Name by any other name

Through a random mention in an article about how some poor Tunisians are still living in the Star Wars set George Lucas, I came across a song that's apparently huge in the Arab world, Aicha.

It turns out there are a bunch of versions of this very interesting song (it's a woman's name, in Arabic); here are two notable ones.

Khaled version

From Wikipedia: "Khaled Hadj Brahim is an Algerian raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Oran. He was born on 29 February 1960 in Sidi-El-Houri, Algeria. He began recording in his early teens under the name Cheb Khaled (Arabic for "Young Khaled") and has become probably the most internationally famous Algerian singer. His popularity has earned him the unofficial title "King of Raï"."

This is apparently the original song. It's pretty good--there's a plaintive, timeless quality to Khaled's voice. The beat and especially the chorus is hynotic. You feel that he comes from a culture that's thousands of years old; a desert world, hints of Lawrence of Arabia and Dune. The video, of course, is totally bizarre.

Here are his lyrics, translated from the French:
As if I did not exist,
she passed me by,
Without a glance,
Queen of Saba. I said:
" Aïcha, take: all is for you."
Here the pearls, jewels,
Therefore gold around your neck,
the quite ripe fruits with the honey taste,
My life, Aïcha, if you like me.
I will go where your breath carries out us
In the ebony and ivory countries.
I will erase your tears, your sorrows.
Nothing is too beautiful for so beautiful.

Oooh! Aïcha, Aïcha, listen to me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, please do not go.
Aïcha, Aïcha, look at me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, answer me.

I will say the words of the poems.
I will play the musics of the sky.
I will take the rays of the sun to light your eyes of queen.

Oooh! Aïcha, Aïcha, listen to me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, please do not go.

It said: " Guard your treasures.
Me, I want better than all that,
Of the strong bars,
the bars even out of gold.
I want the same rights as you
And of the respect for each day.
Me, I want only love."
Aaaah! As if I did not exist,
she passed me by,
Without a glance, Queen of Sheba. I said:
" Aïcha, take: all is for you."

Aïcha, Aïcha, listen to me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, listen to me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, please do not go.
Aïcha, Aïcha, look at me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, answer me.
Lalala... lalala...


Outlandish version

From Wikipedia: "Outlandish is a Danish hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, they consist of Isam Bachiri (born in Denmark and of Moroccan background), Waqas Ali Qadri (born in Denmark and of Pakistani background), and Lenny Martinez (from Honduras). All three members are religious, with Isam and Waqas being devout Muslims, and Lenny being Catholic. The band members lived in Brøndby Strand."

Wow, they sound so interesting--and what a great name for a band. Their beautiful video, done in English, centers around a Muslim woman wearing the hijab, who teaches school to mostly blonde-haired/blue-eyes (in Denmark I assume). It intercuts scene of the group walking around; the video has a slow lyricism to it, with stark colors--lots of whites and blacks.

They might be my new favorite group; there's a depth and authenticity to the video and their story and their voices that is really what music at its best is all about. Music, photos and blogs, spread via the Web--like it or not, that's what the young of today are using to find each other and bypass the historic hatreds. Of which, were it not for their parents, they'd be ignorant of anyway--kids naturally gravitate toward each other, often as a huddle against the world adults are always trying to pull them into

Their lyrics:
All of ya'll radios out there
This song goes out to you
Yeah, Aicha, for my sister, yo

[Verse1]
So sweet, so beautiful
Everyday like a queen on her throne
Don't nobody knows how she feels
Aicha, Lady one day it'll be real

She moves, she moves like a breeze
I swear I can't get her out my dreams
To have her shining right here by my side
I'd sacrifice all the tears in my eyes

[Chorus]
Aicha Aicha - passing me by (there she goes again)
Aicha Aicha - my my my (is it really real man)
Aicha Aicha - smile for me now (i don't know i don't know)
Aicha Aicha - in my life

[Verse2]
She holds her child to her heart
Makes her feel like she is blessed from above
Falls asleep underneath her sweet tears
Her lullaby fades away with his fears(make it real)

[1/2Chorus]

[Bridge]
She needs somebody to lean on
Someone body, mind & soul
To take her hand, to take her world
And show her the time of her life, so true
Throw the pain away for good
No more contemplating boo
No more contemplating boo-o o

[Verse3]
Lord knows the way she feels
Everyday in his name she begins
To have her shining right here by my side
I'd sacrifice all the tears in my eyes
Aicha Aicha - écoutez-moi (lets do this)

[Chorus]