Algerian Music Question

[doodlebugg 10]

Ok I hope this doesn't end up bad and I mean no disrespect to anyone on here. Let me preface by stating that often times my husband will get a word or two mixed up so maybe what he's saying isn't really what he means, you know?

That being said, one of his friends here is Algerian and gave him a cd to listen to. I forget the name of the kind of music it is but it's actually very cool and I like it, which is odd for me since I don't care much for the music he likes aside from Unforgiven by Metallica . Anyhoo he told me he has no clue what the guy, Didi (i think that's his name) is saying because it's in a different language. I asked what language and he said "barbarian". I was like, "do you mean bedoin?" and he said no this is different they are barbarian and live in the desert but they are not bedoin.

Anybody? I'm just curious since I like it. Not gonna learn the lingo or anything since I'm just not into learning anything these days but again, just curious.

Hope everyone is doing well and hope that the embassies get those visas out to all who are waiting!

Edited November 4, 2009 by doodlebugg

[Tunisia216 2]

This may not be any help to you at all but so much of the Algerian music I have heard is so strongly French. Is the music Rai? It could be that it's a mixture of Algerian-Arabic dialect and French and that may explain why your husband doesn't understand. There is also the old Algerian Arabic which I think is called kaabyle and I do believe it is a left over Berber language - which again I don't think anyone who is not Algerian would understand this dialect. You might try google if you knew the artist? Perhaps there are some translations out there or just explanations. I hope that you find what you're looking for!

[Malarie 0]

Ok I hope this doesn't end up bad and I mean no disrespect to anyone on here. Let me preface by stating that often times my husband will get a word or two mixed up so maybe what he's saying isn't really what he means, you know?

That being said, one of his friends here is Algerian and gave him a cd to listen to. I forget the name of the kind of music it is but it's actually very cool and I like it, which is odd for me since I don't care much for the music he likes aside from Unforgiven by Metallica . Anyhoo he told me he has no clue what the guy, Didi (i think that's his name) is saying because it's in a different language. I asked what language and he said "barbarian". I was like, "do you mean bedoin?" and he said no this is different they are barbarian and live in the desert but they are not bedoin.

Anybody? I'm just curious since I like it. Not gonna learn the lingo or anything since I'm just not into learning anything these days but again, just curious.

Hope everyone is doing well and hope that the embassies get those visas out to all who are waiting!

Doodle -- I think he means to say Berber?

Not sure though.....

Malarie

[New Beginnings 32]

Maybe he was calling it Berberian or something relating to Berbers... Was he sure of what Bedoin meant?

[Tunisia216 2]

http://forum.e-dz.com/index.php?showforum=55

Maybe try posting your question there

[caybee 21]

Ok I hope this doesn't end up bad and I mean no disrespect to anyone on here. Let me preface by stating that often times my husband will get a word or two mixed up so maybe what he's saying isn't really what he means, you know?

That being said, one of his friends here is Algerian and gave him a cd to listen to. I forget the name of the kind of music it is but it's actually very cool and I like it, which is odd for me since I don't care much for the music he likes aside from Unforgiven by Metallica . Anyhoo he told me he has no clue what the guy, Didi (i think that's his name) is saying because it's in a different language. I asked what language and he said "barbarian". I was like, "do you mean bedoin?" and he said no this is different they are barbarian and live in the desert but they are not bedoin.

Anybody? I'm just curious since I like it. Not gonna learn the lingo or anything since I'm just not into learning anything these days but again, just curious.

Hope everyone is doing well and hope that the embassies get those visas out to all who are waiting!

The music style could be rai. There is a famous Algerian rai singer named Khaled (or Cheb Khaled, but he's pretty much dropped the Cheb part now), and "Didi" is the name of one of his songs. He would probably be singing in an Algerian dialect of Arabic; my understanding is that Algerian and Moroccan Arabic are similar, but an Egyptian might not understand it. There's lots of Khaled's stuff on YouTube, including that song, so you could give it a listen and see if it's the same thing you heard. My husband adores rai, as do many Moroccans, so if that's the style, I'll get some more recommendations for you.

It could also be an entirely different style and a different singer. If the singer is Amazigh (not Arab) he could be singing in a Berber dialect (maybe Taqbaylit in Algeria?), in which case an Arabic speaker wouldn't understand any of it.

