Malavoi was a Martinican band consisting of Mano Césaire, Jean-Paul Soïme, … Read Full Bio ↴Malavoi was a Martinican band consisting of Mano Césaire, Jean-Paul Soïme, Christian de Negri, Denis Dantin and Marcel Rémion. They formed in 1972, naming themselves after a kind of sugarcane and a street on Gorée, a Senegalese island. Many of the members were part of the Merry Lads, a band from the Lycée Schoelcher, and many had been students at Colette Franz, a music school.

Malavoi's style mixes French Antillean music with modern influences from across the Americas, especially Caribbean and Brazilian music, as well as jazz. Their early popular singles included "Albé" and "En lè mon là". The band was soon expanded to include saxophonist Bib Monville and pianist Paulo Rosine. The singers alternated and included Raymond Mazarin, Pierre Jabert, Maurice Marie-Louise, Pierre Pastel and Julien Constance.

Malavoi's first album was Malavoi, released in 1978 and featuring singer Ralph Thamar. The band broke up soon after, however, and didn't perform again until re-uniting under Rosine's leadership in 1981. Rosine greatly expanded the fiddle section, first to ten performers, then down to four with Philippe Porry taking over for Dantin, and also added Jean-José Lagier on cello. Malavoi's fame soon spread across the Caribbean and abroad with the 1983 album Zouel, featuring Thamar on vocals along with Marie-José Alie. They played at the Printemps de Bourges in 1983 and at the Caribbean festival in Cartagena, and won the Caribbean music prize, the Maracas d'Or, as well as scoring the film Rue Case Nègres.

They continued touring widely into the late 1980s, in the United States, France, Japan, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Ecuador. Thamar was replaced by Pipo Gertrude in 1988. In the early 1990s, the band's popularity continued to grow, and the membership expanded with the addition of singer Tony Chasseur. Their 1992 Matebis included collaborations with numerous Caribbean musicians, including Jocelyne Beroard, Bethova Obas, Kali (musician), Edith Lefel and Tanya Saint-Val.

Malavoi's leader, Paulo Rosine, died in 1993. He was replaced by José Privat, while two French violinists, Jean-Luc Pino and Daniel Dato, also joined; the band's leader became Jean-Paul Soïme.

Asi Paré
Malavoi Lyrics

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Asi Paré man pa bel enko
Asi paré ou lé kité mwen ...
Asi paré mwen fé ou queychose
Dépi dé mois ou ka négligé moin Mé Cependant mwen
Toujou travail pou moin pé bar′tou ça ou télé
Et jodi ou sé an gro'missieu
Ou ka quité mwen pou ankannail

Alé missieu
Sar fai′ya pa kay poter bonheur
Alé ingra
Ti manmail'la moin kay soiyé bar'
Alé méchan
Loyé caye′la mwen kay payïé bar′
Mwen sé créol mwen ni courag'
Mwen lé rouèr ici a Fort-de France
Alé missieu
Sar fai′ya pa kay poter bonheur
Alé ingra
Ti manmail'la mwen kay soiyé bar′
Alé Bourro
Loyé caye'la mwen kay payïé bar′
Mwen sé créol mwen ni courag'
Mwen lé rouèr ici a Fort-de-France (AsiYO!)

Ou pé pati épi si sé lidé'ou
Ou pé alé épi ça ou′aimain
Rangé mallou pren mal chagra′ou
Mé pa touché bel conplét grï a
Mé nome jave ki adan la vie
Toujou rempli que de macagri
Mé sote tou nomes sé conça sote yé bomn famn toujou mal
Réconpensés

Yé lé lé lé
Yé lé lé lé

Overall Meaning

"Asi Paré" by Malavoi is a creole love song that talks about a relationship where one partner feels neglected and unappreciated by the other. The lyrics express the hurt and frustration felt by the singer as they plead with their lover not to leave them, despite their feelings of being undervalued. The singer asserts their independence and resilience, reminding their lover that they are strong and capable of taking care of themselves. They urge their lover not to be ungrateful, to remember the good times they shared together, and to appreciate the sacrifices that they have made for the relationship.

The song is a beautiful and powerful composition with soulful vocals and a catchy melody. It captures the complex emotions of love, hurt, and resilience of a person who is fighting to keep their relationship alive. The song's lyrics draw on the rich history and culture of the Caribbean, incorporating creole language and rhythm that celebrates the vibrant and diverse heritage of the region.

Line by Line Meaning

Asi Paré man pa bel enko
I am not young and beautiful anymore

Asi paré ou lé kité mwen ...
You want to leave me

Asi paré mwen fé ou queychose
I did something wrong

Dépi dé mois ou ka négligé moin Mé Cependant mwen
You have been neglecting me for two months but still, I

Toujou travail pou moin pé bar′tou ça ou télé
Keep working hard to pay for what you watch on TV

Et jodi ou sé an gro'missieu
And now you're a big shot

Ou ka quité mwen pou ankannail
You're leaving me for a younger woman

Alé missieu
Go ahead, sir

Sar fai′ya pa kay poter bonheur
It won't bring you happiness

Alé ingra
Go ahead, ungrateful one

Ti manmail'la moin kay soiyé bar'
I will continue to work hard with that little bit of money you give me