Chansons des mers froides
Encyclopedia
Chansons des mers froides (French
: "songs from the cold seas") is a 1994 album by French musician Hector Zazou
.
Zazou approached Sony Records with merely the title and the concept of songs from the Arctic
. He was accompanied by cameraman Philippe Roméo as he recorded traditional folk songs in and from Alaska
, Canada
(Newfoundland), Greenland
, Iceland
, Japan
, and Scandinavia
. He incorporated the shamanic incantations and lullabies of aboriginal people such as the Ainu
, Inuit
, Nanai, and Yakuts
.
The only original composition, "The Long Voyage", was written by Zazou as an expression of gratitude to his record company for granting him complete artistic freedom on the project. The song was released as a single and featured several remixes, including one by Mad Professor
and by Zazou himself.
As lyrics no longer exist for the traditional song "Annukka Suaren Neito" for Sari Kaasinen of Varttina
wrote lyrics based on the folk tale of the young girl Annukka who wants to marry a man who lives in the ocean.
The song "Adventures in the Scandinavian Skin Trade" was remixed by William Orbit
but never released.
, Balanescu Quartet
, Budgie
, Barbara Gogan
, Mark Isham
, Lightwave, Sakharine Percussion Group, Brendan Perry
(of Dead Can Dance
), Noriko Sanagi, Marina Schmidt, Guy Sigsworth
, Sissimut Dance Drummers
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: "songs from the cold seas") is a 1994 album by French musician Hector Zazou
Hector Zazou
Hector Zazou was a prolific French composer and record producer who worked with, produced, and collaborated with an international array of recording artists...
.
Zazou approached Sony Records with merely the title and the concept of songs from the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
. He was accompanied by cameraman Philippe Roméo as he recorded traditional folk songs in and from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Newfoundland), Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. He incorporated the shamanic incantations and lullabies of aboriginal people such as the Ainu
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
, Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, Nanai, and Yakuts
Yakuts
Yakuts , are a Turkic people associated with the Sakha Republic.The Yakut or Sakha language belongs to the Northern branch of the Turkic family of languages....
.
The only original composition, "The Long Voyage", was written by Zazou as an expression of gratitude to his record company for granting him complete artistic freedom on the project. The song was released as a single and featured several remixes, including one by Mad Professor
Mad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
and by Zazou himself.
As lyrics no longer exist for the traditional song "Annukka Suaren Neito" for Sari Kaasinen of Varttina
Värttinä
Värttinä is a Finnish folk music band which was started as a project by Sari and Mari Kaasinen back in 1983 in the village of Rääkkylä, in Karelia, the southeastern region of Finland. Many transformations have taken place in the band since then...
wrote lyrics based on the folk tale of the young girl Annukka who wants to marry a man who lives in the ocean.
The song "Adventures in the Scandinavian Skin Trade" was remixed by William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
but never released.
Contributing musicians
Ainu Dancers of HokkaidōHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Balanescu Quartet
Balanescu Quartet
The Balanescu Quartet is an avant-garde string quartet founded in 1987 by Alexander Bălănescu that achieved fame through the release of several complex cover versions of songs by German experimental electronic music band Kraftwerk on their album "Possessed"....
, Budgie
Budgie (drummer)
-External links:*...
, Barbara Gogan
The Passions
The Passions were a British band which formed in 1978, and disbanded in 1983. They were one-hit wonders with their misty song, "I'm in Love with a German Film Star". which was released in early 1981.-Career:...
, Mark Isham
Mark Isham
Mark Isham is an American trumpeter, synthesist, and film composer. He works in a variety of genres, including jazz, electronic, and film.-Life and career:...
, Lightwave, Sakharine Percussion Group, Brendan Perry
Brendan Perry
Brendan Michael Perry is a singer and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as the male half of the duo Dead Can Dance with Lisa Gerrard.-Early life:...
(of Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
), Noriko Sanagi, Marina Schmidt, Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth is a U.K. based composer, producer and songwriter. In his career to date he has worked with many famous artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian and Alanis Morissette...
, Sissimut Dance Drummers
Track listing
- "Annukka Suaren Neito" - VärttinäVärttinäVärttinä is a Finnish folk music band which was started as a project by Sari and Mari Kaasinen back in 1983 in the village of Rääkkylä, in Karelia, the southeastern region of Finland. Many transformations have taken place in the band since then...
- "Vísur Vatnsenda-RósuVísur Vatnsenda-RósuVísur Vatnsenda-Rósu is a traditional Icelandic song. The lyrics are a poem written by Rósa Guðmundsdóttir ; the melody is a traditional lullaby, arranged by Jón Ásgeirsson....
" - BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... - "The Long Voyage" - Suzanne VegaSuzanne VegaSuzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
& John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground.... - "Havet Stomar" - Lena WillemarkLena WillemarkLena Willemark is a Swedish traditional music fiddler, singer, and composer.For several decades Willemark has been widening her scope through collaborations with jazz musicians and other artists...
- "Adventures in the Scandinavian Skin Trade" - Wimme SaariWimme SaariWimme Saari is one of the best known Sami yoikers from Finland. Wimme Saari combines traditional Sami singing with his own improvisations, usually to a techno-ambient accompaniment by members of Finnish electronic group RinneRadio...
- "She's Like a Swallow" - Jane Siberry
- "The Lighthouse" - Siouxsie
- "Oran na Maighdean Mhara" - Catherine-Ann MacPhee
- "Yaisa Maneena" - Tokiko KatoTokiko Kato, is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist, and actress. She graduated from the University of Tokyo, and worked as a visiting professor at Josai International University.- Filmography :# Izakaya Chōji .... Shigeko...
- "Iacoute Song" - Lioudmila Khandi
- "Song of the Water" - Kilabuk & Nooveya