Raï
Stylistic origins	Spanish, French, and Arab music, including al-andalus, zendani and melhun
Cultural origins	Late 19th century Oran, Algeria
Typical instruments	Gaspa, guellal (traditional);drum machine, synthesizer, sequencer (modern)
Mainstream popularity	Much in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia; sporadic elsewhere, especially France and India
Subgenres
Bedoui citadinisé - Lover's raï - Pop raï - Raï rock
Fusion genres
Wahrani

Raï (Arabic: راي) is a form of folk music, originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s and has been primarily evolved by women in the culture. Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Oran ( Arabic:ar وهران pronounced Wahran; also transliterated as Ouahran, Spanish: Orán. For the early "drum machine" computers that used a rotating cylinder as their main memory see Drum memory A drum machine is an A music sequencer (also MIDI sequencer or just sequencer) is software or hardware designed to create and manage computer-generated music Raï (راي is a form of folk music, originated in Oran Algeria from Bedouin Shepherds mixed with Spanish, French, Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Oran ( Arabic:ar وهران pronounced Wahran; also transliterated as Ouahran, Spanish: Orán. The Bedouin, (from the Arabic (ar بدوي pl badū) are a desert-dwelling Arab Nomadic pastoralist, or previously A shepherd is a person who tends to feeds or guards Sheep, especially in flocks Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with Flamenco, an Andalusian musical genre which contrary to popular belief is not widespread outside that region France has long been considered a center for European Art and Music. The music of Africa is as vast and varied as the continent's many regions, nations and Ethnic groups Although there is no distinctly pan-African Arabic music or Arab music ( Arabic: موسيقى عربية;) includes several genres and styles of Music ranging from Arabic classical The word raï is Arabic for “opinion. ”

Singers of raï are called cheb (young) as opposed to sheikh (old) the name given to Chaabi music singers; the tradition arose in cities like Oran and elsewhere in Tlemcen, primarily among the poor. Chaabi, also known as Chaâbi, Sha-bii, or Sha'bii, refers to two different Music genres in North Africa: Algerian Oran ( Arabic:ar وهران pronounced Wahran; also transliterated as Ouahran, Spanish: Orán. Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the the province of the same name. The word raï means literally opinion but is colloquially used as an interjection along the lines of oh, yeah! Traditionally sung by men, at the turn of the 20th century, female singers became common. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Rai musicians, as early as the 1930's, were singing about social issues which affected their arab colonies. They ranged from disease to the police of the colonies. ^[1] Much like today's rap stars and hip-hop artists they sung about the current issues around them which was indeed revoluationary for their time. ^[2] It is popular not only due to taking the traditional sounds of the Middle East and "updating" them. Pop raï's reputation as a racy type of music has also influenced a fusion between raï and rock as well as several other "up and coming" styles. ^[3][4]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Post-independence 1.2 Listening To Raï 2 Censorship of Raï Music 3 Chaba Aicha 4 Other Famous raï artists 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading

History

Rai is a popular music style that originated in Algeria 1930s. It became popular among young people who sought to modernize the traditional Islamic values and attitudes. Regional, secular, and religious drum patterns, melodies, and instruments were blended with Western electric instrumentation. Rai music mixes with hip hop, reggae, funk, blues and with North African beats and rhytms. Rai’s lyrics song speak to a new nationalistic identity that encourages the union of contemporary and traditional ideals.

Oran, a seaport in Western Algeria, was invaded by the Spanish centuries ago; Spanish troops kept women there to entertain the troops, and the city has kept a reputation for hedonism ever since. The History of Spain spans the period from Prehistoric Iberia, through the rise and fall of the first global empire, to Spain's current position Hedonism is the Philosophy that Pleasure is of ultimate importance, the most important pursuit In the early 20th century, Oran was divided into Jewish, French, Spanish, and Arab quarters. By independence in 1962, the Jewish quarter (known as the Derb), was home to popular musicians like Reinette L'Oranaise, Saoud L'Oranais and Larbi Bensari. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Reinette l'Oranaise ( Sultana Daoud, Born 1918 Tiaret, Algeria; died 17 November 1998 Paris) was an Algerian singer who helped preserve Sidi el Houari was home to Spanish fishermen, many refugees from Spain who arrived after 1939. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. These two quarters were the centers for musical innovation,^[5] and the French inhabitants of the city went to the Jewish and Spanish areas for music. The Arabs of Oran were known for al-andalous, a classical style of music imported from Southern Spain after 1492. Hawzi was popular between the wars, and the biggest stars were female singers like Cheikha Tetma, Fadila D'zirya and Myriam Fekkai. Melhun poetry with accompaniment was also popular, sung by male singers in long, white jellabas and turbans (known as cheikhs) who played guellal drums and gaspa flutes. Djellaba ( Moroccan Arabic جلابة (also jellāb(a and jellābiyya) is a Moroccan traditional loose-fitting outer Robe. The turban (from Persian fa دلبند or دولبند dulband via the Turkish tr tülbent) is a headdress consisting of a long A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells The flute is a Musical instrument of the Woodwind family Unlike other woodwind instruments a flute is a Reedless wind instrument that produces its This genre was known as bedoui (from its origin among Bedouin chants) or gharbi. The Bedouin, (from the Arabic (ar بدوي pl badū) are a desert-dwelling Arab Nomadic pastoralist, or previously Chant (from Old French chanter) is the Rhythmic speaking or Singing of Words or Sounds often primarily on one or two Lyrics came from the poetry of masters like Mestfa ben Brahim and Zenagui Bouhafs, and performers included Cheikh Hamada, Cheikh Mohammed Senoussi, Cheikh Madani, Cheikh Hachemi Bensmir and Cheikh Khaldi. Senoussi was the first to record, in 1906. Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

French colonization of Algeria changed the organization of society, producing an urban poor of uneducated men and women. Colonisation (also known as Colonization) occurs whenever any one or more species populates a new area Popular bedoui singers mostly collaborated with the French colonizers, though some, like Cheikh Hamada were exceptions. The problems of survival in a life of poverty were the domain of street musicians who sang bar-songs called zendanis. Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life including food clothing shelter and safe Drinking water, and Many of these songs included exclamations of raï! and variations on it, which implies an opinion is being expressed.

When first developed in the 1920s, rai was a hybrid blend of rural and cabaret musical genres, invented by and for distillery workers, peasants who had lost their land to European settlers, as well as countless other members of the lower classes. Rural areas can be large and isolated (also referred to as "the country" and/or "the countryside over the course of time Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring Comedy, Song, Dance, and Theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue &mdash a Restaurant The geographical location of Oran allowed for the spread of many cultural influences, allowing rai musicians to absorb an assortment of musical styles; flamenco from Spain, gnawa music from Morocco, French cabaret, and combined these with the rhythms of Arab nomads. Oran ( Arabic:ar وهران pronounced Wahran; also transliterated as Ouahran, Spanish: Orán. Flamenco is a Spanish term that refers both to a musical genre known for its intricate rapid passages and a dance genre characterized by its audible footwork Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Gnawa music is a mixture of African Berber, and Arabic religious songs and rhythms Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Rai musicians maintained an everyday message, either political or historical, in many of their early songs. In the early 1930s, social issues afflicting the Arab population in the colony, such as the disease of typhus, harassment and imprisonment by the colonial police, and significant poverty were the major themes of rai. Typhus is any of several similar diseases caused by Louse -borne bacteria However, the main subjects were such things as wine, love, and what the meaning and experiences of living a marginal life. From its origins, women played a significant role in the music and performance of rai. In contrast to other Algerian music, true rai incorporated dancing in addition to music, particularly in a mixed-gender environment. Algerian Music is virtually synonymous with Raï among foreigners the Musical genre has achieved great popularity in France, Spain Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. ^[6] The original foundation for the importance of incorporating both a mixture of culture and gender can still be seen through in the newer rai lyrics and dance. ^[7]

As early as the 1930s, rai musicians were reportedly singing about social issues afflicting Arabs of the colony, such as typhus, imprisonment, and poverty, and they were harassed by the colonial police for doing so. Likewise, during the independence struggle, rai artists participated in the nationalist glorification of Algeria. But the main subjects of rai singers were wine, love, and the problems and pleasures of marginallife, expressions of a rather libertine sensibility. Women singers played a prominent role in rai from the beginning. In addition, unlike those of other Algerian musical genres, rai performances were associated with dancing, often in mixed-gender settings. ^[8]

In the 1920s, the women of Oran were held to strict code of conduct. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada Many of those that failed became social outcasts and singers and dancers. They sang medh songs in praïse of the prophet Mohammed and performed for female audiences at weddings, circumcision feasts and other ceremonies. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics A wedding is the Ceremony in which two people are united in Marriage. Male circumcision is the removal of some or all of the Foreskin (prepuce from the Penis. These performers included Les Trois Filles de Baghdad, Soubira bent Menad and Kheira Essebsadija. Another group of female social outcasts were called cheikhas, who were known for their alluring dress, hedonistic lyrics, and a form of music that combined that of the cheikhs, meddhahates and zendani singers. These cheikhas sang for both men and women, and included Cheikha Remitti el Reliziana, perhaps the most famous cheikha. Cheikha Rimitti (شيخة ريميتي (born سعدية الغيزانية Saadia El Ghizania, ( 8 May 1923, Tessala, Algeria &ndash Other performers included Cheikha Grélo, Cheikha Djenia el Mostganmia, Cheikha Bachitta de Mascara and Cheikha a; Ouachma el Tmouchentia. The 1930s saw the rise of revolutionary organizations, many with a Marxist goal, which mostly despised these early roots raï singers. The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. At the same time, the great voices of Arab classical music were gaining popularity across North Africa, especially Umm Kulthum. Arabic music or Arab music ( Arabic: موسيقى عربية;) includes several genres and styles of Music ranging from Arabic classical North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Umm Kulthum ( Arabic: أم كلثوم, born أم كلثوم إبراهيم البلتاجي; see Kunya; Egyptian Arabic: Om Kalsoum

Raï, al-andalous and the Egyptian classical superstars’ style was combined in the 1930s to form wahrani, a style popularized by Blaoui Houari. Wahrani was very popular, as were American jazz and French cabaret singers like Édith Piaf, especially into the 1940s. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring Comedy, Song, Dance, and Theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue &mdash a Restaurant Édith Piaf (December 19 1915&mdashOctober 10 1963 was a French singer and cultural icon who "is almost universally regarded as France's greatest popular singer The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949 Events and trends The 1940s was a period between the radical 1930s and the conservative 1950s which also leads the period to be Musicians like Mohammed Belarbi and Djelloul Bendaoud added these influences to other Oranian styles, as well as Western piano and accordion, resulting in a new style called bedoui citadinisé. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The accordion is a portable box-shaped Musical instrument of the hand-held Bellows -driven free-reed aerophone family sometimes referred to as a Squeezebox Full-scale revolution began in the mid-1950s, and many of these stars, including Houari and Ahmed Saber, supported the Front de Libération National. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The National Liberation Front ( Arabic: جبهة التحرير الوطني transliterated: Jabhat al-Taḩrīr al-Waţanī French: Front After independence in 1962, however, the new Marxist government of the Houari Boumédienne regime, and President Ahmed Ben Bella, did not tolerate criticism from Saber and other musicians, and many were arrested. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Houari Boumédienne (original name Mohamed Ben Brahim Boukharouba) ( August 23, 1932 – December 27, 1978) (هواري بومدين Mohamed Ahmed Ben Bella (Muhammad Ahmad Bin Balla (أحمد بن بلّة (born December 25 1918, Maghnia, Algeria) was the first President Raï and Oranian culture was suppressed.

After the elect of the new president chadhli Benjedid in 1979, Rai music had a chance to pick up because of his lessened moral and economic restraints. Shortly after this Rai started to form into Pop-Rai with the use of new instruments such as new electrical synthesizers, guitars, and drum machines. The new sound of this music attracted the Algerian youth more then ever, and then messages of the songs were very attractive to the people as well. The new sound also challenged many puritan views and more subjects like sex and alcohol started to be mentioned by the singers. ^{[9] [10]}

Post-independence

Algerian independence began a fluctuation of government control and suppression over rai. After Algeria's independence in 1962, a state-sponsored Islamic reformist movement descended over popular culture. Public performances by female singers who played a major role in rai were virtually banned. This led young men to have a key role in this genre of music. Meanwhile, traditional rai instruments such as the gasba (reed flute), and the derbouka (Maghrebi drums) were replaced with the violin and accordion. ^[11]

