In which…in which I write my thoughts as I watch a Kreyolicious music video…

Artist/Band: Dat7
Song: “Se Konsa” [This Is How You Do It], Written by Ricot Amazan
Produced By: Ricot Amazon and Ti Harold
Vocals: Olivier Duret
Director: New Vibrations, Dalex Saint-Jean
Co-Director: Olivier Duret

Nice brows, girl…and is that a mask of the African ancestors on those earrings? Very kreyolicious.

Bon, in this granm maten, you already got your cut-off shorts on. Summer’s not here yet, you know.

Where are we here? In the Middle East…on the border of Asia…first I see this girl…

And now I see a Japanese—oh…so he’s not Japanese…it’s a dreadlock Samurai.

Oh, dreadlock samurai, your sideburns are cute and you’re looking so fly. Do tip your barber next time to thank him (or her) the perfect alignment. Man, this barber sure is handy with the razor blade.

Oh, wait a minute.

I wish to suspend my compliments for the dreadlock samurai for the time being. I see this girl’s nose is running. Her lips are chapped; her lipstick scraped from her lips! She’s crying, and boy, does she look mad. What has the dreadlock samurai done to her? And he’s coming towards her with a huge, huge book. It’s too thick to be a family album. Is it a dictionary? Boy, don’t bring a weapon to your own beat-down. She just might grab it from you, and Samson that face of yours.

Ah, he wisely puts the book down on the table—several feet away from her. Adorable and wise.

And what is the book’s title? Looks like a ying-yang symbol on there, no? A tome on Eastern religion, perhaps?

Uh-oh, she’s getting up….

Ah, a closer look at the book’s cover.

Oh, the song’s title…

Something’s wrong—something’s very wrong—in this relationship. If her tears weren’t an indication, their rapport is. He places the book on the table and walks away. She waits until he’s removed his presence to express the least interest in the book.

Oh, okay, thanks for letting us know…story-book style…

A new fellow has entered the building.

Oh, look, he and the dreadlock samurai must have the same barber.

And maybe the same wardrobe stylist. Oh, the scarves! But what of the look on the face of this new dude? He looks like a human terminator, sunglasses and forbidding look and all.

Look at his figi. I bet he’s trying to blame things on the girl.

Don’t tell me he’s going to play psychologist in all of this. And should we say something about those lips of his? So kreyolicious…so cherry-like, so sensual…so full…and you thought the dude in the “Baby I Miss You” video had Vitamin E lips! This one…I bet this one exfoliates every day. I bet he eats all his vegetables…I bet he uses fermented castor oil on those lips…Oh, and organic shea butter. I bet he drinks the required half-gallon of water to regularly nourish those lips. I bet he uses those lips to read Psalms 119 before he goes off to bed.

Oh, yet another friend has joined the conversation. See, what guys do behind our backs, girls? We already know that the conversation that’s about to ensue is going to center on one thing…women…how terrible they are…and men…how righteous they always are.

Let’s talk about his new guy…His skin is so smooth…he probably moisturizes it with homemade tomato soap…And, look at his teeth.

So cute. His gums are so brown. I bet he flosses and brushes three times a day. I bet he gargles with coconut oil. And his hair…nice tape, homey….they sure are giving that barber a lot of business.

And this guy with the red shirt on…almost, almost had a dimple. Nice kreyolicious smile.

So, wait…there’s a fourth guy in the room? Oh, boy, it’s about to go down. Ooh, some serious backbiting is about to go down.

He’s removed the hater blockers. He doesn’t look so forbidding now. He looks friendly. Who is he? A relationship coach?

Oh, and we get a better look at his outfit. Very, very kreyolicious. Gray is definitely his color. Nice kicks, relationship coach…if that’s what thou are.

So, I was wrong…no backbiting. A sort of relationship-how-to…set to music…a relationship coaching session.

That barber, that barber…that barber…look at that tape.

I like the fact that the director inserts scenes from the relationship coach’s own life into his lecture to demonstrate that behind closed doors, he’s practicing what he preaches. We all know those types of people who are geniuses when it comes to lecturing others and cretins when it comes to applying the principles they sermonize. Well, thankfully, this relationship coach is not of that cloth—all the more easier to ingest his message.

I think the most powerful line from this song is this one: (“Pa kache santiman ou pou yon fanm ki chè pou ou”/(Don’t keep your feelings on the low from a woman who means the world to you). I had to really think about this sentence, and about how deep it goes. I think a lot of times guys are fearful. They think that in telling a girl that they love her and care for her, they’re somehow stripping themselves of their manhood…but as the song goes on to say, it’s good to make sure that a woman has full-coverage love insurance/assurance. I really like that latter concept. It’s interesting to note that the word “chè” in Creole also means ‘expensive’…as in materially expensive…and it’s also used to mean something that’s ‘dear’? Rather curious, no?

All the principles and suggestions made by the relationship coach are what makes a relationship: flowers to show appreciation, a canoe ride for spending time together, quiet time at home over glasses of wine to reminisce and reflect together. I dig.

Now that the relationship coach’s students have been given suggestions on how to improve their relationship, they’re ready to apply his sermons. Hooray!

This participant has shed his glasses. Smooth skin, no?

He gives his girl a thoughtful kiss. He then steps back to watch her as she undresses. This is a body that he probably sees on the daily, but he takes his time to savor it, and lets her know he appreciates her bodily gifts. They take a shower together. There’s nothing like quality time that purifies.

Ah, this one…guess the heart of the problem for his relationship was his workaholic ways.

He misses all the cues. His girl is on the couch…in her, ahem nightly wear, and he’s just sitting there…typing away. He probably has an internet business. Or perhaps he works in an office…spends the entire day at the office, and then brings more work to his home. She rolls her eyes. He doesn’t notice. She flips her hair—he doesn’t blink.

She gives him a huge twaze. He’s still typing away at his keyboard.

Meanwhile, the relationship coach’s other patient…er…other client is applying the affection principle to his relationship—with marvelous results. Beautiful.

He’s even happier in the studio. Thumbs up, indeed. Compare this smile to the stern look he had on his face at the beginning of the relationship coaching session.

He gets an unexpected surprise from his girl. See? He’s already reaping the fruits of taking to heart the relationship coach’s lessons.

Sometimes all you need is one piece of wisdom.

Ah, the last student from the coach’s roster. Will he successfully implement the advice of the relationship coach and cherish his woman?

OMG, see what I told you guys earlier about the book being used as a weapon! And I thought I was over-imagining things!

While we’re discussing this scene, can we take a look at the recho in the background? There’s nothing on there…not even boiled water. This girl is on strike against this Negro. He must have done something serious! Dreadlock samurai, I’m mad at you. You’re the only one in the dude therapy group who didn’t execute the “Se Konsa” theorem. So at the beginning of the vid, he hands her the book…perhaps he thinks she’s the problem. It’s possible that she’s the problem. But in that scene where she tries to kiss him, you could tell that he is indeed the problem. He just sits there, expecting to be catered to…and he’s not returning her show of affection. He just sits there, immobile. And you can’t just hand her the book! Why not read it together if she has some things of her own she needs to fix in the relationship?

Let’s hope this video has a sequel where the braided hair samurai gives flowers, make her go “ooh la la”, and gives her a $500,000 love assurance/insurance policy. Love without reservations. Or, let him be the main actor in a cautionary tale on what not to do. Some people will never think they’re the problem. It’s always the other person. And for every success story the relationship coach has, for every relationship he’s able to transform, there’s some that he’ll never be able to change.

Very charming little vid from the boys of Dat7. Kudos to this Mr. Dalex Saint-Jean. Se konsa…se konsa…

Kreyolicious Music…in which…in which I review a record by a band, group or artist.

Album: Verdict
Group/Artist: Dat7
Musicians: Lead vocalist: Olivier Duret. Congas and Maestro: Ricot Amazan. Eddy Viau: Percussions. Vladimir Alexis: Drums. Michael Keyboards: Michael Junior Bellevue. Bass: Ramenshy Fausin. Guitar: Telusma Morizio.

Guest Musicians: Nickenson Prudhome, Gerald Kebreau, Harold St. Louis, Ralph Menelas, Sanders Solon, Rivenson Louissaint, James Monplaisir, Valery Lezin, Jeff Medelus, Dukens Pierre-Louis, Alain Fleurine, Duval Hummer, Guy Brisse, Jude Severe, Michael Benjamin, Jean Levelt Vital, Fantom Barikad.

Sa w Tap Fè

I like the frenetic pace at which lead singer Olivier Duret belts out this track. What would you have done? We judge others everyday, especially when they make decisions we don’t agree with—as if we were walking in their shoes. In reality, we don’t really know how we would react and counteract…unless we were actually in said position.

Verdict: Some serious moralizing going on in this song…Sure, I can dig.

Why

What’s happening in “Why”? A gent is calling out his girl on the interference of her girlfriend in their relationship. From his point of view, the bestie has gone past reasonable boundaries with her meddling and counseling. She’s out to destroy him, her…them…and their relationship. I remember once, the writer JasFly (was it?), had written something about what she termed “bad weather friends”, and these so-called weather friends are the sort who bask and rejoice when you’re in a woeful situation. They do this, not because they get some sick pleasure in seeing you through “bad weather”, but I guess because it gives them some purpose. This said, there’s this rather interesting line in this song:

Pouki yon fanm pa janm vle wè lè yon lòt fanm ap fè siksè
Li vle toujou wè ou toujou ap viv nan bezwen

How come a girl never wants to see another woman have a successful relationship
She wants to see you needy

Excuse me, Dat7 boys, but surely this isn’t your business. This is a matter for the sisterhood to discuss privately. Yes, there are some, er, issues within some members of the sisterhood. But, we’ll wash the sisterhood’s laundry in our own washers. We don’t need ya’ll to point it out to us. [Whispering in the ears of the sisterhood] Ladies, we have to get our acts together, okay? Now, we have Dat7 squawking our business in their lyrics. Ladies, we have to do better.

Verdict: Your honor, objection, based on the mere fact that the sisterhood’s issues do not concern Dat7.

Tribunal Lanmou

I really like the concept of this song, “Tribunal Lanmou”—the whole idea of a court system where people are judged based on crimes they’ve committed against a relationship, and against love. Senseless and heartless players would finally get their comeuppance. Those who love passionately and genuinely would cease to suffer at the hands of their less-than-noble companions. Sounds good to me!

“Tribunal Lanmou” can be viewed as the companion song for another song on the album entitled “Se Konsa”. Everyone who fails to adhere to the “Se Konsa” principles and statutes will be subpoenaed to “Tribunal Lanmou”. Even if they were to get Gloria Alred as their attorney, they won’t be able to escape the final verdict.

Verdict: Your honor, I’d like to recommend that all participants—that is to say the defendants, not the plaintiffs—in “Tribunal Lanmou” be given 120 hours of mediation, coupled with counseling by a high-performing specialist, after which they can attend a therapy session to sort out their problems. Wait, the plaintiffs should also be treated accordingly. It’s not all the times that defendants are in the right.

No Need to be Fancy

Thought this was going to be a relationship song, but it’s about camaderie and challenges of the brotherhood in a band.

Verdict: Yes, there is the need to be fancy.

Je Veux M’enVoler

This song right here…this song right here, and that’s all I’ll say about it. No, I need to say more. This song is delivered so beautifully. Would have been nice for it to have been recorded in Creole. You know when all the elements of a song from vocals to arrangements and delivery are well-done…well, this track is a great example of that.

Verdict: Your honor, do you think this song could be played in the courthouse whenever divorce court cases are being argued Bet it’ll make both plaintiffs and defendants think about the time they first fell in love. And the Clerk of Courts will have to file less divorces. What do you say to that, your honor?

Jwe Wòl Ou

The philosophy behind this song is rather faulty. The whole idea is that if only we play “our roles”, and we do “our duties”, all will go well. Are you sure about that Mr. Amazan and Mr. Duret? What’s that maxim? The one about how it doesn’t matter how good a relationship is, someone who’s a heel and a douche bag will find a way to violate the rules, whether it’s taking part in infidelity, or verbal and/or physical abuse. And what’s the reverse of that maxim? That it matters not how bad and destructive a relationship is, a person who’s in love will find a reason to stay in it.

“Jwe Wòl Ou” tries to explain away why men stray.

We’re like little babies
Where the attention is, that’s where we going to play ball

Wow, interesting take on the male psyche, Dat7. The thing about “Jwe Wòl Ou” is that it places all the responsibilities at the woman’s door for everything…even if it professes to be addressing “Madan Marye” and “Mesye Marye”.

Verdict: Great job on the track’s vocal and musical arrangement by James Monplaisir and Olivier Duret. Please with that “Jwe Wòl Ou” mess. Why? Because in Tribunal Lamou, there’s no need to be fancy, okay? You’re responsible for your own Depozit okay? Experience has shown “Saw Tap Fe” will depend on your moral values. Pafwa se pa nou menm ki vle non/Sometimes it’s not us who wanna. Negroes, please. Yeah, it’s you, and it’s because you want to. Cheaters and philanderers! Ugh! The song tries to play things Both Ways…on one hand, it’s trying to excuse philanderers, and on the other hand, it’s also trying to dictate the “Se Konsa” principles. So contradictory!

