Banna was born in Nazareth, where she graduated from Nazareth Baptist School. She lived in Nazareth with her three children.
She died on 24 March 2018, aged 51, in a hospital in her hometown of Nazareth, Palestine following a lengthy and brave battle with breast cancer, which she openly shared with her numerous fans through social media. She met her husband, Ukrainian guitarist Leonid Alexeyenko, while studying music together at the Higher Music Conservatory in Moscow and they married in 1991, and divorced in 2010.
Banna first achieved popularity in the early 1990s, after recording her own versions of traditional Palestinian children's songs that were on the verge of being forgotten.
Banna also composed her own songs and set Palestinian poetry to music. Her message is often focused on the suffering of Palestinians. Her music is described as "haunting, emotional, at times bordering on kitsch." She described her music as a means of cultural self-assertion:
A part of our work consists of collecting traditional Palestinian texts without melodies. So that the texts do not get lost, we try to compose melodies for them that are modern, yet inspired by traditional Palestinian music.
In this way, Banna does more than mimic the traditional techniques and representations of the pieces she interprets. She blends them with modern singing styles because,
Oriental singing techniques are mostly ornamental… But my voice is more two-dimensional, thicker. I try to write songs that fit my voice. I want to create something new in every respect. And that includes bringing people elsewhere closer to the music and soul of the Palestinians.
She performed live in the West Bank and she reached audiences in Gaza through live webcasts. She performed her first concert in Syria on 8 January 2009 and also performed in Tunisia on 25 July 2011. Her first concert in Beirut took place on 22 March 2012.
Banna's popularity in Europe began after Norwegian music producer Erik Hillestad invited her to participate on the CD Lullabies from the Axis of Evil (2003) and Norwegian singer Kari Bremnes, who also took part on this production in a duet with Rim Banna, invited her to Oslo. Banna accepted the invitation, and the two artists did a show together.
The album, dubbed "a musical antiwar message to U.S. President Bush from female singers in Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and Norway," brings these women together with others from North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Afghanistan, to sing traditional lullabies from their lands in duet form with English-language performers whose translation allows the songs to reach a Western audience.
The Mirrors of My Soul, which was dedicated to all the Palestinian and Arab political detainees in the Israeli prisons, is a stylistic departure from her previous body of work. Produced in cooperation with a Norwegean quintet, it features "Western pop styling" fused with Middle Eastern modal and vocal structures, and Arabic lyrics.
Although the style differs from previous recordings, the subject matter has basically remained constant. The album includes "songs of despair and hope" about the lives of "a struggling people, and even a song about late Palestinian leader and PA president Arafat in a way that is both thoughtful and subtle".
Discography
Jafra (1985)
Your tears Mother (1986)
The Dream (1993)
New Moon (1995)
Mukaghat (1996)
Al Quds Everlasting (2002)
Krybberom (2003) Rim Banna & SKRUK
Lullabies from the Axis of Evil (2003 – Various female artists)
The Mirrors of My Soul (2005, Valley Entertainment)
This was not my story (2006) Rim Banna & Henrik Koitz
Seasons of violet (2007)
Songs across Walls of Separation (2008 – Various artists from the Middle East, Africa, Central America, North America, and Europe)
April Blossoms (2009) an album for children, was dedicated to the children martyrs in Gaza
A Time to cry (2010), was recorded in one of the houses in Sheikh Jarrah under constant threat of eviction from the part of their house (with three Palestinian singers)
"Tomorrow" (Bokra) 2011, a single song of the American legend composer Quincy Jones, who chose Rim Banna to represent Palestine in this project which will be released in an Album and a video clip in September 2011
Revelation of Ecstasy and Rebellion (2013); produced by Bugge Wesseltoft
Songs from a Stolen Spring (2014, Valley Entertainment/Kirkelig Kulturverksted - Various Artists), featuring "Break Your Fears"
Ya Lel Ma Atwalak
Rim Banna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
of longing and wandering
My hair has turned to white
My body's ill
Suhail, my little light
and Fares, my precious one
Some day you'll bring my medicine
And I always will remember
like they're wandering beside me
The dearest and beloved ones
you're separated from
Stop crying now, my eye,
even if it seems forever
I will wander in this night
until we are home
So sleep, and you'll be strong
Sleep on now, my baby boy
Some day you'll take us back again
to where we belong
Trad.: Lullaby from Palestine
The lyrics to Rim Banna and Kari Bremnes' song Ya Lel Ma Atwalak tell the story of a mother who is trapped in a night of longing and wandering, feeling old and ill. She recalls her dear children Suhail and Fares, and believes that one day they will bring her the medicine she needs. Despite the separation from her beloved ones, she continues to wander until they are reunited. The lullaby is a traditional Palestinian song that conveys the hope and longing of a mother for her children, and ultimately for the home where they belong.
