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.
Caresse Moin
Malavoi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lalin-lan ka lévé
Kokotyé ka boujé
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Ti zwèzo ka pozé
Sèpan mòdi chanté
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Lannè-a ka gémi
Lalin-lan ka frémi
Kokotyé ka palé
kè-
Karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Ti manmay ka pléré
Lonb-lan pati déwo yeah
San yo tout kay koulé
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
vyolon-
Soley-la ka kouché
Lalin-lan ka lévé
Kokotyé ka boujé
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Lannuit-la ka tonbé tonbé
Ti zwèzo ka pozé
Sèpan mòdi chanté
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Lanmè-a ka gémi
Lalin-lan ka frémi
Kokotyé ka palé
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Ti manmay ka pléré
Lonb-lan pati déwo, Yeah
San yo tout kay koulé
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
héééé, ah!
solo pyanno, bas-
vyolon-
Soley-la ka pléré
Lalin-lan kaché
Kokotyé ka [?]
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
[?] mwen ka mouyé
Tout kò mwen ka kriyé
Lanmen'w ka palé mwen
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Latè-a ka tranblé
Ouragan ka lévé
[?] ka vini
kè-
karésé mwen
Karésé mwen
Hum
The song "Caresse Moin" by Malavoi is a beautiful, slow-paced ballad that talks about the different forces of nature and how they affect the singer emotionally. The song starts off with a verse that describes the sun going down, the moon rising, and the rooster crowing, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, talks about wanting someone to caress the singer's heart, which implies that the singer is lonely and looking for love.
The second verse describes a night with a falling bird and a cricket singing, which shows that the singer is observant and in tune with nature. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the singer's desire for affection. The third verse talks about the year, with the sea groaning, the moon trembling, and the rooster talking. The chorus follows once more. The final verse ends with a heartbreaking scene of a crying child and a departing ship, which blends tragedy and beauty in the way that real life often does.
Line by Line Meaning
oley-la ka kouché
The sun is setting
Lalin-lan ka lévé
The moon is rising
Kokotyé ka boujé
The rooster is moving
kè-karésé mwen
My heart needs to be caressed
Karésé mwen
Caress me
Lannuit-la ka tonbé tonbé
The night falls slowly
Ti zwèzo ka pozé
The little bird is perched
Sèpan mòdi chanté
Silent, a cricket is singing
Lannè-a ka gémi
The year is yearning
Lalin-lan ka frémi
The moon shivers
Kokotyé ka palé
The rooster speaks
Ti manmay ka pléré
The little children are crying
Lonb-lan pati déwo yeah
Their parents went to God, yeah
San yo tout kay koulé
Without them, everything will collapse
vyolon-
Violin
Soley-la ka kouché
The sun is setting
Lalin-lan ka lévé
The moon is rising
Lannuit-la ka tonbé tonbé
The night falls slowly
Ti zwèzo ka pozé
The little bird is perched
Sèpan mòdi chanté
Silent, a cricket is singing
Lanmè-a ka gémi
The sea is moaning
Lalin-lan ka frémi
The moon shivers
Kokotyé ka palé
The rooster speaks
Ti manmay ka pléré
The little children are crying
Lonb-lan pati déwo, Yeah
Their parents went to God, yeah
San yo tout kay koulé
Without them, everything will collapse
kè-karésé mwen
My heart needs to be caressed
Karésé mwen
Caress me
héééé, ah!
Sounds of pleasure
solo pyanno, bas-
Solo piano and bass
vyolon-
Violin
Soley-la ka pléré
The sun is crying
Lalin-lan kaché
The moon is hiding
Kokotyé ka [?]
The rooster [?]
kè-karésé mwen
My heart needs to be caressed
Karésé mwen
Caress me
[?] mwen ka mouyé
My pillow is wet
Tout kò mwen ka kriyé
My whole body is crying
Lanmen'w ka palé mwen
Your hands are talking to me
kè-karésé mwen
My heart needs to be caressed
Karésé mwen
Caress me
Latè-a ka tranblé
The Earth is trembling
Ouragan ka lévé
A hurricane is brewing
[?] ka vini
[?] is coming
kè-karésé mwen
My heart needs to be caressed
Karésé mwen
Caress me
Hum
A vocalization expressing deep thought or acknowledgment
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Antwan Ferrer
on Anasthasie
NAP TOUNIN