News and Commentary on Arab Women, Palestine, Cultural Politics, and Everything in Between
site meter
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Cheb Mami: "Halili"
Singers were targets of assassination during the Algerian war on civilians. Cheb Mami is one of the survivors. Here's a song, "Halili" (with Zahu) from his latest album "Al Layali."
Thanks Amal. I actually didn't know he has a new album. I will look for it! You're right, Mami is a survivor even though he was a latecomer compared to Hasni and then Khaled. FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) did not spare Cheb Hasni, but Khaled fled to France. I remember his early rise to stardom in the early 1990s, he used to come to Tunisia very often to sing that first hit, "Didi, didi" (I still don't know what the hell he meant by that :) I also saw Mami once on stage, not much of a performer but a good voice. However, my most unforgettable experience was when Rachid Taha (Ya Rayih singer) came to Montreal in 1999 and he was really high that he ended up doing a literal striptease. The following day, he did not even remember that he had a concert--I guess that's his way of not regretting it. NG NG
And I was going to ask you what "Didi Didi" meant!! You know I miss many of the words because of the Algerian dialect. Mami tried to come perform in the West Bank in the late 90s, but the Israelis denied him entry.
They did allow Rachid Taha in, though. And his concert at Birzeit University was unforgettable. He was high and stumbled around the stage, which upset some people. But what really upset the organizers is this: some guys rushed to the stage with the Algerian flag and tried wrapping it around him. He pushed them and the flag away. He refused. I guess he was mad with his country and didn't feel like wearing the flag that evening! I saw him again in DC a couple of years ago. A different venue--a club--with hardly any Arabs. But he was great. Which is amazing cosidering he has an anti-singing voice!
Sorry to intrude Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is the responsible group in the terror in Algiers, here is some more info about it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Islamic_Group
4 comments:
Thanks Amal. I actually didn't know he has a new album. I will look for it! You're right, Mami is a survivor even though he was a latecomer compared to Hasni and then Khaled. FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) did not spare Cheb Hasni, but Khaled fled to France. I remember his early rise to stardom in the early 1990s, he used to come to Tunisia very often to sing that first hit, "Didi, didi" (I still don't know what the hell he meant by that :)
I also saw Mami once on stage, not much of a performer but a good voice. However, my most unforgettable experience was when Rachid Taha (Ya Rayih singer) came to Montreal in 1999 and he was really high that he ended up doing a literal striptease. The following day, he did not even remember that he had a concert--I guess that's his way of not regretting it.
NG
NG
Hi NG,
And I was going to ask you what "Didi Didi" meant!! You know I miss many of the words because of the Algerian dialect. Mami tried to come perform in the West Bank in the late 90s, but the Israelis denied him entry.
They did allow Rachid Taha in, though. And his concert at Birzeit University was unforgettable. He was high and stumbled around the stage, which upset some people. But what really upset the organizers is this: some guys rushed to the stage with the Algerian flag and tried wrapping it around him. He pushed them and the flag away. He refused. I guess he was mad with his country and didn't feel like wearing the flag that evening! I saw him again in DC a couple of years ago. A different venue--a club--with hardly any Arabs. But he was great. Which is amazing cosidering he has an anti-singing voice!
Sorry to intrude
Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is the responsible group in the terror in Algiers, here is some more info about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Islamic_Group
Thanks Remy. That was an informative article.
Post a Comment