Curated Playlist: French

Uniquely Caribbean: French Caribbean Edition

After that wild ride of a bacchanal in Trinidad and Tobago, we are on to something different, so different that the songs will be spoken in a different language and from a different country. As the French say, "mieux vaut tard que jamais.' It is better late than never to enjoy new musical experiences. The music from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Haiti can be just as exciting as Soca, with influences from Africa to Europe. These countries also share similar musical styles, such as Zouk. One great way to experience these musical styles is through the beautiful Jocelyne Béroard, who has a connection to each of these islands, whether through heritage or the artists she has worked with.

                                                                   

Jocelyne Béroard is a Martinican singer best known as the lead vocalist for the iconic zouk band Kassav. Born on September 12, 1954, in Fort-de-France, Martinique, Béroard rose to fame in the 1980s as part of the Kassav ensemble. If you have never heard of her music, maybe you have seen her in a film or two.  She acted in a variety of films from 1992 Simeon to 2022 Zépon.          

Playlist:

Before joining the band, Béroard worked various jobs that fueled her passion for music. In her twenties, she often provided backing vocals or sang as part of a choir for various Caribbean artists. Therefore, the first song on our playlist is a tribute to the start of Jocelyne's musical journey. It's from Guadeloupean-born Gilles Sala's album "79," released in 1979. Béroard is credited on the album as part of the choir. In the song "Minko Soda," a female ensemble sings the chorus. Given that Martinique and Guadeloupe share cultural heritage, including music, the style of music she sang in would not have been a culture shock, but an interesting experience nonetheless. As you listen to the song, you can hear the sound of a boula drum playing in the background.

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Gilles Salla "Minko Soda"  

  

After working as a backup singer, Jocelyne Béroard was discovered by Kassav and joined their band in 1983. Kassav, a French Caribbean group, was formed in Guadeloupe in 1979. Their name came from a cookie made of cassava (One of my least favorite vegetables). The next song on the playlist is actually one of their songs, 1987 "Sye Bwa," which means uprooted tree. Although the song has a heartfelt message of unity and cooperation among people, it is so upbeat that it makes you want to dance. You can expect such music from this group, as they were pioneers of the musical movement Zouk in the early 1980s. Zouk is characterized by an upbeat, fast tempo, a percussion-driven rhythm, and a loud horn section, which can be heard in this song. There is also some call and response between the lead male singer and the female ensemble. 

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                  Kassav' "Sye Bwa"  

As a member of Kassav', Jocelyne had the opportunity to interact with many people and make connections. She even became a songwriter for various artists, including former Kassav' dancer Marie-José Gibon, a West Indian singer born in mainland France on June 11, 1965. Her mother was a native of Guadeloupe. Maria often deemed herself the "Zoukologist" and released several albums. In Fact, two of the following songs on the playlist, "Movétan" and "Alright," come from her 1992 debut album "Pulsions," which Jocelyne helped write. It was difficult to choose a favorite as both songs were enjoyable. Although Gibon had a successful solo career, she later returned to Kassav's, this time as a backup singer.

 

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Marie-Jose Gibon "Movetan and Alright" 

 

The connections extended not only to songwriting but also to being able to collaborate with others. One of Jocelyne's most famous collaborators was Wyclef Jean, well-known as a rapper and a member of the Fugees. She was featured on his 1992 album "The Carnival" on the song "Carnival," along with her late husband and band member Jacob Desvarieux. The song is sung in French, which is unsurprising because Wyclef is of Haitian heritage. The song tempo is slow, then fast-paced, like a Zouk song; the pace slows down and picks up repeatedly in the song. Many of the songs on the album are influenced by Caribbean riddim.  

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     Wyclef Jean "Carnival" 

 

Jocelyne Béroard has greatly inspired many throughout her long career, including French-born Martinican descendant Lynnsha. Lynnsha has always cited Jocelyne as a significant influence in her career as a singer. Known for her Zouk and R&B fusion-style music, Lynnsha puts a modern spin on Zouk. In her 2012 track "Fanm Kreyol," Lynnsha featured the legendary Jocelyne Béroard. The song incorporates studio elements with the faint sound of tanbou bèlè playing in the background. It is difficult to find the English interpretation of the song, but "Fanm" means women, suggesting that it is likely a tribute to Kreyol women despite its sensual tone. Including a song by Lynnsha on this playlist is a wonderful way to highlight the influence and inspiration that Jocelyne has had on other artists.

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Lynnsha "Fanm Kreyol" 

 

The last song on this playlist solidified Jocelyne Beroard as a solo artist who achieved international success (although being a member of Kassav' helped, we still have to celebrate this win). "Siwo" is part of her debut solo album, released in 1986 after joining Kassav. "Siwo" embodies traditional Zouk elements, especially with its prominent trumpet sound. The song focuses solely on women's joys, pains, sorrows, and frustrations of love. She was awarded the Prix Banzil Kréyol for her Creole songs and the first double disque d'or (gold record) in France, making it the first of its kind by a French Caribbean woman. 

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Jocelyne "Siwo"

References 

Adjagba, G. (2021, September 29). Kassav’: 42 Years of Storytelling. Medium. https://medium.com/@ghwriters/kassav-42-years-of-storytelling-aa79326ce98d

Alrmab. (2010). GILLES SALA chanteur de charme. Alrmab.free.fr. http://alrmab.free.fr/gillessala.html

AZMartinique. (2022). Martinique land of music ? AZ Martinique. https://azmartinique.com/en/all-to-know/studies-research/martinique-land-of-music

Berrian, B. F. (2015). Un Peu De bonheur: Jocelyne Béroard and Her Lyrics about Love. Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana, 36(1), 94–115. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44162879

Discogs. (2010). Marie-José Gibon. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1382664-Marie-Jos%C3%A9-Gibon

Guadeloupe Islands French Caribbean. (n.d.). Kassav: The Birth Of Zouk. Guadeloupe Islands. Retrieved May 26, 2024, from https://www.guadeloupe-islands.com/kassav-the-birth-of-zouk/

Last.Fm. (2009, April 29). Ville natale, programmation et biographie de Kassav’. Last.fm. https://www.last.fm/fr/music/Kassav%27/+wiki#:~:text=Kassav

NRJ. (2012). NRJ. Lynnsha. https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/lynnsha/biographie

Rateyourmusic. (2009). Jocelyne Beroard. RYM. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/jocelyne_beroard/credits/

Songtell. (2023, June 23). Meaning of “Sye bwa” by Kassav’. Www.songtell.com. https://www.songtell.com/kassav/sye-bwa