Khaled Write-up

Khaled Hadj Brahim (born 29 February 1960), better known as Khaled (Arabic: خالد), is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi-El-Houri in Oran Province of 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".

Early years

At the age of fourteen Khaled formed his first band, "Les Cinq Etoiles" (French for "The Five Stars"), and began playing at wedding parties and local cabarets. He recorded his first solo single, "Trigue Lycée" ("Road to High School"), at age fourteen and soon became involved with the early-1980s changes in the Raï sound, incorporating western instruments and studio techniques.

Islamic fundamentalists' threats

Algerian Islamic fundamentalists were violently opposed to raï because of its sometimes irreverent tone and the fact that raï singers freely addressed taboo (to islamists) issues like romantic love, drugs, and alcohol. Fundamentalists were infuriated when the Algerian government, in the wake of a hugely popular 1985 raï festival in Oran, officially declared it to be one of the country's native music styles. In response, fundamentalists sent death threats to some raï artists. The danger forced Khaled to move to Paris in 1986 (see 1986 in music). In 1994 these threats materialized when another Raï artist, Cheb Hasni, was murdered.

International audience

In 1992 (see 1992 in music), after dropping "Cheb" from his name, he released his self titled album Khaled, which established his reputation as a superstar in France and among maghrebian emigrants around the world. His audience has continued to expand throughout the 1990s, and he has collaborated with several hip hop artists. Khaled had achieved superstar status in France, his homeland Algeria and the Arab world. His signature song, Didi, became extremely popular in several countries, including India. However, his popularity in the US, the UK and other countries has been limited to a small but devoted cult following.

In 1999 he was joined by Rachid Taha and Faudel in a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy for a concert known as 1,2,3 Soleils which was subsequently released as a live album.

On 12th July 2008 he will appear at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall as part of the programme Liverpool: European Capital of Culture 2008

Political Lyrics

Khaled's songs feature political lyrics in favour of emancipation of women and more democracy. The lyrics to Aicha, written by the singer songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman, which was in the charts in many countries of Western Europe, are about a man's lament that his love Aïcha does not notice him, even though he offers her everything, even his life. In the end, Aïcha answers he should keep his treasure, that she's worth more and does not want to live in a cage, even a solid gold one, but equal rights and respect which form true love:

Elle a dit, garde tes trésors :She said, keep your treasures

Moi, je vaux mieux que tout ça :I'm worth more than all that

Des barreaux sont des barreaux même en or :Cages remain cages even though made of gold

Je veux les mêmes droits que toi :I want the same rights as you

Et du respect pour chaque jour :And respect for each day

Moi je ne veux que de l'amour :I don't want anything but love

Filmography

• 1997 100% Arabica
• 2003 Art'n Acte Production

Bibliography

• 1998 Khaled: Derrière le sourire

Awards

Below is a chronological list of awards won by Khaled

• 1993 Venice Film Festival 50TH - (Un, deux, trois, soleil)
• 1994 César award - best movie soundtrack
• 1995 Victoires de la Musique (Artist of the Year)
• 1997 World Music Awards (Sahra Album)
• 1997 Victoires de la Musique (Song of the year) (Aicha)
• 1999 World Music Awards (1,2,3 Soleils) shared with Rachid Taha and Faudel
• 2005 R3 Awards BBC Awards for World Music - (Mid East & North Africa Winner)
• 2005 Montreal International Jazz Festival (The Antonio Carlos-Jobim Award)
• 2005 ImagineNations and DC Internationals (Empowering Award, for spreading the message of peace)
• 2006 The Mediterranean Prize for Creativity

Trivia

• Khaled and Don Was appeared on the "The Tonight Show" on February 4, 1993.
• Khaled became very popular in Brazil in 1999 with his song "El Arbi", released 7 years before. The song was included in the soundtrack for the novela "Vila Madalena" (Globo TV Network).