YELLOW BIRD - "CHOUCOUNE" 2/1 : The Story

"CHOUCOUNE" - "Marabou 鸛"
Marie Noel Belizaire, 生於1853年, 法屬 Haiti 海地, La-Plaine-du-Nord 的鄉村, 跟两個妹妹不一樣, 她長得美豔嬌人, 皮膚黝黑, 被當地人冠以 "Choucoune", 即是英語的 "Marabou 鸛"。

畫家筆下的 Marie Noel Belizaire (1853-1924)

 

Marie 還沒有完成小學, 已愛上了年輕的男友, 两人很快成婚。婚後以售賣日常用品生意來維持生活。不久, 她發現這個年輕丈夫不忠, 使她决意離開, 搬到了海地北部省的首府 Cap-Haitien, 在一餐館工作。她任職餐館的一個常客, 是當地一位從政的作家詩人 Oswald Durand, 两人一見鍾情, 雖然年紀相差十三年, 但很快便共墮愛河。不過, 幸福歡愉的日子亦短暫, 原來這個 Durand 是眾所皆知的好色之徒, 拈花惹草的男子。最終, Marie Belizaire 唯有離開, 繼續尋求另一段永恆的愛情。


及後, Oswald Durand 因評論一些在 Cap-Haitien 的政治領導人而犯上文字獄。在囚期間的一天, 一隻小鳥飛到他囚室的窗前停下來徘徊, 因而觸發他寫下一首名為 "CHOUCOUNE" 的詩篇。詩中是描繪出美麗的 Marie 和他歡愉的時刻, 與及分離後的悲哀; 但是, 無論他再作任何的承諾, 也沒法令她回心轉意。而她亦繼續尋找一段永不存在的愛情, 直至她青春消逝, 才返回故鄉渡餘生, 可惜她變得精神失常至近乎瘋狂; 至1924年, Marie 在故鄉逝世, 終年七十一歲 。

Oswald Durand (1840-1906)

"Choucoune" 這詩完成於1883年, 十年後才流出當地民間, 並吸引了不少青年男女, 包括一位生於美國 New Orleans 紐奥爾良的年輕音樂人 Michel Mauleart Monton, 他父親是海地人, 業裁縫師; Michel 年幼時跟姑母在海地生活, 姑母 Odila 在太子港 Port-au-Prince 業小商店, 年幼至成長的時期, 他每天總不離鋼琴彈奏。

Michel 生活在豐盛的熱帶加勒比诲, 充滿宗教和古典歐洲音樂傳統的小島, 很快便把這詩篇撰上樂譜, 海地語 Haitian Creole 的歌曲名為 "Ti Zwazo" (法文: "Petite oiseau", 英文: "Little Bird") 當地普遍稱之 "Choucoune"。1893年五月十四日, 第一次在太子港公開演唱, 引起當地至海外的關注。1949年, 海地 Haiti 政府更以此曲成為太子港 Port-au-Prince 開埠二百週年紀念慶祝活動的主題歌曲。


First release by Katherine Dunham and Ensemble (1947 version)

"Choucoune" 最早期的錄音是1947年 Katherine Dunham and Ensemble 的唱片錄音。之後是 1952年 "Loita Cuevas" 的演譯, 一位出生於 Puerto Rica 波多黎各, 在海地 Haiti 成長的女歌手, 與當地的作曲兼結他手 Frantz Casseus 再篇的版本。及後 Casseus 再以不同旋律演譯, 由搖籃曲至供跳舞的版本, 可惜找不到這歌曲的錄音視訊。


Issa El Saieh - Choucoune (Ti Zawao)


Celia Cruz / Martha Jean-Claude & Sonora Matancera - Choucoune

另外一首同是1952年的錄音 Celia Cruz / Martha Jean-Claude & Sonora Matancera, 與及由Issa El Saieh - Choucoune (Ti Zawao) 較舊的版本。 原作詩篇的歌詞共五段, 一般唱片收錄的祗有两至三段, 现在剛好找到一個視像, 是由一位海地 Haiti 的業餘歌手全五段的演譯。

NEXT.... 2/2 : Original & Remade

CHOUCOUNE (Ti Zwezo) Haitian Folk Song "Yellow Bird"
Paroles: Oswald Durand
Musique: Mauleart Monton

1. Dèyè yon gwo touf pengwen
Lòt jou mwen kontre Choukoun
Li souri lè li wè mwen
Mwen di: "Syèl, ala bèl moun!"
Mwen di: "Syèl, ala bèl moun!"
Li di: "Ou trouve sa chè?"

Ti zwezo nan bwa ki tape koute
Ti zwezo nan bwa ki tape koute
Kon mwen sonje sa
Mwen genyen lapenn
Ka depi jou sa
De pye mwen nan chenn

Kon mwen sonje sa
Mwen genyen lapenn
De pye mwen nan chenn

2. Choukoun se yon marabou
Je li klere kou chandèl
Li genyen tete debou
A si Choukoun te fidèl
A si Choukoun te fidèl
Nou rete koze lontan

Jis zwezo nan bwa te parèt kontan
Jis zwezo nan bwa te parèt kontan
Pito bliye sa
Se twò gran lapenn
Ka depi jou sa
De pye mwen nan chenn

Pito bliye sa
Se twò gran lapenn
De pye mwen nan chenn

3. Ti dan Choukoun blan kou lèt
Bouch li koulè kayamit
Li pa gwo fanm, li gwosèt
Fanm konsa plè mwen touswit
Fanm konsa plè mwen touswit
Tan pase pa tan jodi!

Zwezo te tande tout sa li te di
Zwezo te tande tout sa li te di
Si ou sonje sa
Yo dwe nan lapenn
Ka depi jou sa
De pye mwen na chenn

Si ou sonje sa
Yo dwe nan lapenn
De pye mwen na chenn

4. Nale lakay manman li
Yon granmoun ki byen onèt
Sito li wè mwen li di:
"A mwen kontan sila nèt"
"A mwen kontan sila nèt"
Nou bwè chokola nwa

Eske tout sa fini, ti zwezo nan bwa
Eske tout sa fini, ti zwezo nan bwa
Pito bliye sa
Se two gran lapenn
Ka depi jou-sa
De pye-mwen nan chenn

Pito bliye sa
Se two gran lapenn
De pye-mwen nan chenn

5. Yon ti blan vini rive
Ti bab wouj, bèl figi wòz
Mont sou kote, bèl chive
Malè mwen, li ki lakòz
Malè mwen, li ki lakòz
Li trouve Choukoun joli

Li pale Franse, Choukoun renmen li
Li pale Franse, Choukoun renmen li
Pito bliye sa
Se two gran lapenn
Choukoun kite mwen
De pye mwen nan chenn

Pito bliye sa
Se two gran lapenn
De pye mwen nan chenn

CITED: Translated from the Creole by Dady Chery.
Copyright © 2011-2013 by Dady Chery. All Rights Reserved

1.  Behind a thick cactus grove
Yesterday I found my Choucoune
Oh! That smile when she saw me
I said “Heaven, what beauty!”
I said “Heaven, what beauty!”
She said, “Dear, do you think so?”

(Chorus:)  Little bird, who listened deep in these woods (2X)
When I think of this
It brings me such pain
Ever since that day
Both my feet in chains
When I think of this
It brings me such pain
Both my feet in chains

2.  Choucoune is a marabout,
Eyes as bright as candlelight
Her breasts ever so perky
Ah! If Choucoune had been true!
Ah! If Choucoune had been true!
We stayed and talked a long while

(Chorus:)  All the birds looked so happy in these woods (2X)
Better forget this
The pain is too great
Ever since that day
Both my feet in chains
Better forget this
The pain is too great
Both my feet in chains

3. Choucoune’s teeth are white as milk
Her lips pink as caimite
She’s not fat but well padded
Women like this send me fast
Women like this send me fast
Though yesterday’s not today

(Chorus:)  Little bird, who heard every word she said (2X)    
If you think of this
It will make you sad
Ever since that day
Both my feet in chains
If you think of this
It will make you sad
Both my feet in chains

4. We went to her mother’s house
A straight-talking old woman
Soon as she saw me she said
Ah! This one I like the best!
Ah! This one I like the best!
We drank up her hot cocoa

(Chorus:)  Is all lost, dear little bird of these woods (2X)
Better forget this!
The pain is too great
Ever since that day
Both my feet in chains
Better forget this
The pain is too great
Both my feet in chains

5. Young white fellow came around
Trim red beard on his pink face
Pocket watch and hair of silk
My troubles, he brought them all
My troubles, he brought them when
He found my pretty Choucoune

(Chorus:) Spoke French words that made my Choucoune love him (2X)
Better forget this
The pain is too great
Choucoune left me here
Both my feet in chains 
Better forget this
The pain is too great
Both my feet in chains