In the 1960s, American rock and roll and soul music was popular, and Algerian bands like The Vulures and The Students arose. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. The French Yé Yé craze was also popular, and two of the most influential musicians of the later 20th century began their career. Bellamou Messaoud and Belkacem Bouteldja modernized the raï sound and began gaining mainstream acceptance by 1964. Bellemou Messaoud is an Algerian musician and perhaps the most influential performer of modern Raï music Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Chaba Fadela and Cheb Khaled also began their careers during this period, as raï's popularity was growing across Algeria. Chaba Fadela (b Fadela Zalmat Oran, Algeria, 5 February 1962 is an Algerian Raï musician and actress Khaled Hadj Brahim (born 29 February 1960) better known as Khaled (خالد حاج ابراهيم is a Raï singer-songwriter and Recording technology began growing more advanced, and more imported genres gained popularity as well, into the 1970s, especially Jamaican reggae performers like Bob Marley. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley OM (February 6 1945 – May 11 1981 was a Jamaican Musician, Singer-songwriter and Rastafarian 1979 was an important year for rai music. It started to break free from the shadows, due in part to the new president, Chadhli Benjedid, as he loosened the moral and economic hold that prevented totally free expression. During this time, rai artists brought in influences from other countries such as: Egypt, Europe, and the Americas. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Trumpets, the electric guitar, synthesizers, and drum machines were specific instruments that now made their way into rai music. This was the beginning of “pop rai,” which was performed by a younger generation of chabs (young men) and chabas (young women). ^[12] Fadela's 1979 "Ana ma h'lali ennoum" is considered the beginning of modern pop raï; the song was a hit across Algeria, and set the stage for raï's domination of national listeners. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) International success had begun as early as 1976 with the success of Rachid Baba Ahmed, raï music’s most important producer. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Rachid Baba Ahmed was an Algerian musical producer involved in a regional genre called Raï.

While this new form of rai increased cassette sales, its association with mixed dancing- an obscene act according to orthodox Islamic views- led to government led suppression. However, within a short period of time, this suppression was overturned due to rai’s growing popularity in France, where it was strongly demanded by the diasporic Maghrebi Arab community. This popularity in France was increased as a result of the upsurge of Franco-Arab struggles against racism. This led to a following of a white audience that was sympathetic to the antiracist struggle. ^[13]

In the 1980s, raï began its period of greatest popularity. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Previously the Algerian government had opposed raï because of its sexually and culturally risqué topics, such as alcohol and consumerism, two subjects that were contrary to the traditional Islamic culture. The fundamentalist leaning government also disliked the freedom afforded to women in raï, both in performing raï and in participating in the raï scene by dancing publically, especially with men, at concerts or in clubs. ^[14] The government eventually attempted to ban raï, going to the extent of banning the importation of blank cassettes and confiscating the passports of raï musicians. This was done to prevent raï from not only spreading throughout the country, but to prevent it from spreading transnationally, and from coming into or out from Algeria. Though this limited the professional sales of raï, the music increased in popularity through the illicit sale and exchange of tapes. In 1985, Algerian Colonel Snoussi joined with French minister of culture, Jack Lang, to convince the Algerian state to accept raï. ^[15] He succeeded in getting the government to return passports to raï musicians and allow raï to be recorded and performed in Algeria, with government sponsorship, claiming it as a part of Algerian cultural heritage. This not only allowed the Algerian government to financially gain from producing and releasing raï, but it allowed them to monitor the music and prevent the publication of “unclean” music, prevent dancing, and still use it to benefit the Algerian State’s image in the national world, because of the allowance of a liberal musical genre. ^[16] In 1986, the first state-sanctioned raï festival was held in Algeria, and a festival was also held in Bobigny, France. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Bobigny is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France.

in the year 1988, when school-kids and Algerian youth , flooded the streets to protest the state's terrorism that their government have been imposing on them since the end of French colonialisation of the country; the high prices of bread, butter and milk, and the most basic consumption elements for Algerian citizens, the Peoples' Algerian Army which was a symbol of liberation, independence and freedom for the people, have responded to those riots with extreme violence ^[17]. President Chadli Bendjedid, who held power from 1979 to 1992, and his FLN cronies blamed raï for the massive uprising that left 500 civilians dead in October 1988. Most raï singers denied the allegation, including Cheb Sahraoui, who said there was no connection between raï and the October rebellion. Yet raï's reputation as protest music stuck because the demonstrators adopted one song—Khaled's "El Harba Wayn" ("To Flee, But Where?")—as their anthem ^[18] : Where has youth gone? Where are the brave ones? The rich gorge themselves The poor work themselves to death The Islamic charlatans show their true face. . . You can always cry or complain Or escape … but where?

The 1990s was a time of much tension concerning rai in Algeria. Restrictions were placed on rai, and those who One rai singer, Cheb Hasni, accepted an offer to return and perform at a stadium in 1994. Afterward members of the Armed Islamic Group shot him dead, reportedly because he let girls kiss him on the cheek during the televised concert. The tension which escalated as a result of Islamist campaigns, caused many rai stars such as Chab Mami and Chaba Fadela to relocate from Algeria to France. Chaba Fadela (b Fadela Zalmat Oran, Algeria, 5 February 1962 is an Algerian Raï musician and actress Moving to France was a way to "keep the music alive" since it was forbidden in Algeria. ^[19]

While the government’s acceptance of raï benefitted those musicians willing to be edited, many other raï musicians left the country, frequently moving to France where a large population of Algerians had moved during the post-colonial era in order to find work, and where musicians had a greater opportunity to oppose the government without censorship. ^[20]

Though raï found mainstream acceptance in Algeria, many Islamic fundamentalists still protested the genre, saying that it was still too liberal and in contrast to traditional Islamic values. They claimed the musical genre still promoted sexuality, alcohol and Western consumer culture, but critics of the fundamentalist viewpoint stated that fundamentalists and raï musicians were ultimately seeking converts from the same population, the youth, who often had to choose where they belonged between the two cultures. Despite the governmental support, a split remained between those citizens belonging to strict Islam and those patronizing the raï scene. ^[21]

Cheb Khaled was the first international superstar, though his popularity did not extend to the United States, Latin America and certain other areas. Khaled Hadj Brahim (born 29 February 1960) better known as Khaled (خالد حاج ابراهيم is a Raï singer-songwriter and The United States of America —commonly referred to as the His 1988 Kutché album did the most to popularize him and the whole genre of raï. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Kutché is a Studio album from Algerian artists Cheb Khaled and Safy Boutella. Other prominent performers of the 80s included Houari Benchenet, Raïna Raï, Mohamed Sahraoui, Cheb Mami and Cheb Hamid. Cheb Mami (شاب مامي Ahmed Khelifati Mohamed, born July 11, 1966) is an Algerian born Raï singer

International success grew in the 1990s, when Cheb Khaled's 1992 Khaled was a major French hit and also saw success in India and elsewhere. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 Khaled Hadj Brahim (born 29 February 1960) better known as Khaled (خالد حاج ابراهيم is a Raï singer-songwriter and Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Khaled, released in 1992 is Khaled 's self titled album which established his reputation as a superstar in France and around the world India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country With Khaled no longer in Algeria, new stars began singing lover's raï, a sentimental, pop-ballad form best-known for stars like Cheb Tahar, Cheb Nasro and, especially, Cheb Hasni. Khaled Hadj Brahim (born 29 February 1960) better known as Khaled (خالد حاج ابراهيم is a Raï singer-songwriter and Cheb Hasni ( Arabic: الشاب حسني) born Hasni Chakroun ( February 1 1968 &ndash September 29 1994 Later in the decade, funk, hip hop and other influences were added to raï, especially by performers like the French star Faudel and raï-rock fusionist Rachid Taha. Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Faudel (فضيل, born Faudel Belloua (فضيل بيلوى on June 6, 1978 in Mantes-la-Jolie, is a French singer of Algerian descent Rachid Taha ( Arabic: رشيد طه (born 1958 in Oran, Algeria) is an French - Algerian Musician His music is influenced He has taken rai music and fused it with rock. He takes themes from punk and mainstream rock music and blends them with traditional rai. The artist does not call his creation rai music, but rather describes it as a unique combination of folk rai and the harsh sounds of punk. ^[22]

In their article "Arab Noise and Ramadan Nights: Rai, Rap and Franco-Maghrebi Identities," Joan Gross, David McMurrary and Ted Swedenburg argue that while rai in Algeria is a mainstream music associated with youth culture, in France it is considered music of the "racialized Other," associated with a diasporic cultural group. Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. In the 80s, rai music gained popularity among Maghrebi immigrants and the second gneration Beurs in France, and it was played over local radio stations, which were especially popular during Ramadan. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The authors connect the secular attitudes of many Ramadan radio listeners (drinking alcohol, listening to racy music) to "rai's demimonde, nonpuritanical heritage in Algeria" ^[23]. Indeed, rai is characterized by lyrics which are willing to address controversial issues, and addresses them in a way that earns comparisons to the blues and rock n' roll ^[24]. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African

The late 1980s and early 1990s also saw a rise in female rai performers, though at this time female singers seemed to walk a fine line between the private and public sphere. According to authors Gross, McMurray, and Swedenburg in their article "Arab Noise and Ramadan Nights: Rai, Rap, and Franco-Maghrebi Identity," popular rai artist Chaba Zahouania was forbidden by her family to perform, or even appear in public. However, Zahouania has given public performances, as witnessed in this video [1]. According to Gross et al. , the record companies have pushed female artists to become more visible. ^[25]

Pop raï has also been seen to send a positive message post- September 11th. Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul Technology is not just for making weapons and bombs,according to Hakim, a raï performer. American labels, including Putumayo World Music, Stern's, Six Degrees and Ark 21/Mondo Melodia (the label that represents Khaled, Hakim and Mr. Putumayo World Music is a New York City based Record Stern's was a regional Department store chain serving the US states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Six Degrees (or 6 ˚) was a short-lived American dramatic Television series about six residents of New York City and their Shaheen), released albums of Arabic-language pop.

In 2008, Aminoss, an Algerian jazz composer, made brilliant new and fresh arrangements for two very known Raï standrards, Mazal Galbi Melkiya Ma Bra by Cheb Hasni and also Ma Tejebdoulish composed by Toufik Boumelah and singed by Chebba Djenet in its original version. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Cheb Hasni ( Arabic: الشاب حسني) born Hasni Chakroun ( February 1 1968 &ndash September 29 1994

Listening To Raï

Its controversial nature aside, the main reason why raï deserves recognition is for its quality. "Algerian pop music" is an inaccurate way to fully describe the sound of raï, as it implies that raï simply consists of Algerians trying to be Western and singing Western-style pop songs in Arabic instead of in English. In truth, raï goes much deeper. With blunt, simple lyrics drawn from the style of the street singing of underclass women in western Algeria, raï takes traditional Arabic elements of melody, intonation, instrumentation, and singing style and superimposes them on Western beats and rhythm structures. This produces an amalgam of sound that is catchy, well-crafted, highly unique, and eminently danceable. Raï can have a very traditional sound, or a very bright, cheery, pop sound; it can have a jazz flavor or it can epitomize the best of funk. In short, it is "world music" at its best. Indeed, raï's global quality is reinforced by the fact that practically all raï musicians sing in both French and Arabic, regularly mixing words and phrases from the two languages together (in French, "raï" is often pronounced as one syllable, like "rye"). This is not a surprising phenomenon, considering France's history as colonial master of Algeria and other areas on the African continent. There is even a large Spanish influence in raï's sound (after all, Spain is right next to Morocco, and like all North African countries it borders the Mediterranean). Raï is truly a form of global music, and it is definitely not just "Western music plus Algerian music. " In the case of raï, the whole is much, much greater than the sum of its parts. ^[26]

Censorship of Raï Music

Throughout the course of raï music’s development and commercialization in Algeria and France, there have been many attempts to stifle the art form. From lyrical content to the album cover images, raï has been a controversial music. Religious identity and transnationalism function to define the complexities of Franco-Maghrebi identity in France. This complex identity is expressed through raï music and is often contested and censored in many cultural contexts.

