Thomas Lalande

Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande # Translation and Transcription - Video Part 1 ( https://youtu.be/Rptxxp0TIKU ) 00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Useful and simple is the Word of Jesus Chirst. This is Gospel, that is. 00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 And I sing Gospel because I am first of all a Christian. 00:00:08 --> 00:00:19 I grew up in the Church, I am a Protestant and singing Gospel is completly natural for me. 00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 You see, in the logical sequence of things, and from my education. 00:00:26 --> 00:00:35 (Interviewer) What's your background? The origin of your family? And how was your introduction into Gospel music? 00:00:36 --> 00:00:48 I said that I grew up in a christian family, my dad is deacon, he preaches, my mother and brother are both deacons as well. 00:00:49 --> 00:00:54 Myself, I have also been a laic preacher within the Reformist Church. 00:00:55 --> 00:01:07 So, my background is I grew up in a choir... and we used to train two to three times a week, and every sunday of the year we sang. 00:01:08 --> 00:01:16 So you see, I grew up in a predisposed world, well prepared, well organized and structured... 00:01:19 --> 00:01:25 (Interviewer) When did you arrive in this music in Paris? Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande 00:01:26 --> 00:01:39 In Paris, I have been listening Gospel in 1989. That is. 00:01:40 --> 00:01:54 So, the first time I arrived in France was 1969. And I left it with my parents in 1977... rather 1976. 00:01:55 --> 00:02:10 And I was back in 1989, and I discover with pleasure some gospel sets, but at this time there were only few groups. To say, 2 choirs no more. 00:02:11 --> 00:02:18 And this is around this time I decided to create a vocal ensemble, but only acapella. 00:02:20 --> 00:02:26 So I invited my friend "Lucky" with whom we sing together till today. 00:02:27 --> 00:02:40 And together we made big tours in the country, western, eastern, nothern and southern parts... 00:02:41 --> 00:02:49 On great and little stages, in catholic and protestant circles, and it always worked fairly well. 00:02:51 --> 00:03:02 We released an album three years ago, and I wished to offer you one, but I do not have copies anymore. It will be for the next time! 00:03:12 --> 00:03:30 (Interviewer) With which group have you been associated with? 00:03:31 --> 00:03:36 Oh Right. I have been working with several musicians and singers in Paris. 00:03:37 --> 00:03:51 Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande Nonetheless, my big encounter in Paris has been Orlandus Wilson, leader of Golden Gate Quartet, it was in 1992-1993. 00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 With my friend "Lucky" we trained together there. 00:03:57 --> 00:04:08 Then, this time alone, during 3 monthes I have been practicing there (with Orlandus) the song, the rythmic, the breathing... the pulsation... 00:04:09 --> 00:04:17 And later, I sang a solo acapella one hour in first part of the Golden Gate Quartet during the festival "L'inattendu" (the Unexpected) at La Rochelle. 00:04:18 --> 00:04:26 In this period, I wasn't anymore singing with "Lucky" because he was directing a reggae band. So I was somehow starting a solo career. 00:04:28 --> 00:04:43 So, first part of the Golden Gate Quartet, and the next year, in 1994, I made the first part of Liz McComb, a great Gospel singer here, living in France, a great pianist. 00:04:44 --> 00:04:59 I sang with her. A great concert as well. We made an interview together at the radio, where, I remember, we've done an improvisation acapella on "Hit the road Jack"... Yeah with Liz McComb, very nice concert. 00:05:00 --> 00:05:12 And I have done a lot of other encounters, like with her bassist Titus Williams. I also met Clyde Riddick, actual responsible of Golden Gate. 00:05:13 --> 00:05:24 ... But now he is progressively letting Paul Brembly taking the lead and retires himself... Well a lot of encounters... 00:05:25 --> 00:05:38 Well this is the american side, the french side I said my friend Luc Hébert. I also know bands like Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande Gospel Legend, or like Marcel Boungou. 00:05:39 --> 00:00:59 Because Marcel Boungou I knew him in Congo, so they were like our elders, our big brothers... In this time he was the second tenor of the band Palata Singers, yes. And many others... 00:06:00 --> 00:06:15 So in the present in France, I run some master classes, mainly towards choirs in provinces (outside of the Paris region) and in île-de-France (Paris region) I work mainly with pupils in private courses. 00:06:17 --> 00:06:28 ... With whom I run the breathing, the rythm, the pulsation and correctness... Well, almost everything you need to sing well. 00:06:31 --> 00:07:02 (Interviewer) In Paris, I found a lot of people coming from african countries, so what is the Gospel attraction towards this people? 00:07:03 --> 00:07:22 So as you say, there is a lot "africans" in France, well this is true... And what is their attraction for the Gospel? That's simply because they are christians! They believe in Christ. 00:07:23 --> 00:07:41 Because if you go to many suburbs cities you find a lot of churches, from Gana, Benin, Togo, Congo Brazza, Congo Kinchasa... there is a lot of christians... "Africans" in France, a lot! 00:07:42 --> 00:07:55 And of course they sing Jesus Christ, they are christians, so they sing the Gospel... But it is right that we believe and you as well in the U.S., that Gospel should be only sung in English. 00:07:56 --> 00:08:14 Wrong... We sing it in French, in English, in Italian, in Kongo, in everything. With "Lucky" we sing as much in English, as in French, and also in Kongo languages, like in Kikongo, but also in Teke, Mbamba, in many languages precisly. Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande # Translation and Transcription - Video Part 2 ( https://youtu.be/NAvorM7ubpk ) 00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 But it is right that WE believe, and you as well in the US, that Gospel should be only sung in English. 00:00:09 --> 00:00:26 Wrong ... We sing it in French, in English, in Italian, in Kongo, in everything. With "Lucky" we sing as much in English, as in French, and also in Kongo languages, like in Kikongo, but also in Teke, Mbamba, precisely in many languages. 00:00:27 --> 00:00:32 And we believe that Gospel must be sung in English, no, no... 00:00:33 --> 00:00:40 That's the reason I dislike the expresion American Gospel. For me there isn't American Gospel, there is Gospel, that's all. Now it can be sung in every language... 00:00:41 --> 00:00:49 So there isn't American Gospel, neither French nor Jap... There is Gospel, I mean The Gospel (in its stict sense) sung in several languages. 00:00:50 --> 00:01:00 It would be like to say there is an American Bible. Wrong, there is one Bible but it is translated... We went from Aramaic, Hebrew then we translated to Greek, later in French... 00:01:01 --> 00:01:15 But there is One Bible and that's the same for The Gospel. And about it, well, I think christians should correct this expression. One should not say French Gospel, it simply doesn't exist. 00:01:16 --> 00:01:30 And mostly there is a false debate about differences between Gospel and Nigger Spiritual. No. Like used to say Orlandus Wilson: 00:01:31 --> 00:01:54 "Between Gospel and Nigger Spiritual there isn't difference. The only difference is stylistic". This is the form, I mean behind the word Gospel we can understand a way to interpret such a title, a song. Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande 00:01:55 --> 00:02:05 And with Nigger Spiritual another way to interpret... But in the end they both match on the Christic field, because the whole look at Jesus Christ, there are songs addressed to Christ. 00:02:06 --> 00:02:21 It occured to state, and some people think it, that the Nigger Spirituals are not inspired, it's wrong. We can go further debating, it's wrong: the Nigger Spirituals are inspired. 00:02:22 --> 00:02:27 Precisely there are christians here in France thinking and saying it, it's wrong, this is nonsense! 00:02:29 --> 00:02:47 And the issue in the U.S. today revolves around that: in a church one likes a very melodic Gospel... * singing a melody *. 00:02:48 --> 00:03:01 And when you sing a very rythmic Gospel or Nigger Spiritual * singing rhythmically *... So people stop you: "this is not inspired, this is rythmed"... This, is a false debate. 00:03:03 --> 00:03:16 The rythm comes to us from the sky as well, that is! This is not only about the clean, simple and cool melody, no! The rythm * making quick rythms * comes from the sky and we can't say this is not inspired, wrong! 00:03:17 --> 00:03:23 It is visible in the churches, once you strike some rythms we are happy and then we say: "Now we come back to serious things" and suddenly it is quiet. 00:03:24 --> 00:03:37 What does it mean? It means the rythms done before are dirty? And this issue, even you in the U.S., makes that you are starting to lose a lot of things... So imagine in France, and I fight against this (loss). 00:03:42 --> 00:04:00 This greatest pianist, Smallwood... Oh that's good, his title, that you sing " Total Praise ", this is woooh... but today in the U.S. there is only that, we talk only about praise and worship. 00:04:01 --> 00:04:19 Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande And when you are going to put, for instance, Mahalia Jackson * singing *, one is going to say: "oh oh... Elijah this is the Old Testament, it's not good"... What does it mean? 00:04:21 --> 00:04:38 In temples, I have seen people sitting when they read the Old Testament and when they read the New Testament they stand up. What does it mean? Does it mean the New Testament is above the Old Testament? 00:04:38 --> 00:04:53 No, Jesus is already present in the Old Testament, and the problem is to believe he is only in the New. So, typically they stand up: "Let's read the Apostle Marc" and when one comes to read the Books of Moses, they sit. 00:04:55 --> 00:05:21 But Jesus is already in the Old Testament because when God says to Moses: "Extend your hand over the sea, lift up your rod and strike it" he will sign the Cross! There is a lot to review from us, christians... 00:05:22 --> 00:05:34 But we, in 2015, do not even see it, and one makes us believe that Jesus is present exclusively in the New Testament. No, he is already present into the Genesis... 00:05:35 --> 00:05:44 like states the hebrew "Bereshit bara Elohim" Jesus is in the first word. You just need to clean the eyes, look closely and study. 00:05:45 --> 00:06:00 The issue is that you, americans, are falling, we also fall, everybody follows. And the stupidity of these churches, like used to tell me Orlandus Wilson: 00:06:01 --> 00:06:24 "Serge, we, the Golden Gate we lost a lot" What? he told me: "Money destroyed us". In these churches, money destroys, they are too much rich and tinsel, whether catholic or protestant, I mean it... 00:06:25 --> 00:06:43 That's not normal. We must turn around. See a random pastor, the simplicity of life, that's also good. The issue is when God says: "Be fruitful, multiply and transform" we think.... Gold... Let's start... Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande 00:06:44 --> 00:07:00 Oww... Slowly, we have to see things differently, churches are too rich and this is a danger and we have to beware... That is. # Translation and Transcription - Video Part 3 ( https://youtu.be/C6U66oaHpYY ) 00:00:03 --> 00:00:17 Listening to Elvis Presley, I took inspiration in the american swing through Elvis, and the Jamaican side, Bob Marley, Reggae in all its splendid. 00:00:18 --> 00:00:45 I listened a lot to Steel Pulse etc. And I started composing songs with Reggae music with french text, I created different Reggae bands, in the same time I met Serge Tchicaya, and I followed in Reggae and later Gospel with "Tchico". 00:00:46 --> 00:01:38 Yes, so I have met Orlandus Wilson with "Tchico" in his house in Paris. We spent one full day of practice. We sang entirely our repertoire. We tried to understand his suitable advices, we took advantage of it, and applied them to keep going forward. 00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 (Interviewer) When Gospel has been recognized in Paris? 00:02:30 --> 00:02:54 Ok... I don't know. It started from different things: Is it due to the cultural mix which induced that people started to be influenced by Gospel music? An other thing are the evangelical texts which bring together a lot of people. 00:02:55 --> 00:03:10 It expanded a lot as well... it spread in the whole France. While before all was close, everyone was into his little countryside, his little town. Now it is wide open, so Gospel increased in France. 00:03:13 --> 00:03:32 So, first by the slaves song during the time of slavery. We, and I think the majority of people, see it this Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande way: initially this is the Nigger Spiritual, the slave song, singing in his field, and the prayers. 00:03:33 --> 00:03:51 Then these prayers became songs etc. Finally from this time it did only increase and progress, it's not an old stuff which remains buried in a corner. This is rather something which emancipates everywhere. That is. 00:03:53 --> 00:04:04 (Interviewer) Gospel and Jazz are very close, what are the differencies? 00:04:05 --> 00:04:21 In reality there isn't differencies because Gospel can be adapted to every music: it can be jazz, reggae, salsa or tango why not? It can be everything because it is about the text... 00:04:25 --> 00:04:59 Because if you want, it is very important to tell the truth. The truth is about the theological topic of Gospel. This is the important. While here people don't care, I mean here that's not important for people. 00:05:00 --> 00:05:22 However this is important. This is not about to say: "yeah.. we sing, the pastor has got a pretty nice watch" No! One has got to teach to people who sing, not to the profanes choirs, but christian ones why they are here... 00:05:23 --> 00:05:36 And the Message. The guy being not christian, that's okay! But yourself, being christian, to know what does it mean. Not in a purpose of endoctrination but to express what it really is. 00:05:38 --> 00:05:51 Because the christians, unlike the judes, they do not convey anymore. You go to a synagogue, you find a rabbi who will transmit you things step by step. The christian community doesn't convey anymore. 00:05:52 --> 00:06:09 You'll see a christian, he gives one euro to the collection the sunday, people are happy. But about transmission of the knowledge of the misteries of God, that's over by now. Now we go to the Church to give few money and that's done. 00:06:10 --> 00:06:26 But we have to come back to fundamentals, that's the problem. And I say it here in France people made Gospel in France – Translation and Transcription French to English by Thomas Lalande Gospel a business. And even more in the U.S., that's worse! This is a business. 00:06:27 --> 00:06:42 Then, it is true that I sing with a white man. I frowned upon here. What do you think? But when the white man shows them what he knows to do, they are like: "ohh...". That's the issue. 00:06:43 --> 00:06:54 Because there are cleavages. You're white, so you sing classic music, you're black you have to do so so... That is. It is becoming a business, they do not even care. 00:06:56 --> 00:07:19 Now, people do what they want. But I try, I Serge Tchicaya, to avoid to fall into this business. I do everything, I fight. Because one tells you "this and that". I fight with my means, I do not want that. 00:07:20 --> 00:07:35 Well, "Lucky" knows it, we got proposals from huge production, very huge ones... I am a happy man, that's all about. One should not fall into this business, but people need easy money, they want to be stars. 00:07:36 --> 00:07:46 I sing Gospel with "Lucky", I also play jazz, I have a jazz concert in two weeks, with very good musicians. Keeping the cold head is a must. Today people * making mimics * "stars!" 00:07:47 --> 00:07:58 Keep calm! People are ready to become prostitute to be stars because you sing this or that, no! We should say to these young ones what's Gospel. 00:07:59 --> 00:08:09 Today, the sunday in the churches, there is people called to sing who bargain, and request a financial contribution to come to sing! 00:08:10 --> 00:08:21 So in the end, one nice day the pastor will say: "So the people in the church there! I pay you, so sunday you come to pray and this is way we fill the benches" Wait a minute... Where are we? 00:08:22 --> 00:08:54 If you go to church Sunday this is to pray above all! To pray! That's it... Short, okay, well thanks, bye!