Customer Reviews

Meli Meli

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mami's album is a change from listening to my two favorite rai stars Faudel and Khaled in that it is a little faster and hipper in its sound. Mami does cnot have the voice that Khaled has, and his songs are more a sort of pop music than some of the powerful ballads that Khaled offers us such as Aisha or Wahrane. Beledi is a catchy pop tune that is fun to listen to. I saw Mami in concert in NY a few months ago and I firmly believe that the nice dance pace of his music lends itself more to a live show than sitting around at home listening to this music. I would recommend this album to people who are already familiar with rai music and want to hear an artist other than Khaled, Faudel or Taha. For those who want to discocer the sounds of rai for the first time, I would recommend starting with Sahra or Les Trois Soleils- a live album with Taha, faudel and Khaled.

Growing up I heard other arabic music styles but i never heard much Rai. the first time hearing it was when i recently saw an episode of Saturday Night Live and Cheb Mami performed with Sting. I immediately fell in love with his magical voice, and him. His voice is so sexy and like no other. After hearing him i went on a quest trying to find any of his albulms(online samples). i found a few and then decided to buy his albums, unfortunatley he only has 1 US release. I frantically went looking for Meli Meli and finally found it. The Album is wonderful, every song. The hiphop/R&B sound of Parisien du Nord and the traditional beats of Bledi are tantalizing. My favorite track Bekantini is so mesmorizing. the Beats are so wonderfull,and most of them danceable. some people are skeptical because they don't understand Arabic, neither do I, although people in my family translated for me i loved the music before I knew the words. Meli Meli is most highly recommended. Peace and Love Tanzeem

Although I had never listened to Rai music before or anything remotely North African, I fell in love with Cheb Mami's voice and style on the song Desert Rose. I bought Meli, Meli, not knowing how I would like it, being something so different from what I usually listen to. I love it. Mami uses all types of musical styles to create a culturally rich and diverse set of songs that take the mind on a journey all around the world. Mami's voice is a beautiful instrument that he uses however he wants, contrasting nicely with the various instruments. The title track, "Meli, Meli," is a very danceable, upbeat song with a bit of pop/jazz mixed in with the rai. "Bledi," however, has a more traditional sound. Try out one of my favorites, "Azwaw 2," that even has bagpipes in with the traditional drums and Arabic words. Overall, Mami shows that he knows how to mix various types of music but still keep his own personal style, the mark of a true musician. Meli, Meli, is definately worth listening to.

I've purchased his recent recording "Meli Meli" after I heard him singing with Sting in Desert Rose. Sorry to say but I thought it was a female voice until I saw the video clip; nevertheless, he has a fantastic voice in that song, which forced me to buy one of his recording to know him and his Rai music well. I have never listened to Rai Music before, but I would say his music has Mediterrenian flavor mixed with western pop. After I listened to "Meli Meli", I've realized that it's really very similar to Turkish Pop, the only difference is that one is sung in Arabic with Algerian dialect, and the later one is in Turkish language. It's sad that I've lived with a roommate from France who has an Algerian background for 6 years(we are still very good friends) but was never introduced to Rai music by him.

Anyhow, I did not get the same sound of Cheb Mami in "Meli Meli" as in Desert Rose; hence, I was disappointed a little bit but I would still say it's a very nice recording. The melody is very soft and relaxing. You close your eyes and his music will take you to the beautiful Mediterrenian coast. Combining his beautiful voice and rthym with the technology, the result is quite good.

i had heard "desert rose" way back and loved it before i even knew the name of the mysterious arab. Then i heard "azwaw 2" and compared the voices. on a hunch, i searched on amazon.com to find the name of sting's duet partner, and i was right. i absolutely had to have cheb mami's cd right then. i compared the reviews and bought "meli meli." now i don't know what i did without it. it's the most amazing cd i own. it draws you in with the title track from the very first note and mixes mellow, arab-folk, like "bledi" with funkier beats, as in "parisien du nord." i was especially surprised to hear the reggae-tinged "hatachi." i am arabic, and this music speaks to my soul, but cheb mami is an incredible artist with an amazing voice to anyone who even briefly listens to him.

