I just had a really cool moment this morning while I was working on my thesis. I am trying to finish up some revisions on my first chapter, which provides a history of popular music in the French Antilles. I needed to find more examples of healing in the music there, so I looked at my Patrick Saint Eloi CD and found a song called "Rehabilitation."
When I listened to the song I immediately noticed that he included an introduction that was supposed to evoke the African heritage of Guadeloupe, using a cappella call-and-response and lanbi (conch shell). Then I noticed that he has a short musical intro which introduces the zouk style of the song, but layers it on top of gwo ka drumming.
Then I UNDERSTOOD THE LYRICS IN GUADELOUPEAN CREOLE. And so I know that it is a tribute to the history of slavery in Guadeloupe (constantly saying that they are asking for rehabilitation). AND later in the song I immediately recognized a rhythm that is taken from Carnival festivities in Guadeloupe, which St. Eloi includes on the lanbi (which is only used in gwo ka Carnival bands).
Basically, I am pleased.
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