Rachid Taha

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rachid Taha

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Img_capt = Rachid during a photoshoot in Paris, France in 2007.
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date|1958|09|18
Origin = Oran, Algeria
Instrument =
Genre = Rock, Raï
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter
Years_active = 1983-2008
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://rachidtaha.artistes.universalmusic.fr/ RachidTaha.Artistes.UniversalMusic.Fr/]
Notable_instruments =

Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه) (born 1958 in Oran, Algeria) is an French-Algerian musician. His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, techno and raï.

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. In 1981, while living in Lyon, France, Taha met Mohammed and Mokhtar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band "Carte De séjour" (Green Card) and record their first maxi Album "Carte De Séjour" in 1983. Their first LP "Rhoromanie", came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled "Ramsa" (Five) 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 and discrimination. His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwân, featuring remakes of songs for the Algerian 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, .

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 as well as in the Games Convention 2008 trailer of the game Far Cry 2.

Discography

With "Carte De Séjour":
* 1983 "Carte De Séjour"
* 1984 "Bleu De Marseille"
* 1984 "Rhorhomanie"
* 1986 "Douce France"
* 1986 "2½ (Deux Et Demi)"
* 1987 "Ramsa"
* 1987 "Ramsa (Cinq)"Solo:
* 1991 "Barbès"
* 1993 "Rachid Taha"
* 1993 "Voilà, Voilà" (Single)
* 1995 " [Olé, Olé|Olé, Olé [Mango] "
* 1996 " [Olé, Olé|Olé, Olé [Barclay] "
* 1997 "Carte Blanche"
* 1998 "Diwân"
* 1999 "1,2,3 Soleils" (live album with Khaled and Faudel)
* 2000 "Made In Medina"
* 2001 "Live" (live album)
* 2001 "Barra, Barra" (Single)
* 2004 "Tékitoi"
* 2006 "Écoute Moi Camarade" (Single)
* 2006 "Diwân 2"
* 2007 "The Definitive Collection"

References

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

External links

* [http://rachidtaha.artistes.universalmusic.fr/ Rachid Taha Official Site]
* [http://www.wrasserecords.com www.wrasserecords.com] – record label for Rachid.
* [http://www.3arabiaphoto.com/singers/rachid_taha.html Rachid Taha Bio, Pictures and Photos]
* [http://www.fly.co.uk/fly/archives/africamiddle_east_reviews/rachid_taha_diwn_2.html Read an album review of Diwan 2 by Rachid Taha at Fly]
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=24599 Read an album review of Diwân 2 at Allaboutjazz.com]
* [http://www.tahafanblog.blogspot.com Rachid Taha Fan blog: news, pictures, community]
* [http://www.pierre-jean.net/live/set.php?id=72157602369170825&title=Rachid+Taha Photos de Rachid Taha par Pierre-jean G.]
*fr icon [http://beurgeoisie.fr La Beurgeoisie] The French website for successful "Beurs".