School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Khaled

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Khaled was born in 1960 in Oran, in what was then French Algeria. As a teenager he began recording under the name Cheb Khaled, Arabic for the young Khaled, in the genre raï, a popular style from the Maghreb. In 1985 he was proclaimed king of raï in Oran. A year later the first raï festival in France was organised in Bobigny near Paris, and Khaled got the chance to record in France. The 1988 album Kutché, made with the Algerian jazz musician Safy Boutella, brought him to attention in France. He settled there.

Music and breakthrough

In 1992 he dropped the prefix Cheb and recorded the album Khaled, produced by Don Was. The single Didi became a big hit in Europe, the Arab world and parts of Asia. Later came Aïcha, which Jean-Jacques Goldman wrote for him, and the 2012 album C'est la vie, among others. Khaled sings in Arabic and French and brings traditional Algerian singing together with Western rhythms and styles, such as soul, rock and reggae.

Influence

His significance lies in the bridge he built between the Maghreb and Western audiences. He is regarded as a pioneer of world music and as one of the best-known African singers in the world. In this way he shows that a local folk music can break through worldwide.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Didi and notice how the Arabic singing and the rhythms and sound of the Western production together form a single song. Try to hear which elements come from the Maghreb and which from pop music.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsRaï