In 1977, at the age of ten, Madiko became the conductor of the group Kwa Kwassi, which means "think right". This musical formation brought together the most talented youngsters in the village, who received instruction together in history and art.
In 1987, once more, Wes started to enjoy musical night of the Wouri riverbanks. He was impatient to get back in touch with the Moutaba spirit, to promote bafoun-bantou tradition and returned to the home of his ancestors. He revived the Kwa Kwassi orchestra and embarked on a tour in Bafoun country. A group of tourists turned up, and were all bewitched by the music, including a young woman from Lille, France. And so Wes set off for Europe, with his kalimba under his arm.
In 1988, the group Fakol with Benjamin Valfroy and Jo Sene was formed. Fakol played in the Netherlands and in other countries throughout Europe. Aside from his musical activity, Wes started to develop an involvement in social work. He visited schools in Lille, and worked with children. Wes took great pleasure in transmitting the wisdom of the elephants and the ancient history of Africa.
Two years after, Jacques, Wes's brother and a talented guitarist, died. Their father died a few months later, following a motorbike accident. These incidents led Wes to meditate on the fragility of the self, saying: "there comes a time when a feeling of uselessness invades you and threatens to break you, but you hang in there, convinced that there's always a breath of life somewhere."
In 1992 Wes traveled to the US and released the album Roots. During this tour, he gave concerts in Atlanta, Georgia.
In this period Wes also met Michel Sanchez of Deep Forest, and they immediately formed an artistic collaboration, starting work on the album Welenga, which means "Universal Conscience". In 1996 Wes signed with Sony Music France to release Welenga. Thus Wes became one of the first stars of the group Deep Forest. He gave concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, in Japan, Hungary, Poland, and Prague. The French TV channel TF1 called Alane the summer song of the year 1997.
From 1997 on Wes performed a G7 concert with Deep Forest in Lyon, France, and is known as a multitalented artist whose music enriches the world, as well for his humanuity as an individual concerned with the plight of children and those less fortunate in the world.
Wes is the first African artist with a recording going diamond. At the 10th Anniversary of the World Music Awards in Monaco, presided over by Prince Albert, Wes received the Award for best record sale of the year by an African artist (May 6, 1998). In the same year he performed I love Football for the FIFA World Cup in France. Another album, Sinami (The Memory) was released in 2000.
In 2002, Paramount Pictures invited Wes to perform in the movie The Wild Thornberry, and his song Awa Awa was on the soundtrack. This song was also included in the soundtracks for the German movies Falsche Partner and Ein Fall Fuer Zwei. Alane was used in the German films Zahn Um Zahn and Aus Heiterem Himmel.
In 2007, Wes was working on a new biography and spiritual book. He also released a new album, Melowe, in 2010.
In 2020, German DJ Robin Schulz released a remix of Alane which enjoyed commercial success in Europe.
Wes Madiko passed away in a hospital in Alençon during the night from June 25–26 2021, aged 57.
It's My Life
Wes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You couldn't see you were choking me and I took all that I could take
Now we've separated you've become so jaded, you're looking for someone to blame
Introspective self-reflection you don't get it it's such a shame
So now you're on your own
What are you gonna do?
Whatever the fuck you want but I won't be doing it too
You can do whatever with your life
And I won't speak badly of your friends
Or the people that you surround
But if you're looking for a shoulder
When you're feeling down
It's your life
Not mine
I saw a shell that looked just like you on the street the other day
I couldn't recognise behind the eyes so I turned and walked away
We used to laugh at sheep, how did you get so weak? You're not the person I used to know
Hanging out with assholes in the places we used to go
So now you're on your own
What became of you?
Whatever the fuck you want to be, I won't guide you through
You can do whatever with your life
I won't make a sound
And I won't speak badly of your friends
Or the people that you surround
But if you're looking for a shoulder
When you're feeling down
It's your life
Not mine
So you don't get to call me in the middle of the night
When your new best friend turns nasty and you get into a fight
And you don't get to guilt me or twist me into shame
Your number's been rejected, and your opinions I'll do the same
I can do whatever with my life
And you don't get to decide
And only I will be the master
Of what I do with my time
And I'll choose very carefully who I put at my side
Cause it's my life
It's my life
The lyrics of Wes's song "It's My Life" delve into the aftermath of a toxic relationship and the singer's determination to break free and reclaim their own life. The opening lines suggest that the relationship had become suffocating and detrimental to both parties involved, leading them to part ways. The singer expresses their frustration towards their former partner's inability to understand how their actions affected them, emphasizing a lack of self-awareness.