In its early development, raï music was frequently performed by women in mixed gendered settings. In 1962, as Algeria claimed its national independence, expression of popular culture was stifled by the puritan nature of Islamic reform. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. ^[27] During this time of drastic restriction of female expression, many men started to become raï singers. By 1979, under the ruling of president Chadhli Benjedid, raï music became popularized and was embraced by Algerian youth. As the music became more popularized amongst youth, it remained stigmatized amongst the orthodox Islamists and the Algerian government. Termed “the raï generation,” the youth found raï as a way to express sexual and cultural freedoms. ^[28] An example of this free expression can be seen though the lyrics of the late Cheb Hasni, in his song, El Berraka. Hasni sang: "I had her . . . because when you're drunk that's the sort of idea that runs through your head!". ^[29] Hasni challenged the fundamentalists of the country, and the condemnation of non-religious art forms.

Raï started to circulate on a lager mainstream scale, via cassette tape sales, TV exposure, and radio play, adding to the national economy. However, as the music mainstreamed, its audio and visual content became more tamed by the government in hopes to reach a larger audience. In essence, the government attempted to “clean up” raï’s content and image to adhere to the religious beliefs instilled in Islamic Algerian culture. ^[30] Tactics such as audio engineers manipulating the recordings of raï artists were used to tailor a conservative image of raï music. This tactic allowed for the economy to profit from the music by gaining and expanding conservative audiences. The Muslim belief system not only affected the way listeners received raï music, but also the way the artists, especially female artist, presented their own music. For instance, many female raï artists do not appear on their album covers in accordance to religious views and traditional standards. Such patriarchal standards pressure women to inhibit the private realm of society. ^[31] This standard is reflected in the conservative representation of female raï artists, or even the lack of their images, on album covers.

Chaba Aicha

Modern Rai singers put the word cheb (young man) or chabas (young woman) before their names – a bit like MCs in rap and dance music. In the past, women who performed traditional love-songs were widely disapproved of, and were associated with places where alcohol (forbidden in Islamic law) was sold or used. Even now, performing Rai is something of a rebellious thing for young women to do. ^[32] Chaba Aicha is the only young unmarried woman to sing rai publicly today, stating that rai is the music of women who have lots of experience in life. Women without husbands have traditionally sung rai to support their children. In her performances, she would be very modest: close-cropped hairdo and total rejection of feminine clothing. Aicha did not want her face to be used on the cover of her cassette, but record companies insisted that she did. Whenever she does appear on the cover of a cassette, she is always accompanied by her husband and is fully clothed. ^[33]

Other Famous raï artists

• Aziz Bo Walam
• Bellemou Messaoud
• Chaba Fadela
• Chaba Zahouania
• Cheb Abdou
• Cheb Bilal
• Cheb Hasni
• Cheb Hassen
• Cheb Kader
• Cheb Mami
• Cheb Sahraoui
• Cheb Saidi
• Cheb Zhiri Younes
• Chebba Zahwania
• Cheikha Rimitti
• Faudel
• Khaled (called Cheb Khaled early in his career)
• Mohamed Lamine
• Rachid Taha
• Reda Taliani
• Raïna Raï
• Bellemou Messaoud
• Chebba Zahouania
• Cheb Nasro
• Cheb Hassen
• Mohamed Lamine
• Chebba Kheira
• Reda Taliani
• Cheb Bilal
• Abdelhafid Douzi
• Hamid Bouchnak
• Cheb Abbas
• Cheb Zahouani
• Cheb Hanino
• Malik Adouane
• Tarik Lamirat
• Cheb Hakim
• Mohamed Junior

See also

• Blog of the National Festival of RaÏ Songs
• Raï is a movie from Thomas Gilou, 1995
• Arabesque-pop music
• Arabic pop music
• Listen to raï music (fr)
• The raï music (fr)
• (French) Raï by the author of Wiki Musique
• (French) Music Rai
• Rai Music (En)

References

• Morgan, Andy. "Music Under Fire". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed. ), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 413-424. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

Further reading

"Running with the Rebels: Politics, Identity & Sexual Narrative in Algerian Rai", by Nasser Al Taee of the University of Tennessee (http://www.echo.ucla.edu/Volume5-Issue1/al_taee/altaee.pdf, retrieved on 22 November 2006)

"The Social Significance of Rai: Men and Popular Music in Algeria", by Marc Schade-Poulsen, copyright 1999 University of Texas Press.

• Peter van der Merwe (1989). Origins of the Popular Style: The Antecedents of Twentieth-Century Popular Music. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN.

• Bezza Mazouzi La musique algérienne et la question raï, Richard-Masse, Paris, 1990.

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