Randé

Randé
Robin Gautier, considered as one of the founders of the genre
Etymology	Emeraudian Creole slang for a dance
Stylistic origins	ska rocksteady héler R&B jazz soul Gaullican pop Estmerish rock Djeli pop
Cultural origins	mid to late 1960's Île d'Émeraude, particularly in Port-au-Grégoire
Derivative forms	Salledanse, Dub
Subgenres
Amoureux rock, racines randé
Regional scenes
Bahia Cassier Azure Coast Euclea Rizealand Sainte-Chloé Satucin Senria Vinalia
Local scenes
Gregwa

Randé is a music genre that originated in Île d'Émeraude during the late 1960's. The term is also commonly used to denote the popular music of Île d'Émeraude and its diaspora. While usage of the term in this way is rather common, the term more properly denotes a specific music style that drew influence from traditional héler, Rizean R&B and soul, Mabifian and Garamburan Djeli pop, and Satucine jazz, while also evolving from ska and rocksteady. Randé's immediate origins are in the latter two genres; from rocksteady, randé would take over the use of the bass as a percussion instrument. The

When it comes to musical style, randé incorporates elements of jazz, rhythm and blues, héler, and soul, and also takes much influence from Bahian folk music and some more contemporary Bahian music such as Djeli pop. The tempo of randé is typically slower than both ska and rocksteady. The genre is primarily led by the bass and drum, two instruments that would go on to form the basis of a derivative genre, dub. The bass guitar, which in randé sound is thick, heavy, and equalized, plays a dominant role in randé. The guitar is often played on the offbeat of the rhythm. Randé is commonly sung in Emeraudian Creole and Gaullican in its native Île d'Émeraude, though is also sung in the native languages of other places where it has gained a significant following. One of randé's most recognizable aspects is the emphasis on social commentary, with many of the lyrics that the music bears the weight of being politically or spiritually charged. Randé also commonly discuss lighter topics, such as love, socializing, or relaxation.

Randé shares deep links with Mufastism, a Bahio-centric religion that developed in Île d'Émeraude during the 1920's. As a result, the genre became associated with Mufastism and increased its visibility as randé gained international popularity in the 1970's. The genre is also associated with Pan-Bahianism. Randé music is an effective and important means of spreading Mufastism's gospel throughout the world. As Mufastis see it, music is a "tool for change" in society.

Randé has spread to numerous countries around the world, and has often fused with native music scenes and incorporated other instruments. Perhaps the most notable case of this is Senrian Randé, which grew after Robin Gautier toured Senria in 1977 and collaborated with local artists to cultivate a local randé scene. Randé, as well as other Bahio-Arucian music, has been popular in Euclea since the early 1970's, and it has evolved into numerous subgenres, such as Amoureux rock, which originated in Verlois and has an emphasis on romantic content. Numerous randé acts have begun their careers in Euclean countries, especially Gaullica, and as a result, many Euclean bands draw direct inspiration from the music of Île d'Émeraude and the rest of the wider Arucian. Randé became popular in Bahia following Robin Gautier's tour of the subcontinent in 1979.

Etymology

The term "randé" first arose as Emeraudian Creole slang, and was used to describe a "running man"-like dance dance that many young concertgoers did while at ska and rocksteady concerts beginning during the late 1950's and early 1960's. It first arose as a name for the genre after The Bawlers released their single "Do the Randé" in 1969.

History

Precursors

The direct ancestors of randé are ska and rocksteady, which both arose within Île d'Émeraude's vibrant recording industry during the 1950's. Both of these were greatly influenced by héler and calypso, along with Rizealander R&B and Satucine jazz. Mufastism was deeply linked with randé early on, and the spread of its popularity helped spread Mufastism into other countries. In such places, the movement is stamped by its randé origins and social milieu. Mufastism greatly influenced randé.

Beginning in the mid 20th century, phonographic records were introduced to Île d'Émeraude, and they became of central importance to the Emeraudian recording industry. They would also play a key role in randé's development. 7" records became popular in the early 1950's. The first héler recordings would be released as singles around this time as well, and at first two distinct styles would emerge: a more jazzy pop style, and an acoustic based and more rural sound. Both of these styles would go on to influence ska and rocksteady, which would both arise in the late 1950's and early 1960's respectively.

Ska arose in the late 1950's, developing from a mixture of rhythm and blues, jazz, hèler, and calypso. With its jazz-style horn riffs that were prominent throughout the genre, which became one of ska's most recognizable aspects, ska is characterized by a walking bass line on the quarter note, piano and guitar offbeats, and a unique drum pattern influenced by the drums of both héler and traditional Bahian music. It became the genre of choice for young Emeraudians looking for a style of music to call their own. Ska also became popular among the Emeraudian diaspora in Gaullica.

Rocksteady would arise from ska in the early 1960's, with a slower rhythm and lyrics that focused primarily on romance. The horns of ska were also less prominent in rocksteady. Many theories have been discussed as to why rocksteady developed a slower rhythm; a popular one is that Henri Beaumont, a music artist who formed a vocal group with Aaron Chausson called Beaumont and Chausson, was unable to sing one of his earlier and more popular songs, "Low and Slow", at the quick tempo of ska. The slower rhythm would prove quite influential on randé, which borrowed the slower rhythms that allowed for offbeat guitar strokes.

Randé would also be influenced by Djeli pop, which arose in the southern Bahian nation of Mabifia during the 1960's. It would spread to Île d'Émeraude after the protest song "Bahies, levez-vous!" by Honorine Uwineza was released, and it gained popularity among the young and rebellious audience of Île d'Émeraude. Randé would borrow Djeli pop's use of both traditional Bahian instruments and modern Euclean instruments, as well as its social commentary.

Emergence

Randé first began to develop in the mid to late 1960's. It first arose from ska and rocksteady, with The Bawlers and Klax and the Gendarmerie being some of the first acts in the genre. A strength of randé from early on was, and remains, its seemingly limitless flexibility; from the gritty, Gregwa style of the Bawlers, to the more upbeat, pop-like sound of later acts such as the House of Gautier, enormous leaps and liberties were taken through the years, and yet both are instantly recognizable as randé.

The first bona fide randé records were released between 1967 and 1968, with numerous acts beginning to capitalize on the new sound. Imitators would also pop up in foreign countries, most notably Félix LeBeau, a Cassien artist who released the single "Feeling Alright" in 1968. This record is credited with introducing the randé sound to the broader Asterian market.

The Bawlers, formed by Robin Gautier, Bruno Gautier, and Milo Rémy, are perhaps the most recognizable and well known randé act of all time. Interestingly, the band went through the transition through the three genres of ska, rocksteady, and randé throughout the band's early history. Other notable ska or rocksteady acts and performers that made the jump to randé in this period were Klax and the Gendarmerie; Augustine, Prince of the Isle; The HotShots, and Camilia Dominique.

Numerous Emeraudian producers influenced the transition through the genres and aided in the development of randé's distinct sound, which include Pascal Rapace, Patrick Altidor, and Dimtri Berchard; the latter of which would also play a key role in promoting the genre and aiding its worldwide spread.