The song is deeply rooted in Palestinian culture, and it reflects the emotional and political struggles of the people. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and yearning for home, as well as a desire for peace and justice. The use of a lullaby as a form of expression highlights the importance of motherhood and maternal love in Palestinian society, and how it is a source of strength and resilience even in the face of adversity.
One interesting fact about Ya Lel Ma Atwalak is that it was recorded by two female singers from different countries, Rim Banna from Palestine and Kari Bremnes from Norway. The collaboration between these two artists highlights the universal theme of maternal love and the shared experiences of women. Another interesting fact is that the song has been covered by several artists around the world, including the Palestinian-American electronic musician Muqata'a, the Syrian singer Lena Chamamyan, and the Lebanese singer Tania Saleh.
Line by Line Meaning
This never ending night of longing and wandering
The singer is experiencing a never-ending night of yearning and aimlessness.
My hair has turned to white, my body's ill
The singer's physical appearance and health have deteriorated due to the prolonged period of longing and wandering.
Suhail, my little light, and Fares, my precious one, some day you'll bring my medicine, I know you will
The singer is placing her hopes on the children, Suhail and Fares, to provide a remedy for her illness and ease her suffering.
And I always will remember like they're wandering beside me, the dearest and beloved ones you're separated from
The artist is haunted by the memories of her loved ones who are no longer with her and it feels as though they are still present and wandering beside her.
Stop crying now, my eye, even if it seems forever, I will wander in this night until we are home
The artist is trying to reassure herself to stop crying and continue wandering through the dark and endless night until she finally reaches her home.
So sleep, and you'll be strong, sleep on now, my baby boy, some day you'll take us back again to where we belong
The singer is comforting her baby boy, encouraging him to sleep and become stronger, and promising him that one day he will guide them back to their rightful place.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Trad Palestinian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ABT
الكلمات:
يا ليل ماأطولك.. مشيتني حافي
ميزان ما أتقلك.. هديتلي كتافي
ذابت حشيشه قلبي.. لأجلكم ذابت
والشعرتين السود يا يمه بروسنا شابو
والشعرتين الشقر يا يمه بروسنا دابو
... فارس يا شمعتي.. سهيل يا مالي
يا مين يجيب الدوا.. قلت الدوا غالي
فارس يجيب الدوا.. وسهيل يداويني
لا تحسبون طالت الغربة يا يمه ونسيناكو
كل ما طالت الغربة يا يمه تذكرناكو
جمّال يا جمّال.. جمّال يا ابن عمي
خدلي هالسلام.. لبويّ وامي
سلام من خاطري.. كلام من تمي
سلام لاختي الحنونة.. البعيدة عني
يا عين حاجي بكا.. يا عين ظلمتيني
يا عين أخدتي الحباب.. ما علمتيني
صبرت صبر الخشب تحت المناشيري
صبرت لنو استوى لحم العصافير
وحياتك تكبر وتجبر.. والرب يعطيني
جبرا قوية يا يمه.. واتكيد عدويني يا ابني
عزمي الحمران azmi alhumran
Я не знаю русского языка, но я перевел то, что написал. Спасибо за восхищение песней и за вашу поддержку в Палестине. Предлагаю вам текст песни, надеясь, что перевод правильный.
