It was the 80’s, a quiet suburb of Port-au-Prince, where thr… Read Full Bio ↴ZENGLEN
It was the 80’s, a quiet suburb of Port-au-Prince, where three friends who were destined to make history in Haitian music met. Every afternoon, a young Brutus would sit on his front porch and play the guitar. Garry Didier Perez, and his friend Patrick Martineau, often noticed him and one day invited him to come over Patrick’s house. They would meet every afternoon to listen to all genres of music and interpret their favorites. During one of their rehearsals, some beer bottles fell off an amplifier that was vibrating and shattered into a million pieces. The guys laughed at the fact that Patrick would have a hard time cleaning up the many tiny pieces off the granulated floor. They all exclaimed ZENGLEN (which means tiny pieces of broken glass) and from that day on this was their band's name.
In 1989, the trio recorded "Koule Tan" (the color of time). Once completed, they took some tapes to several radio stations where hosts and listeners would become fans and fall in love.
Zenglen became one of the wonders of the early 1990’s as they released the hit song "Fidel" off of the album "An Nou Alèz." In the song the band said that “change” is never easy and always faces obstacles, and resistance, but that they pledge to remain faithful (Fidel) to their mission which is to improve and modernize the Konpa rhythm.
The Konpa world was introduced to their new found stars like the guitarist and singer Brutus Derissaint and the lead singer Gary Didier Perez among others. In the song "Fidel" the band said: "Sé konsa se konsa se konsa la vi ya ye lè ou vle met chanjman reziztans tèt chaje." Unfortunately after a U.S tour most of the band’s members abandoned ship and the band broke up into pieces like a real Zenglen.
In Miami Brutus never stop caressing the dream of keeping some of the pieces alive and had moved on with some attempts like the Zenglen Plus and a few solo albums in the 1990’s. Many musicians tried to help him to collect the pieces, but they often moved with their own projects like the creation of the band D-Zine. Nevertheless Brutus never lost faith and still remained fidèl (Faithful) to his mission by hiring more talented musicians each and every time. At the end of the century the acquisition of the drummer Richard Herard (Richie) and then singer Gracia Delva took Zenglen to the level of a very competitive Konpa band in the demanding market as they released the album "Easy Konpa" with nothing but major hits song that were going to move the band to the front burner of the industry. Ever since that time Zenglen hasn’t looked back despite the so many changes of personnel that occurred.
The album "Easy Konpa" was introduced to the public with the release of the video of the hit song "5 Dwèt" which boosted Zenglen to the top of the konpa scene. The song "B.S Productions" got the attention of the public as the song talk about unqualified show producers damaging the reputation of the bands. On that same album the band touched some subjects until then taboo as they talked about lesbians in the society in the song "Flannè Femèl" and drug used in the song "Ti Poud."
In the following years Zenglen continued to amaze the Konpa fans all over the world with the releases of the albums "Let It Groove," "Do It Right," "5 Etwal." The latest album, "5eme Vites," sung by current lead vocalist Kenny Desmangles, touches subjects on society, relationships with top notch konpa, and proved again why critics have praised them as the Konpa University.
Over the years the Konpa observers have seen broken pieces that continued to break in even more pieces, but the band remains solid and true to their mission: Zenglen doesn’t change…Zenglen improve. Like they often say in their songs “Sé pa changé nou changé, se pi bon’n vin’n pi bon.”
Dance in the Dark
Zenglen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sure! I'd love to!
Je t'invite a danser avec moi (Ça va)
Tient ma main lage ko'w sou mwen.
Ne bouge pas, c'est bien chaud comme ça.
Ne bouge pas, c'est bien chaud comme ça.
I like the way you move!
Yeaaahhhhhh!! Ooooooohhhhh!!
Ou son du zouk et du konpa (Ça va)
Deye devan ti pa ti pa.
To the beat of the track,
Lets dance in the dark.
To the beat of the track,
Lets dance in the dark.
To the dance floor, get loose get down
Baby lets dance in the dark
Fe li anko kenbe'm pi fo
Tet kole!
Just having fun, pretend we're all alone
Baby lets dance in the dark
Ti pa ti pa cest bien comme ça
Sere sere
Mwen pake reziste.
Souf mwen ape koupe.
Le rattement de nos corp s'affolent,
Et je perd tout controle.
Mpa konn kisa'm poum ta di,
Dekri yon bel kreati.
Ni kisa poum ta ofri,
Pou bal la pa fini.
