Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases the song "Blue (Chale What Dey Happen)" by Ghanaian vocalist M.anifest.
Selected comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread are also included in this post.
This post also provides information about the Ghanaian term "Chale
The content of this post is presented for etymological, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to M.anifest and all who are associated with this song and video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. And thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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WHAT THE GHANAIAN WORD "CHALE" MEANS
From http://meghaninghana.blogspot.com/2010/04/chale-ghana-ism-3.html
April 19, 2010
"Chale (Ghana-ism #3)
Chale (pronounced Chah-lee), is a common West-African nonsense word. I've encountered it in conversation with Ghanaians, Nigerians, and even in an autobiography from Sierra Leone (note: A Long Way Gone is an amazing story of a child-soldier from the Civil War in SL, and requisite reading for anyone going there. Plus, it's an easy read. But I digress....). Chale can be used in almost any context, and it might be easiest for me to just point out some examples:
Taxi driver: "This ride will cost you 5 cedis."
Me (being very Ghanaian): "Ah! Chale! That is too much!"
Boy watching football in my hostel: "Chale! Did you see that goal?"
My roommate Ama, on the phone in our room: "...Chale! No way! Tell me what happened!"
No one seems to have any firm definitions for Chale, so I'm loosely considering it a sort of benign expletive that's flexible enough to be used happily, out of frustration, or with anxiety. But in general it's a fun word, and makes any visitor to Ghana feel a tad more native.
Hey! Chale!
Posted by Meghabeast"
-snip-
selected comments from that post:
ToksAugust 12, 2010
"The word 'chalѐ’ contrary to popular belief is not a Ga word. It came from the American G.I.'s that were stationed in Accra in the 40's during the 2nd World War who would refer to everyone as Charlie during radio transmissions to allied forces. This word being heard by the Ghanaians at the base was taken away and used in their own accent would sound more like Chale than Charlie.
Over the years it has come to be commonly known to mean 'my friend'."
**
Megan...Megs...Megoo, June 20, 2012
"Hey! Local friends in Ghana use it all the time to mean 'my guy'. I guess it would be a Ghanaian version of slang affectionate terms for friends like dude or bro. I realize these are all strangely in masculine form, but I have also noticed males using it more than females! Either way, it's fun to say."
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Morenike Ashade, October 14, 2014
"Correction, Nigerians might say Chai! not Chalee! I have never heard a Nigerian say Chale! in Nigeria. The one's you met might have become appropriately Ghanianised."
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From http://everything-ghana.tumblr.com/post/48484854432/what-does-chale-mean
April 20, 2013- "ANONYMOUS SAID: WHAT DOES CHALE MEAN
Like how Americans use “bro” or “man”
Or how British use “mate”
Ghanaians use “chale”
Same meaning"
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LYRICS: BLUE (CHALE WHAT DEY HAPPEN)
by M.anifest
[Intro: M.anifest]
Aah...!
Chaley what dey happen?
[Hook: M.anifest]
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak e dey mek I… (High)
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
[Verse 1: M.anifest]
I got dirty feet that I tap on this dirty beat
Many men never heard of me
But certainly if they follow my trajectory
They would find that I’m royalty
And the younger me
Wants to climb on a mango tree
And I miss me felling free
And I miss me eating that Kelewele
Girls shaking their wele right in front of me
And I miss me walking barefooted and innocent
Talking pidgin, Ghanaian citizen
Pounding of fufu, I miss the beat
And I miss them calling me Dadabee, (Haye!)
Home is where my heart is
Torn from home, could be so heartless
Visual memoirs of a travelling artist
Case of the blues I got it the baddest
[Hook 2: M.anifest]
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak, e dey mek I… (High)
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak, e dey mek I…
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
[Verse 2: M.anifest]
Gari, Akɔ-kɔɔ and beans
These are the things that I see in my dreams
Abi, you know sey my eye red
E Kyɛɛ waa since I last chop tea bread
Palm wine, sɔk plus calabash
I mek fine, everything be straight cash
One time four corners mek we bash
Kyenesa, obey-the-wind (Aahh!)
