Rachid Taha: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 15:44, 15 April 2008

Rachid Taha (born 1958 in Oran, Algeria) is a French-Algerian musician. His music is influenced by many different styles such as raï, techno, rock and punk. Based in Paris, France where he began his solo career after his beginnings as the leader of the French rock band "Carte de Séjour", he usually sings in Arabic. Taha moved from Algeria to Alsace and then Vosges, France, where his father had already emigrated, in 1970. In 1981, while living in Lyon, France, Taha met Mohammed and Moktar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band Carte de séjour ("residence permit") and record their first maxi single Carte de Séjour in 1983. Their first LP Rhoromanie, came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled Deux et Demi was released in 1986 and included their famous and ironic cover of Douce France, originally sung by Charles Trenet. The band dissolved in 1989.

Politically-engaged, he has always stood up to defend democracy, tolerance and altruism against racism, fundamentalism and discrimination. His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwan, featuring remakes of songs for the Maghrebi and Arab traditions. His album Tékitoi, produced by Steve Hillage and released in 2004, also brought him great acclaim and recognition from other rock musicians. In 2005 he performed with Robert Plant, Patti Smith and Brian Eno.

He covered The Clash song Rock the Casbah (in Arabic, as "Rock el Casbah"), which appeared in the 2007 film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer, The Future Is Unwritten.

Some critics attribute Taha's unique sound to his use of the mandolute, a mixture of the traditional oud with European fretted instruments.

Discography

1983 Carte de Séjour (with Carte de Séjour)
1984 Rhoromanie (with Carte de Séjour)
1986 Deux et demi (« Douce France ») (with Carte de Séjour)
1991 Barbès
1993 Rachid Taha
1995 Olé Olé
1997 Carte Blanche
1998 Diwân
1999 1,2,3 Soleils - live album with Khaled and Faudel
2000 Made in Medina
2001 Rachid Taha Live - live album
2001 Black Hawk Down - movie Soundtrack
2004 Tékitoi
2006 Diwan 2
2007 The Definitive Collection

References

Moreira, Paul (1987). Rock métis en France, Souffles.
Caubet, Dominique, Les Mots du Bled, L'Harmattan.

External links

Photos de Rachid Taha par Pierre-jean G.

Template:Arabic Pop

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 *[http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=24599 Read an album review of Diwân 2 at Allaboutjazz.com]
 *[http://www.tahafanblog.blogspot.com Rachid Taha Fan blog: news, pictures, community]
+* [http://www.pierre-jean.net/live/set.php?id=72157602369170825&title=Rachid+Taha Photos de Rachid Taha par Pierre-jean G.]
 {{Arabic Pop}}