Carte de Séjour
Encyclopedia
Carte de Séjour was a French rock band
. The group was founded in 1980 by Rachid Taha
(vocals), Djamel Dif (drum
s), Mokhtar Amini (bass guitar
), Mohamed Amini (guitar
) and Éric Vaquer (guitar).
Jérôme Savy ex-Arsenic joined some time later replacing Éric Vaquer. The band's producer was Bernard Meyet on the Mosquito record label. "Carte de Séjour" gained prominence in France particularly with the French-Algerian community with their song Douce France from Charles Trenet
. The band split in 1990.
.
After a major concert at the "Palais des sports" and performance at "Place de la Bastille" during the "Marche des beurs", the band gained national reputation across France
. The song that became a turning point for establishing their fame was their rendition of Douce France from Charles Trenet
, as it played an important role in raising societal questions about the status of the Beur
s, descendants of immigrants of North Africa
n origin living in France
and the struggle against mounting right-wing and racist policies of "Front national" in France.
The group included in its repertoire rock
, punk rock
as well as traditional Arab music and gnawa music
.
The group split in 1990. Rachid Taha
went for a solo career and is considered one of the major singers of raï
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. The group was founded in 1980 by Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
(vocals), Djamel Dif (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s), Mokhtar Amini (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Mohamed Amini (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Éric Vaquer (guitar).
Jérôme Savy ex-Arsenic joined some time later replacing Éric Vaquer. The band's producer was Bernard Meyet on the Mosquito record label. "Carte de Séjour" gained prominence in France particularly with the French-Algerian community with their song Douce France from Charles Trenet
Charles Trenet
Charles Trenet was a French singer and songwriter, most famous for his recordings from the late 1930s until the mid-1950s, though his career continued through the 1990s...
. The band split in 1990.
History
After a number of television appearances, the band released their first self-title "Carte de séjour". Soon guitarist Éric Vaquer quit and was replaced by Jérôme Savy, a guitarist from the French band Arsenic. Eventually Djamel Dif also quit without being replaced after disagreements particularly with Rachid TahaRachid Taha
Rachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
.
After a major concert at the "Palais des sports" and performance at "Place de la Bastille" during the "Marche des beurs", the band gained national reputation across France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The song that became a turning point for establishing their fame was their rendition of Douce France from Charles Trenet
Charles Trenet
Charles Trenet was a French singer and songwriter, most famous for his recordings from the late 1930s until the mid-1950s, though his career continued through the 1990s...
, as it played an important role in raising societal questions about the status of the Beur
Beur
Beur is a colloquial term to designate French-born people whose parents are immigrants from North Africa. The word was coined by reversing the syllables of the word arabe, which means Arabic or Arab in French. For example, "arabe" becomes "a-ra-beu" then "beu-ra-a" and "beur" by contraction. The...
s, descendants of immigrants of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
n origin living in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the struggle against mounting right-wing and racist policies of "Front national" in France.
The group included in its repertoire rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
as well as traditional Arab music and gnawa music
Gnawa music
Gnawa music is a mixture of sub-Saharan African, Berber, and Sufi religious songs and rhythms. It combines music and acrobatic dancing. The music is both a prayer and a celebration of life...
.
The group split in 1990. Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
went for a solo career and is considered one of the major singers of raï
Raï
Raï is a form of folk music that originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s....
.
Members of the group
- Rachid TahaRachid TahaRachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
- lead singer and composition - Djamel Dif - on drums, arrangements and composition
- Mokhtar Amini - base guitar
- Éric Vaquer - guitar.
- Jérôme Savy ex-Arsenic, on guitar, replacing Éric Vaquer after he quit
- Mohamed Amini - guitar
Discography
- 1982: Carte de séjour (maxi 45 rpm)
- 1983 Carte De SéjourCarte de SéjourCarte de Séjour was a French rock band. The group was founded in 1980 by Rachid Taha , Djamel Dif , Mokhtar Amini , Mohamed Amini and Éric Vaquer ....
- 1984 Bleu De Marseille
- 1984 Rhorhomanie
- 1986 Douce France
- 1986 2½ (Deux Et Demi)
- 1987 Ramsa
- 1987 Ramsa (Cinq)