Aïcha

This article is about the song "Aïcha". For other uses and variants of the name, see Aisha (disambiguation).

"Aicha" redirects here. For the sefer, see Book of Lamentations.

"Aïcha"
Single by Khaled
from the album Sahra
Released	1996
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop
Length	4:19
Label	PolyGram
Writer(s)	Jean-Jacques Goldman Khaled
Producer	Jean-Jacques Goldman
Certification	Diamond France, 1997
Khaled singles chronology
"Bakhta" (1995) "Aïcha" (1996) "Le jour viendra" (1997)
Music video "Aïcha" on YouTube

"Aïcha" is the name of a French song written by the singer songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman. The title refers to an Arabic female name. The song was originally performed by Algerian raï artist Khaled. The original French single was never released in an album, though Khaled's 1996 album Sahra featured a bilingual version of the song sung in both French and Arabic. The Arabic lyrics for the bilingual version of the song are written by Khaled. Khaled's music video was directed by Sarah Moon.

Lyrics / theme

The song's lyrics are about a woman named Aisha, who is being wooed by a man. He promises her pearls, jewels, poems, and other luxuries and romantic things, to which she replies:

Keep your treasures

I'm worth more than all that

A cage is a cage, even if it's made of gold

I want the same rights as you

And respect for each day

I don't want anything but love

The song's chorus has the following words in French (with English translation):

Aïcha, Aïcha, écoute-moi = Aisha, Aisha, listen to me

Aïcha, Aïcha, t'en va pas = Aisha, Aisha, don't go away

Aïcha, Aïcha, regarde-moi = Aisha, Aisha, look at me

Aïcha, Aïcha, réponds-moi = Aisha, Aisha, answer me

The lyrics were all in French. The Arabic verse by Khaled (his own composition) added later is as follows:

نبغيك عايشة ونموت عليك (Nebghyk Aysha we nmout alyk) = I want you Aisha and would die for you

هادي صية حياتي وحبي (Hady seiyet hayaty w'hobby) = This is the will of my life and my love

انت عمري وانت حياتي (Inty omry w'inty hayaty) = You are my years and you are my life

تمنيت نعيش معك غير انت (Tmanyt neïsh maake ghyr inty) = I wish to live with you, only you

Track listings

CD single

1. "Aïcha" — 4:20
2. "Aïcha" (version mixte) — 4:20

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	25
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	1
Dutch Top 40	10
French SNEP Singles Chart	1
German Singles Chart	33
Swiss Singles Chart	11

End of year charts

End of year chart (1996)	Position
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	7
Dutch Top 40	84
French Singles Chart	4

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
France	Diamond	January 16, 1997	750,000

Chart successions

Preceded by "Wannabe" by Spice Girls	French SNEP number one single October 19, 1996 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Freed from Desire" by Gala
	Belgian (Wallonia) number one single October 26, 1996 – November 30, 1996 (6 weeks)
Awards
Preceded by "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" by Céline Dion	Victoires de la Musique Song of the year 1997	Succeeded by "Un homme pressé" by Noir Désir

Outlandish version

"Aïcha"
Single by Outlandish
from the album Bread & Barrels of Water
Released	2003
Format	CD single
Recorded	2003
Length	4:37
Writer(s)	Jean-Jacques Goldman, Khaled
Producer	Mintman
Music video "Aïcha" on YouTube

In 2003, the Danish hip hop band, Outlandish, recorded and released an English version of the song "Aicha" which was included in their album Bread & Barrels of Water and was produced & and musically performed by Mintman aka Carsten Mortensen . The song peaked at #2 in the Mega Single Top 100 for 2 weeks and for 3 weeks in the Swedish Singles Chart. It also reached the top in Switzerland, and #3 in Austria and Norway and #8 in Belgium. A video was also shot for the single.

Track listings

CD maxi

1. Aïcha (4:37)
2. Aïcha (Mintman Remix) (4:34)
3. Aïcha (Instrumental) (4:08)
4. Outlandish feat. Majid & Asmaá - El moro (5:24)

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	8
Germany (Media Control AG)	1
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)	2
Norway (VG-lista)	3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	1

End of year chart (2003)	Position
Dutch Top 40	13

Preceded by "Where Is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas "When We Were Winning" by Broder Daniel

Swedish Singles Chart number-one single September 12, 2003 – September 26, 2003 October 3, 2003 – October 24, 2003

Succeeded by "When We Were Winning" by Broder Daniel "Om du stannar hos mig" by Nina & Kim

Other versions

The original song has since been remade by several singers and bands:

• The French version was performed by Khaled with fellow Raï singer Faudel at the famous 1998 1,2,3 Soleils concert in Paris [1]
• A zouk version was made by Kassav'
• A salsa version was made by Africando [2]
• An a cappella version by Penn Masala
• Another a capella version by Aquabella

It has been adapted to several other languages:

• A French / Arabic version by Lobo Ismail with altered lyrics and unique Arabic language rap sequence [3]
• An English rock version by Aqmal (vocals) and Sofyan (music) with new lyrics [4]
• A Polish version by Magma [5]
• A Malay version with bits of Arabic by Yasin, titled as Aishah [6].
• A Serbian version was made by Dragana Mirkovic and was titled Pogledaj Me [7]
• A Korean version by Tony An titled Aisha
• An Urdu version by Amanat Ali, titled Aaisha, was featured on the Pakistani Music program Coke Studio.
• A Hebrew version, titled "Aisha" (Hebrew: עיישה‎), was written by Ehud Manor and performed by Haim Moshe [8]
• A Turkish version by Mutaf, titled "Ayşa"
• A Greek version, titled "Alithia Sou Leo" (Greek: Αλήθεια σου λέω), was performed by Stamatis Gonidis in 2006 [9]
• A Spanish / Arabic version by Amistades Peligrosas, titled "Aicha" on [10]
• A Croatian version was made by Duško Lokin. Song title is Aisha.

External links

• "Aïcha", music video (From Khaled's site, click on videos, then Aïcha)
• "Aicha" English translation and video
• Alico-"Aicha", Video Alico-"Aicha" Song(From band Alico)