Unlike, it appears, the rest of the world, I was not informed of Cheb Mami's presence by his duet with Sting on "Desert Rose". I first came across this amazing singer via his work with K-Mel on "Parisien Du Nord".

For those unaware of Rai music, it is a style from Algeria and other countries in northern Africa. Rai has a percussive sound and, as with many traditional forms of African music, is often used to make metaphorical social comment. The most startling feature of Rai, however, is the vocal range of the singer. Many people are amazed to hear that Cheb Mami is male after hearing his work on "Desert Rose", his range is easily the equal of the American RnB singers - and he is capable of jumping quite freely from octave to octave as the whim takes him.

"Meli Meli" is thus an album in an unheralded style by one of its foremost exponents - quite tough billing to live up to. Mami delivers on that promise with talent to spare.

Most of the lyrics, especially Mami's, are delivered in Arabic. While there are many music fans who feel as though they must know what is being sung about in order to enjoy the song, one listen to tracks like the title track, "Bledi" and any of the versions of "Parisien du Nord" will dispel that view. The liner notes give information about the subject matter - which isn't that far different from western music; love, being out of love and wanting to be in love all feature quite strongly - but the words are largely immaterial. When Mami sings about his feelings for a woman in "Meli Meli", there can hardly be a person who doesn't know exactly what he means.

The arrangements are also very creative. From traditional-sounding drum beats on the original "Parisien", through to the funky beats propelling "H'Rabti" and the "Parisien" remix, it is clear that Cheb Mami is in touch both with the roots of his musical tradition and with its future. One thing in common across the album is that the arrangements all provide Cheb Mami with a chance to show off his vocal chops. I say "show off", but his prowess is never the sole reason for a song's existence. Cheb Mami clearly knows when to put the focus on the music rather than the vocals.

Despite the titles of the tracks, "Parisien du Nord" (the standout track of the album) actually appears three times. The first version is the slow-building version at track 4. This track focuses on the vocals and is very much strengthened by that decision. The second version, credited as a remix, is set off by the rapping of K-Mel of France's Alliance Ethnik. The combination of French rap - of a standard much higher than most American rap - and Arabic singing is truly spell-binding. Certainly this remix is not for the Rai purist, but neither is the rest of the album. "Marsellais du Nord" is also "Parisien du Nord" but under a different name and with different personnel. This remix features rappers from France's "south coast" scene, a scene with traditionally a harder sound than the Parisian scene.

Overall, "Meli Meli" is a superb album and one very much worthwhile checking out - especially for those who are interested in what Cheb Mami sounded like before he recorded with Sting. Even if you aren't, this is a wonderful album to have as background music, the listener can involve themselves as much or as little in the music as they want.

This was my first Cheb Mami cd I purchased and he quickly became one of my favorite artists. Even if the listener doesn't understand what he is saying due to the language difference, Mami's voice still speaks to the audience and is just incredible. The tracks called Parisien Du Nord are some of my favorites since it is done with a French rap artist. I highly recommend this cd to Cheb Mami fans new and old.

This is a MUST BUY for anyone who loves all kinds of wonderful music. It doesn't matter if you don't understand the words - you will understand the emotion, no problem. My favorite and one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard is "Rani Maak El Youm" (I am with you today). It will make you cry, it's so pretty. Anyone who calls himself a fan of so called "world music" must have this work.

mami transforms the beautiful sounds of middle eastern music into a modern day version of a world influenced voice. his sound is mystical with varied intonations, reminiscent of prayer chants echoing from a village not far away. he takes us to a world which we can only dream of visiting...aplace which our deepest desires can be fullfilled. his sound gives me inner peace and helps me get through my difficult moments. you must buy it. you must experience his magic. i highly highly recommend this cd.

Cheb Mami has one of the most appealing voices today. I played this CD in my car for weeks before I wanted to listen to anything else. I am currently choreographing to Aswah (#11); next I may get to #8 (I am a bellydancer) Rai can be described as a head-on collision between traditional middle eastern music with rock'n'roll and a good dose of rap. Ain't it funny how fusion can often bring forth the best (in people and in music.....my philosophy for the day)