Rachid Taha

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Rachid Taha
Taha during a photo shoot in Paris, France in 2006.
Taha during a photo shoot in Paris, France in 2006.
Background information
Born September 18, 1958 (1958-09-18) (age 49)
Origin Oran, Algeria
Genre(s) Raï, rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Years active 1983–present
Website RachidTaha.artistes.universalmusic.fr/

Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه) (born 1958 in Oran, Algeria) is an Algerian-French musician. His music is influenced by many different styles such as raï, techno, rock and punk. Based in Paris, France 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. Taha moved from Algeria to Alsace and then Vosges, France, where his father had already emigrated, in 1970. In 1981, while living in Lyon, France, Taha met Mohammed and Moktar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band Carte de séjour ("residence permit") and record their first maxi single Carte de Séjour in 1983. Their first LP Rhoromanie, came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled Deux et Demi was released in 1986 and included their famous and ironic cover of Douce France, originally sung by Charles Trenet. The band dissolved in 1989.

Politically-engaged, he has always stood up to defend democracy, tolerance and altruism against racism, fundamentalism and discrimination. His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwan, featuring remakes of songs for the Maghrebi 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.

Some critics attribute Taha's unique sound to his use of the mandolute, a mixture of the traditional oud with European fretted instruments.

The song Barra Barra from his album Made in Medina was featured in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.

[edit] Discography

[edit] References

  • Moreira, Paul (1987). Rock métis en France, Souffles.
  • Caubet, Dominique, Les Mots du Bled, L'Harmattan.

[edit] External links

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