Island Two: Soft

This weekend, M. and I had a chance to hear a local group, Soft, play live at a festival celebrating native Caribbean culture and history. Soft released their first album, Kadans a péyi-la, in 2005, selling more than 11,000 copies in four months. Vocals are led by Fred Deshayes, who is also lead guitar. Base is played by Joël Larochelle, saxophone by Phillipe Sadikalay, and percussion by Didier Juste.

I'm not sure how to categorize Soft's music but I believe smooth jazz, defined as a sub-genre of jazz that is "influenced stylistically by R&B, funk and pop," seems close. But, 'smooth jazz' makes me think of curly-maned Kenny G. There are surely similarities: Kenny G plays the soprano saxophone, and so does Sadikalay, giving the music that distinctive elevator quality. But I think it would be more accurate to describe it as smooth Guadeloupean jazz, a sub-genre of jazz stylistically influenced by zouk, gwo ka, konpa, even some biguine - all music from Guadeloupe.

Unlike Kenny G, it could be said that Soft has an agenda. Their lyrics, written mainly in creole, focus on social issues of Guadeloupe. The top hit from that first album, Krim cont la Gwadloup (Crime contre la Guadeloupe, Crimes against Guadeloupe), for example, criticizes local politicians for their contributions to the various social and economic ills of the island.

Below, the single Kadans a péyi-la and the lyrics. Unfortunately, I don't know any créole beyond a few words and simple phrases, so I cannot give you a translation. If I work it out, though, I'll post it here, too.

Kadans a peyi la

Yo enmé nati-la
Yo pa enmé pèp-la
An vérité yo pa/pa’a santi kadans a péyi-la

Yo pa vlé Sentélwa
Yo pa vlé tann Mawsèl Lolya (Marcel Lollia
An vérité yo pa enmé lokans a péyi-la

Mé soufriyè pa ka dòmi
Kon vou kon mwen i ka bouyi
Nenpòt ki jou sa ké pété

Sé li ka chayé mwen
Sé sa ka brilé mwen
Sé li k’ay menné nou pli wo, pli wo

Refrain/rèfren
Padon manman padon papa
Nou pa vlé péyi-la konsa
Si dlo vini an zyé an nou
Féblès pa k’ay pran kò an nou woy
E pa k’ay ni mélankoli
E nenpòt ki filozofi
Lèw vwè péyi an nou ké lévé

Tam pi tam tam pi tam tanbou ké woulé

An péyi-la pa ni pon rèv
Ji lèspérans nou mèt an grèv
Ni twòp moun ki ka ralanti
Kadans a péyi-la
Sé tèt vid, sé nwa séré
Chanté pawòl malélivé
E sé nou menm ka mènasé mizik a péyi-la

Mé soufriyè pa ka dòmi
Kon vou kon mwen i ka bouyi
Nenpòt ki jou sa ké pété
Soufwans a péyi-la

(refrain)

Two years after their stunning success, Soft (minus Juste) released Partout étranger. The group then released a 'best of' album (though it seemed hardly necessary, given they've only released two albums previous). The song Lanmou o piyaj featured on their second album, but an accompanying music video - their first - was released this past May: