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.”
Kafé Anmè
Zenglen Lyrics
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Lè l vle l glise kou kalalou
Nan prese vale
Dèfwa m pa menm pran gou l
Ke m gen tò ke m gen rezon
Mwen mande padon
M finn fè gwo kòlè
Aprè tout sa l vle m fè
Yon lanmou ale vini
Men m trouve m nan siveye fi
Lè l soti pa gen dòmi
Tann m ap tann pòt la louvri
Lanmou sa pa nan rans
Gad jan li lage m san defans
Manti ou verite
Tout sa yo di m m pa wè m pa tande
Zanmi pawòl pa pou ou
Sak te di m tonbe damou
Pito m t achte l ak dola
M pat met tèt mwen nan traka sa
Yon lanmou ale vini
Menm trouve m nan siveye fi
Lè l soti pa gen dòmi
Tann m ap tann pòt la louvri
Zenglen lifetime guarantee tout tan
Cheri si'w paka pote'm pa trennen'm
Woy woy woy
Tankou kafe anmè ke m ap fòse bwè
Kòmsi m t ap dòmi je klè
Yon bann vye rèv m ap fè nan chache paradi sou tè
Men se ou mwen wè
Tankou kafe anmè ke m ap fòse bwè
Kòmsi m t ap dòmi je klè
Yon bann vye rèv m ap fè nan chache paradi sou tè
Men se ou mwen wè
Nan kisa m pran la
Lanmou sa tankou EDH
Pa konn kilè y ap bay
Kilè y ap pran l
Se pandan w ap pran ti filing
Epi yo koupe l sanzatann
It's like a heart beat skip
It's like a one-way trip
I feel like taking chances
I feel like going crazy
Tankou kafe anmè
Ke m ap fòse bwè
Kòmsi m t ap dòmi je klè
Yon bann vye rèv m ap fè
Chache paradi sou tè
Men se ou mwen wè
Tankou kafe anmè
Ke m ap fòse bwè
Kòmsi m t ap dòmi je klè
Yon bann vye rèv m ap fè
Chache paradi sou tè
Men se ou mwen wè
Nan kisa m pran la
Lanmou sa tankou EDH
Pa konn kilè y ap bay
Kilè y ap pran l
Se pandan w ap pran ti filing
Epi yo koupe l sanzatann
It's like a heartbeat skip
It's like a one-way trip
I feel like taking chances
I feel like going crazy
Woy woy woy
The lyrics to Zenglen's song "Kafé Anmè" explore the complexities of love and relationships. The singer expresses that love can be heavy and overwhelming, comparing it to the weight of kalalou (a traditional Haitian dish) that wants to sink him down. Despite this, he feels the need to quickly embrace love and not miss out on its joys, even if he sometimes struggles to fully enjoy it. He acknowledges his own flaws and regrets, asking for forgiveness for his past mistakes and outbursts of anger. The singer also reflects on the fleeting nature of love, how it can come and go unexpectedly, and the anticipation of waiting for love to return like waiting for the door to open.
The lyrics further emphasize that true love is not superficial or based on appearances. The singer separates lies from truth, suggesting that he does not believe or pay attention to what others say about him or his relationships. He values genuine friendship and rejects the idea that shallow words of love can easily sway his emotions. He compares love to a lifetime guarantee from Zenglen, indicating that it should be enduring and reliable.
Overall, the lyrics of "Kafé Anmè" convey the singer's desire for love, his struggles with vulnerability, and his recognition of the transient nature of relationships. It portrays a complex and introspective perspective on love, where the singer seeks forgiveness, yearns for lasting love, and navigates the challenges and uncertainties that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Lanmou sa lou
This love is heavy
Lè l vle l glise kou kalalou
When it wants to escape like okra
Nan prese vale
In a hurry
Dèfwa m pa menm pran gou l
Sometimes I don't even enjoy it
Ke m gen tò ke m gen rezon
Even though I have my doubts and reasons
Mwen mande padon
I ask for forgiveness
M finn fè gwo kòlè
I have been filled with anger
Aprè tout sa l vle m fè
After everything it wants me to do
Yon lanmou ale vini
A love comes and goes
Men m trouve m nan siveye fi
But I find myself guarding it
Lè l soti pa gen dòmi
When it's gone, there's no sleep
Tann m ap tann pòt la louvri
Waiting for the door to open
Lanmou sa pa nan rans
This love is not in order
Gad jan li lage m san defans
Look how it left me defenseless
Manti ou verite
Whether it's lies or truth
Tout sa yo di m m pa wè m pa tande
All they say, I don't see or hear
Zanmi pawòl pa pou ou
Friend, words are not for you
Sak te di m tonbe damou
What they said made me fall in love
Pito m t achte l ak dola
I'd rather buy it with dollars
M pat met tèt mwen nan traka sa
I didn't get myself into this mess
Zenglen lifetime guarantee tout tan
Zenglen's lifetime guarantee forever
Cheri si'w paka pote'm pa trennen'm
Darling, if you can't carry me, don't drag me
Woy woy woy
Ah ah ah
Tankou kafe anmè ke m ap fòse bwè
Like bitter coffee that I'm forcing to drink
Kòmsi m t ap dòmi je klè
As if I'm sleeping with my eyes open
Yon bann vye rèv m ap fè nan chache paradi sou tè
Chasing old dreams for paradise on earth
Men se ou mwen wè
But it's you I see
Nan kisa m pran la
What I'm getting from this
Lanmou sa tankou EDH
This love is like the electric company (EDH)
Pa konn kilè y ap bay
Don't know when they will give
Kilè y ap pran l
When they will take it
Se pandan w ap pran ti filing
It's while you're catching little feelings
Epi yo koupe l sanzatann
And they cut it suddenly
It's like a heart beat skip
It's like a skipped heartbeat
It's like a one-way trip
It's like a one-way trip
I feel like taking chances
I feel like taking chances
I feel like going crazy
I feel like going crazy
Lyrics © B.E. RELATIONS PUBLISHING, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jean Brutus Derissaint
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind