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/
Denya Wezmen
Souad Massi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
درت روحك ماعرفتنيش
غير شفتنى عوجت راسك
شحال هادى ماتشاوفناش
غير لجبال اللي مايتلاقاوش
احشمت بيا قدام صحابك
قاعد تشوف غير ف الساعة
خلاص زعمة هداك وقتك
و روح يا زمان و آجي يا زمان
نتلاقا بيك .قلبي خايف
و روح يا زمان و آجي يا زمان
ما حشمت و قلتلي الدنيا مع الواقف
أنا اللي كنت نشهد بيك
نخسر الدنيا و ما نخسرك
و انت الريح اللي يجي يديك
و اليوم كرهتك و كرهت إسمك
درتلك الشان و قلت تستاهل
و قسمت معاك الحلوة و المرة
ماشي اللي يجي يقول أنا راجل
ماشي اللي تجي تقول أنا مرا
أو روح يا زمان و آجي يا زمان
نتلاقا بيك .قلبي خايف
أو روح يا زمان و آجي يا زمان
ما حشمت و قلتلي الدنيا مع الواقف
The song "Denya Wezman" by Souad Massi talks about the fleeting nature of time and the fragility of relationships. The lyrics illustrate a personal narrative of a broken relationship where the singer is reflecting on the actions taken that led to the end of the relationship. The song begins with the lines “You didn’t recognize my soul/You only noticed my twisted head.” These lines are a reflection on someone failing to see beyond outward appearances, and not truly understanding the other person's inner world. The singer then talks about how they were ashamed in front of their friends, which could mean that the other person's behavior caused embarrassment.
Later in the song, the singer expresses a feeling of fear in relation to time and the hope that they will meet again. They also express regret at their own actions and not valuing the relationship enough. The lines “We will lose the world, but we won’t lose you/You are the wind that comes to us” suggest that relationships and connections with those we love are more important than material possessions. The song ends with a plea to time to return, but also an acknowledgment of past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
درت روحك ماعرفتنيش
You lost yourself and didn't recognize me
غير شفتنى عوجت راسك
Only when you saw me, you straightened yourself up
شحال هادى ماتشاوفناش
How many calm moments we missed
غير لجبال اللي مايتلاقاوش
Only to the mountains that never meet
احشمت بيا قدام صحابك
You were ashamed of me in front of your friends
قاعد تشوف غير ف الساعة
You're only looking at the clock
خلاص زعمة هداك وقتك
That's it, you wasted your time
لوكان لقيت تبلعك القاعة
If the hall swallowed you up
و روح يا زمان و آجي يا زمان
Oh time, come and go
نتلاقا بيك .قلبي خايف
We'll meet again, my heart is afraid
ما حشمت و قلتلي الدنيا مع الواقف
You didn't respect me and told me the world is unfair
أنا اللي كنت نشهد بيك
I was the one who testified for you
نخسر الدنيا و ما نخسرك
We can lose the world, but not you
و انت الريح اللي يجي يديك
You're the wind that comes to my hand
و اليوم كرهتك و كرهت إسمك
Today I hate you and your name
درتلك الشان و قلت تستاهل
I did you a favor and you think you deserve it
و قسمت معاك الحلوة و المرة
I shared with you both the good and the bad
ماشي اللي يجي يقول أنا راجل
It's not about who claims to be a man
ماشي اللي تجي تقول أنا مرا
It's not about who claims to be a woman
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.