
To disconnected magic deceiving the traveler.
Le panorama du bout du monde
The panorama of the end of the world
Chante ses six milliards de souffles,
Sings its six billion breaths,
Le peuple est réuni pour démêler son sang;
The people are gathered to untangle their blood;
Le décor est urbain de toutes ses lutheries.
The setting is urban with all of its instruments.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
I plant two sticks, two sticks,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
I plant two sticks, two sticks,
Aux pendules chargées d'heures sur le macadam
To the clocks weighted down with hours on the pavement
Aux ondes brouillées des mégapoles.
To the muddled waves of the megacities.
Il pleut des cordes sur des instants vides;
It's raining ropes on empty moments;
On porte dans le même sac: son trésor, sa pacotille.
We carry in the same bag: our treasure, our trinkets.
Bonjour les cendres tamisées
Hello sifted ashes
Dans les mailles de l'expérience.
In the threads of experience.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
I plant two sticks, two sticks,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
I plant two sticks, two sticks,
À ta sueur petite dame, à ton courage,
To your sweat, little lady, to your courage,
À magie désaxée trompant le voyageur.
To disconnected magic deceiving the traveler.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
I plant two sticks, two sticks,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons.
I plant two sticks, two sticks.
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons,
I plant two sticks, two sticks,
Je plante deux bâtons deux bâtons.
I plant two sticks, two sticks.
(Texte parlé en géorgien)
Spoken text in Georgian.
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.