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A band from Toulouse, France, combining reggae, ska, rock and raï and much more. The band is led by three singers originally from Morocco. Most of their lyrics have a political content, addressing issues such as the discrimination against Arab immigrants. The band was formed in 1985 and split in 2003 and 2012
Key songs include:
Tomber la chemise (Take Off Your Shirt) - The summer hit in many European countries that propelled Zebda into the forefront.
Motivés - Their political 'anthem', with which has a political party, called 'Motivé-e-s' which ran for the city council elections of Toulouse (they got about 15%).
Le bruit et l'odeur (The noise and smell) - Probably the sharpest song written in response to French President Jacques Chirac's words that arabic immigrants make only noise, smell and don't get a job (Chirac was IN office at the time).
Albums:
L'aréne des rumeurs (1992)
Le bruit et l'odeur (1995)
Essence ordinaire (1998) - about 300 000 copies sold
Utopie d'occase (2002)
La Tawa (2003) - Live album with bonus DVD
Members:
Magyd Cherfi - vocal
Mouss et Hakim Amokrane - vocal
Pascal Cabero - guitar
Joël Saurin - bass guitar
Rémi Sanchez - keyboard
Vincent Sauvage - drums
Arabadub
Zebda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Contrôle de police aux dirty-faces, aux basanés.
Faut pas lésiner, a moi les gros nez,
A moi tous les falsificateurs d'identité.
Il n'y a plus personne!
C'est vraiment la zone !
Qui va lessiver les colorés de l'hexagone ?
Les frileux, les tâches?
A nous les malgaches !
Tous les camés !
Les couleurs pistaches !
Tous les reggaes !
Scalper les apaches,
Tout c'qui tache et les malgaches.
Et du tac au tac des matraques pour les Kanaks !
Quand vas-y je fouille ça bafouille,
Tiens! C'est un crouille!
Be bop - bô bô bô
Be bop - bô bô bô
Be bop - bô bô bô
Be bop - bô bô bô
Où est-ce que t'es né ?...
Be bop - bô bô bô...
Contrôle de police aux dirty-faces, aux basanés.
Contrôle de police aux dirty-faces, aux basanés.
A moi tous les falsificateurs d'identité.
A moi tous les falsificateurs d'identité.
Où est-ce que t'es né ?
Et qui t'as dépanné ?
La France est fanée,
Et qui va dépanner ?
Où est-ce que t'es né ?
Et qui t'as dépanné ?
La France est fanée,
Et qui va dépanner ?
A moi tous les, à moi tous les...
A moi tous les, à moi tous les...
A moi tous les, à moi tous les...
A moi tous les falsificateurs!
Be boo - bô bô bô...
The lyrics of Zebda's song Arabadub deal with issues of racial profiling, discrimination, and the sense of being marginalized that many people of color experience in France. The song begins with questions about one's place of birth and the people who helped them along the way, but quickly moves to the present reality of police checkpoints aimed at "dirty-faces" and "basanés", derogatory terms for people of North African and Middle Eastern descent, respectively. The singer of the lyrics asserts that they will not hesitate to go after those with "big noses" and those who falsify their identities. The repetition of the phrase "A moi tous les falsificateurs d'identité" (To me, all the identity falsifiers) underscores the discrimination and prejudice that exists in France against certain communities.
As the song progresses, the singer speaks of a sense of lawlessness, chaos, and fear that pervades the French society, and the frustration of those who are targeted by police. The lyrics also make reference to various communities, including Malagasies, drug users, Apache people, and Kanaks. The use of the word "tache" (stain) to describe some of these groups further underscores the attempt to dehumanize and "other" them.
Overall, Zebda's song Arabadub is a powerful critique of the social and political conditions that lead to the oppression of people of color in France. The use of repeated phrases and rhythms create a sense of urgency and frustration, while the pointed lyrics demand attention and action.
Line by Line Meaning
Où est-ce que t'es né ? Qui t'as dépanné ?
Where were you born? Who helped you?
Contrôle de police aux dirty-faces, aux basanés.
Police control for those with dirty faces and dark skin.
Faut pas lésiner, a moi les gros nez, A moi tous les falsificateurs d'identité.
Don't be stingy, give me the big-nosed, give me all the identity falsifiers.
Il n'y a plus personne! C'est vraiment la zone!
There's no one left! It's really chaotic!
Qui va lessiver les colorés de l'hexagone? Les frileux, les tâches? Qui va bouger? A nous les malgaches!
Who will wash the colored people of the hexagon? The timid, the lazy? Who will move? It's up to us Malagasy people!
Tous les camés! Les couleurs pistaches! Tous les reggaes! Scalper les apaches, Tout c'qui tache et les malgaches.
All the junkies! The shades of green! All the reggae! Scalp the Apaches, everything that stains and Malagasy people.
Et du tac au tac des matraques pour les Kanaks! Quand vas-y je fouille ça bafouille, Tiens! C'est un crouille!
And back-and-forth batons for the Kanaks! When I search, they mumble, Look! It's a thief!
Be bop - bô bô bô Be bop - bô bô bô Be bop - bô bô bô Be bop - bô bô bô
Sound effect lyrics: Be bop - bô bô bô
La France est fanée, Et qui va dépanner? A moi tous les, à moi tous les... A moi tous les falsificateurs!
France is faded, and who's going to help? Give me all, give me all... Give me all the identity falsifiers!
Be boo - bô bô bô...
Sound effect lyrics: Be boo - bô bô bô...
Contributed by William B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.