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.”
Promise
Zenglen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
en tus manos yo caí, tienes control sobre mi
Tu cuerpo es la carcel y yo un prisionero
Y jamas quiero salir, condenado y soy feliz.
I try to keep my balance but I still fall
But how'd I fall so hard
Right into your arms, I swear
Love without a cause leaves me trapped inside
Quiero ser tuyo enterito pero tengo miedo (miedo)
Prometeme que no me vas a dejar sin tu amor
Ill give you my heart baby but you got to Promise
Promise youll hold me. (hold me), touch me (touch me),
love me way past forever
Yo tan joven padezco del corazon,
Y por tu amor sufrira mil anos y con mucho honor
I try to be calm but my chest keeps pounding
Try to swim but its like Im drowning
All I've come for is your love, oh baby.
Quiero ser tuyo enterito pero tengo miedo (miedo)
Prometeme que no me vas a dejar sin tu amor
Ill give you my heart baby but you got to promise
promise youll hold me (hold me), touch me (touch me),
love me way past forever.
Ou se tout mwen oxygen mwen, cheri
You mean so much to me
Ou se tout mwen oxygen mwen, cheri
You are the one for me Mwen pa ka pale
Souf Mwen ap koupe
Cuz you are the one for me
The rest of my life I see it in your eyes
Ou se tout mwen oxygen mwen, cheri
You mean so much to me
Ou se tout mwen oxygen mwen, cheri
You are the one for me My heart skips a beat
Souf Mwen ap koupe
Cuz you are the one for me
The rest of my life I see it in your eyes
Ou se tout mwen oxygen mwen, cheri
You are the one for me (bis)
The lyrics to "Promise" by Zenglen speak of the overwhelming power of love and the fear of losing it. The singer feels as though they have lost control of themselves and fallen deeply in love with their partner, who they see as having complete control over them. They liken their partner's body to a prison and themselves as a happy prisoner who never wants to leave. There is a vulnerability and fear present in the lyrics, as the singer expresses their desire to be completely their partner's but also their fear of being left without their love. They promise to give their heart to their partner but need assurance that their love will be reciprocated and not taken away.
The bilingual nature of the lyrics adds depth and complexity to the song, as it transitions from Spanish to English to Creole. The switching between languages mirrors the theme of the lyrics, as love is not confined to one language or culture. The use of metaphors and imagery, such as the comparison of the partner's body to a prison, adds a poetic quality to the lyrics and enhances the emotional impact of the song. The repeated use of the phrase "you are the one for me" emphasizes the strength and depth of the singer's love for their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
He perdido el balance por tu amor,
I try to keep my balance but I still fall
en tus manos yo caí, tienes control sobre mi
But how'd I fall so hard Right into your arms, I swear
Tu cuerpo es la carcel y yo un prisionero
Wrapped inside you baby and it's so warm Love without a cause leaves me trapped inside
Y jamas quiero salir, condenado y soy feliz.
I try to be calm but my chest keeps pounding Try to swim but its like Im drowning All I've come for is your love, oh baby.
Quiero ser tuyo enterito pero tengo miedo (miedo)
I want to give you my all, but I'm scared (scared)
Prometeme que no me vas a dejar sin tu amor
Promise me you won't leave me without your love
Ill give you my heart baby but you got to Promise
Ill give you my heart baby but you got to promise
promise youll hold me (hold me), touch me (touch me),
promise you'll hold me (hold me), touch me (touch me)
love me way past forever
love me way past forever
Yo tan joven padezco del corazon,
I am so young but my heart is suffering
Y por tu amor sufrira mil anos y con mucho honor
And I'll suffer a thousand years for your love with great honor
Ou se tout mwen oxygen mwen, cheri
You are my everything, darling
You mean so much to me
You mean so much to me
My heart skips a beat
My heart skips a beat
Cuz you are the one for me The rest of my life
Cause you are the one for me, the rest of my life
I see it in your eyes
I see it in your eyes
Contributed by Parker F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hermionemesamour3420
Still listening 🎧 to this song 2023 ...so beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@user-ft1bv5iy2q
😊🔥
@chanlio7008
C li Map tande actuellement la❤
@rachoubastian11
Reginald vreman konn chante li gen yon vwa extraordinaire sa se yon don❤
@cenozierjunise4815
Ki moun kap tandel menm jan avèm an 2023 a kite yon like
@kebyyeye530
Mw men chr
@michaellealerte3832
Mwen
@KetianaMesilien
Mwen 😘😘😅
@tlwarner81
My husband our first tine meeting sang this song to me swimming in a pool...Such a beautiful song. I gave him my heart forever before leaving Haiti.....I love him!
@raulrosario6795
Oufout fòvre