SEAN-O-VISTA

Song: Abdelkader    Artist: Khaled-Faudel-Rachid Taha  From: live performance at Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy

“Abdel Kader” (Arabic: عبد القادر) is an Algerian traditional song made famous by the Algerian raï artist Khaled. It is mistakenly thought to be about the Emir `Abd al-Qādir al-Jazā’irī, a famous Algerian Muslim religious leader and freedom fighter who resisted the French conquest of Algeria, but is actually about the 12th century Sufi saint Shaikh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (1078–1166 AD), the posthumous founder of the Qadiriyya Sufi Order. It is featured on his 1993 studio album N’ssi N’ssi. After his 1993 original album version, Khaled released a solo live version of “Abdel Kader” in his live album Hafla in 1998.

The song gained further popularity after the live performance at Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy by Khaled, Rachid Taha and Faudel. The joint trio live version was included on the 1998 live album 1,2,3 Soleils.

English Translation Of The Song:

Abdel Kader, my master, my guide
Ease my pain, make me strong
Help me through the dark night of my soul
O sweet girl of my homeland
Why is my heart so troubled
While yours is at peace?
In spite of love’s many pleasures
She’s turned away and left me
After a night of bliss
Abdel Kader, keeper of the keys
Keeper of my soul
I have left heaven and come back to earth
Away from her arms
I pray life is long enough to let me start over
Heal me and turn me away from my pain