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.
Sidonie
Malavoi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man jwènn Sidonie kalazaza
Zouti byen filé a gwo modan
Sé sisé dé dwèt ou dan gwo migan
Sidonie sé sik sousé dan myel
Lan nuit sé jou kléré syel
Lavi fini man lagé sa
Bel balata pou lajoupa
Kannaval la za ka sibmerjé
Sidonie pasa rété lové
Kalazaza a byen dégizé
Sik la brilé mas la tonbé
Kannari mwen té ka mijoté
Anlè an fouyé difé
Gwan van souflé man pa wè sa
Bèl balata pou lajoupa
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen o galo
Yélé ladjé sa
Manjé lanmori ou oté makri yo
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie mafi vaval pati
Sé pa pou sa lanmou nou fini
Siw lé déviré pa réfléchi
Ouvè dé bwa ou mwen ni zouti
Pwemié kou la man rété surpri
A pwézan mwen ni krédi
Sidonie di y palé kwè sa
Bèl balata pou lajoupa
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie ka jété titim gloria
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Pa soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Wouvè lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Manman ou kontan ou papa ou kontan ou
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Yé Sidonie o
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Ah siw palé tonbé pa jwé
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Woy Sidonie oh
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie ka jété titim gloria
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Annou kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Man té ka kouwi an tan tala
Man jwènn Sidonie kalazaza
Zouti byen filé a gwo modan
Sé sisé dé dwèt ou dan gwo migan
Sidonie sé sik sousé dan myel
Lan nuit sé jou kléré syel
Lavi fini man lagé sa
Bel balata pou lajoupa
Kannaval la za ka sibmerjé
Sidonie pasa rété lové
Kalazaza a byen dégizé
Sik la brilé mas la tonbé
Kannari mwen té ka mijoté
Anlè an fouyé difé
Gwan van souflé man pa wè sa
Bèl balata pou lajoupa
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen o galo
Yélé ladjé sa
Manjé lanmori ou oté makri yo
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie mafi vaval pati
Sé pa pou sa lanmou nou fini
Siw lé déviré pa réfléchi
Ouvè dé bwa ou mwen ni zouti
Pwemié kou la man rété surpri
A pwézan mwen ni krédi
Sidonie di y palé kwè sa
Bèl balata pou lajoupa
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie ka jété titim gloria
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Pa soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Wouvè lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Manman ou kontan ou papa ou kontan ou
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Yé Sidonie o
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Ah siw palé tonbé pa jwé
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Yélé ladjé sa
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Woy Sidonie oh
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Yélé ladjé sa
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Yélé ladjé sa
Sidonie ka jété titim gloria
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Annou kouwi kannaval la
Yélé ladjé sa
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
The lyrics of the song "Sidonie" by Malavoi describe a festive scene during carnival time in the West Indies. The singer is describing his encounter with a woman named Sidonie, who is wearing elaborate carnival costume, holding a rattling instrument called a kalazaza, and has a bundle of herbs tied around her wrist. The singer is fascinated by her appearance and sings about the "gwo migan," which is a traditional dance gesture involving moving the two middle fingers while holding out the two surrounding fingers, a gesture said to represent the legs of a spider.
The atmosphere of the song conveys the excitement and intensity of carnival celebration, with the lyrics referencing the "sik sousé" or sugarcane juice, the heat of the "difé" or fire being stoked, and the wind that blows through the countryside. The chorus, "yélé ladjé sa," does not have a clear meaning, but is often used as a call and response during carnival festivities.
The song is a popular example of traditional carnival music, known as zouk or kadans, which originated on Caribbean islands such as Martinique, Guadeloupe and Dominica. The lyrics are in creole, a language that evolved from the French language mixed with African and other Caribbean influences. The song has been covered by several other Caribbean artists and is a staple of carnival parades and parties.
Line by Line Meaning
Man té ka kouwi an tan tala
I was preparing for this carnival for a long time.
Man jwènn Sidonie kalazaza
Finally, I found Sidonie, and she was looking stunning in her costume.
Zouti byen filé a gwo modan
The tool was well sharpened for the festival.
Sé sisé dé dwèt ou dan gwo migan
With two fingers you can play a big sound using the tool.
Sidonie sé sik sousé dan myel
Sidonie's essence is seeping out through the honey.
Lan nuit sé jou kléré syel
The night is clear, and the stars in the sky are shining beautifully.
Lavi fini man lagé sa
I'm done with life, and I'm releasing it.
Bel balata pou lajoupa
The beautiful ballad is for the dance.
Kannaval la za ka sibmerjé
The carnival has already submerged.
Sidonie pasa rété lové
Sidonie doesn't want to stay apart and wants to be close.
Kalazaza a byen dégizé
The costume is well disguised as a kalazaza.
Sik la brilé mas la tonbé
The candle burned out, and the mask fell.
Kannari mwen té ka mijoté
I was cooking my cannery.
Anlè an fouyé difé
On the fire, I'm stirring up the stew.
Gwan van souflé man pa wè sa
The wind is blowing hard, and I can't see anything.
Yélé ladjé sa
Let's go and enjoy ourselves.
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen o galo
Sidonie is teasing and making me dizzy with desire.
Manjé lanmori ou oté makri yo
I'm feeding on your love, forgetting all the bad things.
Mwen za kouwi kannaval la
I'm already in the carnival mood.
Mwen kay kouwi kannaval la
I'm going to celebrate carnival.
Sidonie mafi vaval pati
Sidonie is leaving the carnival's main parade early.
Sé pa pou sa lanmou nou fini
That doesn't mean that our love story is over.
Siw lé déviré pa réfléchi
If you want to change your mind, don't act hastily.
Ouvè dé bwa ou mwen ni zouti
Open two barrels; I have tools.
Pwemié kou la man rété surpri
The first time I was surprised.
A pwézan mwen ni krédi
Believe me; I'm experienced now.
Sidonie di y palé kwè sa
Sidonie is telling me to speak up and tell the truth.
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen an dalo
Sidonie is making me dizzy like a waterwheel.
Sidonie ka jété titim gloria
Sidonie is spreading tiny feathers in the air.
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Suck your lemons, Sidonie will light the fire.
Pa soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Don't suck your lemons; Sidonie will burn.
Man kay kouwi kannaval la
I'm going to celebrate carnival.
Wouvè lanmin ou Sidonie pwi difé
Open your lemons, Sidonie will light the fire.
Manman ou kontan ou papa ou kontan ou
Your mother is happy, your father is happy, why not you?
Sidonie man fifi mété mwen maléré
Sidonie is making me miserable and confused.
Soukwé lanmin ou Sidonie ka bwilé
Suck your lemons, Sidonie will burn.
Mwen sa kouwi kannaval la
I'm already in the carnival mood.
Yé Sidonie o
Hey, Sidonie!
Ah siw palé tonbé pa jwé
Oh well, if you want to lose, then don't play.
Woy Sidonie oh
Wow, Sidonie!
Annou kouwi kannaval la
Let's go and celebrate carnival.
Writer(s): Ralph Thamar, Soime Jean Paul
Contributed by Kaylee T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Antwan Ferrer
on Anasthasie
NAP TOUNIN