Rasin Kreyol

Emeline Michel, Emeline Michel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Times Square Records
• ASIN: B0002WZSQW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,690 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #74 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Haiti

Track Listings

1. Bèl Kongo (Beautiful Congo)

2. Ban'm la Jwa (Give Me Joy)

3. Beni-Yo (Bless Them)

4. Nasyon Solèy (Sun Nation)

5. La Karidad

6. Non'm Sa (This Man)

7. Zikap

8. Interlude (Soufle Van)

9. Lò'm Kanape (When I Will Stand Up)

10. Bò Kote'w (By Your Side)

11. Interlude (Mon Rêve)

12. Mon Reve

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Here on Rasin Kreyol (which translates as "Creole Roots"), reigning queen of Haitian song Emeline Michel covers a lot of ground, writing songs that draw upon Haitan compas, twoubadou and rara as well as jazz, rock, pop, bossa nova and samba. Whichever direction the singer goes, her voice is clear and forceful as she dramatically imparts her political lyrics in Haitian Creole and French, offering up messages about AIDS, social justice and peace. She does this skill and class: Michel repeats the line "Tell me, where is peace?" to chilling effect on "Mon Rêve," where she's joined by background singers, flute and voodoo hand drums. At the other end of the spectrum, "Ban'm La Jwa" is uplifting with its driving calypso-jazz grooves. While the singer has released a handful of albums as imports over a 15-year career, Rasin Kreyol, her Times Square records debut, is a standout that should help U.S. audiences catch up with the French speaking world that already adores her. -- Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rasin Kreyol "se bongay" - is the real McCoy!, October 6, 2004

By 

A. Voltaire "fanatique" (NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rasin Kreyol (Audio CD)

Once again, Emeline Michel delivers the best of haitian music. She is a formidable performer. Her voice is captivating and her lyrics are poignant.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Un régal!, April 17, 2005

By 

valles latry (Montréal (Canada)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rasin Kreyol (Audio CD)

Jamais un artiste haitien n'a mis autant de soin et de coeur à la réalisation d'un album. Décidément, Emeline ne cessera jamais de nous étonner. Avec «Cordes et âmes», on pensait qu'elle avait atteint le sommet de son art, mais il n'en était rien, elle avait de toute évidence encore d'autres cordes à son arc. Rasin kreyòl est un pur joyau et c'est à juste titre que Brunet du Journal La presse (Montréal) l'a surnommé le meilleur album de musique du monde pour l'année 2005. Et ce n'est pas peu dire. Entourée d'une équipe de jeunes musiciens chevronnés, feluron de la musique caraibéenne tels Makarios Césaire (guitare), Welmyr Jean-Pierre (keyboard), Marcus Scwartz (percu), Gashford Guillaume (batterie)... Emeline nous livre un pur joyau alliant les musiques traditionnelles haitiennes aux rythmes caraibéens et brésiliens avec une superbe mariage de voix et une orchestration parfaite. La poésie et la voix chaude et sans cesse surprenante d'Emeline font le reste. Résultat: un superbe album venant du coeur qui place la barre très haute pour tout autre artiste antillais ainsi que pour le prochain d'Emeline.

Mille fois bravo à Emeline et bonne écoute à vous.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars satisfaction guaranteed, August 2, 2005

By 

Sara Pilling "haiti lover" (Phila PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rasin Kreyol (Audio CD)

timely arrival; great music that's hard to find on stores- i'm totally satisfied!