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Monologue | م​و​ن​و​ل​و​ج

by Yousef Kekhia

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    12" vinyl album + poster with all lyrics translated in english and original arabic.

    On December 13th Syrian electronic-folk artist Yousef Kekhia will release his long awaited debut album "Monologue". With a unique combination of arabic lyrics, western folk and electronic music he creates his own universe of spheric and yet intimate soundscapes. Lyrically, "Monologue" is a very personal but still universal journey through the singers life. About his situation as a refugee, dealing with cancer, anxiety and depression. Kekhia's approach to these heavy topics is turning them into positive messages through the spirit of music.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Monologue | مونولوج via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days

      €17.90 EUR or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    CD album in cardboard sleeve +poster with all lyrics translated in english and original arabic.

    On December 13th Syrian electronic-folk artist Yousef Kekhia will release his long awaited debut album "Monologue". With a unique combination of arabic lyrics, western folk and electronic music he creates his own universe of spheric and yet intimate soundscapes. Lyrically, "Monologue" is a very personal but still universal journey through the singers life. About his situation as a refugee, dealing with cancer, anxiety and depression. Kekhia's approach to these heavy topics is turning them into positive messages through the spirit of music.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Monologue | مونولوج via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days

      €8 EUR or more 

     

  • Monologue Premium Vinyl Bundle (Vinyl Album + CD + Shirt + Tote Bag + Poster)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Get the ultimate YK Fan Bundle

    Monologue on vinyl
    AND
    the CD
    AND
    the t-shirt in your size
    AND
    the tote bag
    AND
    the Poster