I don't know of an Algerian singer named Didi, but I'll ask my husband if he does.

Just going by my very limited knowledge -- apologies if I butchered the explanation!

[caybee 21]

Wow, I'm slow to type! I think the posters above me nailed it

[Tunisia216 2]

Good explanation! Tunisians love it too and do understand a lot of the Algerian dialect. My husband is from a town that's almost in Algeria lol

Is this it ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEGDMP0BP8g

Edited November 4, 2009 by Ash * Habibati

[Y's_habibitk 2]

I love it..."barbarian"

I get this pic in my head of Conan singing and dancing

I dont much about it but my first reaction was that it was probably berber, some others seem to have thought the same.

I still like the idea of Conan the Barbarian singing with drums in the background......

[Tunisia216 2]

I love it..."barbarian"

I get this pic in my head of Conan singing and dancing

I dont much about it but my first reaction was that it was probably berber, some others seem to have thought the same.

I still like the idea of Conan the Barbarian singing with drums in the background......

:rofl: I'm cracking up here!

I'm just wondering if it is the song didi by cheb khaled- it was sooo popular when it came out and I don't think there was any arab in the world not singing it - even if they didn't fully understand the words lol I think it was early 90's and the video and sounded always made me think like Algerian Fresh Prince of Belair lol

Found this too *if* this is the song you're talking about :

Didi l Zine

(literally means: give your beauty) Show me your beauty.

ma ndeerik ba'eeda ma nebki aalik

ma ndeerik ba'eeda ma nsaksi aalik

(I won't keep you away from me so I don't ask about you later)

la baadouk aali l'jbal l'ghamاqa

(even if they take you away to the top of the highest mountain)

ena bhar aaliya ou entia la أنا بحر عليا وانتي لا

(I'm burning in the fires of love and you're not)

ma ndeerik ba'eeda ma nebki aalik

(I won't let you away from me so I wouldn't "cry on you" regret it later. In other words, I'll keep u close to me)

la zhar la memoon la aargoob zine

(I have a bad luck) Zhar = Luck

Edited November 4, 2009 by Ash * Habibati

[caybee 21]

If it is rai, Kat/Hanging In There could probably give you a lot of information if she's still around. I think she said she spent a lot of time in that scene.

[doodlebugg 10]

Good explanation! Tunisians love it too and do understand a lot of the Algerian dialect. My husband is from a town that's almost in Algeria lol

Is this it ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEGDMP0BP8g

I can't go on youtube here anymore so I'll check it tonight. The name of the song was "Didi" I guess and it was that Cheb dude. I like that song but he still didn't know what he was saying.

I love it..."barbarian"

I get this pic in my head of Conan singing and dancing

I dont much about it but my first reaction was that it was probably berber, some others seem to have thought the same.

I still like the idea of Conan the Barbarian singing with drums in the background......

omg that is totally what I was picturing when he said it and I was like, hmmmm...I wonder if that's where the word barbarian comes from, though the berbers that I know of are pretty decent people. (i'm sure barbarians are great too though I picture all kinds of violence when I think of them )

See he was saying Berber. This happens in our house a LOT!!!! Fights have occurred because of just this type of thing, though luckily they don't last more than 1/2 hour since that's about how long it normally takes us to figure out what he's trying to convey. Don't get me wrong, his english is fantastic, its that thick Egyptian accent that gets us confuzzled but I love him like crazy anyways.

If it is rai, Kat/Hanging In There could probably give you a lot of information if she's still around. I think she said she spent a lot of time in that scene.

j/k I just wanted a quick and dirty answer so I'm good.

Edited November 4, 2009 by doodlebugg

[caybee 21]

If you like Metallica, you might like this Algerian:

[jpaula 20]

There is some debate over this, but it is oft theorized that the word "Berber" is derived from the Roman word barbarian (which in turn, I think, came from the Greeks to denote anyone who was not Greek). So, your husband may be on to something.

Don't tell the Algerians, but I think rai is overrated. The best Berber music? Tinariwen. Love them.

[Tunisia216 2]

I posted some of the lyrics for the song - it's basically just a repeat but if you want I'll dig and see if I could get all of them somewhere.

Also if you like that type of music you might (like I said might) like Tunisian mezoued. Which is a traditional Tunisian form of music. Probably the most popular mezeoud singer is Samir Loussif.