The chorus reinforces the singer's newfound independence and refusal to be influenced by their ex-partner's choices or opinions. They assert that their ex can live their own life freely, but it won't have any impact on the singer's decisions or actions. Despite this, the singer claims not to speak poorly of their ex or the people they surround themselves with, aiming to maintain a level of maturity and respect.
In the second verse, the singer encounters their ex on the street but feels alienated from who they once were. They reflect on how their ex has seemingly changed, associating with negative influences and deviating from their previous shared experiences. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's detachment and refusal to guide or influence their ex's choices.
The bridge emphasizes the singer's empowerment and refusal to be manipulated or controlled by their ex. They establish boundaries by rejecting their ex's attempts to reach out, disregarding their guilt-trips and attempts to shame them. The singer asserts their autonomy and the importance of making their own decisions without interference.
The final chorus reinforces the central theme of the song, with the singer taking ownership of their life. They highlight their ability to determine their own path while being discerning in choosing the people to keep by their side. The lyrics essentially convey a strong message of personal autonomy, refusing to be defined or influenced by a past toxic relationship, and ultimately asserting one's own agency over their life choices.
Line by Line Meaning
What we had was killing us and we went our separate ways
Our relationship was causing harm to both of us, so we decided to end it and pursue different paths.
You couldn't see you were choking me and I took all that I could take
You were unaware of how suffocating our relationship was for me, but I endured it until I reached my limit.
Now we've separated you've become so jaded, you're looking for someone to blame
Since we broke up, you have become bitter and resentful, searching for someone to hold responsible for your dissatisfaction.
Introspective self-reflection you don't get it it's such a shame
You fail to understand the importance of self-examination and reflection, which is truly regrettable.
So now you're on your own
You are now independent and responsible for yourself.
What are you gonna do?
What choices and actions will you make?
Whatever the fuck you want but I won't be doing it too
You are free to do whatever you desire, but I will not be joining you in those pursuits.
You can do whatever with your life
You have the liberty to make choices and live your life as you please.
I won't make a sound
I will remain silent and not interfere.
And I won't speak badly of your friends
I will refrain from speaking negatively about your friends.
Or the people that you surround
I will not criticize or judge the individuals you choose to associate with.
But if you're looking for a shoulder when you're feeling down
However, if you seek someone to lean on during your moments of sadness,
It's your life
Remember, it is your life to navigate and make choices in.
Not mine
I am no longer involved or responsible for your decisions and actions.
I saw a shell that looked just like you on the street the other day
I spotted someone who resembled you, but they appeared empty and devoid of the person I once knew.
I couldn't recognise behind the eyes so I turned and walked away
Unable to see the familiar essence within their gaze, I chose to walk away.
We used to laugh at sheep, how did you get so weak? You're not the person I used to know
We once found amusement in ridiculing conformity, so how did you become so feeble? You have changed from the person I once knew.
Hanging out with assholes in the places we used to go
You now spend time with unpleasant individuals in the same locations we used to frequent together.
What became of you?
What has happened to the person you once were?
Whatever the fuck you want to be, I won't guide you through
You can strive to become whatever you wish, but I will not be there to support or lead you.
So you don't get to call me in the middle of the night
You no longer have the privilege to contact me during the late hours.
When your new best friend turns nasty and you get into a fight
If your newfound closest companion becomes aggressive towards you and you find yourself in a conflict,
And you don't get to guilt me or twist me into shame
Furthermore, you cannot manipulate or shame me into feeling guilty.
Your number's been rejected, and your opinions I'll do the same
I have blocked your number and will also dismiss your opinions.
I can do whatever with my life
I have the freedom to make choices and shape my own life.
And you don't get to decide
You no longer have the authority to determine or influence my decisions.
And only I will be the master
Only I have control and authority over my own life.
Of what I do with my time
I am the sole arbiter of how I allocate and spend my time.
And I'll choose very carefully who I put at my side
I will exercise great caution in selecting those whom I allow into my inner circle.
Cause it's my life
Because it is my life to shape and navigate.
It's my life
This phrase reinforces the idea that the individual is in control of their own life and decisions.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Simon Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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