Lolita Cuevas Sings Haiti

A beautiful rendition of "Haiti" by Puerto Rican singer Lolita Cuevas, accompanied on the guitar by Frantz Casseus. My favorite version of this song remains that of Issa El Saieh, but this is a very lyrical recording only worsened by the audio quality. It would be an interesting little side project to discover more about Puerto Ricans in Haiti, since Puerto Ricans like Cuevas spent much of her childhood in Haiti and established a career for herself singing in French, Creole, and Spanish. 

Angelique-O: Another Haitian Folk Song

"Angelique-O" is a Haitian folk dating back to the American occupation (1915-1934). Apparently it refers to the wife of the American commander during the Occupation who was sent back to the United States. The song had multiple meanings though. To Haitians of both the bourgeoisie and the popular classes, it was a nationalist song demanding Americans leave the country. It's message of freedom is still heard 'round the world today.

I was first exposed to the song through Harry Belafonte's Caribbean music LPs. I initially believed it to be a calypso or Jamaican folk song but something told me it might have a Haitian origin. The name Angelique is French, which would be odd in Jamaica or another anglophone Caribbean island. I eventually found a Haitian rendition of the song (with original Creole lyrics) sung by Puerto-Rican singer Lolita Cuevas and Haitian guitarist Frantz Casseus. This arrangement is Casseus's and all the songs on this LP of Haitian folk songs are arranged as slow meringues and lullabies. I unfortunately could not provide the entire song...
http://www.folkways.si.edu/listen2.aspx?type=preview&trackid=21594

Here is Harry Belafonte's rendition of the song with English lyrics that introduced the song to me. The lyrics here are less explicitly anti-colonial but rather refer to a woman who can't cook and doesn't know how to run a household so she is sent back to live with her mother.

Here is another version of the song with English lyrics by an American group

Meringues and Folk Ballads of Haiti - Meringues and Folk Ballads of Haiti (Various Artists)
check this for a more folksy version of this Haitian standard

Here is Issa El Saieh's jazz-influenced band's interpretation of this song http://www.belmizik.net/Music-Library/I/Issa-El-Saieh/La-Belle-Epoque-Volume-2/Angelique-O.html

EDIT (6/15/2013): My previous interpretation of the song as referring to an American army officer and a local Haitian woman is not what this song is about. I don't recall where exactly that idea entered my head, perhaps Harry Belafonte, but it's not what the song is about.

Haitian Folk Song: Mesi Bon Dieu

One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard is Mesi Bon Dieu (Thank You God). It's a Haitian folks song composed by the underrated Haitian classical guitarist, Frantz Casseus. The haunting beauty of the song and the religious lyrics led me to believe it was a Haitian vodou chant, but I currently believe Casseus wrote the song under the influence of Haitian religious music. I include here the first recording I could find (Frantz Casseus accompanies Puerto-Rican vocalist Lolita Cuevas), a jazz interpretation by Charlie Rouse which has the same ominous feel as the original, and Harry Belafonte's wondrous interpretation (his kreyol doesn't sound too bad either).

Frantz Casseus and Lolita Cuevas present the tune in the simplest way. Just acoustic guitar and voice. I find Lolita's voice a little weak here since I don't 'feel' the spirituality of the song from her.

Charlie Rouse's jazz-inspired take features Rouse on sax, electric and acoustic guitar, and 3 percussionists (drummer, congas, shekere). Rouse takes this song in an interesting direction during his solo, almost suggesting the Middle Eastern or Africa. The extra percussion is also interesting to me since I find it rather reminiscent of Andean and other South American musical traditions even though it does follow a Haitian rhythm. I suppose South American rhythms often share the same African antecedents as Haitian music so I shouldn't be surprised by the similarities.

Harry Belafonte's version features a marimba (or is that a steel drum?) that doesn't really go with the atmosphere of this haunting song, but his vocals are perfect.

http://www.belmizik.net/Music-Library/I/Issa-El-Saieh/La-Belle-Epoque-Volume-1.html Check this site to listen to Issa El Saieh's jazzier version of the song. More brass and influences from Cuban and American jazz

Here is another interesting take on the song with an electric keyboard and a heavy jazz influence. I believe the musician is a jazz pianist/keyboardist from Martinique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIqgoOEZ_vU