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.
La guadeloupéenne
Malavoi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On foul moun doubout ka atann
Yo vlé vwè par kiryozité
Lénouvo ka vin o péyi
Lékolon épi lé fonksyonè
Yo vlé vwè apèn débaké
Mè la gwadloupéyèn sé on ti flè sé on ti pòpòt doré
Tèt-là toujou byen maré
Kon sé bèl gason là sé sa i enmé ri fè dé ti zyé dou
é i ka jis ba yo yonn dé ti bo
é toutmoun ka touvé i a li sèl i sé on bèl boukè
I toujou byen prézanté ay é ki ni mil koulè flè
Kanta si ou fè'y kriyé'w doudou an mwen chè
Pa ni mwayen ou rézisté...
In Malavoi's song La guadeloupéenne, the lyrics speak of the pride and strength of the Guadeloupean woman, despite the obstacles thrown her way. The first verse describes how when rumors start to spread, people gather to see what will happen, and are eager to see new things come to the land. The colonizers and functionaries especially are waiting for something to happen so they can take advantage of it. However, the Guadeloupean woman is compared to a small, golden flower, always dressed nicely with her head held high. She loves to make her eyes sparkle for handsome men and make them fall for her, but she still remains strong and independent, unyielding to anyone who tries to control her.
The chorus praises the Guadeloupean woman, stating that there is no resisting her charm and beauty. The song emphasizes the strength of women and their ability to be independent and proud of who they are, even in the face of oppression and discrimination. The Guadeloupean woman is portrayed as a symbol of resistance against the forces that try to bring her down.
Overall, the song celebrates the resiliency and beauty of Guadeloupean women, who continue to flourish and remain strong in spite of the challenges they face.
Line by Line Meaning
Si lé kè lè kouryé akosté
If your heart is beating fast
On foul moun doubout ka atann
You'll see people standing around waiting
Yo vlé vwè par kiryozité
Curiosity springs in their eyes
Lénouvo ka vin o péyi
Newcomers have come to our country
Lékolon épi lé fonksyonè
Colonizers and officials
Yo vlé vwè apèn débaké
They want to see them freshly arrived
Mè la gwadloupéyèn sé on ti flè sé on ti pòpòt doré
But the Guadeloupean woman is a small flower, a golden pendant
I enmé byen abiyé
She loves to dress well
Tèt-là toujou byen maré
Her hair is always well done
Kon sé bèl gason là sé sa i enmé ri fè dé ti zyé dou
As for handsome men, that's what makes her laugh and gives her soft eyes
é i ka jis ba yo yonn dé ti bo
And she just gives them a couple of compliments
é toutmoun ka touvé i a li sèl i sé on bèl boukè
And everyone agrees that she is unique and a beautiful bouquet
I toujou byen prézanté ay é ki ni mil koulè flè
She's always well presented and has a thousand different flower colors
Kanta si ou fè'y kriyé'w doudou an mwen chè
Sing and call her sweetie, dear to me
Pa ni mwayen ou rézisté...
There's no way you can resist...
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jessiemorvany886
Hymne national de la Guadeloupe
@lonibonjour9775
Un incontournable 💕👍🏽💕
@user-vl1fq7yq3k
Une belle musique
@madinina9213
Superbe mélodie merci mille fois
@pascalbaboulall3299
madinina921 la
@pascalbaboulall3299
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@chevelinpierre2194
madinina921 l’illustration de couverture est de Simil un éminent peintre haïtien
@Pr3tty_Nka
😺
@marielaurenoslen9519
C vrai c superbe
@lujinaclaire1951
Trop bien 😍😍😍💋🥰🥂🌠