слова:
О, ночь, какой ты рост .. Я ходил босиком
Как ты тяжелый, Мизан ... Я опустил плечо
Внутренности моего сердца растаяли ... растаяли
И черные волосы в головах - шабу
И два светлых волоса, мама, высохли в наших головах
Фарис Шамаа ... Сухайль Мали
Кто принес мне лекарство .. Она сказала какое дорогое лекарство
Фарес приносит лекарства .. а Сухайль меня лечит
Не думай, мама, если отчуждение продолжится, мы тебя забудем
Если отчуждение продолжается, вспомни нас, мама
Джамал Джамал .. Джамал, мой двоюродный брат
Возьми этот мир для меня ... для моих папы и мамы
Мир в моей голове ... слова с моих губ
Мир моей сострадательной сестре ... вдали от меня
Ах, хватит глаз плакать ... глаза болят
О, глаз, ты забрал своих близких ... ты меня не учил
Я терпелив, как дерево под лесопилкой
Терпение, как птица, терпеливо созревает
Ваша жизнь растет и становится убедительной ... Дай бог мне здоровья
Мама, будь сильным сыном, победи своих врагов
Saidi Mohamed
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/Ya-leil-ma-atwalak-Oh-night-how-long-you-are.html#ixzz5AijnosgM
Oh night, how long you are
You made me walk barefooted
A balance, how heavy you are
You tired my shoulders (I can't bear anymore)
My heart is tired for you
Oh mam, and the black hair which was left, turned grey
Oh mam, and the blonde hair which was left are gone
Oh mam, don't think if the estrangement extended that we would forgot you
Oh mam, how long the estrangement extended, we'll remember you more
Camel driver, oh camel driver
Camel driver, oh my cousin
Take this salam (salute) to my father and mother
Salam from my mind, talk from my mouth
Salam to my tender sister, who far away from me she is
Hanna Cinthio
Rest in perfect peace ya Rim. Your voice and spirit will remain to soothe aching hearts and inspire coming generations of freedom fighters.
مُزيَّن زاهدة
اقشعّر بدني ، ما أروعها ! و ما أحنّ صوتها ! 💚
ABT
الكلمات:
يا ليل ماأطولك.. مشيتني حافي
ميزان ما أتقلك.. هديتلي كتافي
ذابت حشيشه قلبي.. لأجلكم ذابت
والشعرتين السود يا يمه بروسنا شابو
والشعرتين الشقر يا يمه بروسنا دابو
... فارس يا شمعتي.. سهيل يا مالي
يا مين يجيب الدوا.. قلت الدوا غالي
فارس يجيب الدوا.. وسهيل يداويني
لا تحسبون طالت الغربة يا يمه ونسيناكو
كل ما طالت الغربة يا يمه تذكرناكو
جمّال يا جمّال.. جمّال يا ابن عمي
خدلي هالسلام.. لبويّ وامي
سلام من خاطري.. كلام من تمي
سلام لاختي الحنونة.. البعيدة عني
يا عين حاجي بكا.. يا عين ظلمتيني
يا عين أخدتي الحباب.. ما علمتيني
صبرت صبر الخشب تحت المناشيري
صبرت لنو استوى لحم العصافير
وحياتك تكبر وتجبر.. والرب يعطيني
جبرا قوية يا يمه.. واتكيد عدويني يا ابني
قالت Sana- كلمات
الله يرحمك...
ميس الدبيات
ريم بنا رحمها الله من اجمل الاصوات في العالم العربي ذوق راقي واحساس عالي
تليعن الدمشقي
الله يرحمها يارب
KAhwla Albadawi
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sharjah.women/permalink/1550364768429952/ABT
Maryam Al Aqrat
ABT
Emily Yuz
الله يرحمك يا ريم يا الروح الفلسطينية الجميلة
Karim Fikry
صوتهاااااااااااااااااا روعه و الاغاني اللي بتغنيها ما اجملها انا من مصر بس بحب شباب فلسطين و عشق كله لفلسطين