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"
the Top of the Mountain
Rim Banna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
و افتح جنينة ابي و اقعد فيها و ارتاح
يا رب زخة مطر تروي شجرة تفاح
والحلوه الي ما بتنتسى بحر عيونها سواح
لطلع ع راس الجبل و اشرف على الوادي
واقول يا مرحبا نسّم هوى بلادي
يا رب ليلة مطر و يسيل عالوادي
و نزلت ع شط البحر لني اودعهم
لقيتهم سافرو والريح مطاوعهم
ناديت ريس المركب لحتى يرجعهم
هذول حبابي راحو مفتاح القلب معاهم
ليا و ليا ولييتين
ليا على ليا
ليا و ليا و لييتين
ليا على ليا
ليا و ليا ولييتين
ليا على ليا
لطلع ع راس الجبل اشكي الامر لله
لقيت الحلو غافي في حماية الله
كشفت عن وجنته و قلت يا ما شاء الله
الوجه دورة قمر ياالله احفظه ليا
مريت ع دارهم قبل العشاء بنتفه
لقيتهم نايمين و سراجهم مطفي
مديت ايدي ع الحبق لقطف انا قصفه
صاحت بنيه يامّا حراميه
و نزلت ع شط البحر لني اودعهم
لقيتهم سافرو والريح مطاوعهم
ناديت ريس المركب لحتى يرجعهم
هذول حبابي راحو مفتاح القلب معاهم
ليا و ليا ولييتين
ليا على ليا
ليا و ليا و لييتين
ليا على ليا
ليا و ليا ولييتين
ليا على ليا
The song "The Top of the Mountain" by Rim Banna portrays a journey of longing and loss, as well as a connection to nature and a plea for guidance from a higher power. The lyrics depict the singer climbing to the top of a mountain with a key, symbolizing the desire to unlock and find solace in her father's garden. She yearns for a rain shower to quench the thirst of an apple tree and mentions a sweet memory that is like a wandering sea in someone's eyes.
As the singer reaches the summit and overlooks a valley, she expresses her welcome to the refreshing breeze of her homeland. She prays for a rainy night that will flow through the valley and transform her breasts into a bridge, possibly symbolizing a desire for unity and connection. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning for familial love and a deep attachment to one's heritage.
However, the singer's journey towards the sea brings disappointment as she discovers her loved ones have already departed. She calls out to the captain of the ship, hoping he would bring them back. The lyrics express the emotional pain of losing loved ones and engrave the image of the key to her heart being taken away with them, emphasizing the deep connection she cherishes with them.
The refrain of the song, repeated multiple times, conveys a feeling of resignation and longing. The repeated phrase "Liya wa liya wa liyiteen, Liya 'ala Liya" suggests a desire for reunion and a longing to be close to loved ones once again. The repetition further intensifies the emotions and emphasizes the deep longing and attachment the singer feels.
In the final verse, the singer finds solace in confiding her concerns to God. She discovers the sweetness of protection within God's care and admires the beauty of a face resembling the moon. She prays for its preservation. The singer then visits her loved ones' house before dinner, only to find them asleep and their lantern extinguished. She reaches out to pick some sweet basil, but a child's voice accuses her of being a thief, perhaps reflecting the loss of trust and innocence.
Overall, Rim Banna's "The Top of the Mountain" portrays a journey filled with longing, loss, and a deep connection to nature and family. The lyrics evoke a strong emotional response, emphasizing the themes of longing for reunification, the pain of loss, and the solace found in the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
لطلع ع راس الجبل واخذ معي مفتاح
I climbed to the top of the mountain and took with me a key
و افتح جنينة ابي و اقعد فيها و ارتاح
And I opened my father's garden and sat in it to relax
يا رب زخة مطر تروي شجرة تفاح
Oh Lord, let a rain shower water the apple tree
والحلوه الي ما بتنتسى بحر عيونها سواح
And the sweetness that can never be forgotten, the sea in her eyes
لطلع ع راس الجبل و اشرف على الوادي
I climbed to the top of the mountain and overlooked the valley
واقول يا مرحبا نسّم هوى بلادي
And I say, oh welcome, breeze of my homeland
يا رب ليلة مطر و يسيل عالوادي
Oh Lord, let it rain tonight and flow down the valley
و اعمل زنودي جسر و اقلط البنيه
And I'll make my arms a bridge and carry the little ones
و نزلت ع شط البحر لني اودعهم
And I went down to the beach to bid them farewell
لقيتهم سافرو والريح مطاوعهم
I found them gone, the wind obeying their journey
ناديت ريس المركب لحتى يرجعهم
I called the captain of the boat to bring them back
هذول حبابي راحو مفتاح القلب معاهم
These are my loved ones who left, taking the key to my heart with them
ليا و ليا ولييتين
For me, oh for me, for a thousand years
ليا على ليا
It's just for me
ليا و ليا و لييتين
For me, oh for me, for a thousand years
ليا على ليا
It's just for me
لطلع ع راس الجبل اشكي الامر لله
I climbed to the top of the mountain to share my concerns with God
لقيت الحلو غافي في حماية الله
I found the sweetness hidden in God's protection
كشفت عن وجنته و قلت يا ما شاء الله
I uncovered his cheek and said, oh, what God has blessed
الوجه دورة قمر ياالله احفظه ليا
His face is like a full moon, oh God, protect it for me
مريت ع دارهم قبل العشاء بنتفه
I passed by their house before dinner to pick some basil
لقيتهم نايمين و سراجهم مطفي
I found them sleeping with their lamp turned off
مديت ايدي ع الحبق لقطف انا قصفه
I stretched my hand to pick some basil leaves
صاحت بنيه يامّا حراميه
A little girl shouted, oh, what a thief
و نزلت ع شط البحر لني اودعهم
And I went down to the beach to bid them farewell
لقيتهم سافرو والريح مطاوعهم
I found them gone, the wind obeying their journey
ناديت ريس المركب لحتى يرجعهم
I called the captain of the boat to bring them back
هذول حبابي راحو مفتاح القلب معاهم
These are my loved ones who left, taking the key to my heart with them
ليا و ليا ولييتين
For me, oh for me, for a thousand years
ليا على ليا
It's just for me
ليا و ليا و لييتين
For me, oh for me, for a thousand years
ليا على ليا
It's just for me
Writer(s): מסורתי, אלכסיינקו לאוניד, בנא רים ז"ל
Contributed by Natalie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BlaCko SmOke
راس الجبل - ريم البنا
لأطلع ع راس الجبل وآخد معي مفتاح
وافتح جنينة أبي وأقعد فيها وارتاح
يا ربي زخة مطر تروي شجر التفاح
والحلوة يللي مابتنتسى بحر عيونها سواح
لأطلع ع راس الجبل وأشرف على الوادي
وأقول يا مرحبة نسّم هوا بلادي
يا ربي ليلة مطر ويسيل عالوادي
وأعمل زنودي جسر وأقلط البنية
ونزلت ع شط البحر لأني أودعهم
لقيت هم سافرو والريح مطاوعتهم
ناديت ريس المركب ل حتى يرجعهم
هدول أحبابي راحوا مفتاح القلب معهم
لأطلع ع راس الجبل أشكي الامر لله
لقيت الحلو غافي في حماية الله
كشفت عن وجنته وقلت يا ما شاء الله
الوجه دورة قمر يا لله احفظ لي اياه
مريت ع داريهم قبل العيشى بنتفى
لقيتهم نايمين وسراجهم مطفي
مديت ايدي عالحبق لأقطف انا قصفة
صاح البني إليهم يا ما حرامية
ونزلت ع شط البحر لأني أودعهم
لقيت هم سافرو والريح مطاوعتهم
ناديت ريس المركب ل حتى يرجعهم
هدول أحبابي راحوا مفتاح القلب معهم
BlaCko SmOke
راس الجبل - ريم البنا
لأطلع ع راس الجبل وآخد معي مفتاح
وافتح جنينة أبي وأقعد فيها وارتاح
يا ربي زخة مطر تروي شجر التفاح
والحلوة يللي مابتنتسى بحر عيونها سواح
لأطلع ع راس الجبل وأشرف على الوادي
وأقول يا مرحبة نسّم هوا بلادي
يا ربي ليلة مطر ويسيل عالوادي
وأعمل زنودي جسر وأقلط البنية
ونزلت ع شط البحر لأني أودعهم
لقيت هم سافرو والريح مطاوعتهم
ناديت ريس المركب ل حتى يرجعهم
هدول أحبابي راحوا مفتاح القلب معهم
لأطلع ع راس الجبل أشكي الامر لله
لقيت الحلو غافي في حماية الله
كشفت عن وجنته وقلت يا ما شاء الله
الوجه دورة قمر يا لله احفظ لي اياه
مريت ع داريهم قبل العيشى بنتفى
لقيتهم نايمين وسراجهم مطفي
مديت ايدي عالحبق لأقطف انا قصفة
صاح البني إليهم يا ما حرامية
ونزلت ع شط البحر لأني أودعهم
لقيت هم سافرو والريح مطاوعتهم
ناديت ريس المركب ل حتى يرجعهم
هدول أحبابي راحوا مفتاح القلب معهم
kalo jim
بتنتسب
elena gianfrate
Grazie mille شكراً جزيلاً
Aloosh Wooow
الله يرحم روحك فعلا آطربتينا بصوتك وارجعتينا الى الزمن الجميل فعلا اغنية رائعه من انسانه مناضلة بفنها وبجسما في مصارعة الرض فلسطين افتخرت فيكي وحزن على فراقك لروحك السلام ريم بنا ♥️♥️ عشق
Abdulrahman Al Anazi
رائعه 🇸🇦 ♥️🇵🇸
sohad esawy
رائعة ريم الله يرحمك الى جنات الخلد ❤
Beedo Gladi
جميله الاغنيه
Watfa Swis
الله يرحم روحك يا ملكه فلسطين🙏حتى الموت قابلتيه بابتسامه 👌رائعه بكل معنى الكلمه🌹
زياد الحلايبة
الله يرحمها ويغفر لها ويسكنها فسيح جناته يا رب العالمين 🇯🇴💐💞
Tarfa Mhamid
جميل.حياة فلسطين نبع ووديان