El Arbi
| "El Arbi" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Khaled | |
| from the album Khaled | |
| Language | Arabic |
| English title | The Arab |
| Released | 1992 |
| Recorded | 1992 |
| Studio | MicroPLANT (Los Angeles) |
| Genre | Raï |
| Length | 3:35 |
| Label | Barclay Records |
| Songwriter | Khaled Hadj Ibrahim |
| Producer | Don Was |
| Official audio | |
| "El Arbi" on YouTube | |
El Arbi (Arabic: العربي) is a song by Algerian singer Khaled, released in 1992 as the second track of his self-titled album released that year.[1]
The song, according to Khaled, is an exaltation of his homeland. "There are no flowers or delights that can make me forget the desert", says a line from the song.[2]
Success in Brazil
[edit]The song was a huge success in Brazil in 1999 and 2000, seven years after its release.[3][4] The song was also chosen by DJ Theo Werneck to liven up the appearance of the character Feiticeira during the program O+, on Band.[5] It remained at the top of the Brazilian charts for 5 consecutive weeks, becoming the most played Arabic song in Brazil.[6]
It ended up being included in the soundtrack of the soap opera Vila Madalena, on TV Globo, as the theme song for the character Marinalva, played by actress Rosi Campos.[7][8]
Due to this success, the song's music video was featured for two weeks in the Top 20 of the Disk MTV program in February 2000, appearing in the week of 19 February 2000 at the 20th position and the following week it rose to 18th place on 26 February 2000.[9][10][11]
Over the years, the song has continued to be remembered as synonymous with Arab culture for Brazilians. In 2022, 30 years after its release, El Arbi became popular again after Brazilians traveling to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar used the song in social media posts.[12][13]
Covers and versions
[edit]Via Negromonte recorded a Portuguese version of the song. "Me Leve" had been recorded for the album "Pura Eu" in 1997, well before the original version became successful in Brazil. With the success of the original version, Via Negromonte began performing the song again in concerts.[14]
In 2000, the Rio de Janeiro-based comedic rock band Os Anjos parodied this song and recorded it on their self-titled album, "Vou Ter Que Rir" (I'll Have to Laugh). That same year, the group Café com Bobagem released a parody titled "Morrer De Rir" (Dying of Laughter) on their album O Humor Do Brasil! (Brazilian Humor!).[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "El Arbi - Khaled". Letras.mus.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ http://memoria.bn.gov.br/DocReader/100439_14/2813
- ^ http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/030015_12/2283
- ^ "Folha de S.Paulo - Show: Khaled mostra suingue do sucesso - 06/04/2000". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/004120/313486
- ^ "Especial: Conheça os principais artistas da Argélia". br.nacaodamusica.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ "Folha de S.Paulo - Show: Khaled mostra suingue do sucesso - 06/04/2000". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ Xavier, Nilson. "Vila Madalena trilha internacional". Teledramaturgia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ "Há 17 anos, Khaled emplacava hit de 1991 na MTV e nas rádios • Teleguiado". teleguiado.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ https://teleguiado.com/musica/2017/02/ha-17-anos-khaled-emplacava-hit-de-1991-na-mtv-e-nas-radios.html
- ^ https://teleguiado.com/musica/2018/02/disk-mtv-2000.html
- ^ "Lembra dele? Khaled, cantor argelino, volta a fazer sucesso com brasileiros na Copa do Catar e 'música da Feiticeira' viraliza". Extra Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ ""El Arbi", de Khaled, volta a fazer sucesso com o público brasileiro". GZH (in Portuguese). 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ http://memoria.bn.gov.br/DocReader/030015_12/11885
- ^ Café Com Bobagem – O Humor Do Brasil! (2000, CD), archived from the original on 2021-08-29, retrieved 2026-03-22