BBC - Radio 3 - Womad2004

FAUDEL (ALGERIA/FRANCE)

Back in the late 1990s, rai music, that infectious hedonistic North African form of rock 'n' roll from Algeria, was undergoing what you might call a midlife crisis. The first generation of pop rai stars like Khaled, Mami, Fadela and Sahraoui were all approaching middle age and looking less and less like the chebs , or 'charmed youth', that they once were. There was desperate need to find a new star who would appeal to a new generation of North Africans who were growing up in the suburbs of France's big cities and grooving to hip hop, R&B and ragga, as well as rai. Then Faudel stepped up to the plate.

The profile was perfect. He was only 20 years old when his first solo single 'Tellement n' Brick' smashed into the upper reaches of the French charts in 1997. He was born to immigrant parents from Tlemcen in Algeria and raised into the roughneck Val Fourre estate in Maintes La Jolie, a suburb of Paris . At the age of 12 he was already singing with local stars ' Les Etoiles du Rai ' and a few years later he was opening for his heroes, Khaled, Mami and MC Solaar .

His first album 'Baida' sold over 300,000 copies and Faudel was crowned 'The Little Prince of Rai'. In 1998 Faudel joined Khaled and Rachid Taha for the landmark 1-2-3 Soleil concert at the huge Bercy stadium in Paris . It was one of the most significant dates in the history of the North African diaspora. The live album of the event sold more than a million and Faudel became a household name.

The point about Faudel is that he considers himself to both French AND Algerian at the same time and is happy to sing in French and display the same outlook and attitudes of his peer group, the beur generation of young North Africans living in France . After starring in various films and TV shows, releasing a couple more albums including last year's 'Un Autra Soleil', Faudel is now mature and permanent fixture in the French Algerian cultural landscape. The new rai generation have found their star!

Courtesy of Andy Morgan, July 2004

Read other people's comments then

Tell us what you think:

kenzy
sa lut j'aime ce que faudel fait mais moi aussi je chante du rai avec beaucoup d'influence méditéranène ,espagnol, américan genre de la musique country.et mon album va sortir biento je sais pas comment je l'apéllerais donc trouver moi un pseudo pour l'album

Abir-Gothenburg, Sweden
OMG faudel is sooo awsome!! His lyrics, music, and of course his (YUMMY) good looks make him 100% PERFECT!! FAUDEL'S SIMLE LIGHTS UP THE WORLD!!!!

Chaima from Italy
I love you Faudel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Because you are beautiful and a good singer! Marry me!!!

kiki, germany
Faudel is the most beautyful and sexiest man in this world. Iam a big fan of him. can somebody help me? i want to know, how much children he has? and whats the name of his wife or girlfriend? please answer to me, my email is arifgirl@web.de or marrueca@lycos.de Faudel we love you

Jay, USA
faudel is just one of the talented algerian singers, great voice, he seems passionate and convinced about rai music! great job!

aziz london
salut l,artiste we hoping this winter another concert in hammersmith. good luck

shams from australia
faudel is the most sexciest person i have ever seen! not only his looks but his voice is amzaing! everyone here in australia love him! i only play his songs in my car and in my home. i loved his song abdul kadder! please come to adelaide in australia! lots of love from shams! xoxoxoxox mwah!

Monika Wanis, US,Ohio
CHEB FAUDEL! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! I LUV U! I WISH I COULD MEET YOU! IM FROM EGYPT AND WHEN I FIRST HEARD YOU SING I WAS LIKE OH MY GOSH! YOU ARE GEORGEUS!

irwan, bali
its very difficult to find his cd here. i find it at jogja indonesia. but i'll try again. i love his music much.

Amy from Australia N.S.W
!Faudel!hes a hottie,great singer...I hope he continues like he has because i want to hear more of him.

Mariam
Heyy Faudel, I hope that you are giving a concert in The Netherlands!! It is al long time when did you was in The Netherlands. I will wait !! FAUDEL IS THE BEST!!!!! I addor Khaled. And mabroek ergid!! Love you! xxjes Mariam

Pablo-Gral Roca-Río Negro-Argentina
Hi Faudel: I listen your music here, in Patagonia, in the other side of the world. I have only a few rercords of you, but I like your music very much, perhaps my grandfather come from an arabic country (Siria). Y have the music in my blood!!!! Saludos desde Argentina.

Mariam
Hy Faudel, I am your Bigest FAN Your dauther Enzy is she sweet?? I love kids. give her a big kiss of my

bushra U.S
Faudel is a gorgoues guy i love his voice.tabaraka allah alik .yahya rai music

John, Northumberland
What a refreshing change to hear Faudel's excellent North African/Pop sound at a time when all we ever seem to hear is American type music. He has a great voice and is a great performer.

Gangsta Anissa
cheb Faudel is hot en the best i lissen evry day to hese songs I'm from holland.. xxx to cheb faudel..

ALi MAroc
super faudel

sabina london
i love him because he is from my contry and he is great i love himmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Shermin and Sherin sweden
we absolutely love Faudel his sexy voice makes us go crazy!he is so talented and hot..we just want to se him and then we could die happy..we really want him to come to Sweden!!big kisses to him

iqbal, bangalore, INDIA
the song Abdel kader from the live album plays in my audio system for atleast five times a day!!!!! lovely music...

Cherifa, Champigny-sur-marne
Bravo! Congratulations for Faudel!I really love tis artist for his great talent, his very beautiful voice, his irresistible charm, his lovely and sexy look! When he performs on stage, I always have a great time. He's so relaxed, calm, joyful and have great sense of humour : an artist as like them! BRAVO AND GOOD LUCK FOR HIS GREAT ARTIST CAREER, I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST!

unara, malaysia
i first heard faudel on BBC radio 3, from last year's WOMAD. i listened to it everyday, at least 2 or 3 times a day, for months. he held me in thrall.

jennifer lancashire
faudel has the sexiest most beautiful voice ever you can literally feel him when he singing sending shivers down your spine

Rachel Merseyside
He was superb, I really enjoyed his concert.

jaysee, hampshire
what a little peacock! His strutting was highly entertaining, great voice though.

Farida - Huntsville, AL, USA
So nice to hear another live concert recording from Faudel. Splendid!

sion from N Wales
Fantastic set in Womad, my favourite from the festival. Such a star. My cousin from Lebanon almost cried when she realized she had missed Faudel...