People from every corner of Africa have crowded into Barbés, a refuge for exiles that directed Larbi Dida's raï towards Fateh's shaabi, and that brushed Aziz's guimbri up against Youcef's bass. It is encounters such as these that led to the formation of the Orchestra National de Barbés. In English, the name means The National Barbés Orchestra, implying that Barbés is a nation unto itself. It is a sentiment that few who visit the neighborhood would dispute.
The story started in Belcourt, a working class section of Algiers, Algeria at the peak of the 1980 baby boom. Youcef Boukella's older brothers listened to rock and bossa nova, people watched Cairo film classics on TV and tuned to Kabyl folk music on the radio. Outside the Belcourt alleyways --pandemonium. Street peddlers, muezzins, Gnawa street performers, shaabi concerts, ghetto blasters playing reggae, funk and raï.
"My style of music goes back to my childhood in Belcourt," explains Youcef. In 1985 he was offered a slot playing bass for the first Arabic-language rock group, T34. But when Youcef heard what visiting jazz musician Jeff Gardner was packing, that's when he decided to pack himself up and leave home. Raï was all the rage when he arrived in Paris. He worked with Cheb Mami and Kabyl native Takfarinas at diaspora parties. Safy Boutella plunged him into the vortex of underground jazz. He honed his vision while waiting to record his first album "The Greeting of Peace". This was when his genius as a producer began to reveal itself (his production). Meanwhile, with former -Raïna Raï vocalist Larbi Dida, he recorded a four-title offering that foreshadowed his future approach.
Larbi Dida comes from the town of Sidi bel Abbes and is a founding member of Raïna Raï, the rock-raï group that shook up the Algerian rock scene by zeroing in on a roots-meets-electric sound. Recognized by the Algerian media as a historic breakthrough, this group was the first rock group to use raï in its repertoire. Ever since Larba Dida moved to Paris in 1989, his has been one of the great Arabic voices in the French capital.
Aziz Sehmaoui is another pillar upholding Youcef's vision. Raised in Marrakesh, this Sufi was nourished on a combination of Gnawa Arab-African beats and British-American pop performed in Morocco with various traditional and electric groups. (Association Ziriab, Lemchaheb and others). Like Youcef, Aziz attempts to weld the mystical power of healing rhythms with today's sounds. As the custodian of spiritual rigor and technique, he infuses the music with an aura of native authenticity molded by the luminous candor of his voice.
The band:
Medehi Askeur, Fateh Benlala, Ahmed Benshidhum, Yusef Bukella, Alain Debiossat, Jean-Baptiste Ferre, Fathellah Ghoggal, Olivier Louvel, Taufik Mimuni, Michel Petry, Asís Sahmaui, Kamel Tenfiche. Discography:
En Concert (Virgin 844 009 2, 1997)
Poulina (Virgin 847 553 2, 1999)
Alik (Wagram 3130492, 2008)
Rendez-Vous Barbes (Le Chant du Monde CMD 165, 2010)
Alaoui
Orchestre National De Barbès Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loukan ydirou 3lik bab hdid nkzah ou njik yalghzal
Loukan ydirou 3lik bab hdid nkzah ou njik yalhbib
Loukan ydirou 3lik bab hdid nkzah ou njik yalghzal
Loukan ydirou 3lik bab hdid nkzah ou njik yalhbib
Loukan ydirou 3lik bab hdid nkzah ou njik yalhbib
Choufi 3inik yelli ya3miha ana sghir ma ngedelha
Choufi 3inik yelli ya3miha ana sghir ma ngedelha
Choufi 3inik yelli ya3miha ana sghir ma ngedelha
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Hadik li wagfa and lbeb metzewja wela raki 3ad
Hadik li wagfa and lbeb metzewja wela raki 3ad
Hadik li wagfa and lbeb metzewja wela raki 3ad
Hadik li wagfa and lbeb metzewja wela raki 3ad
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Arabi ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
On vas bouger les epaules
On bouge les epaules, les epaules les epaules
On bouge les epaules, les epaules les epaules
On bouge les epaules les epaules les epaules les epaules les epaules
Les epaules, toujours les epaules, encore les epaules
Arrech
Trois fois les pieds
Encore une fois, une deuxieme fois, une derniere fois
Khmissa
Al3eb al3eb, Al3eb al3eb
Ha rabi ha rabi, ha rabi ha rabi
Al3eb al3eb, Al3eb al3eb
Ha rabi ha rabi, ha rabi ha rabi
Al3eb al3eb, Al3eb al3eb
Ha rabi ha rabi, ha rabi ha rabi
Les epaules, toujours les epaules, encore les epaules
Trois fois les pieds une deuxieme fois, une troisieme fois
Cinque fois les pieds
Hadik chira sensla dahbiya wagfa jbel maghniya
Hadik chira sensla dahbiya wagfa jbel maghniya
Ou rani khedam fi labahi
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Ah rayi
The song "Alaoui" by Orchestre National De Barbès is a vibrant piece that draws on the traditional alaoui dance music from Morocco. The lyrics are in a mix of Arabic and French and are repetitive in nature, adding to the rhythmic quality of the song. They talk about the different people who come to dance with the singer, commenting on their beauty and energy. The song is a celebration of life and the joy of movement, encouraging people to move their bodies and dance freely.
