Rai - what is it?

Some differences: North African Arabic (and this is problem a phoney concept--there are no doubt several dialects that could be collected under that heading) has a different sound than, say, classic Arabic, or Egyptian Arabic. It's more guttural. This is a difference that jumps out at me, even though I don't know Arabic. The rhythms of North Africa are different, at least in many cases, from the rhythms of, say, Egypt or Lebanon and Syria, or the Gulf states. (On the first track here, the rhythms kind of remind me of Iraqi rhythms, but I don't know whether that's due to a share musical past, or to conscious borrowing of Iraqi rhythms, or what.)

Okay, I'm playing one of the Rai tapes (Chaba Fadela, I think) that I have had for a long time, and, ironically, one of the first thing that jumps out once the music gets going is that this particular song has clave in it. I don't know if this is something that comes from within the native traditions, or whether it is borrowed from Afro-Cuban music (since this stuff). But, yes, sonics--different, a little. Overall I think Rai is more tastefully produced than Egyptian "New Sound" dance pop stuff, which I think would sort of be the closest Egyptian equivalent.

You may be right that Rai tends to be more adventurous in its lyrical content.

I never really liked Rai enough to keep up with it, though I have been wondering what it sounds like these days. For some reason, it's not a groove I really get caught up in. (If Tom sees this, I'd be interested in hearing how recent the material on that Rai compilation is that he picked up lately.)

i did hear some of it that was made in the 70s and had distorted electric guitar and analog synths that was AMAZING. i want to hear more.

and one thing that i learned that was pretty interesting is that Cheb is not a first name, but means "young". the artists that use this name are trying to distinguish themselves from older, more traditional Rai artists.

i did hear some of it that was made in the 70s and had distorted electric guitar and analog synths that was AMAZING. i want to hear more.

I'd like to hear some from the 70's. Your description here fits some of the Lebanese music I've heard from the 70's. You still hear that sort of sound sometimes in Arabic music, though I think it's probably pretty out of fashion by now.

"I mix the hip-hop/ with the Berber-specific Arabic slang."

Sorry.

Cheikha Remitti, now in her 70s or 80s is seens as the mother of rai and is a fab. singer who is salty and sassy even now. Over time rai evolved from purely lyrical base that defined the genre to mean outspoken social lyrics and also more modern sounding - western pop influences, sleeker recording techniques etc.

as I just posted on another thread I haven't been that excited by rai if strictly defined but there are interesting fusions going on between rai and other forms. (and chaabi is wonderful, Egyptian 'street' pop)

and as others have said "Cheb" is closer to "Kid" which is why Cheb Khaled is now Khaled. He felt he had gotten too old to be referred to as 'Kid' So guess at some point "Cheb Mami" will also become Mami.

all else see Rockist Scientist's posts.

H is not exaggerating. Some Rai singers were killed by fundamentalist Muslim militants.

Maybe I should just say "Andalusian" music? But it seems to me it has some claim to being a type of classical music, anyway, a court-oriented art music. I have definitely seen this type of music referred to as a type of classical music, but perhaps I am making a mistake by putting "Andalusian classical" together as a phrase.

H, a lot of this music was composed by "Anonymous."

I will say more tomorrow. I think I am probably using the term in an "Arabocentric" way, since in the course of finding suitable online information, I see that some of the Spanish composers mentioned above are also referred to as "Andalusian."

Here's what some CDs look like. Not very helpful, I know.

Kabyles are Berberes who live in Algeria. They speak their own language which has very little to do with the algerian dialect. And Kabyles imported by the French government after the war have always been fed up with being considered as Arabics by most French people.

A great rai album: "Let Me Rai" by Cheb Mami, cheap beats, uplifting songs.
A great traditional Kabyle album: "La Grande Dame De La Chanson Kabyle" by Cherifa, hypnotizing beats, unbelievable synths.

really feelin khaled's mid 80s stuff. it was unseasonably warm today and man did it hit the spot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z88ma-CFIxU&feature=PlayList&p=29B77A447807B4A5&index=2

Nice video. He's still at it I think

http://allafrica.com/stories/201310250907.html

Cheb Khaled, Algerian, becomes a Moroccan citizen