Rachid Taha

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Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه) (born 1958) is a French-Algerian musician. His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, techno, and raï.

Taha was born in Oran, Algeria. His father was a factory worker. Taha’s family immigrated to France in 1968.

While working in a heating appliance factory in the late 1970s, Taha founded Les Refoulés (“The Rejects”), a nightclub where he would spin mashups of Arabic pop classics over Led Zeppelin, Bo Diddley, and Kraftwerk backbeats.

Based in Paris where he began his solo career after his beginnings as the leader of the French rock band Carte De Séjour, he usually sings in Arabic. In 1981, while living in Lyon, Taha met Mohammed and Mokhtar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band “Carte De séjour” (green card) and record their first maxi Album “Carte De Séjour” in 1983. Their first LP Rhoromanie, came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled Ramsa (Five) was released in 1986 and included their famous and ironic cover of Douce France, originally sung by Charles Trenet. The band dissolved in 1989.

His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwân, featuring remakes of songs for the Algerian and Arab traditions. His album Tékitoi, produced by Steve Hillage and released in 2004, also brought him great acclaim and recognition from other rock musicians. In 2005 he performed with Robert Plant, Patti Smith and Brian Eno.

He covered The Clash song “Rock the Casbah” (in Arabic, as “Rock El Casbah”), which appeared in the 2007 film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer, “The Future Is Unwritten”.

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  • Berrieworld

    ♥ Zoom ♥

    6 May 8:06pm Reply
  • louise61

    La 13ème édition du Festival Papillons de Nuit aura lieu les 17, 18 et 19 mai 2013 à Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves. Le festival a dévoilé sa programmation depuis le 19 mars 2013, rendez-vous sur le site Internet du festival pour la découvrir ! En treize ans, plus de 500 000 personnes ont foulé les terres de Saint-Laurent-de-Cuves, un charmant village de 500 âmes. Un chamboulement annuel qui n’est pas pour déplaire aux 1 200 bénévoles qui s’impliquent chaque année pour que le festival se déroule bien ! La billetterie est ouverte ! 33 € la place journée, 71 € le forfait 3 jours. Toutes les informations sur www.papillonsdenuit.com.

    20 Mar 2:10pm Reply
  • zoraxx

    ما شاء الله, ما شاء الله

    10 Jan 2:47am Reply
  • genitivodeautor

    muy bueno

    30 Nov 2012 Reply
  • adabOOja

    (K)

    4 Aug 2012 Reply
  • maryfreedom

    barra barra ^^

    11 Mar 2012 Reply
  • maryfreedom

    ya rayah <3

    17 Nov 2011 Reply
  • rinistiltskin

    T'es qui toi, t'es qui moi? T'es pas qui, t'es pas quoi!

    14 Nov 2011 Reply
  • yash89

    Tekitoi album- the definite soundtrack to the Arab Spring I highly recommend Safi on the album - let me translate the lyrics: The oppression is great. The government has gagged the people. Our culture is a one party state. No Law. No respect. BUT MY HEART IS PURE!!!!!!

    13 Nov 2011 Reply
  • yash89

    13 years on and I am still listening to the masterpiece of his: Diwan. Truly an album that will last a lifetime We now need Diwan 3 man!!!!!!!

    10 Oct 2011 Reply
  • aktifistanbul

    Diwan Rachid Taha - Nomads İstanbul. Detaylı Blgi İçin...aktifistanbul.com

    29 Sep 2011 Reply
  • maryfreedom

    ya rayah *__* <3

    30 Aug 2011 Reply
  • DeeKDee

    <333

    28 Aug 2011 Reply
  • IAmPhillCollins

    Fuck yeah, shit is aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesome

    24 Aug 2011 Reply
  • jahpot

    Trancy!

    3 Apr 2011 Reply
  • Nicolas_R

    ♥ Ya rayah!! [2]

    15 Mar 2011 Reply
  • Zer0_II

    Can any of you recommend music from Tunisia which would be suitable for paying tribute to the revolutionaries and their accomplishments? If so, please leave a comment in my shoutbox, or send me a personal message. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

    9 Feb 2011 Reply
  • Mitya

    Great stuff, and much more than Barra Barra and Rock El Casbah

    20 Jan 2011 Reply
  • Dana218

    hot song hot guy ~

    8 Jan 2011 Reply
  • unx-blythe

    My fav <3

    6 Dec 2010 Reply
  • All 88 shouts

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