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.”
Our Love Is For Ever
Zenglen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pou m eksplike jan mwen renmen w
pou m fe ou konpran ki sakrifis
Lanmou anke nou men de
Zanmi, fanmi w de se yon bandi
poutan ou konnen ke se manti
pou jan m sansib
et m kon la bib
men le de fwa ou feche
le nou domi leve
solèy nan zye klere
sak fè n pa jan ka kite
Jalouzi yo gen dwa move
bonjour yo pa la verite
bagay yo di si ou tap koute
anpil male tap rive
(Cherie ou te ka kite m)
te ka kite m nan lari-a
(Doudou m te ka kite w)
Oh paske ou pa merite m
(Cherie ou te ka kite m)
yo de m se yon bandi
mizician pabon
(Doudou m te ka kite w)
Lanmou pi fo
Si pat gen lanmou
Pa tap gen ni mwen
ni ou tou Doudou
Pa tap gen ni mwen
ni ou tou Doudou
(Oui that's true baby)
Oui that's true baby
Love could never be
without you honey
menmen m tribinal
yo di m bagay ki sal
paske se ou mwen vle
mwen pa pati, m rete
cherie yo di ke ou pa kon
chwazi nou pral fe yo sezi
konnen k ou gen konsiyan
tanpre yon ti pasiyan
Si pat gen lanmou
Pa tap gen ni mwen
ni ou tou doudou
Pa tap gen ni mwen
ni ou tou doudou
(Oui that's true baby)
Oui that's true baby
Love could never be
without you honey
Lanmou n pa janm fini
I yayai
I yayai
Lanmou n pa janm fini
oh baby
I yayai
I yayai
yo ta renmen we nou nan lari
san fanmi pou n pa gen vie
pou yo tonbe re
paske mwen se yon bandi
cherie fo nou kenbe pi di
ou kon sa yo di se manti
rete ave m se ou mwen vle
nap fe yo sezi
Lanmou n pa janm fini
I yayai
I yayai
Lanmou n pa janm fini
oh baby
I yayai
I yayai
Si pat gen lanmou
Pa tap gen ni mwen
ni ou tou doudou
Pa tap gen ni mwen
ni ou tou doudou
(Oui that's true baby)
Oui that's true baby
Love could never be
without you honey
The song "Our Love Is For Ever" by Zenglen is a love anthem that is both romantic and emotional. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his love for his partner while also acknowledging the challenges that they face. The first verse talks about the sacrifices that the singer is willing to make out of love for his partner. He wants to take the time to explain to his partner how much he loves her and make her understand that he will always be there for her, regardless of what happens.
The second verse talks about the potential obstacles that may arise in their relationship. The singer acknowledges that their friends and family might not approve of their relationship and may try to tear them apart. Despite this, the singer wants his partner to know that he will always be there for her and that their love is stronger than any negativity they may face. The chorus emphasizes the idea that their love is forever and that nothing can stand in their way.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love that acknowledges the challenges that come with a long-term relationship. The singer is committed to his partner and wants to reassure her that their love will never die. The melody of the song is catchy, and the lyrics are heartfelt and emotional.
Line by Line Meaning
Mwen ta renmen pran yon ti tan
I would like to take a little time.
Pou m eksplike jan mwen renmen w
To explain how I love you.
pou m fe ou konpran ki sakrifis
So you understand what sacrifices.
Lanmou anke nou men de
Love that binds us together.
Zanmi, fanmi w de se yon bandi
Your friends and family are a gang.
poutan ou konnen ke se manti
Yet you know that's a lie.
pou jan m sansib
To make me feel sensitive.
et m kon la bib
And I am aware.
sak fe m pa jan m febli
What keeps me from getting weak.
men le de fwa ou feche
But when you close it twice.
le nou domi leve
When we wake up.
solèy nan zye klere
Sunshine in your bright eyes.
sak fè n pa jan ka kite
What keeps us from leaving each other.
Jalouzi yo gen dwa move
Jealousy is entitled to be mean.
bonjour yo pa la verite
Good morning is not the truth.
bagay yo di si ou tap koute
Things they say if you listen.
anpil male tap rive
Many bad things would happen.
(Cherie ou te ka kite m)
(Baby, you could have left me).
te ka kite m nan lari-a
You could have left me on the street.
(Doudou m te ka kite w)
(Baby, I could have left you).
Oh paske ou pa merite m
Oh, because you don't deserve me.
(Cherie ou te ka kite m)
(Baby, you could have left me).
yo de m se yon bandi
They call me a bandit.
mizician pabon
A musician by profession.
(Doudou m te ka kite w)
(Baby, I could have left you).
Lanmou pi fo
Love is stronger.
Si pat gen lanmou
If there wasn't love.
Pa tap gen ni mwen
Neither would I.
ni ou tou Doudou
Nor you, baby.
Oui that's true baby
Yes, that's true baby.
Love could never be
Love could never be.
without you honey
Without you, honey.
menmen m tribinal
They accuse me in court.
yo di m bagay ki sal
They say bad things about me.
paske se ou mwen vle
Because I want you.
mwen pa pati, m rete
I won't leave, I'll stay.
cherie yo di ke ou pa kon
Baby, they say you don't know.
chwazi nou pral fe yo sezi
Choose us, we'll make them sorry.
konnen k ou gen konsiyan
Knowing that you have consciousness.
tanpre yon ti pasiyan
Hold on to a little passion.
Lanmou n pa janm fini
Love never ends.
I yayai
I yayai.
yo ta renmen we nou nan lari
They would like to see us on the street.
san fanmi pou n pa gen vie
Without family, we have no life.
pou yo tonbe re
For them to fall down.
paske mwen se yon bandi
Because I am a bandit.
cherie fo nou kenbe pi di
Baby, we must hold on tighter.
ou kon sa yo di se manti
You know what they say is a lie.
rete ave m se ou mwen vle
Stay with me, it's you I want.
nap fe yo sezi
We'll make them sorry.
Contributed by John V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.