Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه) (born September 18, 1958 in Sig, Algeria) is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.
Early life
Taha was born in 1958 in Sig (Mascara Province), Algeria, although a second source suggests he was born in the Algerian seacoast city of Oran. This town was the "birthplace of raï" music, and 1958 was a key year in the Algerian struggle for independence against French authority. He began listening to Algerian music in the 1960s, including street-style music called chaabi. And music from the Maghreb region was part of his upbringing.
He moved with his parents to France when he was ten years old, settling in an immigrant community around the French city of Lyon in 1968. His father was a textile factory worker, with long hours and low pay, such that his life was compared to that of a "modern slave", according to one account. When 17, Taha worked during the day at a central heating plant, described as a "menial job", and hated this work, but at night worked as a club DJ playing Arabic music, rap, salsa, funk and "anything else that took his fancy." The contrast between menial work during the day and fun during the night may have helped to develop his musical sensibility. In the late 1970s, Taha founded the nightclub called The Rejects or, in French, Les Refoulés, where he would spin mashups of Arabic pop classics over Led Zeppelin, Bo Diddley and Kraftwerk backbeats.
Rachid Taha (album)
Rachid Taha is the second solo album by Rachid Taha after he left the group Carte de Séjour. It was produced by Steve Hillage and Justin Robertson; and was first released in 1993.
The album contains Taha’s song "Voilà Voilà", which was released as a dance-oriented single that was a hit with English DJs; and his version of Ya Rayah, the classic chaâbi song composed by Dahmane El Harrachi (real name Abderrahmane Amrani). Taha returns to these songs in later albums.
A video clip was later made for "Ya Rayah" Taha and Bruno Maman co-wrote "Indie (1+1+1)", which was released as a single in 1995 and for which a video clip was also made.
Track listing
Personnel
Podcasts:
Rachid Taha
ALBUMS
- Zoom released: 2013
- Bonjour released: 2009
- Barbès released: 2008
- The Definitive Collection released: 2007
- Diwan 2 released: 2006
- Tékitoi released: 2004
- Rachid Taha Live released: 2001
- Made in Medina released: 2000
- Diwan released: 1998
- 1,2,3 Soleils released: 1998
- Carte Blanche released: 1997
- Olé, Olé released: 1995
- Rachid Taha released: 1993
-
by Rachid Taha
-
by Rachid Taha
-
by Rachid Taha
-
by Rachid Taha
-
by Rachid Taha
Ya Rayah
by: Rachid TahaYa rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Chhal cheft al bouldan laamrine wa lber al khali
Chhal dhiyaat wqat chhal tzid mazal ou t'khali
Ya lghayeb fi bled ennas chhal taaya ma tadjri
Tzid waad el qoudra wala zmane wenta ma tedri
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Ya msafer naatik oussaayti addiha el bakri
Chouf ma yeslah bik qbal ma tbia ou ma techri
Ya nnayem djani khabrek ma sralek ma srali
Hakdha rad el qalb bel djbine sabhane el aali
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali
Chhal nadmou laabad el ghaflin qablak ou qabli
Ya rayah win msafar trouh taaya wa twali