Taha was born in 1958 in Sig (Mascara Province), Algeria, although a second source suggests he was born in the Algerian seacoast city of Oran. Oran was the "birthplace of raï" music, and 1958 was a key year in the Algerian struggle for independence against French authority. He began listening to Algerian music in the 1960s, including street-style music called chaabi. And music from the Maghreb region was part of his upbringing. He moved with his parents to France when he was ten years old, settling in an immigrant community around the French city of Lyon in 1968. His father was a factory worker.
While working in a heating appliance factory in the late 1970s, Taha founded Les Refoulés ("The Rejects"), a nightclub where he would spin mashups of Arabic pop classics over Led Zeppelin, Bo Diddley, and Kraftwerk backbeats.
Based in Paris where he began his solo career after his beginnings as the leader of the French rock band Carte de Séjour, he usually sings in Arabic. In 1981, while living in Lyon, Taha met Mohammed and Mokhtar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band "Carte De séjour" (green card) and record their first maxi Album "Carte De Séjour" in 1983. Their first LP Rhoromanie, came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled Ramsa (Five) was released in 1986 and included their famous and ironic cover of Douce France, originally sung by Charles Trenet. The band dissolved in 1989.
His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwân, featuring remakes of songs for the Algerian and Arab traditions. His album Tékitoi, produced by Steve Hillage and released in 2004, also brought him great acclaim and recognition from other rock musicians. In 2005 he performed with Robert Plant, Patti Smith and Brian Eno.
He covered The Clash song "Rock the Casbah" (in Arabic, as "Rock El Casbah"), which appeared in the 2007 film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer, "The Future Is Unwritten".
Some critics attribute Taha's unique sound to his use of the mandolute, a mixture of the traditional oud with European fretted instruments.
The song "Barra Barra" from his album "Made in Medina" was featured in the 2001 film "Black Hawk Down "as well as in the Games Convention 2008 trailer of the game Far Cry 2. Recently was featured in the 2007 film The Hunting Party. His song "Garab" from "Made in Medina" was used in the movie "The Truth About Charlie" in 2002, and also in "Blood and Chocolate" in 2007.
Rachid Taha died in September 2018.
Now Or Never
Rachid Taha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mara lawla
Jani ghramek
Hanouni 'oumri
Ma'ak toul hayati
Hdak ya 'oumri
Kichouft a'younak
Kichouft qalbek
Ouqalbi hanan
Kichaft a'younak (It's now or never)
Mara lawla (Come hold me tight)
Jani ghramek (Kiss me my darling...)
Hanouni 'oumri (...be mine tonight)
M'ak toul hayati (Tomorrow we'll be too late)
Ahdakk ya 'oumri (It's now or never, my love won't wait)
Just like a willow
We will cry an ocean
If we lost true love
And sweet devotion
Your lips excite me
Let your arms invite me
For who knows when
We'll meet again this way
Kichaft a'younak (It's now or never)
Mara lawla (Come hold me tight)
Jani ghramek (Kiss me my darling...)
Hanouni 'oumri (...be mine tonight)
M'ak toul hayati (Tomorrow we'll be too late)
Ahdakk ya 'oumri (It's now or never, my love won't wait)
Kichaft a'younak (It's now or never)
Mara lawla (Come hold me tight)
Jani ghramek (Kiss me my darling...)
Hanouni 'oumri (...be mine tonight)
M'ak toul hayati (Tomorrow we'll be too late)
Ahdakk ya 'oumri (It's now or never, my love won't wait)
Ahdakk ya 'oumri (It's now or never, my love won't wait)
Ahdakk ya 'oumri (It's now or never, my love won't wait)
ya 'oumri
The Lyrics to Rachid Taha's "Now or Never" are a passionate anthem for seizing the moment and making the most of life and love. The opening lines, "Kichaft a'younak, mara lawla, jani ghramek, hanouni 'oumri," suggest a sense of urgency to act now and not waste any time. The rest of the lyrics detail the singer's desire to be close to his lover and not let the opportunity slip away.
The song also includes a poetic metaphor that likens the potential loss of true love to the crying of an ocean. The singer emphasizes the importance of acting now because no one knows when they will meet again. The lines "your lips excite me, let your arms invite me," convey the physical longing that the characters feel for each other, and capture the urgency and intensity of their passion.
The repetition of "ahdakk ya 'oumri" at the end of the song reinforces the sentiment that it's now or never - that time is running out, and the opportunity to seize the moment and experience love fully might not come again. The lyrics are sung passionately and evocatively, conveying a full range of emotions from desire to vulnerability to hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Kichaft a'younak
The opportunity is presented to you now, and you must take it.
Mara lawla
Embrace me tightly and hold me close.
Jani ghramek
Let's feel the passion of our love through a tender kiss.
Hanouni 'oumri
Be mine tonight, and we will spend the night sharing sweet moments together.
Ma'ak toul hayati
Time is running out, and we may not have a chance to love like this again.
Hdak ya 'oumri
Don't wait, my love. It's now or never.
It's now or never
If we don't take action now, the moment may pass us by forever.
Just like a willow
We will weep heavily like the branches of a willow tree if we lose the love we have.
We'll cry an ocean
Our tears will flow like a vast sea if we lose our beloved.
If we lost true love
If we let go of our love, we will be incomplete and forever searching.
And sweet devotion
Our love is pure, and we're dedicated to each other wholeheartedly.
Your lips excite me
The touch of your lips fills me with an electric sensation that I cannot resist.
Let your arms invite me
Wrap your arms around me, and let's feel the warmth of each other's embrace.
For who knows when
We don't know when we will meet again or for how long we will have each other.
We'll meet again this way
If we don't seize the opportunity, the moment may never repeat itself, and we may never meet again.
Writer(s): EDUARDO DI CAPUA, WALLY GOLD, GIOVANNI CAPURRO, AARON SCHROEDER, ALFREDO MAZZUCCHI
Contributed by Micah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
arimas1977
Quelle perte pour l’humanité et le monde de la musique ! Je t’aime Rachid! Paix à ton âme de poète et tellement authentique! Jeanne, une découverte! Quelle douceur cette meuf !
VHShologram
He sounds so sweet and gentle in this song... Wonderful reinterpretation with oriental charm! Hats off to Rachid Taha's artistry ❤❤❤🌹
Antonio Silva
He is dearly missed. What an amazing artist.
Marianne Leclercq
Un grand artiste nous à quitté Rachid Taha 😢. Paix à son âme 😢. Condoléances à sa famille et ses proches d'une fan Belge 😢🇧🇪
ka_lil
Merçi nous aussi les algeriens on' a le même probelme il est un grand artiste
SKANDER Skander
Merci !il est parti se reposer définitivement en Algérie 🇩🇿
Marie-andre Desmurs
Il manque beaucoup je l'adore🎩😢❤️
PR Noor
Such a poignant, powerful and touching song that makes us remember the greatest musician in his soulful form. Love and miss him.
Kulina Folk Art
I never liked this song but this version is just wonderful!!!!
music music
Yes lady