Oumou's latest album "Seya",(Joy) released in 2009,has taken around two or three years to come to fruition. "I choose my songs very carefully. I learn how to put them across first on the stage." Her music is bold, seductive, funky and vibrant, but it's her lyrics that open people's eyes. "For me, the lyrics are more important than the melody. I write almost all my own words. I also perform the classics of Malian tradition. I draw a lot of inspiration from what happens in society. As soon as I see or feel something, I write it down. I say what I want, and what I think, because I am a free woman. I believe that my music has had an impact on the life of African women." "It's true that when I sing it's joyful but in amongst that joy I always take the opportunity to slip in messages that educate my nation."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oumou_Sangare
N'Diani
Oumou Sangare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ô mon amour, je te dis à demain!
Les gens me demandent de parler,
Mais je ne peux parler qu'en présence de mon amour.
Les gens me demandent de m'asseoir,
Mais je ne peux m'asseoir qu'aux côtés de mon amour.
Les gens me demandent de rire,
Mais je ne peux rire qu'avec mon amour.
Les gens me demandent de dormir,
Mais je ne peux m'étendre que près de mon amour.
Etre heureuse, me demande-t-on,
Mais je ne puis être heureuse qu'auprès de celui que j'aime.
In Oumou Sangare's beautiful song, "N'Diani," the singer expresses her deep love for her partner and her inability to function without their presence. Sangare's powerful vocals ring out over the song's elegant and emotive instrumentation as she croons the words, "Ô mon amour, en attendant de nous revoir, Ô mon amour, je te dis à demain!" which translates from French to "Oh my love, while waiting to see you again, Oh my love, I say see you tomorrow!" This repetition of "my love" conveys the depth of her feelings for her partner and her intense desire to be with them again.
Throughout the song, the singer is asked repeatedly by "les gens" (the people) to do various things such as talk, sit, laugh, and sleep, but she explains that she can only do any of these things in the presence of her beloved. The verse, "Mais je ne puis être heureuse qu'auprès de celui que j'aime," translates to "But I can only be happy beside the one I love." This powerful declaration underscores the importance of love, companionship, and human connection to the human experience.
The song speaks to the universal need for connection and the way that love and companionship can bring joy and meaning to our lives. Through her soulful delivery of the lyrics, Oumou Sangare creates a poignant expression of love as a transformative force that shapes our sense of identity, purpose, and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Ô mon amour, en attendant de nous revoir,
Oh my love, while waiting for us to meet again,
Ô mon amour, je te dis à demain!
Oh my love, I say to you goodnight and see you tomorrow!
Les gens me demandent de parler,
People ask me to speak,
Mais je ne peux parler qu'en présence de mon amour.
But I can only speak in the presence of my love.
Les gens me demandent de m'asseoir,
People ask me to sit,
Mais je ne peux m'asseoir qu'aux côtés de mon amour.
But I can only sit beside my love.
Les gens me demandent de rire,
People ask me to laugh,
Mais je ne peux rire qu'avec mon amour.
But I can only laugh with my love.
Les gens me demandent de dormir,
People ask me to sleep,
Mais je ne peux m'étendre que près de mon amour.
But I can only lie down near my love.
Etre heureuse, me demande-t-on,
They ask me to be happy,
Mais je ne puis être heureuse qu'auprès de celui que j'aime.
But I can only be happy next to the one I love.
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ramatulaicande4804
És melhor artista. Gosto tanto das suas músicas; sou seu fã.❤❤ força sempre em frente.
@senyboiro8103
Sava
@user-dn9ws3kn9i
L'ex papi
@user-dn9ws3kn9i
L'ex papi
@mbodarodrigue7490
Je suis camerounais, et j'affirme que cette grande dame du Mali, un grand pays d'Afrique, est non seulement la meilleure chanteuse du monde, mais la meilleure chanteuse de tous les temps. Que celui qui n'est pas d'accord saute et reste en l'air.
@bintoudiarra4832
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
@abdoukarimdiop288
Ko.
@niagaletraore2116
j'adore la chanson 😍😍😍😍
@diawaitoure458
Beautiful
@nafissatounafitou6302
Depuis Cameroun elle est parfaite pour moi j 👍👍👍