Thus far, the verdict on Verdict is that…well…they’re tackling a lot of heavy subjects and topics. This Ricot Amazan person, who writes or nearly co-writes the majority of the songs on Verdict is quite a piece of work…Scramble the letters around in his name a little bit, and you get Rico Amazon…as in rich amazon…this dude has quite a lot of things going on mentally…looks like. Are all these songs based on his personal experiences? How old is this guy to have gone through all these things? Overactive creative imagination? Or perhaps, he hangs around under people’s beds, and on roof tops, and eavesdrops on people’s conversations and then runs home to write his songs? Goodness only knows.

But what of the second half album…what does it hold for us? The answer…next time.

This concludes Part 1 of the review of Dat7’s Verdict. Stay tuned for Part 2.

Meanwhile…

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Kreyolicious Music…in which…in which I review a record by a band, group or artist. This time around, I am going to be exploring the second half of…(CLICK HERE if you missed PART 1 of the review.)

Album: Verdict
Group/Artist: Dat7
Musicians: Lead vocalist: Olivier Duret. Congas and Maestro: Ricot Amazan. Eddy Viau: Percussions. Vladimir Alexis: Drums. Michael Keyboards: Michael Junior Bellevue. Bass: Ramenshy Fausin. Guitar: Telusma Morizio.

Guest Musicians: Nickenson Prudhome, Gerald Kebreau, Harold St. Louis, Ralph Menelas, Sanders Solon, Rivenson Louissaint, James Monplaisir, Valery Lezin, Jeff Medelus, Dukens Pierre-Louis, Alain Fleurine, Duval Hummer, Guy Brisse, Jude Severe, Michael Benjamin, Jean Levelt Vital, Fantom Barikad.

Depozit
Motivational in nature, this track inculcates that we will only get what we put in, in life. And if we put in nothing, we shall reap nothing.

Verdict: Your honor, this song ought to be played for the participants in the juvenile delinquency program. Needless to say, it’ll give some incentive to our youths to excel and to persevere.

Experience
There’s nothing like hard-earned life lessons. Throughout the verses of “Experience”, one thing is emphasized over and over, sometimes directly, and sometimes indirectly: some experiences are overly disagreeable, but we’re better off having them.

Verdict: A song about working hard to get desired results and perseverance is always welcomed.

Both Ways
What to make of this song? It’s daring for one thing, especially for that genre. A man finds himself in a predicament. He loves a woman, who loves him, but loves other women too.

Verdict: Well, this song is definitely…different.

Se Konsa
Oh, that song again. How nice. It warrants listens after listens. “Se Konsa” preaches without coming across as self-righteous, and it proposes fundamentals for stable, nourishing love without being patronizing.

Verdict: Your honor, I wish to recommend that this song be played as part of every case seen by this court, pertaining to domestic violence. Some men just weren’t taught how to treat a woman, and “Se Konsa” can be their tutorial. Better late, than never.

Danre Ra
I could listen to soft, romantic jams like “Danre Ra” all day, hours at a time. I’ve written about this song before on the site, and the lyrics haven’t lost one ounce of their original impact. The melody by Guy Brisse and Ricot Amazan mesh well with the lyrics about love—true love’s ability to circumvent obstacles thrown in its way—whether palisades thrown in the form of disapproving friends, personal issues faced by a couple in the form of tides, and storms that come in the shape of distance .

Verdict: Your honor, after hearing eleven pieces of evidence brought out by the defendant Dat7, I the sole jury member in this case, hereby find them guilty of releasing an album that touches on a sensitive subject (“Both Ways”), and features romantic ballads that go beyond the “I-love-you, I-love-you-so-much” template (“Tribunal Lanmou”, “Danre Ra”). With the court’s approval, I hereby recommend that “Je M’envoler”, “Tribunal Lanmou”, “Jwe Wòl Ou” be given video treatments immediately. I further state that “Why” be given the same consideration.
Next case!

Buy some DAT7 for your Haitian music collection…
CLICK HERE TO BUY DAT7’S VERDICT ON AMAZON| CLICK HERE TO BUY DAT7’S VERDICT ON CDBABY FOLLOW DAT7 ON FACEBOOK| FOLLOW DAT7 ON TWITTER | FOLLOW DAT7 ON INSTAGRAM |CLICK HERE TO VISIT DAT7’S WEBSITE

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE KREYOLICIOUS MUSIC ARTICLES