Ewurade Nyankropɔn, Pɔnpipɔnpipɔn
That’s the sound of the horn we turn it on
Everything done changed since I’ve been gone
But still all the same for right or wrong
Kokrokoo, the crack of dawn
Aye, lampoon that’s taxes aye
Blues for home I feel today
Feeling great but high
[Hook 2: M.anifest]
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak, e dey mek I… (High)
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak, e dey mek I…
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
[Verse 3: M.anifest]
I grew up hearing Tic-Tac, Buk Bak, Reggie Rock
Obrafour Rap sofuor, DJ Rab
Soul Sis Naa Adjorkor, Woodman
Bushke, Groove FM, Mr Black
VIP, What up to Promzy
Nana King, Cy Lover, Sammy B
Back then, Talking Drums Kwaku-T
Funkstone’s first name was Freddy (Julz)
Vibe Café, Me, Baza and Sammy-T
Now he’s Scientific and he’s Blitz see
Lord Kenya, Nananom, Chicago
Before Kwadee, there was Ex-Doe
Mɛnsa was Shine from Lifeline
KG & PM, Hammer Time (Last Two)
Abrewa Nana one of a kind
Nostalgia, thought I’d put it in rhyme
[Hook 2: M.anifest]
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak, e dey mek I… (High)
Chaley what dey happen?
Mek I tell you sometin
Sometin dey my inside
E dey mek I weak, e dey mek I…
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
I get high off this crazy blues
I’m so high off this crazy blues
Source: http://genius.com/Manifest-blue-lyrics
-snip-
Information about this song from a genius.com contributor:
"M.anifest gets nostalgic and cycles through memories from his Ghanaian adolescence in this track. The track cycles through local girls and staple dishes from back home (kelewele, gari, beans) to a roundup of the evolution of his hiplife/rap peers and influences like Tic-Tac, Buk Bak, Reggie Rock, M3nsa and Blitz.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: M.anifest - Blue (Chale What Dey Happen) [Official Video]
M. anifest, Published on Feb 20, 2013
Directed by WA Productions/LOVECINÉ FILMS. Edited by LOVECINÉ FILMS. Get it on itunes: http://bit.ly/UDrG7h. Song produced by G Mo
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2013
Derick Ajoranko
"This Track Is SICK!!!! Great Job MANIFEST!!"
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khemetianbeatz
"Oh lawd, this the very definition of dope."
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Blippy Bloop
"This songs is so cool n relaxin n the shoutout to Frank Ocean made me love even more!!!!"
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Douglas Osei
"Such a chill track. We need more of this."
2014
Dennis Gawuga
"crazy sample from Michael Franks!!! man you know music. St Elmo's Fire!!"
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Nii Tagoe
"SO HIGH indeed..Creative track & visuals, Noooice sampling of the 'Logic - We get high' track.."
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22Jahbless
"Amazing track M.anifest!!! All the MAdina scenes, even some familiar faces... no editing, just showing it as we live in Madina...Big ups Kwame Amet!! This is what we need, showing our real lives in Africa and not copying blindly!!! Great Video"
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AustyLu
"Dang!! chale this song makes me home sick...love it"
2015
Cephas Laryea
"Original Ghanaian talent. talented, intelligent and original. and he appreciate Ghana's place in the music world.. big up bro! i endorse you! and normally when i endorse people their careers really take off lol. enjoy success and abundance. don't mind the rest who speak with foreign accents and promote other cultures on our land as their own. More power to manifest and original ghana music"
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Lerroy Oriema
"This deserves much more publicity in all fairness. Here's one hugely underrated rapper. Fantastic production work too."
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Commy Saint
"Really cool song. original. keep it up. this Artist need more publicity. just found it from BBC."
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June Gordon
"Chale, I Love it. Chale, I Love it"
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