Martelly has served as President of Haiti after winning the presidential election in 2011 until February 7, 2016. He now lives the life he did pre-presidency and still performs music here and there. He also enjoys spending time with his four children and his wife.
Martelly is more popularly and affectionately known as "Sweet Micky," a moniker sometimes used interchangeably to refer to himself as well as his band (with original members, guitar player Alex Tropnas and bass player Welton Desire).
Michel Martelly has been heralded as a pioneer of a unique brand of konpa music, a style of Haitian dance music sung in the Haitian Creole language. Originally, konpa was a fusion of Afro-Latin jazz and African/Haitian folkloric rhythms and was traditionally played by large bands composed of numerous group members and instrument sections. Martelly, a keyboardist and the self-proclaimed "bad boy" President of Compas, popularized a "nouvelle generation", or "new generation" style, of smaller bands with few members that relied predominantly on synthesizers and electronic instruments to reproduce a fuller sound. Martelly's and Sweet Micky's live performances and recordings are sometimes laced with obscenities and humorous sociopolitical commentary by Martelly. Outlandish and outspoken, Martelly has been known to drink publicly while performing in wigs, costumes, diapers, and Scottish kilts, and occasionally removed his own attire while performing. While arguably the most recognized and applauded musician and public personality in Haïti, Martelly's performance style has sometimes ignited controversy throughout the Haitian diaspora.
Carnaval '94
Michel Martelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anhan anhan
Fem voye tou senpleman
Anhan anhan
lan
Nan nan ni nan nan nan
Mwen santim yon lot
Fason
Lagel sou krek mwen
Anndan langèt mwen
Nan tou bouda mwen
Lagel sou bann mwen
Gade bouzin nan sal la
gade bouzin (2)
Gade koko
Gade bouzin (3)
Eske nou bouzin (3)
The lyrics of Michel Martelly's song "Carnaval '94" talk about the singer's experience during a carnival celebration. The phrase "Yon ti kou sou douvan" means "A little blow on the front" and refers to the singer feeling a different sensation, maybe excitement or anticipation, before the carnival starts. The following lines mention the simple act of dancing, which brings joy and happiness. The repetition of "anhan anhan" emphasizes the rhythm of the music and encourages the listeners to join the festivities.
The next lines "Mwen santim yon lot fason" mean "I feel a different way" and suggest that the singer is taken to another world through the music, dance, and overall atmosphere. The following lines mention body parts, "Langèt mwen, tou bouda mwen, bann mwen," which could represent the singer's whole self participating in the carnival. The repetition of "Gade bouzin" invites the listeners to look around and take in their surroundings, maybe connecting with others and experiencing the communal aspect of the carnival. The last line "Eske nou bouzin" means "Are we making trouble?" and could represent the singer's consciousness of the potential for chaos and rowdiness during the celebrations.
Line by Line Meaning
Yon ti kou sou douvan
A little blow in the front
Anhan anhan
Softly, slowly
Fem voye tou senpleman
Let's do it simply and easily
Anhan anhan lan
Slowly now
Nan nan ni nan nan nan
Just enjoying the moment
Mwen santim yon lot fason
I feel different now
Anhan anhan lagel sou krek mwen
Gently rubbing on my back
Anndan langèt mwen
Inside my soul
Nan tou bouda mwen
Through my whole body
Lagel sou bann mwen
Rubbing on my arms
Gade bouzin nan sal la
Look at the trouble in this place
gade bouzin (2)
Look at the trouble (2)
Gade koko
Look at what's happening
Gade bouzin (3)
Look at the trouble (3)
Eske nou bouzin (3)
Are we the trouble makers (3)
Contributed by Declan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.