Artist
Cheb Khaled
6339 Views
Khaled is the poster boy for the modern form of Algerian desert blues known as Raï. Certainly he's been its most successful modern exponent, the first to find success on the international stage. Born Khalidu Hajji Brahim in Oran, the traditional center of Raï, he was attracted to music from an early age, especially to Raï, which was seen at the time of the music of outcasts, drunks, and prostitutes, although he also loved James Brown and the Beatles. He taught himself to play guitar, bass, harmonica, and accordion, releasing his debut disc, "Trigh Lycee," when he was just 14. Leaving home, he began on the peripatetic life of the musician, performing frequently at clubs, parties, and weddings (the only places where Raï was seen as an "acceptable" form of entertainment). It was in the early '80s that Cheb (meaning "young") Khaled's fortunes changed, when he met up with producer Rachid Baba Ahmed, who was revolutionizing the Raï form by introducing Western electric instruments and studio techniques. Together, they changed the face of the music. Khaled was the right voice at the right time and the addition of drum machines, synthesizers, and guitars took the music to a new generation, even though much of it continued to be censored by the Algerian government, which considered the style subversive. A number of those early tracks can be found on Le Meilleur de Cheb Khaled on Blue Silver.
Kutche
By 1986, Khaled (who'd now dropped the Cheb) had been forced to move to Paris, as violence in Algeria claimed lives and he'd been threatened several times (producer Ahmed would, in fact, be murdered, as would several Raï performers). Arriving with a reputation, he attempted to take his music to a global level, although his real debut, Kutche, did him no favors with its jazz-rock arrangements. He fared much better with 1992's Khaled, with some tracks produced by Michael Brook and others by Don Was. It yielded his first big hit, "Didi," and helped consolidate his reputation as Raï's first superstar. That was firmly cemented the following year with the Was-produced N'ssi N'ssi, which mixed funk, rock, and an Egyptian orchestra behind Khaled's persuasive voice and winning smile for a major commercial breakthrough in France, winning a European, as well as North African, audience. In 1996, he hit again with Sahra, whose first single, "Aïcha," written for his daughter, gave Khaled a French number one hit. A mix of producers gave varying sounds, with French hip-hoppers Akhenton & Imhotep proving the hardest on the track "Oran Marseille" with its rapid-fire rap. There was even some reggae on "Mektoubi," which merged relatively seamlessly with the North African sound. While well-received critically, it sold little in the U.S. however, unlike France, where the album became Khaled's biggest success. Perhaps the moment that justified his title of King of Raï, however, came in 1999, when he headlined the 1-2-3 Soleils concert in Paris (which led to the album of the same name), over Rachid Taha and Faudel. It was the biggest Algerian show ever staged in France and left no doubt that Khaled remained Raï's hottest attraction. 2000 brought Kenza and a change of producer, as former prog rocker Steve Hillage helped bring a more organic feel to the proceedings. A smash in Europe, once again it did little business in the U.S.
Points of sale
Head There!
Beirut
Virgin Megastores - Beirut Souks
Virgin Megastores ABC Achrafieh
Virgin Megastores - City Center
Virgin Megastores - ABC Verdun
Kesserwan
Baakline
North Metn
Virgin Megastores ABC Dbayeh
North
whish Money | Total | Bsharri
AS Company - TBO | Zgharta
Ticketing Box-Office (Dar El-Chimal)
South
Al Ittihad Book Shop - TBO
Bekaa
2025
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May
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
SEASON OF STRINGS
07:00 PM | St. Elie Kantari
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
AL RIYADI BEIRUT (LBN) vs BC ASTANA (kaz)
05:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
Battle of the Bands
08:00 PM | Champville school
Ghinwa
01:00 PM | Champville school
ITTIHAD CLUB (KSA) vs SAGESSE SC (LBN)
08:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
One Thousand and One Nights
04:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
VENUS
08:30 PM | Theatre Monnot
One-Day Pass: Included Opening Ceremony Pass
Champville school
Two-Day Pass: Included Opening Ceremony Pass
Champville school
Three-Day Pass: Included Opening Ceremony Pass
Champville school
Ghinwa
11:00 AM | Champville school
Cirque Mini Star
03:30 PM | Champville school
Bungee Jumping
Champville school
TABIAT BASKETBALL (IRI) vs AL QADSIA SC (KUW)
08:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
Anything Goes Bel Arabi - كلّو مسموح
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
BC ASTANA (KAZ) vs ITTIHAD CLUB (KSA)
05:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
Anything Goes Bel Arabi - كلّو مسموح
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
AL QADSIA SC (KUW) vs SHABAB AL AHLI (UAE)
08:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
DANCE AROUND THE WORLD
08:00 PM | National Museum
WASL - SAGESSE SC (LBN) vs BC ASTANA (KAZ)
05:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
AL RIYADI CLUB (LBN) vs ITTIHAD CLUB (KSA)
08:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
Anything Goes Bel Arabi - كلّو مسموح
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
SHABAB AL AHLI (UAE) vs TABIAT BASKETBALL (IRI)
08:45 PM | Stade Nouhad Naufal
Anything Goes Bel Arabi - كلّو مسموح
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
Anything Goes Bel Arabi - كلّو مسموح
08:30 PM | Casino du Liban
PայTs – by Vahe Berberian
08:00 PM | Hagop Der Melkonian Theatre – Bourj Hammoud
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
AUTISM BEAT - NAC Fundraising Concert
09:00 PM | Casino du Liban
One Thousand and One Nights
08:00 PM | Theatre Caracalla
Transportation for Bassma - The Family Festival
Transportation For Bassma
The Family Festival
10:30 AM | Sarwa - Taanayel
We Will Rock You
07:30 PM | Casino du Liban
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