Izaline Calister - Kanta Hélele

Izaline Calister - Singer, composer and lyricist with a distinctive personal musical style. A charismatic performer, at times warm and intimate, then again expressive and extroverted, masterfully weaving together the traditional music of her native island, Curaçao (Dutch Caribbean), with Jazz. Izaline possesses the exceptional gift that makes all the difference for a soloist, as she sings in her mother tongue, Papiamentu, with feeling and grace. She has this ability to remain true to her roots and successfully reach out and conquer audiences around the world singing in an unfamiliar language, while melding seamlessly the pulsating rhythms of Afro-Antilles music with Jazz.

Kanta Hélele’ translates as ‘Sing Hélele’.
‘Hélele’ is a lyric people in Curaçao often use when they want to sing a song of joy without having a particular melody or song in their minds. People usually belt out the ‘Hélele’ using whatever melody comes into mind, often with their hands lifted up to the air.

Link to the live performance of the song on youtube

Link to the song on iTunes

Hei, lanta fo’i kama lihé, dia ta pasa un be No, no drumi pèrdè tempu, disfrut’é Bo chèns ta eifó, gar’éle awó No, no keda warda ningun hende no Hei, gosa di loke bo tin Dicha ta bai i e ta bin Danki dios tur tempu malu tin su fin I no lubidá, kon tristu ku bo ta Keda ku speransa kosnan lo solushoná Bo sa ku bo por, no pèrdè balor Mi ta yudabu si bo ke, pa bo komprondé i Lo bo realisá , kon fuerte bo ta Bo duda ta por nada, lanta i bo ta sa Mi ke pa bo wak, bo bida ku smak Ba pag’é presio di amor, ma bo sa awor Ku felisidat, esun di bèrdat, no ta kosta nada Felisidat ta pòrnada, basta bo habri bo bista p’e Den kosnan chikitu, ta bo mes tin ku mir’é Si un hende yudabu, maske ku bo n’ konosé Kanta ku mi: Hélele, Hélele Felisidat ta pòrnada, basta bo habri bo bista p’e Un nechi kantika, mientras ku bo ta baile Si e ta stimabu i abo tambe stim’é Kanta ku mi: Hélele, Hélele Felisidat ta pòrnada, basta bo habri bo bista p’e Un yu den bo brasa, ku tin bo duru tené Si bo tin amigu, ku bo por konta ku n’e Kanta ku mi: Hélele, Hélele

Hey, quick get out of bed! Days pass before you know it No, don’t waste more time sleeping, enjoy it! Your chance is out there, grab it now! Don’t sit around waiting for anybody Hey, enjoy what you have Happiness comes and goes But thank god, all bad times come to an end And don’t forget, even though you are very sad Keep faith, things will work out! You know you can do it, don’t lose your courage I’ll help you if you want, to make you understand Then you’ll realize, how strong you actually are There is no reason for doubts. Get up and you’ll see! I want you to look at life, with gusto You paid the price of love, But now you know That happiness, the real kind, doesn’t cost anything Happiness is for free, as long as your sight is open to it It’s in the little things, you just have to see If someone you don’t even know, helps you Sing with me Hélele, Hélele Happiness is for free, as long as your sight is open to it A nice song, while you’re dancing to it If he (she) loves you and you love him (her) back Sing with me Hélele, Hélele Happiness is for free, as long as your sight is open to it A child in your arms that is tightly holding on to you If you have friends you can really count on Sing with me Hélele Hélele

*izalinecalister.com
*myspace.com/izalinecalister