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Intro:
The City of Raï, in 2001.
This was my first time in Paris. For a long time, Paris was not a destination
I was interested in for some reason. I was also quite intimidated by the
language, which I was unable to pronounce.
But I concluded
I simply must go to Paris, realizing it's the hottest place for African
music including Rai. It's a pop-music originates in Oran, Algeria: one
of the styles of music I've been a big fan of for nearly a decade. Because
of the large migration of Maghreb population, France produces many Rai.
And a perfect
occasion came: Faudel, "little
prince of Rai", was giving a concert there. Faudel, who debuted in
'97, is the biggest young Rai artist to come out of France in recent years.
I got totally knocked out and fell in love with him when I first heard
him in '99. His voice (...AND his
looks!!!) is amazing.
After 3 months
of anxiety and returned mail and cofusion, I finally got a ticket to the
concert that I bought over the internet.
Everything
was set, hotel reserved, smooth flight, smooth trip from airport to the
hotel...: so I knew something must have gone wrong. And the next day I
was there, I passed by the concert hall I was going to see Faudel, and
found out the concert got postponed. Faudel, only if you knew that I came
to Paris just to see you all the way across the ocean.
On top of
that, I got sick and on the bed half of the trip. But it was still worth
it, naturally. Contrary
to my idea, Paris was an open + easy going city. I walked around so much
and enjoyed seeing all kinds of people and also really enjoyed watching
how people dressed. And of course everything tasted so good...
I didn't
go to Louvre or Bhudda Bar or shop at Luis Vitton: instead, i had great
time browsing through music stores in Barbes, buying many hard-to-get
(in US) North African music. What a nerd. (and, ok, I did buy a lot of
clothes from small boutiques.)
So, here
you go, check out some images from Paris...
 SNAP
SHOTS: To share a small piece of Paris with you.
ALBUM
COVERS: To brag all the great music I got in Paris.
Selected
Related Sites
Most
of these sites are ones that provides Real Audio, so you can listen to
what I'm talking about. ( These links open up another brower window.)
• Radio
Casablanca:
The very exciting Radio Casablanca site. This site has excellent Real
Audio library of all the Maghrebi (and Middle Eastern) music. Go to "Sound
Bank" section to check out Rai, Chaabi and Gnawa etc. Fresh hits can be
heard at "Top 10" section which also has excellent archives. (*This
site is no longer updated... does anyone know what happened?? Feb. 2004)
• Beur
FM:
Live audio streaming fresh from Paris. I've been enjoying this station
at the office for some months. Mainly Rai and other Maghreb and Arab music,
but also plays French hip-hop and random R&B and pop music.
• Rai
Music, Kanazawa, Japon:
Information on Rai is mostly in French, which I can't read. So, the most
comprehensive, thorough Rai information I ever got was through this site,
which is, guess what, in Japanese (some in French). It's created by Mr
"Rai Professor" Kasuya, actually a French literature professor at Kanazawa
University. (He also does teach a Rai course at the university: How cool
is that! ) The site provides in-depth information on Rai, including defination,
timeline, latest news and who's who.
Encountering this site last fall opened up so much doors to the world
of Rai to me. Since I got so excited and e-mailed him right after I see
the site, he has been kindly providing me with vital Rai information,
some of which I've included in this site. Thank you, Mr Kasuya!!
• Chaabi,
Algeria:
Various Algerian music in Real Audio.
• 6arab.com:
Another great place to sample Middle East + Maghreb music in real audio.
Plenty Rai at "Ma3'rebi" section. >> You can hear all the Faudel
songs from his first album Baida. Try "Eray", my very
favorite.
• Arabic
MP3s:
These MP3 links actually work! (so many don't these days...) They only
have one Rai song here (Go to "Others" page and select Rai Music), but
great site to get Egyptian and other Middle Eastern MP3s. Many MP3s of
my new favorite Egyptian singer Hakim (spelled "Hakeem" in this site.)
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