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.”
Li Lè Li Tan-2018
Zenglen Lyrics
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Toujou anlè menm bato a
Konsyantizasyon n ap chante sa lontan
Men nou ap fè bak olye nou fè avan
Si n pa rekonsillye vre pi devan
Y ap bann plis non pote
Konsyantizasyon n ap chante sa lontan
Men nou ap fè bak olye nou fè avan
Ann pa fè wont sèvi kòlè
Rele sou kò nou pito
Nou pot tout non tout move non
Nou paka repete, pitit nou paka tande
Nou fè listwa kòm gwo nasyon
Nou te kòmanse byen
Pouki nou pa vle fini byen
Konsyantizasyon n ap chante sa lontan
Men nou ap fè bak olye nou fè avan
Li lè li tan pou n chanje konpòtman
Konsyantizasyon n ap chante sa lontan
Men nou ap fè bak olye nou fè avan
Anmwe anmwe
Rele anmwe nou ka kriye
Rasanble pote kole
Men pa fè kòlè sèvi wont je
Diyite nou genyen fòk nou sove
Olye n estomake
Korije kaye n pito
Kou sa p ap pase
Aaa bon l pase deja
Kou sa p ap pase
Fòn fè efò pou l pa pase ankò
Kou sa p ap pase
Jodia yo rele l S H Ayiti
Yon pèp k ap mache bay 4H
Kolon sa yo kanpe kinalaganach
N oblije ap fè listwa pou yo
N oblije rale liv yo
N ap mande pou fè tradwi mizik sila pou yo
Pou fè konnen jan nou te ede Etazini pran lendepandans
Jodia yo rele l S H Ayiti
Yon pèp k ap mache bay 4H
Kolon sa yo kanpe kinalaganach
Ayisyen yo si nou estomake
Sa se yon wake up call
Si nou tap dòmi leve
Pa gen anyen ke n te fè n pa ka refè
Ayiti te perle des Antilles
Nou p ap vin pran move konsiy
Se devwa n pou n pwoteje imaj peyi a
Jodia yo rele l S H Ayiti
Yon pèp k ap mache bay 4H
Kolon sa yo kanpe kinalaganach
The lyrics of Zenglen's song "Li Lè Li Tan" convey a message of consciousness and awakening for the Haitian people. The repetition of the phrase "Konsyantizasyon n ap chante sa lontan" (Consciousness, we have been singing this for a long time) reflects the longing for change and progress. The lyrics encourage moving forward and not dwelling on past mistakes or conflicts. It emphasizes the importance of unity, calling for the people to come together and not let anger and resentment consume them. The song also highlights the need to preserve the dignity and image of Haiti as a nation.
This song serves as a wake-up call for the Haitian society, reminding its people of the historical significance and potential influence they possess. It emphasizes the need to protect and promote the country's image, while also acknowledging the struggles and challenges faced by the Haitian people throughout history. The lyrics mention the role of Haiti in helping the United States gain independence, positioning the country as a proud and resilient nation.
Line by Line Meaning
Toujou anlè menm bato a
Always on the same boat
Konsyantizasyon n ap chante sa lontan
Consciousness has been singing this for a long time
Men nou ap fè bak olye nou fè avan
But we are taking steps back instead of moving forward
Si n pa rekonsillye vre pi devan
If we don't reconcile, progress will be difficult
Y ap bann plis non pote
They will give more than they can handle
Ann pa fè wont sèvi kòlè
Let's not let anger control us
Rele sou kò nou pito
Let's call upon ourselves instead
Nou pot tout non tout move non
We carry all the names, both good and bad
Nou paka repete, pitit nou paka tande
We cannot repeat, our children cannot hear
Nou fè listwa kòm gwo nasyon
We make history as a great nation
Nou te kòmanse byen
We started well
Pouki nou pa vle fini byen
Why don't we want to end well
Anmwe anmwe
Help, help
Rele anmwe nou ka kriye
Call for help so we can cry
Rasanble pote kole
Come together and hold hands
Men pa fè kòlè sèvi wont je
But don't let anger cloud your vision
Diyite nou genyen fòk nou sove
We have dignity that we must preserve
Olye n estomake
Instead of complaining
Korije kaye n pito
Fix our own problems
Kou sa p ap pase
Such things won't happen
Aaa bon l pase deja
Aah, good, it has already passed
Fòn fè efò pou l pa pase ankò
We must make an effort so it doesn't happen again
Jodia yo rele l S H Ayiti
Today they call it S H Haiti
Yon pèp k ap mache bay 4H
A people walking for 4H
Kolon sa yo kanpe kinalaganach
Those colonizers are standing stunned
N oblije ap fè listwa pou yo
We have to make history for them
N oblije rale liv yo
We have to take their books
N ap mande pou fè tradwi mizik sila pou yo
We're asking to translate this song for them
Pou fè konnen jan nou te ede Etazini pran lendepandans
To show how we helped the United States gain independence
Ayisyen yo si nou estomake
Haitians, instead of complaining
Sa se yon wake up call
This is a wake-up call
Si nou tap dòmi leve
If we were sleeping, wake up
Pa gen anyen ke n te fè n pa ka refè
There's nothing we did that we can't redo
Ayiti te perle des Antilles
Haiti was the pearl of the Antilles
Nou p ap vin pran move konsiy
We won't take bad advice
Se devwa n pou n pwoteje imaj peyi a
It is our duty to protect the country's image
Jodia yo rele l S H Ayiti
Today they call it S H Haiti
Yon pèp k ap mache bay 4H
A people walking for 4H
Kolon sa yo kanpe kinalaganach
Those colonizers are standing stunned
Lyrics © B.E. RELATIONS PUBLISHING, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jean Brutus Derissaint
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind