Bonjour (album)

Bonjour is the eighth studio album by French–Algerian singer Rachid Taha. It was released by Wrasse Records on 26 October 2009.[1]

Bonjour
Studio album by
Rachid Taha
Released26 October 2009 (2009-10-26)[1]
GenreRaï, rock, world
LabelWrasse, Universal
ProducerGaetan Roussel & Mark Plati[2]
Rachid Taha chronology
Rock N Raï
(2008)		 Bonjour
(2009)		 Zoom
(2013)
Singles from Bonjour
  1. "Bonjour"
    Released: 13 July 2009[2][3]

Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
The Guardian[5]
Financial Times[6]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)A[7]
Pitchfork7.5/10[8]
Socialist Worker(positive)[9]

Bonjour received mixed reviews from music critics. The Guardian reviewer Robin Denselow called the album a "A highly commercial set" that was "not [Taha's] most exciting."[5] David Honigmann of the Financial Times rated the album three out of five stars, but wrote that its emphasis on "technology...stops [Taha] cutting loose."[6]

Songs

"Je T’Aime Mon Amour", Bonjour's opening track, was written about Taha's partner. Its lyrics are a declaration of love for life and his partner.[10] The second track, "Mokhtar", describes the lonely life of a vagrant living in a city.[11] "Ha Baby" was inspired by country music singer Kenny Rogers and Egyptian musician Farid El Atrache.[10] The song, which blends western and Arabic musical styles, is about universal peace and love.[11] The title track, "Bonjour", is a duet with Gaetan Roussel. It was released as the album's lead single and is sung in both French and Arabic.[2] "Mine Jaï", the fifth track, asks a series of questions. In the song, Taha asks the listener where they come from and where they are traveling to.[11]

In the song "Mabrouk Aalik", Taha reflects on the fractured relationship between Jews and Muslims.[10] The seventh track, "Ila Lika", explores life and death.[11] "It's an Arabian Song" is a rock song about the French treatment of Algerians during colonialism. The track features fellow Algerian singer Bruno Maman.[10] "Sélu" is a flamenco song that pays tribute Arab writers and philosophers such as Averroes and Naguib Mahfouz.[10] The album closes with "Agi", a ballad about love.[11]

Track listing
  1. "Je T’Aime Mon Amour"
  2. "Mokhtar"
  3. "Ha Baby"
  4. "Bonjour" with Gaetan Roussel
  5. "Mine Jaï"
  6. "Mabrouk Aalik"
  7. "Ila Lika"
  8. "It's an Arabian Song" with Bruno Maman
  9. "Sélu"
  10. "Agi"

Charts
Chart (2009) Peak
position
French Albums Chart[12] 132

Release history
Region Date Label Format(s) Catalog
Europe 19 October 2009[13] Wrasse Records Digital download Wrass251
26 October 2009[1] CD

Personnel
  • Rachid Taha: Composer, Primary Artist
  • Sylvain Bernard: Clapping, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Piano (Electric), Vocals (Background)
  • Everett Bradley: Vocals (Background)
  • Rodolphe Burger: Guitar (Electric)
  • Marc Copely: Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background)
  • Hakim Hamadouche: Arranger, Banjo, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background)
  • Steve Hillage: Arranger
  • Bruno Maman: Composer, Featured Artist, Guitar (Electric), Interpretation, Synthesizer Bass, Synthesizer Strings, Vocals
  • Karim Mansour: Guitar (Electric)
  • Morgan Marchand: Clapping, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Percussion Programming, Synthesizer Bass
  • Konrad Meissner: Drums
  • Daniel Mintseris: Harmonium, Keyboards
  • Mark Plati: Bass, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Loops, Mixing, Producer, Programming, Synthesizer Bass, Vocals (Background)
  • Nicki Richards: Vocals (Background)
  • Gaëtan Roussel: Composer, Featured Artist, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Interpretation, Keyboards, Loops, Piano, Producer, Vocals (Background)
  • Catherine Russell: Vocals (Background)
  • Arthur Simon: Trumpet
  • Sóley: Clapping, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background)

Source:[14]

References
  1. (in French) "Rachid Taha sort "Bonjour" le 26 octobre" Archived 2009-11-01 at the Wayback Machine. Metro. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  2. (in French) "Rachid Taha" Archived 2009-11-07 at the Wayback Machine. Universal Music France. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  3. (in French) "Bonjour - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  4. Tamarkin, Jeff. Review: Bonjour. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-12-26.
  5. Denselow, Robin. "World Music: Rachid Taha: Bonjour". The Guardian. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  6. Honigmann, David. "Music: Rachid Taha: Bonjour". Financial Times. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  7. Christgau, Robert (December 24, 2010). Consumer Guide: Bonjour. MSN Music. Retrieved on 2010-12-26.
  8. Tangari, Joe. Review: Bonjour. Pitchfork Media. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010
  9. "Bonjour - Rachid Taha". Socialist Worker. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  10. "Rachid Taha - Bonjour". WrasseRecords.com. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  11. (in French) "Bonjour: Nouvel Album De Rachid Taha" Archived 2009-10-31 at the Wayback Machine. RachidTaha.fr. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  12. (in French) "Discographie Rachid Taha". LesCharts.com. eMedia Jungen. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  13. "Bonjour by Rachid Taha" Archived November 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. 7digital. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  14. "Bonjour (Credits)". allmusic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
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