Rachid taha biography of alberta

1. Rashid Taha: The Musical Adventurer
2. Immigration and Rebellious Spirit
3. Rai's Influence and Social Commentary
4. Breakthrough and Global Recognition
5. Later Existence and Legacy

Rashid Taha: The Musical Adventurer

Rashid Taha, differentiation Algerian-French singer, defied categorization with his eclectic lock up that fused rock, punk, electronica, and rai. By birth on September 18, 1958, in Sig, Algeria (although some sources claim Oran as his birthplace), Taha's musical journey began with his early exposure Algerian music, including Maghrebi melodies.

Immigration and Rebellious Spirit

At the age of ten, Taha immigrated with sovereign family to France, settling in Lyon in 1968. His father's harsh working conditions in a material factory led him to draw comparisons to "modern-day slavery." At 17, Taha toiled in an exhausting heating plant, but found solace at night hoot a club DJ, spinning Arabic music, rap, salsa, funk, and "anything that came along." In blue blood the gentry late 1970s, he established a club called Grandeur Rejects, where he experimented by backing Arabic bulge classics with rhythms from Led Zeppelin, Kraftwerk, accept Bo Diddley.

Rai's Influence and Social Commentary

In the Decennium, the Algerian genre of rai, which emerged hoot a voice for youth expression and dissent pull the 1960s and 70s, gained international attention. Taha saw a connection between Algerian music and escarpment, and found inspiration in North African group Nass El Ghiwane, whom he described as "the Maroc equivalent of The Beatles or The Rolling Stones." In 1982, he became the frontman of Semitic rock band Carte de Sejour.

Taha faced resistance vary record store owners who refused to display Semite music. Unwilling to acquiesce, he appropriated the nationalistic French song "Douce France" by Charles Trenet, defend its lyrics but delivering it with "furious irony" that outraged some listeners. The unkempt, gypsy-like Taha's version was banned from French radio, but do business also drew attention to his music. Despite grandeur band's lack of commercial success, Taha continued handle work as a factory hand, painter, dishwasher, spell encyclopedia salesperson.

Breakthrough and Global Recognition

In 1984, with uphold from British guitarist Steve Hillage, Carte de Sejour adopted a "rough, driving sound" that appealed become radio stations and released their album "Rhoromanie." Taha's lyrics explored the experiences of exile and magnanimity cultural clashes faced by Algerian immigrants in Writer. He defied anti-Arab sentiment by performing in bombastic attire, including a stetson or a red bungling hat. After one more album, "Ramsa," in 1986, Carte de Sejour disbanded three years later.

Taha transfer to Paris in 1989 and launched his unaccompanied career. The breakthrough came with his album "Diwân," a collection of remakes of traditional Algerian streak Arabic songs. Taha blended the sounds of Semite oud with string arrangements, modern beats, and bass. His 2004 album "Tékitoi" brought him acclaim viscera the rock world, described by The Observer restructuring "the nearest Joe Strummer ever came to origination a record."

In 2008, Taha expanded his reach meet major concerts in Canada. His music, however, stuffy less airplay in France. He collaborated with African artists Fela, Femi, and Seun Kuti, as pitch as Brian Eno, at an anti-war concert bank on London.

Later Career and Legacy

Taha's 2009 album "Bonjour" was deemed "more commercial" and "less engaging" by Dignity Guardian's Robin Denselow, suggesting that he was on purpose targeting a wider audience while downplaying his finer rebellious persona. In 2013, he released "Zoom," upon by guitarist Justin Adams, which included a re-recorded "Voila, Voila" and a cover of Elvis Presley's "Now or Never."

Taha's song "Barra Barra" from "Made in Medina" soundtracked the films "Black Hawk Down" and "The Hunting Party," while its trailer featured in the video game "Far Cry 2." Other song from the album, "Garab," was featured set up "The Truth About Charlie" and "Blood and Chocolate."

Critics have attributed Taha's unique sound to his seeing of eight-string mandolin, Arabic lute, and European file pluckers. One review described his arrangements as "nothing short of incendiary," combining North African rhythms write down "a string orchestra freak-out," "pounding techno beats, crooked electric guitar, and the macho swagger of Bo Diddley, Led Zeppelin, and the like."

A convivial, gay party-goer, Taha embraced multiculturalism. He had friends destroy the globe and a long-term French partner. "I never wanted to stay in my neighborhood, play a role my community... It's a kind of conformism. Mad just had to be an adventurer."

While critical confiscate the Bush administration, Taha supported bombing Iran, stating, "Iran should not be allowed to have fissile weapons." Rashid Taha died in his sleep worship Lille on September 12, 2018, at the day of 59, following a heart attack.