Jowan Safadi
Jowan Safadi is a unique Palestinian musician, from Nazareth. Who lives in Haifa and produces alternative Arabic music with various influences. For 8 years, he lead the band “Lenzez” as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Lenzez was an alternative hafla-rock band that split up in late 2007, leaving us with three tremendous studio albums and a great anticipation for more.
Despite Jowan Safadi’s (b. 1973) longstanding relationship with music, Palestinian cultural circles have only recently began to recognize the artist Read Full BioJowan Safadi is a unique Palestinian musician, from Nazareth. Who lives in Haifa and produces alternative Arabic music with various influences. For 8 years, he lead the band “Lenzez” as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Lenzez was an alternative hafla-rock band that split up in late 2007, leaving us with three tremendous studio albums and a great anticipation for more.
Despite Jowan Safadi’s (b. 1973) longstanding relationship with music, Palestinian cultural circles have only recently began to recognize the artist, who just released his first solo album, Namroud (Troublemaker).
His relocation to Bir al-Sabah (Beersheba) — where he set up the alternative rock band Lenzez with anti-Zionist Israeli musicians — was enough to keep this son of Nazareth in the shadows for some time.
“I never felt like my colleagues in the band were Israelis; they were leftists, and possessed a high level of political awareness. They refused to serve in the military and abhorred the occupation establishment,” Jowan told Al-Akhbar.
He released three albums in 10 years with Lenzez, before some political parties in Israel began marketing the band as a model for “coexistence,” as a PR stunt in international art and media forums.
At the time — around the bloody Israeli invasion of Jenin — Jowan decided to step up his political songs, which gave the band an “extremist” reputation among Israelis.
“It was the beginning of an awakening that helped me re-establish reality in my head, especially with my increasing political awareness,” Jowan explained.
For this reason, he left Bir al-Sabah for Haifa, where he established a new band with Palestinian artists.
While participating in a street festival in Haifa, his performance was stopped midway through because of the songs being too “controversial, as they shed light on racism, refugee conditions, and political prisoners, and is also hard for the Jewish audience,” according to what Haifa municipal officials told him.
He released three albums in 10 years with Lenzez, before some political parties in Israel began marketing the band as a model for “coexistence.”
An investigation into the matter was opened by right-wing Knesset member Aryeh Eldad, accusing Jowan of “inciting violence and terrorism,” only to be closed two months later for lack of evidence.
Jowan chose to play the guitar because it is “strong, expressive, has multiple potentials, and is the most suitable for the type of singing and music I offer,” he said.
He didn’t pick western music on purpose. “It was only a step I took without thinking,” he remarked.
Namroud rebels against reality and ready-made molds.
The idea for the album began with a sentence Jowan wrote on his Facebook page, “I think, therefore I rebel.”
He began by writing songs on “normal” daily life and social issues, describing love, country, religion, faith, sex, joy, and pain, approaching the issues with satire.
Many concerns surround the daring young musician, “but I will not allow them to impede my journey and prevent me from saying what I believe,” he insisted.
Sometimes, he feels “like he’s yelling ‘the king has no clothes on,’ expecting a slap from the entourage.”
Jowan Safadi has received many threats and frequent insults, but maintains that he will continue his journey, breaking all barriers and taboos.
Despite Jowan Safadi’s (b. 1973) longstanding relationship with music, Palestinian cultural circles have only recently began to recognize the artist Read Full BioJowan Safadi is a unique Palestinian musician, from Nazareth. Who lives in Haifa and produces alternative Arabic music with various influences. For 8 years, he lead the band “Lenzez” as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Lenzez was an alternative hafla-rock band that split up in late 2007, leaving us with three tremendous studio albums and a great anticipation for more.
Despite Jowan Safadi’s (b. 1973) longstanding relationship with music, Palestinian cultural circles have only recently began to recognize the artist, who just released his first solo album, Namroud (Troublemaker).
His relocation to Bir al-Sabah (Beersheba) — where he set up the alternative rock band Lenzez with anti-Zionist Israeli musicians — was enough to keep this son of Nazareth in the shadows for some time.
“I never felt like my colleagues in the band were Israelis; they were leftists, and possessed a high level of political awareness. They refused to serve in the military and abhorred the occupation establishment,” Jowan told Al-Akhbar.
He released three albums in 10 years with Lenzez, before some political parties in Israel began marketing the band as a model for “coexistence,” as a PR stunt in international art and media forums.
At the time — around the bloody Israeli invasion of Jenin — Jowan decided to step up his political songs, which gave the band an “extremist” reputation among Israelis.
“It was the beginning of an awakening that helped me re-establish reality in my head, especially with my increasing political awareness,” Jowan explained.
For this reason, he left Bir al-Sabah for Haifa, where he established a new band with Palestinian artists.
While participating in a street festival in Haifa, his performance was stopped midway through because of the songs being too “controversial, as they shed light on racism, refugee conditions, and political prisoners, and is also hard for the Jewish audience,” according to what Haifa municipal officials told him.
He released three albums in 10 years with Lenzez, before some political parties in Israel began marketing the band as a model for “coexistence.”
An investigation into the matter was opened by right-wing Knesset member Aryeh Eldad, accusing Jowan of “inciting violence and terrorism,” only to be closed two months later for lack of evidence.
Jowan chose to play the guitar because it is “strong, expressive, has multiple potentials, and is the most suitable for the type of singing and music I offer,” he said.
He didn’t pick western music on purpose. “It was only a step I took without thinking,” he remarked.
Namroud rebels against reality and ready-made molds.
The idea for the album began with a sentence Jowan wrote on his Facebook page, “I think, therefore I rebel.”
He began by writing songs on “normal” daily life and social issues, describing love, country, religion, faith, sex, joy, and pain, approaching the issues with satire.
Many concerns surround the daring young musician, “but I will not allow them to impede my journey and prevent me from saying what I believe,” he insisted.
Sometimes, he feels “like he’s yelling ‘the king has no clothes on,’ expecting a slap from the entourage.”
Jowan Safadi has received many threats and frequent insults, but maintains that he will continue his journey, breaking all barriers and taboos.
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البوليس مش بوليسنا
Jowan Safadi Lyrics
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
لمين بدك تشكي لمين
لمين بدك تشكي لمين
لما البوليس مش بوليس
والرئيس مش رئيس
والقاضي مش بيعدل
شو ما تعمل ع الفاضي
البوليس ما بيحمينا
بيحمي اللي بينهبوا فينا
راحت كُل أرضينا
بس عِندنا سجون بِتكفينا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
والرئيس مش رئيسنا
وَشو بدك تحكي وَلمين؟
لمين بدك تشكي لمين؟
لما البوليس مش بوليس
والرئيس مش رئيس
والقاضي مش بيعدل
شو ما تعمل ع الفاضي
Writer(s): Jowan Safadi
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Mohammed Farhat
I looked it up for you:
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
لمين بدك تشكي لمين
لمين بدك تشكي لمين
لما البوليس مش بوليس
والرئيس مش رئيس
والقاضي مش بيعدل
شو ما تعمل ع الفاضي
البوليس ما بيحمينا
بيحمي اللي بينهبوا فينا
راحت كُل أرضينا
بس عِندنا سجون بِتكفينا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
الرئيس مش رئيسنا
البوليس مش بوليسنا
والرئيس مش رئيسنا
وَشو بدك تحكي وَلمين؟
لمين بدك تشكي لمين؟
لما البوليس مش بوليس
والرئيس مش رئيس
والقاضي مش بيعدل
شو ما تعمل ع الفاضي
Ferdaous H.
الموسيقى رسالة و انتم رسالتكم ثورية..كل الحب من المغرب الى فلسطين
Rey Avispa
Love and support from Argentina 🇦🇷❤️🇵🇸 this is a fantastic song!
Mohammed Farhat
بنحبك من الضفه— الرئيس مش رئيسنا
Amir Zeidan
This song is so true about palestine
Maya Lestary
Lots love from Indonesia 🇮🇩 to palestine 🇵🇸 💜💜💜💜
Zainal Basyaib
Hehe 😁 thanks sist..
Maya Lestary
Zainal Basyaib nyari komenan warga +62 juga yakk wkwkwk youre not alone bro hhhhh
Zainal Basyaib
Alhamdulillah ada temenya 😁
kristiana peric
Are the arabic lyrics posted anywhere? I am trying to learn vocabulary from this song
kristiana peric
@Ali Swetat HAHAHHAHAHAHHA AWKWARD <3