Massi's music, which prominently features the acoustic guitar, displays Western musical style influences such as rock, country or the Portuguese fado, rather than traditional Algerian or Raï musical styles performed by most Algerian musicians. Massi sings in Algerian Arabic, French, and occasionally English and Kabyle (Berber language), often employing multiple languages in the same song.
Massi was born in Algiers, Algeria to a poor Muslim family of seven children. Encouraged by her older brother, she began studying music at a young age, singing and playing guitar. Growing up Massi immersed herself in American country and roots music, musical styles that would later heavily influence her songwriting. At the age of seventeen she joined a flamenco band, but quickly grew bored with the group and left.
In the early 1990s, Massi joined the Algerian political rock band Atakor, who were influenced by Western rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and U2. She recorded and performed with the group for seven years, releasing a successful album and two popular music videos. The band, however, with its political lyrics and growing popularity, became a target. Massi disguised herself by cutting her hair and dressing in male clothing, but she nevertheless became the target of a series of death threats. In 1999, she left the band and moved to Paris, France.
In 1999, Massi was invited to perform at the Femmes d'Algerie ("Women from Algeria") festival in Paris, which led to a recording contract with Island Records. In June of 2001, she released her solo debut album Raoui ("Storyteller"), which All Music Guide compared to 1960s American folk music. Sung mostly in French and Arabic, the album became a critical and commercial success in France. The following year she was nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the Radio 3 World Music Awards.
In 2003, she released her second album Deb ("Heart-broken"). The album's lyrics were more personal rather than political and it became one of the most successful North African albums worldwide. Three years later, Massi released her third album Mesk Elil ("Honeysuckle"). The album expanded on the themes of love and loss that had been explored on Deb and featured duets with Daby Toure and Rabah Khalfa.
Studio albums
* 2001: Raoui
* 2003: Deb
* 2006: Mesk Elil
* 2010: Ô Houria
* 2015: El Mutakallimun
* 2019: Oumniya
* 2022: Sequana
https://souad-massi.com/en/
Deb
Souad Massi Lyrics
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Si j'etais un petit oiseau ou un pigeon
Je traverserais des montagnes et des rivieres
Peut-etre a ce moment-la, je parviendrais a oublier
Mes peines
Mon coeur a fondu
Mon coeur, le mien
Si j'etais une vague errante de mers en mers
Si j'etais un poisson je n'arrreterais pas de voyager
Je traverserais des montagnes et des rivieres
Peut-etre a ce moment-la, je parviendrais a oublier
Mes peines
Mon coeur a fondu
Mon coeur, le mien
Si j'etais une feuille errante d'un endroit a un autre
Je me laisserais emporter par le vent avant
L'automne, je quitterais ce jardin
Je traverserais des montagnes et des rivieres
Peut-etre a ce moment la, je parviendrais a oublier
Mes peines
Mon coeur a fondu
Mon coeur, le mien
The lyrics of Souad Massi's song 'Deb' explore the concept of escape and the desire to overcome one's pain and sorrows by becoming one with nature. The first verse begins with the metaphor of a bird flying high in the sky, conveying the desire to escape from the present circumstances and problems. The repetition of the line "Si j'etais" (If I were) emphasizes the longing for an alternate reality where the singer could fly above the challenges they face. The longing to forget about their pain is expressed through the line "Peut-etre a ce moment-la, je parviendrais a oublier/Mes peines" (Maybe at that moment, I would manage to forget my sorrows).
The second verse introduces the metaphor of a fish traveling constantly and ceaselessly, keeping the theme of escape. In the chorus, the line "Mon coeur a fondu, mon coeur, le mien" (My heart melted, my heart, mine) emphasizes the personal nature of the pain that the singer is trying to overcome. The final verse reflects on the journey of a leaf being carried by the wind, emphasizing the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The singer seems to be resigning themselves to the fleeting nature of life in hopes of finding solace in the midst of their pain through a connection with nature.
Overall, Souad Massi's 'Deb' captures the human desire for escape from pain and struggle through a lyrical exploration of the freedom and beauty of nature. The song suggests that losing oneself in the natural world and its cycles can offer temporary relief and a new perspective on life.
Line by Line Meaning
Si j'etais un oiseau je volerais dans les cieux
If I were a bird, I would fly in the skies
Si j'etais un petit oiseau ou un pigeon
If I were a small bird, such as a pigeon
Je traverserais des montagnes et des rivieres
I would cross mountains and rivers
Peut-etre a ce moment-la, je parviendrais a oublier Mes peines
Perhaps then, I could forget my sorrows
Mon coeur a fondu
My heart has melted
Mon coeur, le mien
My heart, only mine
Si j'etais une vague errante de mers en mers
If I were a wandering wave from sea to sea
Si j'etais un poisson je n'arreterais pas de voyager
If I were a fish, I wouldn't stop traveling
Si j'etais une feuille errante d'un endroit a un autre
If I were a wandering leaf from one place to another
Je me laisserais emporter par le vent avant L'automne, je quitterais ce jardin
I would let the wind carry me before autumn, I would leave this garden
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.