Khcheich w… Read Full Bio ↴Rima Khcheich {ريما خشيش} (b. 1974) is a Lebanese singer,
Khcheich was born in Khiam, South Lebanon. She started singing classical Arabic music at the age of nine, and was awarded the bronze medal at the 'Bizert Festival for the Mediterranean Song' in Tunisia, 1985. Her singing career started with the children's choir at the Arabic Cultural Club, and later evolved into a solo performance with the Beirut Oriental Troop for Arabic Music under the supervision and direction of Salim Sahab.
Khcheich studied the tradition of classical Arabic singing at The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music in Beirut, and her efforts were supported by her father Kamel Khcheich who encouraged her to memorise and master classics from the Arabic music heritage, such as Muwashahat*, Adwar, and other styles. She has performed Zakariah Ahmad, Al-Kassabji, Sayyed Darwish, Kamel Al Khal'i, and Muhammad Abdel Wahab, amongst others.
Having participated in various concerts in Lebanon and around the world, Khcheich has gained international repute and admiration for her gift at performing complex Arabic classical forms such as Dor 'Emta El hawa', and Muwashah 'Anta al Mudallal'.
Currently, Khcheich teaches Oriental singing at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music and is invited on a yearly basis to Massachusetts, USA, where she teaches voice and classical Arabic singing at Mount Holyoke College under the framework of the Arabic Music Retreat program directed by musician and composer Simon Shaheen.
Her professional collaborations include performing with Shaheen, singing on composer Toufic Farroukh's album Tootya released in 2006, and being an integral part of the Dutch-Lebanese- Iraqi band The Orient Express. This band tried to create meeting grounds between the Arab musical heritage and Jazz. The band released one album, Orient Express, in 2002.
In 2006, Khsheish released her debut solo album, Yalalalli, which features a number of old songs and Muwashahat that she performs in a personalised, contemporary manner, alongside new compositions.
* Muwashahat: plural of Muwashshah, a vocal form in Arabic music.
A strophic song with refrain. The form originated at Cabra, near Cordoba, in the 9th century; it enjoyed a vogue in Muslim Spain in the 11th century, and spread subsequently throughout the Arab world, where it survives in oral tradition.
One of seven post-Classical poetic forms, It is performed on both secular and religious occasions and combines classical metres with new ones arranged in strophes. Each poem is divided into an indefinite number of units (abyat, sing. bayt), each containing a varied number of poetic lines. Musically, a muwashshah is performed by a solo singer alternating with responsorial, antiphonal or collective singing in unison, depending on the performing group. The performance of this difficult art, composed by specialists, demands a mastery of both maqams (modes) and usuls, the complicated rythmic patterns of Arabic music.
Ijani Ittisal
Rima Khcheich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
كلمات وألحان ربیع مروّة
إجاني إتّصال يسألني كیف الحال
عَجَقْني خَفَقْني ذَكّرْني بالوصال
شو ھُوّي ال ذَكّرَكْ وعْلَیي فوّقَكْ
لَوأني فَتَلْني وشَغَلّي ھالبال ◌ّ
تِغْییر تِفْسیر تمْرُق مِیّة خاطْرة
شو ھوّي ال فَوّقَكْ وعنّي عَوّقكْ
بَسْ يبدو ما بدّو وعا قِشْرِة بَصْلِة فاطْرَة
إذا إنتْ زِھْقان لَشو ھالجَلَقان
تْبَحْبش وتْحَركِش بِرَقْمي البِھْتان
حیاتي إلك حاشیة من دونك كانت ماشیة
على مَھْل على سَھْل والقلب مِشْ عِشْقان
The song "Ijani Ittisal" by Rima Khcheich touches on the theme of reminiscing the past and struggling to move on from it. The opening line "Ijani Ittisal" (a call came in) represents a phone call from someone in the past, asking how the singer is doing. This takes her down memory lane, reminding her of the affection and connection that she had with this person. The use of the word "ajaghni" (confused me) and "khafaghni" (disturbed me) further reinforces the idea that this call has stirred up mixed emotions and feelings, both positive and negative.
The second verse introduces a female character who is described as intelligent but waiting like a "habla" (sack) for someone to change, interpret or rescue her thoughts. The use of the word "fawwaki" (above you) and "awni" (help me) suggests that the singer reflects on her own character as well, implying that both women are in need of guidance or help.
The chorus reflects a sense of detachment and hopelessness. The call can be interpreted as a source of annoyance, and the singer declares that she is better off without it. She emphasizes that despite the challenges, she is still living her life and moving forward. The line "ala mahal ala sahl, wal qalb mesh aishkan" (whether it's easy or hard, the heart does not live in love) portrays a sense of acceptance that the heart can be content and fulfilled without being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
إجاني إتّصال يسألني كیف الحال
I received a call that asked me about my current condition
عَجَقْني خَفَقْني ذَكّرْني بالوصال
It sparked something in me, reminded me of what it was like to connect and feel alive
شو ھُوّي ال ذَكّرَكْ وعْلَیي فوّقَكْ
What do you want from me, and why do you tower over me?
لَوأني فَتَلْني وشَغَلّي ھالبال
Even if I were to distract myself, my mind would still be preoccupied
ھیّاني بِنْت شاطْرة ومِتْل الھَبلة ناطْرَة
A clever girl, waiting like a foolish one
تِغْییر تِفْسیر تمْرُق مِیّة خاطْرة
Changing the interpretation, a hundred thoughts are passed through
شو ھوّي ال فَوّقَكْ وعنّي عَوّقكْ
What are you above me, and what is obstructing me?
بَسْ يبدو ما بدّو وعا قِشْرِة بَصْلِة فاطْرَة
But appearances can be deceiving, and maybe it's just a flimsy onion skin
إذا إنتْ زِھْقان لَشو ھالجَلَقان
If you're bored, then why bother calling?
تْبَحْبش وتْحَركِش بِرَقْمي البِھْتان
Playing games and stirring up trouble with empty words
حیاتي إلك حاشیة من دونك كانت ماشیة
My life to you was just a footnote, but without you, it was motionless
على مَھْل على سَھْل والقلب مِشْ عِشْقان
Whether it's uphill or easy, my heart is not in love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Rabih Mroué
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind