Rebirth.
Thi… Read Full Bio ↴French Rapper: http://www.myspace.com/slyjohnson
Rebirth.
This could have been an alternative title for the album, named “74” after the year Silvère Johnson was born. It marks the birth of artist Sly Johnson, formerly known as The Mic Buddah, a name he took on in celebration of the art he was to excel at excessively: beat-boxing. Using his voice to thunder and startle, he now realises he may have somewhat missed the point. The acrobat felt it was time for a change of direction: in 2010, he has added a pinch of soul to his high-flying vocal acrobatics. “Rap and all it stood for couldn’t be my key to self-discovery anymore. Soul music was the answer. It has always made me want to cry and dance at the same time.” Resurrection.
In 2007, the end of the Saïan Supa Crew adventure marked the start of a new life for Sly. He was trying to find his feet and, by collaborating with various artists (Camille, Rokia Traoré, Erik Truffaz), he found his way: on the very edge of melody, and spirituality above all else. In the quest for his artistic identity, he was guided by Jean-Philippe Mano, a record dealer who helped this hip-hop enthusiast develop a taste for original versions and rare groove classics. “I discovered a world I was actually immersed in as a kid”. The world of his childhood, spent listening to his father’s LPs. Salsa, rumba, jazz, soul… Little Sly was all ears, ready to soak up this wealth of musical knowledge. But something vital was missing: his mother, who died in 2007. Redemption.
This is the emotion that imbues the eponymous track on this debut, “26/06/74”, a slam with shiny soul overtones. This theme sets the tone for the album: his songs tell a lot about him between the lines, like the puzzle pieces of his portrait, outlining his desires. Each track reveals a slice of life, a slice of his life, filled with self-doubt and selfless love, experienced in spite of himself and in spite of the odds. He has also chosen to cover two songs: “Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa” (Sad Song) by Otis Redding, a swamp blues into which he pours all of his beat-boxing savoir-faire, and “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometimes” by The Korgis, a pop song he used to cry over as a kid, which he renders sensually here, with his bare voice. Revival.
Sly reaches beyond the confines of nu-soul on this record, which lays bare his doubts and painful experiences. It is underpinned from start to finish by the lifeline, the essential pulsation that is his voice, covering the full range from singing to beat-boxing, from vinyl crackles to velvety soul tones. This French artist wrote the album around his own voice, and then let producer Jay Newland (Norah Jones, Ayo) work his magic on it. The same kind of magic Larry Gold – the mythical Philadelphia Sound arranger (Erykah Badu, The Roots, Justin Timberlake) – was to use in weaving a magnificent, sensitive and subtle strings and brass sound fabric. Sly is backed by a team of musicians that are also “Great Black Music” enthusiasts, as well as handpicked guests: the Slumvillage rappers he has always admired and singer Ayo. This faithful friend had always told him: “Sly, you’re more of a singer than a rapper.”
New Day
Sly Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les yeux rivés vers les étoiles
Cachée, une lueur d′espoir
Le ciel en émoi, terre de braises
Les missiles dansent la valse sans malaise, oh
Communication en morse
Signaux perdus, on débat en se tapant le torse
Arrache-cœur, nouveau type de job
Help me God
Sale temps pour le colosse de Rhodes
Les îles sous l′eau, la glace s'érode
La belle bleue est dans les cordes
Oh soldat
Au sein du combat, garde ton éclat
Everything is gonna be alright
Never ever give up the fight
It's a new day
Let the music play, it′s ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
It′s a new way
Everything will be ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Aucune idée de ce qui se passe dans nos têtes
La peur, la bêtise font la fête
Dès la naissance, collée sur le front, une étiquette
Médias adeptes dans l'art de la savonette
Nos poches se vident, on veut du cash
Les pavés de la ville se détachent
On fume les poumons de la planète à coups de hache
Tué tous les apaches, dans l′espace on fait tâche, oh
Faut que ça passe cool
Y'aura pas de paradis si on efface tout
Soyons têtus, exclus, déçus
Rien n′est perdu, soyons plus fort que nos excuses
Oh soldat
Au sein du combat, garde ton éclat
Everything is gonna be alright
Never ever give up the fight
It's a new day
Let the music play, it′s ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
It's a new way
Everything will be ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
It's a new day
Let the music play, it′s ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
It′s a new way
Everything will be ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
Folle période
L'injustice à la mode
Des nations en exode
Juger selon le dress-code
On s′est mis dans un drôle d'état
Deci-delà faut qu′on se débarrasse
De nos effets, se libérer du marasme
Donnons leurs le "la"
It's a new day
Let the music play, it′s ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
It's a new way
Everything will be ok
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
Get-get-get down
Get-get-get down
The lyrics of Sly Johnson's "New Day" reflect on the current state of society, urging individuals to persist in the face of adversity and to resist the fear and ignorance that taints our collective consciousness. The opening lines express a sense of hope hidden in the dark night sky and contrast it with the turmoil that the world faces. The use of symbols like "Missiles", "morning," and "love" showcase the juxtaposition between the devastating forces at play in the world with the small things that give hope.
Throughout the song, the artist critiques society's obsession with money and its impact on the planet. The lyrics highlight how the world has been divided by the political and economic elites, which has left the general population emotionally drained and hopeless. The chorus of "It's a new day" gives listeners a sense of hope and strength to keep going, despite the overwhelming odds.
The lyrics' use of "soldier" and "fight" underscores the need for individuals to become warriors and fight against systemic oppression. The artist urges listeners to break free of societal norms that promote fear and ignorance and to embrace a new way of living. In essence, the song implies that there is hope for a better tomorrow, and it's up to individuals to remain resilient.
Line by Line Meaning
Les yeux rivés vers les étoiles
We look up at the stars, hopeful for a brighter future
Cachée, une lueur d′espoir
There's a glimmer of hope hidden somewhere
Le ciel en émoi, terre de braises
The sky is churning, the world is on fire
Les missiles dansent la valse sans malaise, oh
Missiles rain down without hesitation or remorse
Communication en morse
We're struggling to communicate effectively
Signaux perdus, on débat en se tapant le torse
We argue, chests puffed out, with lost signals
Sous nos pieds l'amour se dérobe
Love seems to be disappearing from the world
Arrache-cœur, nouveau type de job
Heartbreak is becoming a new line of work for us
Help me God
We need divine intervention to get out of this mess
Sale temps pour le colosse de Rhodes
It's a tough time for even the strongest of us
Les îles sous l′eau, la glace s'érode
Islands are sinking, ice is melting
La belle bleue est dans les cordes
The beautiful blue planet is in trouble
Aucune idée de ce qui se passe dans nos têtes
We have no idea what's going on in our minds
La peur, la bêtise font la fête
Fear and stupidity seem to be having a party
Dès la naissance, collée sur le front, une étiquette
From birth, we're labeled and judged
Médias adeptes dans l'art de la savonette
Media is skilled at manipulating us
Nos poches se vident, on veut du cash
Our pockets are empty, we crave money
Les pavés de la ville se détachent
The city is crumbling
On fume les poumons de la planète à coups de hache
We're destroying our planet
Tué tous les apaches, dans l′espace on fait tâche, oh
We've killed off native people, we don't belong in space either
Faut que ça passe cool
We need to calm down and take it easy
Y'aura pas de paradis si on efface tout
There won't be a heaven if we destroy everything
Soyons têtus, exclus, déçus
Let's be stubborn, determined, and not give up
Rien n′est perdu, soyons plus fort que nos excuses
All is not lost, we need to be stronger than our excuses
Folle période
It's a crazy time
L'injustice à la mode
Injustice is in fashion
Des nations en exode
People are fleeing their countries
Juger selon le dress-code
We judge based on appearance
On s′est mis dans un drôle d'état
We've put ourselves in a strange situation
Deci-delà faut qu′on se débarrasse
We need to get rid of something, somehow
De nos effets, se libérer du marasme
Free ourselves from our own possessions and the malaise that comes with them
Donnons leurs le "la"
Let's take control
It's a new day
A fresh start, a new beginning
Let the music play, it′s ok
Let the music ease our worries
Get down if you wanna get-get-get down
Dance and let loose
It's a new way
A different approach is needed
Everything will be ok
Things will work out
Writer(s): Ben Molinaro, Sly Johnson
Contributed by David S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bezah Miyagi
Big up Sly ! Merci pour ton talent, ton originalité et ton humilité. 🙏🏻
Christiane Richard
plus pour longtemps ;-)
Margaux Delpierre
???
Katia Costa
LOURD!!!!!!! J'ai sifflé le refrain toute la matinée!!
Christiane Richard
tout pareil!
Christiane Richard
Il reste heureusement encore des Artistes de Hip Hop avec des textes qui ont du sens! Merci Mr Johnson.
Ô Débit
+1
Jeremie Coffin
Et aussi une grosse ligne de basse! :D
Soul Fan
enfin , enfin ,enfin !!!!!!
Du groove, de la voix, de la générosité, de l'humour
Mille mercis Mr le roi Sly et encore ! encore !
tavares marie
C’est bon , c’est frais , coloré, ça fait du bien aux oreilles, ça donne le smile 😁 alors partagez ❤️🙏🏼❤️ « It’s a new day » merci Sly 😉😘😘😘