To the dance floor, get loose get down
Baby lets dance in the dark
Fe li anko kenbe'm pi fo
Tet kole!
Just having fun, pretend we're all alone
Baby lets dance in the dark
Ti pa ti pa cest bien comme ça
Sere sere
Ou kole sou mwen! Et mwen kole sou ou!
Cheri!!!
An fel anko! Sere'm pi fo! Fon we anko!
To the beat of the track!
Baby lets dance in the dark!
Danse danse avek moi!
Que bonito! Bailaro!
It means so much to me!
Slowly baby not too fast!
Hold me close, hold me tight!
Danse danse avec moi!
Que bonito! Bailaro!
To the dance floor, get loose get down
Baby lets dance in the dark
Fe li anko kenbe'm pi fo
Tet kole!
Just having fun, pretend we're all alone
Baby lets dance in the dark
Ti pa ti pa cest bien comme ça
Sere sere
To the beat of the track!
Baby lets dance in the dark!
Danse danse avek moi!
Que bonito! Bailaro!
It means so much to me!
Slowly baby not too fast!
Hold me close, hold me tight!
Danse danse avec moi!
Que bonito! Bailaro!
An fel anko! Sere'm pi fo! Fon we anko!
The song "Dance in the Dark" by Zenglen is a romantic zouk and konpa song with elements of R&B. The lyrics tell the story of a couple dancing together in the dark and enjoying each other's company. The song starts with the invitation to dance, asking "can I dance with you love?" The next line, "Je t'invite a danser avec moi (Ça va)," translates to "I invite you to dance with me (alright)," with the chorus repeating "to the beat of the track, let's dance in the dark."
As the song progresses, the tempo increases, and the couple's dance becomes more passionate. The singer "loses all control" and describes the "beating of our bodies" becoming more intense. The song ends with the repetition of "Danse danse avec moi! Que bonito! Bailaro!" which translates to "Dance with me, how beautiful! Let's dance!"
Overall, "Dance in the Dark" is a romantic and sensual song that celebrates the joy of dancing with someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Can I dance with you love?
Aspiring to dance, asking for permission to dance.
Sure! I'd love to!
Consenting readily to the request.
Je t'invite a danser avec moi (Ça va)
Inviting you to dance, are you okay?
Tient ma main lage ko'w sou mwen.
Take my hand and wrap your arms around me.
Ne bouge pas, c'est bien chaud comme ça.
Stay still, this feels just right.
Ooooooohhhhh!!
Expressing pleasure and excitement.
I like the way you move!
Appreciating the partner's dancing style.
Yeaaahhhhhh!! Ooooooohhhhh!!
Overflowing with joy and enthusiasm.
Ou son du zouk et du konpa (Ça va)
You are into zouk and konpa, right?
Deye devan ti pa ti pa.
Behind or in front, just dance slowly.
To the beat of the track,
Dancing in sync with the music.
Lets dance in the dark.
Dancing without lights, just feeling the rhythm.
To the dance floor, get loose get down
Going to the dance floor and letting go.
Baby lets dance in the dark
Inviting the partner to dance without lights.
Fe li anko kenbe'm pi fo
Holding tight, let's dance again but stronger.
Tet kole!
Touching each other closely, sticking together.
Just having fun, pretend we're all alone
Having fun without worrying about watching eyes.
Ti pa ti pa cest bien comme ça
Slow and steady is good.
Sere sere
Close, stick together.
Mwen pake reziste.
I can't resist.
Souf mwen ape koupe.
My breath is being cut short.
Le rattement de nos corp s'affolent,
Our bodies' beating is overwhelming.
Et je perd tout controle.
And I'm losing all control.
Mpa konn kisa'm poum ta di,
I don't know what to say.
Dekri yon bel kreati.
Describing something beautiful.
Ni kisa poum ta ofri,
I have nothing to offer.
Pou bal la pa fini.
So that the dance won't end.
Ou kole sou mwen! Et mwen kole sou ou!
You embrace me! And I embrace you!
Cheri!!!
Honey!!!
An fel anko! Sere'm pi fo! Fon we anko!
Let's be happy again! Hold me tighter! Do it again!
Danse danse avek moi!
Dance with me!
Que bonito! Bailaro!
How beautiful! Let's dance!
It means so much to me!
It carries great significance for me!
Slowly baby not too fast!
Moving slowly and leisurely.
Hold me close, hold me tight!
Holding each other intimately.
An fel anko! Sere'm pi fo! Fon we anko!
Let's be happy again! Hold me tighter! Do it again!
Contributed by Evelyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.