    note: final product similar to the pictures

    Includes unlimited streaming of Monologue | مونولوج via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
Al Bidaye 04:22
(english below) البداية: رح تروح عمكان رح تكون انسان رح تروح عظلام رح يموت الانسان THE BEGINNING You will go to a place You will become a human You will enter darkness You will lose the human within
2.
Bshi Yom 04:54
(english below) بشي يوم: بشي يوم كان عنا بلد بشي يوم كان بشي يوم، كان بشي يوم بشي يوم كان عنا حلم بشي يوم كان بشي يوم، كان بشي يوم كنا نحكي بصوت عالي، كنا هون كلشي هون، كلشي هون احلامنا كانت حقيقة، عكس كلشي هون كلشي هون، كلشي هون تعا نغني انا و انت بشي بلد مسكين قوم معي نخبي الوقت، بلكي منضل عايشين راح البلد و راح الحلم و نحن وين رايحين؟ وين الحكي و ويننا نحن؟ وين صرنا عايشين بشي يوم كان عنا اسم بشي يوم كان بشي يوم، كان بشي يوم بشي يوم كان عنا قلب بشي يوم كان بشي يوم، كان بشي يوم كنا نسرد و ما نصحا ولا يوم ولا يوم، ولا يوم كنا نشرد و نتخيل كل لون اي كل لون، لك اي كل لون تعا نغني انا و انت بشي بلد مسكين قوم معي نخبي الوقت، بلكي منضل عايشين راح البلد و راح الحلم و نحن وين رايحين؟ وين الحكي و ويننا نحن؟ وين صرنا عايشين ONE DAY One day we had a country, once One day, one day One day we had a dream, once One day, one day We used to speak with free voices, we were here Everything was here, everything was here Our dreams were reality, unlike everything here Everything here, everything here Come, let’s sing, you and I, in some forlorn nation Come, let’s stop the flow of time, maybe we’ll stay alive The country is gone, the dream is gone, where are we going? Where is our voice, where are we now? Where are we living now? One day we had a name, once One day, one day One day we had a heart, once One day, one day We used to daydream, and not be awake even for a day Not even a day, not even a day We would sail away and paint our reveries in every color Yes every color, indeed in every color Come, let’s sing, you and I, in some forlorn nation Come, let’s stop the flow of time, maybe we’ll stay alive The country is gone, the dream is gone, where are we going? Where is our voice, where are we now? Where are we living now?
3.
Faragh 06:35
(english below) فراغ: لما الغرفة بتصغر قدامي و الخطوط، عم تكبر الغريب القاعد مكاني و الإيمان عم يصغر لما الكل بعالم تاني و الفراغ عم يغمق ماعم نفيق ولا حتى ثواني و الحروب عم تكثر خدوني على بلادي و ما تقلي رح تعمر بكفيني الدمار القدامي لأفهم، مين أخرس ما عم اقدر سيطر على حالي ولا حتى اش أخسر قالولي الحرية شي خيالي ليكني حر بس أخرس خذني على بلادي و ماتقلي رح تعمر، ما تقلي، لا لا خذني على بلادي و ماتقلي رح تعمر، ما تقلي، لا لا خذني على بلادي و ماتقلي رح تعمر، ما تقلي، لا لا خذني على بلادي و ماتقلي رح تعمر، ما تقلي، لا لا لا لا لا لا لا لا لا لا..... EMPTINESS As I feel the room grow small around me and the lines are growing deeper This stranger sitting instead of me and faith getting weaker When everyone is in another world and the emptiness gets bleaker We lay dormant, not awake for a single second and the wars are multiplying Take me back to my country and don’t tell me it’ll be rebuilt I’ve seen enough destruction to understand who remains silent I’m losing control over myself not even what I’m losing They told me freedom is an imaginary thing Yet here I am, free but in silence Take me to my country and don’t tell me it’ll be rebuilt, don’t tell me, no no x 3 No, no…..
4.
(english below) مافي شي بيجمعنا الحقيقة هربت مني و اليأس تفشى بجسمنا الصندوق اللي فيو عقلي ما هو اكبر مننا كلنا التغيير مارح يجي منني بس الكره قاعد بيننا الحقيقة عم تاكلني لأنو مافي شي بيجمعنا... الواقع ما بيسمحلي أكتب عن أفراحنا و الألم ما عم يتركني أساير زيف انسانيتنا حط عيونك بعيوني من أيمت فعلاً بهمك؟ الطير بالأرض صار منسي لأنو مافي شي بيجمعنا... كان يا ما كان كان في كذبة اسمها سلطة و اللي كان واقف معنا هلق صار طاير فوقنا بدك تغير لازم تآمن يا أنسى القصة كلها قوم لفني حاج تكابر بلكي منلحق نغسل جروحنا مافي شي بيجمعنا... NOTHING UNITES US The truth has escaped me and despair spreads within our bodies The box containing my mind is not bigger that all of us Change is not going to come from within me but hatred sits cozy among us The truth is eating me up inside because nothing unites us Reality doesn’t permit me to record our happier moments The pain won’t allow me to open dialogue with our fake humanity Look me right in the eye and tell me, when did it truly matter to you? The birds of this world are a forgotten fancy because nothing unites us Once upon a time There was a lie called authority And those who were standing with us Now look down on us from above If you want change you have to believe Or else forget the whole idea So stop gloating, and embrace me as your equal Maybe we’ll manage to clean each other’s wounds Nothing unites us…
5.
(english below) لحن الحياة بقلب الشمس شفناه و بعمق البحر عشناه كتبه الموت لحن الحياة و لما الشمس بتروح و الوقت بالفلا موقوف رح يجي دور لحن الحياة ريحة تراب الشارع النديان مع الشمعة و صمت الاذان بلحظة الخوف بلحن الحياة بعد الصمت في شروق بوقتها الطير رح يطلع فوق حدود و يعيد من فوق لحن الحياة THE ANTHEM OF LIFE we saw it within the sun and lived it in the ocean’s depths death wrote of it the anthem of life and when the sun flickers away and time stops dead in the cosmos the turn will come for the anthem of life the smell of wet soil in the street with a candle and silent minarets in the moment of fear of the anthem of life after the silence comes the dawn thus the bird will rise above the borders and will repeat from above the anthem of life
6.
Ana Al Kezeb 07:19
(english below) أنا الكذب أنا الغربة أنا السفر أنا الوداع أنا التعب أنا المرض أنا الحرب أنا الخوف أنا النصر أنا الدم أنا الهم اللي بينعتل كل مرة كل مرة، كل مرة، كل مرة، كل مرة أنا القوي أنا الكذب أنا التخت أنا العقل أنا العصفور أنا الحبل أنا المعشوق أنا العشق أنا الدير أنا الخير اللي حبك من أول نظرة وبكل مرة، بكل مرة، بكل مرة، وبكل مرة لا اعلم...ان كان العصفور الذي تحمله بين يديك ميت ام حي، لكن كل ما أستطيع قوله انه بين يديك...بين يديك...بين يديك... I AM THE LIE I am the diaspora, I am the exodus I am the farewell, I am the fatigue I am the plague, I am the war I am fear, I am victory I am the blood, I am the constant worry carried every time Every time, every time, every time, every time I am the strength, I am the lie I am the bed, I am the mind I am the bird, I am the string I am the lover, I am adoration I am the monastery, I am the goodness that loved you at first sight And every time, every time, every time, every time I don’t know… if the bird you hold in your hands is dead or alive, but everything I can possibly say is within your hands… within your hands… within your hands
7.
(english below) خلايا سرطانية المشكلة مو بالمرض، المشكلة فينا المرض بيتقبلنا، بس نحن الله ينجينا هو شي عادي بس نحن منخاف ينهينا دايما الوجع، الخوف المزروع فينا ما بقا أقدر وقف وقت عرفت "وهادا حقي" صارت تبكي وأنا بدي بس أحميها من يأسي تضاربت الأفكار، ذكريات، شريط حياة..ببكي ! تنفست وطلعت، شفت الرحلة، غصبا عني. ذكريات سرطانية، رح تروح وتجي رح اتضل العمر معك، ما بتختفي ذكريات مو بشعة، اوعك ابدا تصطنعا ذكريات سرطانية ما تنساها بدعائك شهرين علاج، عمليات و مصاريف أهل و عيلة، تعب و مناقيش الكل يأسان و انا بس بدي قوم عيش حالة من الفوضى و الكل عم يشرب حشيش طب إستغلال، أسماء عالفاضي بتحط الفوقك و التحتك لأنك فاني ما بتسترجي تهرب و تكون واحد أناني لأنك مانك لحالك بهالعالم الرأسمالي ذكريات سرطانية، رح تروح و تجي رح اتضل العمر معك، ما بتختفي ذكريات مو بشعة، اوعك ابدا تصطنعا ذكريات سرطانية ما تنساها بدعائك CANCEROUS CELLS The problem is not the disease, the problem is us The illness accepts us, but we pray for salvation It’s a normal occurrence, but we fear it might end us It’s always pain and fear that is engrained within us My legs grew weak when I found out, it was my “right” to react She started to cry as I tried to protect her from my despair Thoughts collided, memories, scenes from my life, all damp with tears I took a deep breath, saw the journey ahead, and had no choice Cancerous memories will come and go They stay with you for a lifetime, and won’t let go Memories that aren’t that ugly, so don’t ever fake it Cancerous memories, don't leave them out of your prayers Two months of treatment, procedures and expenses Parents and family, exhaustion and pastries Everyone despaired while all I wanted was to get up and live my life A state of chaos all around, but everyone is high on something Medical business is blackmail, full of names that mean nothing You spend all you have because you are mortal You don’t dare to run away or to be selfish with yourself Because you’re not alone in this capitalistic world Cancerous memories will come and go They stay with you for a lifetime, and won’t let go Memories that aren’t that ugly, so don’t ever fake it Cancerous memories, don't leave them out of your prayers
8.
(english below) هالأرض لمين؟ اسأل حالك عن فكرة الحدود كسور سجنك مين حط الحروف؟ ارفع راسك مانك لاجئ بحور روح وين بدك الأرض مالها حدود هالأرض لمين؟ هروب من الموت سياسة تهجير مع ورقة بسبور بتوقعك بالبير معقول كل هالحدود كل هاد تقسيم مشان يشعلو حروب و نعيش ميتين هالأرض لمين؟ صار٣ سنين و لساتني ما عم افهم لمين؟ الحدود كترانين و بكل محل صار يمين فيك تحط بسبور فيك تحط حدود فيك تحط جنود مارح تمنعني فيك تعلي السور فيك تخبي وجوه فيك تغسل عقول مارح توقفني هالأرض ألي هالأرض ألك هالأرض ألها هالأرض النا Who Owns This Earth? Ask yourself about the concept of borders Break your prison Who wrote those orders? Raise your head You're not a refugee of the oceans Roam wherever you want to Because this earth has no borders Who owns this earth? Escaping from death Migration politics And this paper called “passport” Will imprison you Are they real, all these borders? All these divisions To stoke the fires of war And make us live like we’re (already) dead Who owns this earth? It’s been 3 years now and I still don’t know to whom it belongs more borders have been fortified while the right continues to multiply You can impose passports You can build borders You can send soldiers You won’t deter me You can make the fence higher You can hide faces You can brainwash the masses You won’t stop me This earth is mine This earth is yours This earth is hers This earth is ours
9.
Al Tayr 04:47
(english below) الطير عبشوف من فوق الطير عبلاد مليانة خير بس ما قدرت شوف حدود و اني السما بس غيوم بالهجرة محكوم الطير عالبحر بالارض و بالليل جناحو من البرد مكسور و صوتو يا دوب مسموع فجأة طلعت الشمس و قلي الطير الحرية ثمنها الويل ثمنها غربة الويل حاولت خبرو للطير عن الحدود طول الليل بس ما فهم شو يعني حدود و كيف منقسم بلاد بخطوط فيقني بس نوصل يا طير بالسلام و الحب عالبيت حوالينا اتجمع طيور حملونا عالأمل نعود فجأة غربت الشمس نام بخير عالسلام تصبح يا طير تصبح يا طير The Bird I have a bird’s eye view Of a land filled with bounty But I couldn’t see any borders Nor any darkening clouds in the sky The bird is sentenced to migrate Over seas, over land, and at night His wing flaps brokenly from the cold And his voice is barely heard Suddenly the sun rose And the bird said to me The price of freedom is exile Its price is exile I tried to tell the bird About borders all night long But he couldn’t understand what borders mean Nor how we divide lands with lines Wake me when we arrive, oh bird, At our home, with peace and love All around birds flocked to us And carried us in the hope we’d return Suddenly the sun had set Sleep well Wake up to peace, oh bird, To peace, bird

about

On December 13th Syrian electronic-folk artist Yousef Kekhia will release his long awaited debut album "Monologue". With a unique combination of arabic lyrics, western folk and electronic music he creates his own universe of spheric and yet intimate soundscapes. Lyrically, "Monologue" is a very personal but still universal journey through the singers life. About his situation as a refugee, dealing with cancer, anxiety and depression. Kekhia's approach to these heavy topics is turning them into positive messages through the spirit of music.

credits

released December 13, 2019

Written by Yousef Kekhia
Composed by Yousef Kekhia
Mixing: Benedikt MacIsaac
Mastering: Zino Mikørey
Artwork: Philipp Pusch

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Yousef Kekhia Berlin, Germany

Yousef Kekhia is a singer-songwriter from Aleppo, now based in Berlin.

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