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.
الحال مايل
Jowan Safadi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
حال مايل يا إخوان وممنوع أتذمّر
حاسس جواتي بركان بدو يتفجر
حاصروا عقول العربان بمليون خط أحمر
هالحال مايل يا إخوان وضاق عليّ
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
عم نتنافس ع الأنفاس في جيتو الفاشية
وأقفاص جوات قفاص وحراس قاعدين بالراس
خوفي زنزانة يا ناس وضاقت علي
وما عدت أتحمل ولا يوم ذل وعبودية
ما عدت أتحل ولا يوم ذل وعبودية
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
ولا بحرية
ولا بحرية
The phrase "الحال مايل" translates to "The situation is leaning" in English, and in this song, Jowan Safadi addresses the current state of the Arab world. He feels trapped and suffocated, struggling to find a balance between living in safety and living with freedom. The use of the metaphor "بركان بدو يتفجر" (volcano about to erupt) shows the depth of his frustration and anger. He feels that the Arab people's minds are controlled by countless red lines and restrictions set by those in power, leaving them with no room for expression or dissent. Safadi references the violence and oppression that has become commonplace in the Arab world, with "جيتو الفاشية" (fascist gangs) and "أقفاص جوات قفاص وحراس قاعدين بالراس" (captive inside cages with guards sitting on their heads). He feels that he is in a prison, a small cell that is choking him, where he's constantly competing for breath.
Through this song, Jowan Safadi is expressing his frustration with the current state of affairs in the Arab world, where freedom of expression is often restricted or repressed, and people are forced to live in fear. The song portrays the artist's sense of entrapment, where he can neither live in safety nor with freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
The situation is unfavorable, oh Arabs, and I feel suffocated.
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
I'm confused whether I'm living in safety or in captivity.
حال مايل يا إخوان وممنوع أتذمّر
The situation is difficult, my brothers, and I can't complain.
حاسس جواتي بركان بدو يتفجر
I feel like a volcano is about to erupt inside me.
حاصروا عقول العربان بمليون خط أحمر
They have surrounded the minds of the Arabs with a million red lines.
هالحال مايل يا إخوان وضاق عليّ
This situation is unfavorable, my brothers, and it's suffocating me.
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
The situation is unfavorable, oh Arabs, and I feel suffocated.
هالزنزانة يا ناس ضاقت عليّ
This cell, oh people, is suffocating me.
عم نتنافس ع الأنفاس في جيتو الفاشية
We are competing for our breaths in the jaws of fascism.
وأقفاص جوات قفاص وحراس قاعدين بالراس
And cages with guards sitting on top of them.
خوفي زنزانة يا ناس وضاقت علي
I'm afraid of this cell, oh people, and I feel suffocated.
وما عدت أتحمل ولا يوم ذل وعبودية
I can't endure anymore, not a day of humiliation and slavery.
ما عدت أتحل ولا يوم ذل وعبودية
I can't bear it anymore, not a day of humiliation and slavery.
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
The situation is unfavorable, oh Arabs, and I feel suffocated.
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
I'm confused whether I'm living in safety or in captivity.
الحال مايل يا عرب وضاق علي
The situation is unfavorable, oh Arabs, and I feel suffocated.
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
I'm confused whether I'm living in safety or in captivity.
حيران أعيش بأمان ولا بحرية
I'm confused whether I'm living in safety or in captivity.
ولا بحرية
Nor in freedom.
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeska Torres
"I dunno if I should live safe or free". Reading that phrase gave me goosebumps. I left my country a couple of years ago because I wasn't safe there... Now I'm safe but not free. I don't know if I did the right thing. I feel so lost.
Much love & respect to you, you're very brave. ♥✊
Haya A
ماصدق ان صار لي تقريبًا سنة اسمع الاغنية وتوني اشوف الفيديو!! من بعد هذا الفيديو حبيت الاغنية اكثر
No one
رائع استمتعت جدا❤️
Malak
متل دايما. بتجنن!!!!!!
نزيهه أحمد عاصي
رائع وفي الصميم ........
dream
يخي كثر فيديوهاتك. لا تقطع علينا .
Hassan Abodokhan
جوان دايما رائع
Omar Ali
واخيرا ❤👍
Karam Msallam
اه والله مايل يا جوان
Basma Sowan
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