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.”
Kreyol Nou Ye
Zenglen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
3 patat de fey lam a legim
Lè manje a pare m'a manje korèk
Ou ou ou ou ouuu...!!!
O way chak peyi k egziste
Gen on lang yo ka pale
Konsa gen plizyè depatman
Se toujou menm lang lan(wayayo)
Nou menm antiyè n se kreyòl ooò.
S'on lang ti djòl gwo djòl òòl...
Nou ganyen plizyè depatman
Yo chak ka palel yon jan
Men se menm man parèyman aw aw aw aw
Made poukisa m'konplekse (hmm)
Mwen pa sa jwen fyète eeee...
M fè sa m' rive pòtoprens
M te mèt sot an pwovens
Aksan m' gentan chanje (same blood o Kongo)
Mwen di zanmi m' pa kritike m'(yeah)
Poutèt ou ka chareee... m'.
Sa son pwoblèm ti lèspri
Mou ki pa konprann lavi aaa...
Si m' wèw ka farouchem
Pa chare mwen rololoy.
Pa chare mwen
Pa pa pa pa farouche m non non non
pa farouche mwen
Pa charem pa charem pa charem
Pa chare mwen
Non non non non non pa farouchem
Pa farouche mwen
No no no no no no ne no no
Ya na ne ne na o no ya na na na o no no no.
Butus chate ankò frè ranm.
Matinik gwadloup nou rive
Giyàn medam yo ap chante
Zenglen pe dous zenglen pe dous
Chantee...
Zenglen pe dous zenglen pe dous
Apre sa nou fon rive pòtoprens
Tande de moun kap fon diskisyon
Gad figi misye (lòt la dil) adye bondye
Gad figi misye (gad figi misye)
Nan pòtpe m' te rive madanm nan di mwen konsa
Manj'on ti diri m' gon bay pou m diw
Manj'on ti diri
Apresa m rive nan kap ayisyen mesye yo move
Kite fanm an m la pa manyen y
Met afè ranm la m bèzwen y
Pa pale a key pa pale a key
Pa farouche y tande
Kite fanm an m la pa manyen y
(Se nèg tankou Richie)
Met afè ranm la m bèzwen y
(Nèg jalou ou...)
Pa pale a key pa pale a key
Mwen di pa chare mwen tande
Pa chare mwen
Pa pa pa pa farouche mwen non
pa farouche mwen
Wo yalalele We eeee...
Ouu...
Ayisyen yo (ayisyen yo)
Antiyè yo (antiyè yo)
Ayisyen yo oooo.
Antiyè yo yo yo yo oooo.
Manman nou se afrika
Fo pa nou bliye sa aaaa
Se kreyòl ke nou ye fo pa nou konplekse
Se kreyòl nou ye nou ye fo pa nou bliye chante.
Oooooooo (same blood o) se kreyòl nou ye eeee
Na dijwe na
Oooooooo (a dwed love conga a) se kreyòl nou ye oooo
Mwen di piga chare m
Pa chare mwen
Pa farouche mwen
pa farouche mwen
Mwen di piga chare eee m
Piga chare m
Pa farouche mwen
Mwen di piga chare mwen
Piga charem
Pa farouche mwen
Pa farouche m'
Ayisyen yo (ayisyen yo)
Antiyè yo (antiyè yo)
Ayisyen yo oooo.
Antiyè yo yo yo yo oooo.
Manman nou se afrika
The lyrics of Zenglen's song Kreyol Nou Ye are about the pride of being Haitian and speaking Haitian Creole. The opening lines talk about buying plantains and preparing a vegetable dish called legim. The singer then expresses admiration for the diversity of languages spoken in different countries but emphasizes that all Haitians speak the same language, Kreyol. The chorus repeats the phrase "pa chare mwen," which means "don't judge me," and encourages listeners not to be ashamed of their identity or language.
The song goes on to reference the singer's journey from the countryside to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and his struggle with feelings of inferiority. He remembers being criticized by friends for his accent and trying to distance himself from his rural roots. But as he meets more Haitians from different regions and backgrounds, he realizes that they are all united by their shared language and culture.
The final verses of the song celebrate Haiti's African heritage and honor the strong women who have shaped the country's history. The singer encourages listeners to embrace their identity and not let anyone make them feel small or ashamed.
Overall, "Kreyol Nou Ye" is a powerful anthem of Haitian pride and resilience, celebrating the shared language and culture that unites the country's people despite their differences.
Line by Line Meaning
Machann banm de bannann kochon
The vendor gives me a bunch of plantain and smoked pork belly
3 patat de fey lam a legim
He also gives me three sweet potatoes with a side of garden veggies
Lè manje a pare m'a manje korèk
When the meal is ready, I'll eat it all without any restraint
Ou ou ou ou ouuu...!!!
Expressing enthusiasm with a series of 'ou's
O way chak peyi k egziste
Every country has its own unique identity
Gen on lang yo ka pale
There's a language spoken there
Konsa gen plizyè depatman
Each department has its own dialect
Chak ka pale l yon jan
But they're all part of the same language
Se toujou menm lang lan(wayayo)
It's always the same language (creole)
Nou menm antiyè n se kreyòl ooò.
We in the Antilles are Creole
S'on lang ti djòl gwo djòl òòl...
