Ivorian-American singer-songwriter Fely Tchaco has unveiled a new remix of her single “Zante,” reimagined by renowned Ivorian producer and musician David Tayorault. Known as “The Samurai,” Tayorault gained international acclaim for his work with Magic System, including the iconic hit “Premier Gaou.” His remix of “Zante” infuses the track with a vintage zouglou vibe, a genre rooted in the popular dance rhythms of the Ivory Coast during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Originally featured on Fely’s 2021 album Yita, this updated version of “Zante” serves as a preview of her upcoming 2025 album, for which the release date has yet to be announced.
“This song is just one of my favorites,” Fely explains. I wanted to remix the song to get a different feel and style. The original version was more afropop, but a bit broad. I wanted to accentuate the Ivorian pop rhythm called zouglou a little bit more, which is not so well known on this side of the Atlantic. I brought out the arrangement I’ve always wanted for the song, and have room to express myself more on the vocals. The song’s title means “I beg you”. It’s a festive, upbeat, and love song, but it is also a song of victory and celebration. This song is very deep, as it was inspired by the story of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. When she went to the grave and saw that Jesus was not present, he appeared to her later to reassure her that he was indeed alive. The song is about grieving, but at the same time a victory and a warning to anyone wanting to come close and hurt their loved ones.”
The lyrics, sung in the Gouro language, translate as:
“My love one that you see here
People, I beg you: Don’t touch my honey
He/she is everything to me—my bedbug, my sweetheart.
You don’t know how far we have come
Don’t you dare look at him/her or think of him/her
Otherwise, I’ll go crazy on you”
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central