Talk:Raï
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There has never been any evidence that Jewish quarters of Algiers were a centre for Rao music.Nor were any jews ever related to this form of music.Now that this genre has become popular, a lot of people are trying to associate themselves with its history though they can provide no evidence.--202.5.154.7 13:50, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
- I have reverted your change and provided a reference for the claim. Tuf-Kat 21:58, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
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[edit] The reason for the anti-Raï mood in Islamic countries
Can someone who is more into the matter explain why are fundamentalists so against this form of music. Please, I would really like to know more details (and things that can't find their way into the main article). --212.200.210.224 14:41, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
From what I have read (my Arabic is far too basic to be able to understand the lyrics), I would guess that the reason for a dislike of rai could have something to do with the bawdy lyrics. “Texts were often of a sexually suggestive nature” [Langlois 2006: grove music online]. The use of words and images that are considered as bordering on the obscene is often compared to American rap. Hope that's helpful.
I read Raï-Music by Rod Skilbeck, an article on the internet that states some benchmarks in the history of Rai music. From this article and from other sources in my community (Egypt) I would say that fundamentalists detest Rai and Rai-Musicians because they usually plant their lyrical themes around defying Muslim traditions. Further on, some fundamentalists in Algeria and the Middle-East in general detest Musicians in general, for they claim music and songs are not in accordance with Muslim teachings. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 196.204.249.242 (talk)
[edit] Main instruments
Drum machine, sequencer and synthesiser? This might be true for some artists now, but surely not throughout its history? Totnesmartin 12:32, 10 December 2006 (UTC)
Historically the original instruments were the gaspa (wooden, end-blown flute) and the guellal (single-headed cylindrical drum, usually made of pottery).
[edit] Women in Rai
"Traditionally sung by men, at the turn of the 20th century, female singers became common." This sentence is not quite accurate. Rai was originally a genre sung by women. (Please see ethnomusicological works by Virolle [Virolle, M. (2003) “Representations and Female Roles in the Raï Song.” in Magrini, T. ed. Music and Gender: Perspectives from the Mediterranean. Chicago: University pf Chicago Press], Morgan [Morgan, A. (2000) “Algeria – Raï: music under fire.” in World Music: The Rough Guide. Africa, Europe and the Middle East” ], McMurray & Swedenburg [McMurray, D., & Swedenburg, T. (1991) “Rai Tide Rising.” In Middle East Report, No. 169, Crossing the Line. (Mar. - Apr.)] and, Langlois [Langlois, T. (2006) “Algeria: Urban musics; Raï” in Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 04/12/06), <http://www.grovemusic.com>]...I'm sure there are more!!). It was during the 1960s when women were banned from performing in public that the genre was taken up by teenage boys (chebs). [McMurray & Swedenburg] —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.41.120.251 (talk) 16:10, 10 January 2007 (UTC).
For extra interest: Cheikha Rimitti is generally refered to as the "mother of Rai" [Virolle, Morgan etc]
[edit] Rai in France
I understand that this form of music was brought to France via the *Mahgrebine* countries (Algeria, Morrocco and Tunisia) does anyone know anything more e.g. how it affected France etc. D. BULL 16:36, 23 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Eurocentrism - unacceptable
"Oran is a seaport in Western Algeria, known since the Spanish invasion centuries ago" -
"known" to whom? The people who lived and worked in the port would have 'known' it a long time before the Spaniards turned up. I've changed it now. Totnesmartin 20:14, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Sexism
"Spanish troops kept women there to entertain the troops" Please explain further how the women were kept? This sentence makes them sound like cattle, did they force women to stay there? Or did they simply encourage soldiers to bring wives and girlfriends?
[edit] Inconsistancy
"Chaba Aicha is the only young >unmarried< woman to sing rai publicly today"
Followed by:
"Whenever she does appear on the cover of a cassette, she is always accompanied by >her husband< and is fully clothed."
—Preceding unsigned comment added by 143.112.32.4 (talk) 17:17, 7 May 2008 (UTC)
