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
La Marseillaise en créole
Lo'Jo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sanké nanjélin
Ya sabaro falamin jawé
Sinaminte
L'occident malfamé a ses maquis
Pour des chansons lointaines,
J'aime la rue des corps étranges,
À l'heure du défilé j'aime désobéir,
Prier nu avec une fille de la balle
Au corps saupoudré d'or pâle.
Sank crija sanké man
Nous sommes mêlées d'archanges,
Pistil d'un cosmos,
Semence d'un cheval cambré,
Les yeux qui s'émerveillent.
Je n'aime pas les bengales
De fêtes nationales;
Je préfère cette silhouette blanche
Sur une toile de Chagall,
Le temps qui passe sans rien dire,
Collectionner des abraxas,
Le Baron Samedi du carnaval,
National identity!
La Marseillaise en créole.
National identity!
L'occident malfamé a ses maquis
Pour des chansons lointaines,
J'aime la rue des corps étranges,
Le temps des retrouvailles.
À l'heure du défilé j'aime désobéir,
Fayedjadlamin ayé djé, ayé djé
Un négro rabotant son sabar,
National identity!
Un mercredi banal,
Le temps qui passe sans rien dire,
Sank crija sanké man, ayé djé
Les ports abondants d'écritures,
De savoirs, la smala en dread-locks
Dans une passe d'Occitanie.
National identity!
La Marseillaise en créole!
Ya sabaro falamin jawé
Sinaminte
National identity!
La Marseillaise en créole
La Marseillaise en créole
Sank crija sanké man
Sankri jéré salamad.
National identity!
The lyrics to Lo'jo's song La Marseillaise en créole depict a sense of national identity that is complex and deeply tied to personal and cultural experiences. The first verse speaks of a world that is in conflict, where there is suffering and pain amidst a larger sense of unity. The line "Nous sommes mêlées d'archanges" suggests that we are all celestial beings, mixed together and struggling against the greater darkness of the world.
The second verse seems to be a commentary on patriotism and nationalism. The lyrics "Je n'aime pas les bengales de fêtes nationales" imply a disdain for the empty patriotism of national celebrations. Instead, the song's narrator finds meaning in the strange and beautiful moments of the everyday - the "corps étranges" or "strange bodies" that can be found in the streets. This sense of connection to the everyday world and the people who inhabit it is perhaps the truest form of national identity that can exist.
The chorus, with its powerful repetition of "National identity!" is a statement of affirmation, a reminder that even amidst the chaos and complexities of everyday life, we can still find meaning and purpose in our shared experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Tanissaninita déka sadela sank crija
We are mixtures of archangels, pistils of a cosmos, seeds of a reared horse, delighting eyes.
Sanké nanjélin
I don't like national festivities with firecrackers, instead I prefer the silhouette of white figures on Chagall's canvas, time that passes without saying anything, collecting abraxas, and the Baron Samedi of the carnival.
Ya sabaro falamin jawé Sinaminte
National identity! The Marseillaise in Creole! The Marseillaise in Creole!
L'occident malfamé a ses maquis
Pour des chansons lointaines,
J'aime la rue des corps étranges,
Le temps des retrouvailles.
The wicked West has its hidden resistance for distant songs. I love the street full of unusual bodies, the time of reunion.
À l'heure du défilé j'aime désobéir,
Prier nu avec une fille de la balle
Au corps saupoudré d'or pâle.
During parade time, I love to disobey, pray naked with a girl from the circus with a body sprinkled with pale gold.
National identity!
National identity!
Un négro rabotant son sabar,
A black man planing his drum,
Un mercredi banal,
Le temps qui passe sans rien dire,
An ordinary Wednesday, time that passes without saying anything,
Les ports abondants d'écritures,
De savoirs, la smala en dread-locks
Dans une passe d'Occitanie.
The abundant ports of writings and knowledge, the gang in dreadlocks in the passage of Occitania.
Sank crija sanké man, ayé djé
We are a mixture of archangels with delighting eyes.
National identity!
National identity!
La Marseillaise en créole!
The Marseillaise in Creole!
National identity!
National identity!
Writer(s): lo'jo, denis pean
Contributed by Scarlett L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nick Edwards
Discovered Lo Jo at University a few months ago - now collecting back catalogue - would loved to see them alive!
Jacqueline Cochran
+Nick Edwards will be at April 17, 2016 Le Feu et l'Eau Rural Arts Celebration conducting a jam in the old sweet potato drying shed - Arnaudville, La, and then performing at 2016 Festival International, Lafayette, La
Philippe M
vu à " chalon dans la rue" .......il y a très très très longtemps.....je ne m'en suis jamais remis.
sawsan fiysal
👍🎧🎵❤️
Robert Peter Banck
yes. great live. great anyway.
Christophe Cadorel
Le temps de faire mon possible pour vous faire parvenir un album, un morceau c'est moi Stéphane beul Guérin asso MAASAI un peu aussi pour vous dire à bientôt j'espère... en effet salut Lulu, Romu, ville bas tdi bonheur ,c toujours. Là encore et toujours d'accord en acc..
Christophe Cadorel
Stephaneguertinpequiniopoulo@gmail.com
Fortune N'ZONOU
Mdrrrrrrrrrr
Jean Pierre Griffier
Pourquoi de la merde on aime lu on aime pas mais de la a dire que c est nul a chier
C est choquant quand je pense que celui qui a écrit ces lignes ne sait même pas sortir un air correct sur un instrument
Parce que s il était musicien il aurait du respect pour les musiciens tout les musiciens et pour toute les formes de musique
Je suis d angers et fier de lo jo mais meme si j etais de petaouchnok
Je leurs tirerais mon chapeau
Célestin
C'est de la merde on est d'accord