A language for both the young and the old
Nou ganyen plizyè depatman
We have many departments
Yo chak ka palel yon jan
And each one speaks the same way
Men se menm man parèyman aw aw aw aw
But it's all the same in the end
Made poukisa m'konplekse (hmm)
Why am I feeling insecure?
Mwen pa sa jwen fyète eeee...
I can't seem to find pride in myself
M fè sa m' rive pòtoprens
I did what I had to do to get to Port-au-Prince
M te mèt sot an pwovens
But I initially came from the provinces
Aksan m' gentan chanje (same blood o Kongo)
My accent has already changed (due to the same ancestry)
Mwen di zanmi m' pa kritike m'(yeah)
I told my friends not to judge me
Poutèt ou ka chareee... m'.
Because it makes me feel uncomfortable
Sa son pwoblèm ti lèspri
That's a problem with a narrow mind
Mou ki pa konprann lavi aaa...
For those who don't understand life
Si m' wèw ka farouchem
If I see that you're hostile
Pa chare mwen rololoy.
Don't make me become aggressive
Pa chare mwen
Don't make me
Pa pa pa pa farouche m non non non
Don't make me aggressive
pa farouche mwen
Don't make me become hostile
Pa charem pa charem pa charem
Don't make me become aggressive
Non non non non non pa farouchem
No, don't make me become hostile
Ya na ne ne na o no ya na na na o no no no.
Expressing feelings of joy with various sounds
Butus chate ankò frè ranm.
Talking about a mutual acquaintance (Butus)
Matinik gwadloup nou rive
From Martinique and Guadeloupe, we've arrived
Giyàn medam yo ap chante
Women from French Guiana are singing
Zenglen pe dous zenglen pe dous
Zenglen's music is sweet
Chantee...
Sing..
Zenglen pe dous zenglen pe dous
Zenglen's music is sweet
Apre sa nou fon rive pòtoprens
After that, we finally arrived in Port-au-Prince
Tande de moun kap fon diskisyon
Hear people chatting noisily
Gad figi misye (lòt la dil) adye bondye
Look at that man's face, the other one says (God help him)
Gad figi misye (gad figi misye)
Look at that man's face
Nan pòtpe m' te rive madanm nan di mwen konsa
At the gate, a lady said to me like this
Manj'on ti diri m' gon bay pou m diw
Here's a plate of rice to tell you
Apresa m rive nan kap ayisyen mesye yo move
Later, I arrived at the hands of some grumpy Haitian men
Kite fanm an m la pa manyen y
Leave the woman, I'm not touching her
Met afè ranm la m bèzwen y
I have business to attend to
Pa pale a key pa pale a key
Don't speak in creole like that
Pa farouche y tande
Don't be hostile, ok?
Pa chare mwen
Don't make me
Mwen di pa chare mwen tande
I said don't make me aggressive
Pa pa pa pa farouche mwen non
Don't make me become hostile
pa farouche mwen
Don't make me aggressive
Wo yalalele We eeee...
An exclamation of surprise or admiration
Ayisyen yo (ayisyen yo)
Haitians (Haitians)
Antiyè yo (antiyè yo)
In the Antilles (In the Antilles)
Ayisyen yo oooo.
Haitians, yeah!
Antiyè yo yo yo yo oooo.
In the Antilles, yeah!
Manman nou se afrika
Our mothers are from Africa
Fo pa nou bliye sa aaaa
We must not forget that
Se kreyòl ke nou ye fo pa nou konplekse
We are Creole, we must not be insecure
Se kreyòl nou ye nou ye fo pa nou bliye chante.
We are Creole, we must not forget to sing
Oooooooo (same blood o) se kreyòl nou ye eeee
Expressing pride in being Creole
Na dijwe na
Let's say it
Oooooooo (a dwed love conga a) se kreyòl nou ye oooo
We are Creole, yeah!
Piga chare m
Don't make me aggressive
Piga chare mwen
Don't make me be aggressive
Piga charem
Don't make me aggressive
Pa farouche mwen
Don't make me hostile
Pa farouche m'
Don't make me become hostile
Ayisyen yo (ayisyen yo)
Haitians (Haitians)
Antiyè yo (antiyè yo)
In the Antilles (In the Antilles)
Ayisyen yo oooo.
Haitians, yeah!
Antiyè yo yo yo yo oooo.
In the Antilles, yeah!
Manman nou se afrika
Our mothers are from Africa
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@noelbidowel7766
Zenglen classique, Richie Brutus son phénomène.🔥🔥
@dawenslyguerrier1834
Le plus grand maestro de la nouvelle generation
@rodriguejerome3356
Si wap koute music sa nan ané 2020 toujou just like this comment
@rednaxelaj1313
Mai 2021
@gimwell89
i heart this song, been listeningto this all week! bon bagay! Zenglen 4 life! Gracia days! i miss those days
@mettotlombonjan4647
Si wap koute mizik sa an 2019 la banm yon like please
@kenndystfleur7772
Map tjrs tandel tout tan,.nou la bro
@djenwenduma6633
sa te bon vre lè map tande an sien mizik sa yo mwen sonje lontan
@AloufaGrandpa
Le beau vieux temps🇭🇹😢
@4marseille512
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