This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular rai/hiphop fusion song "Parisien du Nord", which was sung by Algerian rai singer Cheb Mami and French rapper K-Mel. Also included is a transliteration of the Arabic and French lyrics into the Roman alphabet so you can sing along if you like.
NOTE: This song was written for the purpose of speaking out against racism in France against people of color. For that reason, it's not recommended for typical belly dance performance situations such as light-hearted birthday parties, playful restaurant gigs, weddings, haflas, and such. It would be extremely difficult for a white dancer to be taken seriously to this, especially if she's doing a happy, smiley standard belly dance performance.
Arabic & French Lyrics |
English Translation |
Watch out... |
Watch out... |
Ha, le revoilà le trio |
Ha, the trio are back |
Pour le remix |
For the remix |
Habla chichi |
|
Ha, Imhotep, Mami,
K-Mel |
Ha, Imhotep, Mami, K-Mel |
Et on y va |
And here we go! |
|
|
Chorus
[Sung by Mami] |
Chorus
[Sung by Mami] |
Comme ça, vous m'avez trahi,
Comme ça... |
Like this, you betrayed me, like this |
Hakada dertouha blya hakda |
This is how you treated me, this is how |
Comme ça, vous m'avez trahi,
Comme ça... |
Like this, you betrayed me, like this |
Hakda l'aabtouh blya hakda |
This is how you tricked me, this is how |
|
|
Verse |
Verse |
Ala wejhi n'kartouni ou étranger |
Because of my appearance, you did not accept me, you said I am a foreigner |
Kouni hasseb di baladi nua h'naya n'mount |
I felt I was in my own country and that here I will die |
Ala wejhi n'kartouni ou étranger |
Because of my appearance, you did not accept me, you said I am a foreigner |
Kouni hasseb di baladi nua h'naya n'mount |
I felt I was in my own country and that here I will die |
|
|
Chorus |
Chorus |
|
|
Mon choutèkouni walit gh'rib lawali lah 'bib |
I saw you and I became a foreigner, no parents or relatives |
Pourtant zaid h'na had c'chi h'ram |
Knowing that I grew up here, this thing you do is shameful |
Mon choutèkouni walit gh'rib lawali lah 'bib |
I saw you and I became a foreigner, no parents or relatives |
Pourtant zaid h'na had c'chi h'ram |
Knowing that I grew up here, this thing you do is shameful |
|
|
Chorus |
Chorus |
|
|
[Sung by K-Mel]
Parisien du Nord, clando d'abord |
[Sung by K-Mel]
Parisian of the North, first of all, clandestine |
Un titre dans la musique, sans passeport |
A title in the music, without a passport |
C'est le talent d'abord |
It's the first talent |
C'est comme le Padré qui t'a fait ramer pendant des années |
It's like the Priest who tugged at you for several years |
|
|
Des exploitants que |
From the exploiters who |
Je me ferais un plaisir de caner |
Would have given me the pleasure of hitting them with a cane |
J'suis pas violent. |
I'm not violent. |
Mais tant d'années à
5,000 francs, c'est fané |
But so many years at 5,000 francs, it's faded |
Et pour les jeunes, |
And for the young people |
C'est la tannée non fallait pas faire l'erreur, l'assimilé |
It's the tanning [dark skinned], better not make the mistake, the assimilated |
D'façon, ces professions ce ne sont pas que
Des bassesses de vocation |
In a way, these jobs are no more than the lowest of career |
La leçon à en tirer, c'est quoi que tu dises |
The conclusion to draw, it's whatever you say |
Quoi que tu fasses |
It's whatever you do |
T'es embauché tant qu'on a pas vu ta face
(ha ha) |
You're hired if we have not seen your face (ha ha) |
Je vois des jeunes P.D.G [Présidents directeur général] dans leurs bureaux |
I see the young CEO's [executives] in their offices |
Gérant leurs entreprises comme on gère des kilos (oh shit) |
Managing their businesses as people manage their weight (oh shit) |
C'est pas dur, |
It's not hard |
j'veux voir des "surbouffeurs" (des enceintes)
aux murs |
I want to see the overeating women (the pregnant women) on the walls |
je veux voir des sœurs comme chef ou secrétaire |
I want to see their sisters [women of his own kind] as boss or secretary |
qui tapent pour leurs compétences et non pour leurs derrières |
Who type for their skills and not for their backsides |
je veux enfin que les jeunes pèsent à vrai
dire... |
I want finally that young people give thought to telling the truth |
|
|
Ala wejhi n'kartouni ou étranger |
Because of my appearance, you did not accept me, you said I am a foreigner |
Kouni hasseb di bladi nua h'naya n'mount |
I felt I was in my own country and that here I will die |
Ala wejhi n'kartouni ou étranger |
Because of my appearance, you did not accept me, you said I am a foreigner |
Kouni hasseb di bladi nua h'naya n'mount |
I felt I was in my own country and that here I will die |
|
|
Hakda l'aabtouh blya hakda (comme ça)...
|
This is how you tricked me, this is how |
Hakda l'aabtouh blya hakda (comme ça)...
|
This is how you tricked me, this is how |
Hakda l'aabtouh blya hakda (comme ça)...
|
This is how you tricked me, this is how |
Hakda l'aabtouh blya hakda (comme ça)...
|
This is how you tricked me, this is how |
Hakda l'aabtouh blya hakda (comme ça)...
|
This is how you tricked me, this is how |
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