In early 2014, Arif signed a career management deal with Nora Collective. While working on his long-play debut, Arif released one of the biggest urban hits of the summer of 2014; “Lowkey” and in January 2015, he released the radio-friendly “Kanke Gi Opp” (feat. Magnus Eliassen), the first single from the April 2015 album “HighEnd / Asfalt” - raising the expectations for his album debut even further.
Background:
In the wake of the critically acclaimed EP, along with the national hit “Gal”, Arif was named Untouched Artist of The Year - a prestigeful aknowledgement for new, independent artists, presented by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). After his performance at Norwegian music festival by:Larm, Arif was hailed as a rising star by VG, P3, Dagbladet and Aftenposten - some of Norway’s largest media outlets. This paved the way for a career step in the right direction when major label EMI/Warner Music Group signed Arif in early 2013. He released his well recieved sophomore-EP “Aldri & Alltid” in the fall of 2013, which had a more dark and serious theme than his debut release.
Arif’s music and impressively energetic live performances, combined with his charismatic appearance, has helped earn Arif gigs at the biggest festivals, his own t-shirt collection together with the Varner Group, as well as several radio and TV performances, including a guest role in TV show “Helt Perfekt” with comedian Thomas Giertsen.
Malaika
Arif Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sier bare det kan'ke si mer enn det
Alle historier og ting
Som mamma har fortalt meg
Fikk meg til å se mer enn det
Du ga meg liv
Så jeg skylder deg to
Viste meg kjærlighet lærte meg tro
Fikk telefon fordi jeg skulka skolen
Jeg har blitt bedre enn det
På grunn av deg vet jeg mye mere enn det
Jeg vet jeg kommer til å klare å holde trygg
For det var du som lærte meg det
Store gutter gråter aldri
Var det du sa
Men mamma jeg skal være sterk for begge nå
Husker du Skullerud
Jeg var mer enn en håndfull
Var ut av kontroll
ADHD på fullt
Måtte vokse så fort for verden var stor
Og bare oss to
Et rom med åtte plass til en
Ingenting var umulig ja
Diraman og meg tok madrassen på gulvet
Lulu og lille tante Mona sov i stuen
Dida og Vila tok sengen i rommet
De hjalp dine søstre helt til Europa
De lever bra nå (de lever bra)
De fikk seg barn og (de fikk seg barn og)
Barna har barn nå (barna har barn nå)
Yeah
Kommer aldri til å skjønne
Den smerten du hadde
Smerten vi hadde
Det var jo vanlig
Evig takknemlig
Elsker deg alltid ja
Dette her er gledestårer
Se hvor langt vi har kommet
Denne her er for min mamma
Min mamma min mamma
Elsket meg selv om jeg lagde litt drama
Hun ga meg liv ja
Mine ord blir fattig
Vil betale tilbake
Hun beskyttet og varmet
Når jeg var syk ja
Elsker deg alltid
Min mamma min mamma
Elsket meg selv om jeg lagde litt drama
Hun ga meg liv
Ord blir fattig
Vil betale tilbake
Hun beskyttet og varmet
Når jeg var syk
Elsker deg alltid
Lærte kjærligheten fra vår tro
Troen på kjærligheten alltid ren
En ung dame gjorde meg til the man
Hun sa "Du må jobbe hardere enn dem"
Når jeg var kid
Prøvde å bygge en tidsmaskin
Hun satt seg ned med meg
Bygde og lette etter deler med meg
Står i evig uendelig gjeld ja
Dette er så real måtte gråte litt selv
Lovte deg hus og en Mercedes Benz
Sånn at du ikke må jobbe igjen
Yeah yeah
Du var student og du hadde to jobber
Tørk dine tårer den tiden er over
Bare slapp av mamma lagde en konge
Dette her er gledestårer
Se hvor langt vi har kommet
Denne her er for min mamma
Min mamma min mamma
Elsket meg selv om jeg lagde litt drama
Hun ga meg liv ja
Mine ord blir fattig
Vil betale tilbake
Hun beskyttet og varmet
Når jeg var syk ja
Elsker deg alltid
Min mamma min mamma
Elsket meg selv om jeg lagde litt drama
Hun ga meg liv
Ord blir fattig
Vil betale tilbake
Hun beskyttet og varmet
Når jeg var syk
Elsker deg alltid
The song "Malaika" by Arif is a heartfelt tribute to his mother, expressing deep gratitude and recognising her sacrifices and love throughout his life. In the first verse, Arif acknowledges that his mother has been through a lot and that he cannot express it all. He reflects on the stories and lessons she has shared with him, helping him to see beyond the surface. He thanks her for giving him life, teaching him love and faith, and making him a better person despite his mistakes. He promises to keep himself safe, knowing that it was his mother who taught him how to do so.
