ZENGLEN

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.”

Met Kay La-2018
Zenglen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mèt kay la leve byen fache maten an
Sa l genyen pèsonn pa konnen
Se pa de koze w ap tande

Paka ri ni pale
Tout moun antrave
Paka ri ni pale
Se poze pou w poze

Paka ri ni pale
Tout moun antrave
Paka ri ni pale
Menm mouch paka vole

Chen jape ap pran kout pye
Tout sak sou wout li antrave
Li dèyè moun pou geri bosko l
Malè w se ou li jwenn
Tout soti pou w gen limyè wouj
Kouri plume ne bouge

Paka ri ni pale
Tout moun antrave
Paka ri ni pale
Se poze pou w poze
Paka ri ni pale
Tout moun antrave
Paka ri ni pale
Menm mouch paka vole

Mèt kay la leve byen fache maten an
Ti krik ti krak yon lwa ki pran l
Se pa de koze k ap pale

C'est quoi ça, hein !
Madanm

Yon vye chanson depi m maten
Madanm
Sa lap di pèsonn pa konnen
Bare anwo bare anba
Sa ki konnen pa pase la
Pawòl anpil la poko fini
Zafè w pot tèt ou vini
Sa ki fache kouri sou li
L ap tann on po kann ak tout foumi

L ap rele sou ti machann kap degaje
Jis lòt bò lari a yo ye
Ap di twotwa tounen mache
Bliye si se la li sot achte

Se la tout moun bese leve
Ala madanm babye mesye

Overall Meaning

In Zenglen's song "Met Kay La-2018", the lyrics convey a sense of frustration and annoyance towards an unnamed person or situation. The song starts off with the line "Mèt kay la leve byen fache maten an" which translates to "The landlord is really angry this morning." This line sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the lyrics describe a situation that everyone seems to be unaware of or ignorant about.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that one cannot laugh or talk freely because there are obstacles and people getting in the way. The line "Paka ri ni pale, Tout moun antrave" translates to "You can't laugh or speak, Everyone is in the way." This could be a metaphorical representation of barriers or individuals who prevent the singer from expressing themselves freely.

The lyrics also mention a dog barking and causing trouble, with the lines "Chen jape ap pran kout pye, Tout sak sou wout li antrave" meaning "The dog is barking and causing obstacles in your way." This could symbolize people or circumstances that hinder progress or success.

The song continues with the repeating chorus and verses that express frustration towards a mysterious person referred to as "Madanm" (Madam). The lyrics mention a secret song and that what the singer is saying is unknown to others. There is an emphasis on letting go of negativity and focusing on oneself, as expressed in the lines "Se poze pou w poze" which means "Take a break to find peace."

The song ends with the line "Ala madanm babye mesye" which can be interpreted as a warning or dismissal to someone who has caused trouble. Overall, the lyrics of "Met Kay La-2018" convey a sense of frustration and the need to overcome obstacles and strive for personal growth.

Line by Line Meaning

Mèt kay la leve byen fache maten an
The owner of the house is very angry in the morning

Sa l genyen pèsonn pa konnen
What he has, no one knows

Se pa de koze w ap tande
It's not about what you're hearing

Paka ri ni pale
Can't laugh or talk

Tout moun antrave
Everyone is in the way

Se poze pou w poze
It's time for you to relax

Paka ri ni pale
Can't laugh or talk

Menm mouch paka vole
Not even a fly can fly

Chen jape ap pran kout pye
The barking dog is taking kicks

Tout sak sou wout li antrave
Everything in its way is obstructing

Li dèyè moun pou geri bosko l
It depends on people to heal its wounds