As a teen, Tété drew his musical inspiration from the pop and rock music of the day. Using the guitar given him by his mother, he assembled small bands with friends and began experimenting with songwriting, composing mainly in English.
In 1998 Tété moved to Paris, playing cafés and busking before forming a successful trio with drummer Alberto Malo and bassist Evy Moon. Thanks to luck and a unique sound the young men were quickly signed to Sony/Epic, releasing their debut record, L'Air de Rien, in 2001.
While working on the record, Tété maintained a busy performing schedule as a solo artist, building a healthy-sized fan base via small Paris clubs and cafés. His polished, infectious live presence was captured on 2003's Par Monts et Vallons, which featured recordings from three different live shows.
A year later Tété's second studio production hit the airwaves with a series of well-liked singles. A la Favuer de l'Automne generated radio hits such as "Emma Stanton" and the title track, "A la Faveur de l'Automne."
Large venue performances and international touring the following summer brought Tété from the underground scene to the mainstream market. His 2006 release Le Sacre des Lemmings et Autres Contes de la Lisiere addressed an array of social themes, his first overtly political project.
Albums to date:
2001 L' Air de Rien
2003 Par Monts et Vallons (Live)
2004 A la Faveur de l'Automne
2004 L' Air de Rien/Par Monts et Vallons
2006 Le Sacre des Lemmings
2007 A La Faveur de l'Automne/Le Sacre des Lemmings
Le Songe De Marie
Tété Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah! Monche tifi a pa bon non, papa
Definitivman, manmzel se yon devegonde
Manmzel pa bon man
Poutan papa, ban m' ba ou story a byen
Sa se story Yon bel tifi
Sa se yon ti fanm bo
Lakay mwen Fe l' mal aji
Gade yon mon l'ap monte Sa se story
Sa pi red ke mon Tapyon
Yon bel tifi, Nou pap bay manti
Eben men verite a
Lavi ou cheri gen twa chapit
Triloji sa a tounen yon vis
Dimanch ou se pou misye Chic
Chik Chek Chok
Le mekredi se misye Chek
Li pase chache ou nan yon tetbef
Wout ou jou sa a tou dwat labank
Ou mete wob a volan w
L'ap pwomennen ou nan tout salon
Se misye Chik, figi ou mare, met kach atè
Mwen pap pran chek san pwovizyon
Le vendredi se misye Chok
Se li k' mache nan santiman ou
Pi gwo defo l' afe l' pa bon wo
Chik Chek Chok
Kalandriye ou ap pran dife
Semenn ou chaje varyete
Konsa lavi fose ou boule
Ou resevwa li tout jan
Chak vandredi Chok desevis
Depi ou ave li ke ou kontan,
Ou anpenppan Ou anpenpan
Ti cheri lavi sa ka toumante ou
Ka fe ou fe sa ou pa vle
Chache pou ou sot nan sa ou ye la
Pa bliye sa fanm ou reprezante
Make up mind ou pou konn sa ou vle
Ou gen yon non fanmi ou pote, sonje
Kalandriye ou ap pran dife
Semenn ou chaje varyete, manman
Chik Chek Chok
Konsa lavi foise ou woule
Le m' gade ou mwen ka we nan ki soufrans ou ye
Gen de fwa ou rete ou made pou ou pat egziste
Le m'realize Chik Chek Chok se chwa pa w li ye
O baby girl ou pran nan cho
Le chik paret, se li lasosyete aksepte
Li fe fyete papi, li fe bone manmi
Le Chek antre li pran ou mennen ou aletranje
Pou ou al achete kolye kelkanswa kote ou ta vle
Le Chok met pye tout tanperaman ou chanje
Se li ou prefere menm ke li pa posede
Ou bezwen bon lovin' se ave l' ou komonike
Ou menm pare pare pare pou ou ba l' yon ti bebe
Sa se story yon bel tifi
Pwoblem lavi fe l' mal aji
Gad jan li mele, Gad jan li mele
Li mete ou anba volan an
L'ap pwomennen ou nan tout salon
Figi ou mare met kach atè
Mwen pap pran chek san pwovizyon
Ou resevwa li tout jan
Chak vandredi Chok desevis
Depi ou ave l' ke ou kontan
Ou anpenpan, kalandriye ou chaje
Kalandrye ou ap pran dife
Semenn ou chaje varyete
Manman Chik Chek Chok
Konsa lavi fose ou woule
Chak jou ou leve ou gen yon nouvo gid manman
Li fose ou boule
Ou pap janm rete ou pa fonksyone manman
Li fose ou boule
Fok ou fe yon jan pote yon chanjman manman
Li fose ou boule
Mwen konnen lavi a pa fasil manman
Li fose ou boule
Kalandrye ou ap pran dife
Semenn ou chaje varyete
Manman Chik Chek Chok
Konsa lavi fose ou woule
The song "Le Songe de Marie" by Tete is about a beautiful girl who is causing problems in her life. The lyrics suggest that she is promiscuous and not a good person, but her father wants to know the truth about her actions. The lyrics also describe how life can be difficult and forces people to burn out in different ways. The chorus repeats the words "Chik Chek Chok," which represent the cycle of life and how it never stops moving forward.
The song is interesting because it uses Haitian Creole, a language spoken in Haiti, mixed with French, which is the official language. The use of different languages in the same song makes it unique and diverse. Additionally, the song has a catchy beat, making it enjoyable to listen to, despite the heavy message. The lyrics discuss important themes, such as societal pressures and expectations, and the difficulty of navigating life's challenges. The repetition of the phrase "Kalandriye ou ap pran dife" highlights the idea that life is always changing, and people need to be ready for anything.
Another fascinating aspect of the song is that it has a religious undertone. The lyrics suggest that people need to make changes and be better, which aligns with religious ideals. The song also acknowledges that life is not always easy, and sometimes people struggle to keep moving forward. Lastly, the song is interesting because it highlights the complex nature of life, how it is a mixture of ups and downs, and how people must make the most of what they have and strive to be better.
Chords:
Unfortunately, the chords for this song are not available at this time.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah! Monche tifi a pa bon non, papa
Oh! My girl is not good, dad
Definitivman, manmzel se yon devegonde
Definitely, she's a slut
Manmzel pa bon man
She's not a good person
Poutan papa, ban m' ba ou story a byen
But dad, let me tell you the truth
Sa se story Yon bel tifi
This is the story of a beautiful girl
Pwoblem lavi fe l' mal aji
Life's problems make her act badly
Sa se yon ti fanm bo
She's a beautiful young woman
Lakay mwen Fe l' mal aji
At my place, she acts up
Gade yon mon l'ap monte Sa se story
Look at the mountain she's climbing, that's the story
Sa pi red ke mon Tapyon
That's more complicated than Mount Everest
Yon bel tifi, Nou pap bay manti
A beautiful girl, we won't lie
Eben men verite a
But, here's the truth
Lavi ou cheri gen twa chapit
Your beloved life has three chapters
Triloji sa a tounen yon vis
This trilogy is becoming a vision
Dimanch ou se pou misye Chic
Sunday is for Mr. Chic
Chik Chek Chok
Tick Tock Dance Beat
Le mekredi se misye Chek
Wednesday is for Mr. Chek
Li pase chache ou nan yon tetbef
He comes looking for you in a hideout
Wout ou jou sa a tou dwat labank
Your path that day goes straight to the bank
Ou mete wob a volan w
You put your hand on the wheel
L'ap pwomennen ou nan tout salon
He'll take you on a joyride through all the clubs
Se misye Chik, figi ou mare, met kach atè
It's Mr. Chic that has you trapped, cover your face, put you down
Mwen pap pran chek san pwovizyon
I won't take a check without a guarantee
Le vendredi se misye Chok
Friday is Mr. Chok's day
Se li k' mache nan santiman ou
He's the one that walks in your shoes
Pi gwo defo l' afe l' pa bon wo
His biggest mistake is to get involved when he shouldn't
Kalandriye ou ap pran dife
Your calendar is on fire
Semenn ou chaje varyete
Your week is filled with variety
Konsa lavi fose ou boule
That's how life forces you to burn
Ou resevwa li tout jan
You receive it all
Chak vandredi Chok desevis
Every Friday, Chok disobeys
Depi ou ave li ke ou kontan,
Since you have him that pleases you,
Ou anpenppan Ou anpenpan
You're not satisfied, you're never quite satisfied
Ti cheri lavi sa ka toumante ou
This life can turn you around, sweetheart
Ka fe ou fe sa ou pa vle
It can make you do things you don't want to do
Chache pou ou sot nan sa ou ye la
Find a way out of where you are now
Pa bliye sa fanm ou reprezante
Don't forget what woman you represent
Make up mind ou pou konn sa ou vle
Make up your mind to know what you want
Ou gen yon non fanmi ou pote, sonje
You have a family name to carry, remember
Manman Chik Chek Chok
Mommy Tick Tock Dance Beat
Le m' gade ou mwen ka we nan ki soufrans ou ye
When I look at you, I can see your pain
Gen de fwa ou rete ou made pou ou pat egziste
Sometimes you stay hiding so you wouldn't exist
Le m'realize Chik Chek Chok se chwa pa w li ye
When I realize Tick Tock Dance Beat is not your choice
O baby girl ou pran nan cho
Oh baby girl, you're caught in the fire
Le chik paret, se li lasosyete aksepte
When the beater disappears, that's when society accepts
Li fe fyete papi, li fe bone manmi
She makes Papa proud, she's a good mother
Le Chek antre li pran ou mennen ou aletranje
When Chek comes, he takes you away to strange places
Pou ou al achete kolye kelkanswa kote ou ta vle
For you to go buy necklaces wherever you want
Le Chok met pye tout tanperaman ou chanje
When Chok puts his feet in, your whole temperament changes
Se li ou prefere menm ke li pa posede
He's the one you prefer even though he doesn't possess
Ou bezwen bon lovin' se ave l' ou komonike
You need good lovin', communicate it to him
Ou menm pare pare pare pou ou ba l' yon ti bebe
You're ready and willing to give him a baby
Gad jan li mele, Gad jan li mele
Look how he mixed you up, oh look how he mixed you up
Li mete ou anba volan an
He puts you behind the wheel
L'ap pwomennen ou nan tout salon
He takes you on a joyride through all the clubs
Figi ou mare met kach atè
Traps you, covers your face, puts you down
Ou resevwa li tout jan
You receive it all
Chak vandredi Chok desevis
Every Friday, Chok disobeys
Depi ou ave l' ke ou kontan
Since you have him that pleases you
Ou anpenpan, kalandriye ou chaje
You're not satisfied, your calendar is filled up
Chak jou ou leve ou gen yon nouvo gid manman
Every day, you wake up with a new guide, mom
Li fose ou boule
It forces you to burn
Ou pap janm rete ou pa fonksyone manman
You can never stop, mom, or you won't function
Fok ou fe yon jan pote yon chanjman manman
You must do it in a way that brings about a change, mom
Mwen konnen lavi a pa fasil manman
I know life is not easy, mom
Li fose ou boule
It forces you to burn
Kalandrye ou ap pran dife
Your calendar is on fire
Semenn ou chaje varyete
Your week is filled with variety
Manman Chik Chek Chok
Mommy Tick Tock Dance Beat
Konsa lavi fose ou woule
That's how life forces you to spin
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.