Souad Massi (Kabyle: Suɛad Masi, Arabic: سعاد ماسي) (born 23rd August 1972)… Read Full Bio ↴Souad Massi (Kabyle: Suɛad Masi, Arabic: سعاد ماسي) (born 23rd August 1972), is an Algerian of Kabyle descent, singer, songwriter and guitarist. She began her career performing in the Algerian political rock band Atakor, before leaving the country following a series of death threats. In 1999, Massi performed at the Femmes d'Algerie concert in Paris, which led to a recording contract with Island Records.

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/

Moudja
Souad Massi Lyrics

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موجة جيب موجة موجة و انا حبيبي ما جا
وحدي فوق الرمل الرمل غير فيك نتخايل
نتفكر في ليام لي جازت كي لغيام
and now here we are it's like talking to the stars
وحدي تحت الشمس الشمس غير عليك نحوس نتفكر في ليام لي جازت كي لغيام
and now here we are it's like talking to the stars

Overall Meaning

The song "Moudja" by Souad Massi is a poignant ballad that speaks of longing and unfulfilled love. The lyrics convey a sense of isolation and disconnection as the singer longs for a love that appears out of reach. The repetition of "Mouja, jib mouja" (wave, bring a wave) conveys a sense of yearning and desperation, as if the singer is calling out to the ocean to bring their love to them.

The opening lines "mouja jib mouja, mouja wa ana habibi ma ja" (wave, bring a wave, and my beloved has not come) set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is waiting for their beloved and is surrounded by the vast expanse of sand, imagining being with their love. The line "ghir fik netkha'il" (I imagine nothing but you) highlights the intensity of the singer's longing.

The second verse speaks of being alone under the sun and searching for their love. The line "ghir aalik nahwass" (I only search for you) reinforces the singular obsession with the missing beloved. The chorus repeats the idea that despite being alone, the singer is speaking to their love as if they were stars. This serves to reinforce the sense of distance and isolation, while also emphasizing the strength of the connection between the two people.

Overall, the lyrics of "Moudja" are a beautiful and haunting portrayal of unfulfilled longing and the power of love to transcend distance and isolation.

Line by Line Meaning

موجة جيب موجة موجة و انا حبيبي ما جا
Waves keep coming and going, but my love hasn't arrived yet.

وحدي فوق الرمل الرمل غير فيك نتخايل
Alone on the sand, imagining everything except you.

نتفكر في ليام لي جازت كي لغيام
Thinking of a world that's passed and gone.

and now here we are it's like talking to the stars
Finally together, yet it feels like we're speaking to the unreachable stars.

وحدي تحت الشمس الشمس غير عليك نحوس
Alone under the sun, searching for you.

نتفكر في ليام لي جازت كي لغيام
Thinking of a world that's passed and gone.

and now here we are it's like talking to the stars
Finally together, yet it feels like we're speaking to the unreachable stars.

Contributed by Liliana B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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