The Kabyle are a musical people with a love of music and poetry. The culture is an oral one and depended on song to transmit ideas and the culture. This is still evident today even though more Kabyle can read and write their own language.
Takfarinas – or Tak as his fans often call him – comes from a long line of musicians and showed his future innovative skills with musical instruments when aged only six years old he made a guitar using an oil cylinder and brake cable. As a youngster, Takfarinas was interested in the music of artists like Chaâbi, M' Hamed El Anka, Sheik El Hasnaoui and Slimane Azem.
In 1976, he recorded his first music on cassettes in Algiers, but his position as a singer and musician was strengthened when he recorded his first album in France in 1979. In 1981, he formed the group Agraw with Boujema Semaouni that lasted for many years. He released Wa i telha and Arrach both in 1986, selling a million copies. In 1989, he released Irgazen and Mi d ih, a double CD, and this brought him international recognition. In 1994, he released another album Yebb’a rremman which did well in the European charts.
But it is with his album Zaâma Zaâma and the title song from the album that he achieved his biggest recognition. It remains a world music favorite in clubs and in touristic resorts where the dance tune is popular with accompanying synchronized dance moves.
Takfarinas changed musical direction with his album Paix et salut which was in homage to the Algerian artists who were victims of the repression. Then in 2004, he released his latest album Honneur aux dames.
Soleil
Takfarinas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'aimerais partir d'ici partir d′ici avant de sombrer
J′aimerais partir d'ici partir d′ici loin de la cité
J'aimerais partir d′ici partir d'ici mais mon cœur y est
J′aimerais partir d'ici partir d'ici loin de la jetée
J′aimerais partir d′ici partir d'ici avant de sombrer
Mais mon cœur y est alors pour le moment je regarde
J′aimerais partir d'ici loin de la jetée
Avant de sombrer mais pour l′instant je m'attarde
Rien n'est calme ici
Au petit pays
On fait tous comme si au paysage désolé
On s′y retrouver
Soleil, soleil, soleil sort de l′ombre
Soleil, soleil, soleil vient au monde
Soleil, soleil, soleil ou je tombe oui ou je tombe
J'aimerais partir d′ici loin de la cité
Mais mon cœur y est alors pour le moment je regarde
J'aimerais partir loin d′ici de la jetée
Avant de sombrer mais pour l'instant je m′attarde
Rien ne m'attend ici, disait notre vie
On fait tous comme si on caressait des projets
Seulement on rêvait
Soleil, soleil, soleil sort de l'ombre
Soleil, soleil, soleil vient au monde
Soleil, soleil, soleil ou je tombe oui ou je tombe
J′aimerais partir d′ici loin de la cité, je me hasarde
J'aimerais partir d′ici mais mon cœur y est, je bavarde
Rien ne bouge ici
Même pas notre ennui
On fait tous comme si la lune était enchantée de nous éclairer
Soleil, soleil, soleil sort de l'ombre
Soleil, soleil, soleil vient au monde
Soleil, soleil, soleil ou je tombe oui ou je tombe
Rien n′est calme ici rien n'est calme ici paysage désolé
Ou se retrouver ou se retrouver ou se retrouver...
Soleil, soleil, soleil sort de l′ombre
Soleil, soleil, soleil vient au monde
Soleil, soleil, soleil ou je tombe oui ou je tombe
The song "Soleil" by Takfarinas follows a theme of the singer longing to escape their current situation and environment, but finding it difficult because their heart remains attached to it. The repeated phrase "J′aimerais partir d'ici" (I would like to leave here) emphasizes this desire to escape, while "mais mon coeur y est" (but my heart is there) shows the emotional pull keeping the singer rooted.
The opening lines mention the "jetée" (pier) and "cité" (city), suggesting an urban location, while later lyrics reference a "petit pays" (small country) and "paysage désolé" (desolate landscape). This contrast could imply a feeling of being trapped in an unsatisfactory city life while yearning for a simpler, more natural existence. The repeated refrain of "Soleil, soleil, soleil" (Sun, sun, sun) adds a hopeful, uplifting element to the song, as if the singer sees the possibility of a brighter future outside of their current situation.
Overall, "Soleil" expresses a universal feeling of wanting to break free from what holds us back, while acknowledging the emotional complexity of leaving behind a place we still care about deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
J′aimerais partir d'ici partir d′ici loin de la jetée
The singer wishes to leave this place, far away from the pier.
J'aimerais partir d'ici partir d′ici avant de sombrer
The singer wants to leave before he sinks into despair.
J′aimerais partir d'ici partir d′ici loin de la cité
The singer yearns to leave the city and go somewhere else.
J'aimerais partir d′ici partir d'ici mais mon cœur y est
Although he wants to leave, the singer's heart is still attached to this place.
Mais mon cœur y est alors pour le moment je regarde
The singer is staying for now because his heart is still here, but he is watching and considering leaving.
Avant de sombrer mais pour l′instant je m'attarde
He wants to leave before he falls apart, but for the moment he is lingering.
Rien n'est calme ici
There is nothing peaceful about this place.
Au petit pays
In this small land.
On fait tous comme si au paysage désolé
Everyone acts as if they are content with the barren landscape.
On s′y retrouver
They all find comfort in it.
Soleil, soleil, soleil sort de l′ombre
The sun is emerging from the shadows.
Soleil, soleil, soleil vient au monde
The sun is being born anew.
Soleil, soleil, soleil ou je tombe oui ou je tombe
The sun has the power to either lift him up or drag him down.
J'aimerais partir loin d′ici de la jetée
The singer desires to leave far away from the pier.
Rien ne m'attend ici, disait notre vie
The singer feels like nothing awaits him here, and that seems to be the theme of his life so far.
On fait tous comme si on caressait des projets
Everyone is pretending to have plans for the future.
Seulement on rêvait
But those plans were just dreams.
J′aimerais partir d′ici loin de la cité, je me hasarde
The singer is willing to risk leaving the city behind.
J'aimerais partir d′ici mais mon cœur y est, je bavarde
Although he is talking about leaving, his heart still belongs here and he is having a hard time letting go.
Rien ne bouge ici
Nothing changes in this place.
Même pas notre ennui
Not even their boredom.
On fait tous comme si la lune était enchantée de nous éclairer
Everyone is pretending that the moon is shining just for them.
Rien n′est calme ici rien n'est calme ici paysage désolé
This bleak landscape is not peaceful.
Ou se retrouver ou se retrouver ou se retrouver...
So they all try to find comfort in it.
Writer(s): Zermani Hacene, Hallaf Hocine
Contributed by Brody I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.