Atlas began her career as part of the world fusion group Transglobal Underground. In 1995, she began to focus on her solo career with the release of Diaspora. She has since released seven solo albums and been a part of numerous collaborations. Her version of "Mon Amie La Rose" became a surprise success in France, reaching 16 on the French Singles Charts in 1999. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Conference Against Racism.
Exploding onto the scene in the early 1990s, Atlas rapidly gained widespread recognition for her successful pioneering meld of Western and Eastern musics, specifically, her use of cutting-edge electronic beats with Arabic melodies and instrumentation. After several releases with Nation Records and a string of albums fronting the seminal Transglobal Underground, she debuted with Diaspora (1994). Atlas then followed with Gedida (Beggar’s Banquet) which won the Victoire Award; the rest, as they say, is history.
Her critically-acclaimed albums Ana Hina (2007) and Mounqaliba (2010), have represented a radical evolution of Atlas’s artistic horizons. On both, Atlas combines her hallmark synthesis of Western and Middle Eastern musical traditions and culture with classical and jazz influences and sounds. Indeed, on Mounqaliba, she pushed the boundaries further, producing an album lavishly orchestrated by her long-time collaborator Samy Bishai.
In addition to her own projects, Atlas has worked extensively with an eclectic group of distinguished artists across a wide variety of musical genres including: pop (Peter Gabriel, Sinead O’Connor, Indigo Girls, and Jean-Michel Jarre); classical (Nigel Kennedy, Jocelyn Pook); jazz (Nigel Kennedy); film scores (Danny Elfman, Clint Mansell, David Arnold, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rachel Portman); and world music (Nitin Sawhney, Transglobal Underground, Talvin Singh).
Atlas’s distinctive voice has also featured on a wide number of soundtracks and scores for both films and video games, including Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Hulk (2003), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Stargate (1994), The Truth About Charlie (2002), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Die Another Day (2002), Brick Lane (2007), Sahara (2005), I Can’t Think Straight (2008), La Fille Sur Le Pont (1999), Whatever Lola Wants (2007), Bin-Jip (a.k.a. 3-Iron, English title) (2004); and Heavenly Sword (2007); Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005); Project Gotham Racing 4 (2007).
Atlas recently co-composing the music, together with Samy Bishai, for the internationally-renowned French contemporary ballet choreographer, Angelin Preljocaj. The ballet, entitled, Les Nuits will be touring internationally through to 2015. The soundtrack of the music – also entitled Les Nuits - is Atlas’s 2nd release on Mazeeka Records.
Adam's Lullaby
Natacha Atlas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah ya ebn adam eysh.ah eysh ya ebni.
ya ebni adem eysh
ismani ya ebn adem eysh ...ya adam ya adam ...
(Live oh son of Adam live
Oh son of Adam live oh live my son
Oh my son Adam live
The lyrics of Natacha Atlas's "Adam's Lullaby" are a lament for the uncertainty and fragility of human existence. The singer addresses the listener as "son of Adam," invoking the biblical story of Adam and Eve to emphasize humanity's shared origin and mortality. The repeated entreaties to "live" suggest a sense of urgency and a desire to overcome the inevitability of death. The repetition of the name Adam also draws attention to the theme of individual identity within the broader context of human history and culture.
The use of Arabic language and music, combined with the use of traditional instruments and rhythms which are blended with electronic sounds, creates a haunting atmosphere that reflects the song's themes of loss and longing. The overall vibe of the song is one that is emotional and reflective, combined with a sense of lament, a cry from the singer who wishes things could be different. There is an undertone sadness in her voice that elicits a sense of empathy with the listener and a yearning for comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Eysh ya ebn Adam Eysh
Live oh son of Adam live
Ah ya ebn adam eysh.ah eysh ya ebni.
Oh son of Adam live oh live my son
ya ebni adem eysh
Oh my son Adam live
ismani ya ebn adem eysh ...ya adam ya adam ...
Listen to me oh son of Adam oh Adam
Contributed by Caden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.