In the second verse, Arif recalls a difficult time when he was growing up, struggling with ADHD and feeling out of control. He remembers the small living quarters that he and his mother shared with other family members, and the challenges they faced. Yet, he also remembers the love and support of his mother, who helped them to make the best of what they had. He recognises the pain that his mother endured during those times, but also how they persevered together. Arif expresses immense gratitude for his mother's love and protection, regardless of any drama he may have caused. He pledges to repay her kindness and love, acknowledging that his words fall short in truly expressing his feelings.
Overall, "Malaika" is an emotional ode to the powerful bond between a mother and her child, one that transcends hardships and offers unconditional love and support. It highlights the resilience of mothers and the impact they have on their children's lives, from teaching them important life lessons to comforting them in times of need.
Line by Line Meaning
Min mamma har vært gjennom det
My mother has gone through a lot
Sier bare det kan'ke si mer enn det
I can't say more than that
Alle historier og ting
All the stories and things
Som mamma har fortalt meg
That my mother has told me
Fikk meg til å se mer enn det
Made me see more than that
Du ga meg liv
You gave me life
Så jeg skylder deg to
So I owe you two
Viste meg kjærlighet lærte meg tro
Showed me love and taught me faith
Har fucka opp mye men nå er det cool
I messed up a lot but now it's cool
Fikk telefon fordi jeg skulka skolen
I got in trouble for skipping school
Jeg har blitt bedre enn det
I have become better than that
På grunn av deg vet jeg mye mere enn det
Thanks to you, I know much more than that
Jeg vet jeg kommer til å klare å holde trygg
I know I will be able to keep myself safe
For det var du som lærte meg det
Because it was you who taught me that
Store gutter gråter aldri
Big boys never cry
Var det du sa
That's what you said
Men mamma jeg skal være sterk for begge nå
But Mom, I will be strong for both of us now
Husker du Skullerud
Do you remember Skullerud?
Jeg var mer enn en håndfull
I was more than a handful
Var ut av kontroll
Was out of control
ADHD på fullt
ADHD in full gear
Måtte vokse så fort for verden var stor
Had to grow up so fast because the world was big
Og bare oss to
And just the two of us
Et rom med åtte plass til en
A room with eight places for one
Ingenting var umulig ja
Nothing was impossible, yes
Diraman og meg tok madrassen på gulvet
Diraman and I took the mattress on the floor
Lulu og lille tante Mona sov i stuen
Lulu and little aunt Mona slept in the living room
Dida og Vila tok sengen i rommet
Dida and Vila took the bed in the room
De hjalp dine søstre helt til Europa
They helped your sisters all the way to Europe
De lever bra nå (de lever bra)
They are doing well now (they are doing well)
De fikk seg barn og (de fikk seg barn og)
They had children and (they had children and)
Barna har barn nå (barna har barn nå)
The children have children now (the children have children now)
Yeah
Yeah
Kommer aldri til å skjønne
Will never understand
Den smerten du hadde
The pain you had
Smerten vi hadde
The pain we had
Det var jo vanlig
It was normal
Evig takknemlig
Eternally grateful
Elsker deg alltid ja
Love you always, yes
Dette her er gledestårer
These are tears of joy
Se hvor langt vi har kommet
Look how far we have come
Denne her er for min mamma
This one is for my mother
Min mamma min mamma
My mother, my mother
Elsket meg selv om jeg lagde litt drama
Loved me even though I caused some drama
Hun ga meg liv ja
She gave me life, yes
Mine ord blir fattig
My words are poor
Vil betale tilbake
Will pay back
Hun beskyttet og varmet
She protected and warmed
Når jeg var syk ja
When I was sick, yes
Elsker deg alltid
Love you always
Lærte kjærligheten fra vår tro
Learned love from our faith
Troen på kjærligheten alltid ren
The belief in love always pure
En ung dame gjorde meg til the man
A young lady made me into the man
Hun sa "Du må jobbe hardere enn dem"
She said "You have to work harder than them"
Når jeg var kid
When I was a kid
Prøvde å bygge en tidsmaskin
Tried to build a time machine
Hun satt seg ned med meg
She sat down with me
Bygde og lette etter deler med meg
Built and searched for parts with me
Står i evig uendelig gjeld ja
Forever in infinite debt, yes
Dette er så real måtte gråte litt selv
This is so real I had to cry a little myself
Lovte deg hus og en Mercedes Benz
Promised you a house and a Mercedes Benz
Sånn at du ikke må jobbe igjen
So that you don't have to work again
Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
Du var student og du hadde to jobber
You were a student and you had two jobs
Tørk dine tårer den tiden er over
Wipe your tears, that time is over
Bare slapp av mamma lagde en konge
Just relax, Mom made a king
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Selina Jeanette
on Flexnes
Where is the french part?