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/
Talit El Bir
Souad Massi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ابكيت على زهري و تمحنت كثير
نومي قليل و نبات معذبة
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
طليت على البير ياك
طليت على البير طليت على البير
قولتلو بوه قالي بوهين
مع الفجر مغبونة و تلفلي التدبير
خاطيني الكدب و الغش و الغدر
و نصبح على وجوه الخير
طليت على البير ياك
طليت على البير
قلتلو بوه قالي بوهين
وقتاش اطل الشمس الغايبة
ابكيت على زهري و تمحنت كثير
نومي قليل و نبات معذبة
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
طليت على البير ياك
طليت على البير
طليت على البير قولتلو بوه قالي بوهين
The lyrics to Souad Massi's song Talit El Bir speak of a sadness and struggle that the singer is experiencing. The first verse describes how she cries for her flowers when the sun sets, and how difficult it is for her to sleep and wake up in the morning. The second verse speaks of betrayal and deception that she has experienced, and how it has left her confused and unsure of who to trust. The chorus repeats the line "Talit El Bir," which translates to "I went to the well," and the line "Qultlo boh qali bohien," which means "I asked him and he said, 'yes.'"
The use of the well metaphor in the chorus can be interpreted as the singer seeking clarity and answers to her struggles. The repetition of the line "Qultlo boh qali bohien" indicates her desperation to find someone who can provide her with answers and direction.
Line by Line Meaning
وقتاش اطل الشمس الغايبة
When the absent sun rises
ابكيت على زهري و تمحنت كثير
I wept for my flowers and suffered greatly
نومي قليل و نبات معذبة
Little sleep and tortured rest
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
What we say about my worries confuses him
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
What we say about my worries confuses him
طليت على البير ياك
I went to the well
طليت على البير طليت على البير
I went to the well, I went to the well
قولتلو بوه قالي بوهين
I said to him "father", he replied with "my daughter"
واقفة ف عتبة الباب
Standing at the door's threshold
مع الفجر مغبونة و تلفلي التدبير
With the dawn, cheated and disoriented
خاطيني الكدب و الغش و الغدر
Lies, deceit, and betrayal plagued me
و نصبح على وجوه الخير
And we wake up with a smile of goodness
طليت على البير ياك
I went to the well
طليت على البير
I went to the well
قلتلو بوه قالي بوهين
I said to him "father", he replied with "my daughter"
وقتاش اطل الشمس الغايبة
When the absent sun rises
ابكيت على زهري و تمحنت كثير
I wept for my flowers and suffered greatly
نومي قليل و نبات معذبة
Little sleep and tortured rest
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
What we say about my worries confuses him
و اللي نحكيلو على همي يحير
What we say about my worries confuses him
طليت على البير ياك
I went to the well
طليت على البير
I went to the well
طليت على البير قولتلو بوه قالي بوهين
I went to the well, I said to him "father", he replied with "my daughter"
Writer(s): BENDJAEL SOUAD
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marocchinovero4077
الله الله على الفن الراقي.غناء سعاد ماسي يخليك تغمض عينيك و تسافر في مجرات الكون.مغربي مر من هنا 🇩🇿🇮🇹🇲🇦✌
@evaozlam6537
روعة لانها كلمات من القلب
@7.62x51
Au début, j'oublie le nom de cette merveilleuse chanson, puis cela me vient à l'esprit et je le cherche et le retrouve. Je suis à nouveau heureux. Nous avons une relation tellement étrange! تحية لشعب هذا البلد الجميل الذي يقرأ الحروف الهجائية ويتحدث لغتين.
@kareemdastan8989
انا مغربي بنسبا ليا سعاد ماسي افضل مغنية في العالم العربي، اعشق هذه المغنية
@siphaxshached6452
سعاد ماسي جزائرية افريقية لا علاقة لها بعالمك العربي
@Erunen007
@@siphaxshached6452اولا هو أعطاها قيمة في وصفه، تاني شيي بعضكم انتم الجزائريين تعاليقكم تحسها agressif ماعندكمش ثقافة la gentillesse.
@yassinefarouk8582
Du maroc..L'Algérie c'est tout simplement l'art et la beauté
@sousouam8708
أغنية أستطيع أن أشم عبرها رائحة شوارع الجزاير و هواها النقي 🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿♥️
@faridfarid2146
الخلوي الدزيري لا أكثر ولا قليل...
@abdouabdou-mh6hn
لن أرحل عن وطني بعيدا حتي لأبكي عليه وعلي شمسه وهواه واحبابي واهلي و اصدقائي ساصبر لأنك وطن تستاهل التضحية