The chorus of "Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud" is particularly interesting as it is a call to arms for the people to come and dance. The phrase means "come on let's go, the powder of the gun is blowing" and it is meant to evoke the image of the traditional powder dances in Morocco where the dancers would twirl and jump around, kicking up dust and powder.
The song also includes references to the alaoui dance itself, with the repeated line "Trois fois les pieds", meaning "three times the feet", encouraging dancers to move their feet in a particular way. Overall, "Alaoui" is a lively and joyful piece that encourages listeners to let go and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Loukan ydirou 3lik bab hdid nkzah ou njik yalhbib
If they go to your iron door, I'll break it and come to see you, my beloved
Choufi 3inik yelli ya3miha ana sghir ma ngedelha
Look at how beautiful your eyes are, I saw them when I was young and can't forget them
Hahouma jew hahouma jew, chachra la3abin elbaroud
They're coming, they're coming, the sound of gunshots is getting closer
Ou ha lal lal la ha chirat 3awloo
Oh lal lal la, they've started playing the 'awlo' rhythm
Hadik li wagfa and lbeb metzewja wela raki 3ad
That one who stopped at the corner, is she staying or leaving now?
Arabi ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Arabic music
Ha rabi ha rabi Ha rabi ha rabi
Praise God
On vas bouger les epaules
We're going to move our shoulders
Arrech
Jump
Trois fois les pieds
Stomp your feet three times
Khmissa
Clap five times
Al3eb al3eb, Al3eb al3eb
Play, play, play
Les epaules, toujours les epaules, encore les epaules
The shoulders, always the shoulders, even more shoulders
Cinque fois les pieds
Stomp your feet five times
Hadik chira sensla dahbiya wagfa jbel maghniya
That golden-haired girl standing by the mountain singing
Ou rani khedam fi labahi
And I'm working in my lab
Ah rayi
Oh my shepherd
Writer(s): Sadia Bedief, Larbi Dida
Contributed by Mackenzie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@isabellagoa6148
Je suis portugaise espagnole reconvertie à l Islam et j aime trop cette chanson je peux pas m empêcher de l écouter en boucle
@sherifresh7230
isabel lagoa ,félicitations pour votre conversion a l islam surtout pour une ibère parce qu en général les portugais et espagnol sont des personnes tres pratiquante.
@usualsuspect660
isabel lagoa Je suis Français , de parents Marocains , 54 ans , j'écoute ce son sans arret ! Ma kayensh l' Amane ! 😳
@Berber141
moi je suis algérien ne musulman,,,,, convertis à JESUS CHRIST le seul véritable DIEU et SAUVEUR
@neror8443
@@Berber141 le seul véritable dieu qui adore dieu donc lui même 😮😂
@neror8443
@@Berber141 sauveur mais qui au moment de se faire crucifier pour nous sauver à demander à son dieu encore une fois lui même de le délivrer et lui à même demandé pourquoi il l’a abandonné machaAllah
@checkmate7065
Je suis française et même si elle n'a rien à voir avec ma culture j'adore cette musique ❤️
@Noureddine34
La musique est une langue universelle 😘
@slimaneismailli8732
Quand une chanson américaine ou autre, crois tu que je me pose la question ?!
@anais_8139
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊qq😊