The Haitian term "twoubadou" (troubadour) includes singer-songwriters of conscience like Manno, but it also encompasses the quaint ensembles that play old méringues about the beauty of Haiti as well as Creole versions of Cuban trio songs. In the first stanza of this song, Manno contrasts himself to these quaint twoubadou ensembles. The song that he refers to in the second line is "Choucoune," one of the best-known romantic méringues, with a chorus that starts "Ti-zwazo" (or Little Birds). This is the same song that is sung in English as "Yellow Bird." In the second stanza, Manno tells us of another kind of singer that he isn't: commercial singers in Haiti are routinely classified into "chanteurs de charme" (romantic crooners) and "chanteurs de choc" (hard rockers).
(Note by Gage Averill on conjunctions.com)
The Haitian term "twoubadou" (troubadour) includes singer-songwriters of conscience like Manno, but it also encompasses the quaint ensembles that play old méringues about the beauty of Haiti as well as Creole versions of Cuban trio songs. In the first stanza of this song, Manno contrasts himself to these quaint twoubadou ensembles. The song that he refers to in the second line is "Choucoune," one of the best-known romantic méringues, with a chorus that starts "Ti-zwazo" (or Little Birds). This is the same song that is sung in English as "Yellow Bird." In the second stanza, Manno tells us of another kind of singer that he isn't: commercial singers in Haiti are routinely classified into "chanteurs de charme" (romantic crooners) and "chanteurs de choc" (hard rockers).
Francine Chouinard co-wrote "Mon Frère". Gregg Ellis co-translated "Mon Frère".