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Zebda (from , zubda, ) is a French band from Toulouse, known for its political activism and its wide variety of musical styles. The group, which was formed in 1985, consisted of seven musicians of diverse nationalities, and the themes of much of their music involved political and social justice, the status of immigrants and minorities in France, and the inhabitants of the French banlieues, or suburbs.
English: "Zebda continues to talk about exclusion, racism, tolerance and its opposite." Zebda earned widespread recognition, as well as several awards, for its 1998 single "Tomber la chemise" ("Taking Off Shirt"). In 2001, the band spearheaded an independent political party that won over 12% of the first-round vote in Toulouse's municipal elections. The band was disbanded in 2003 but reformed in 2011.
The group released its first album, L'arène des rumeurs, in 1992, under the label of Barclay Records. As the band toured and performed, the members continued to be active in community work, and Zebda became known for its politicized lyrics. Its 1995 album, Le bruit et l'odeur ("The Noise and the Smell") took its name from a gaffe made by then-president Jacques Chirac in reference to the conditions in the French banlieues, many of which have large immigrant populations. Page 3. The record itself had a strong critical and commercial reception and has been said to have "caused a major stir" in France.
In 2003, Zebda released its only live album, La Tawa, after which the band split up.
The group reformed in 2011 and toured France. A new album, Second tour, was released in January 2012. "Zebda : 'Nous nous sommes débarrassés de l’accessoire'.", L'humanité.fr, 18 November 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
In 1997, three members of Zebda formed a group called "Tactikollectif," which was involved in Fundraising and advocacy for immigrant groups in the banlieues. In the 2001 municipal elections, Zebda sponsored and spearheaded a list of independent candidates, Les Motivé-e-s ("The Motivated Ones"), who ran for office on the platform that the current local government was not representative of all demographic groups in the city. Les Motivé-e-s was also dedicated to encouraging local youth and immigrants to vote and become more involved in local political issues. The group of candidates, two of whom were Zebda band members, won 12.38% of the vote in the first-round elections, and advanced to the second round, where they were narrowly defeated.International Viewpoint Online magazine, IV330 – April 2001, Jan Malewski.
" Le mouvement « Motivé(e)s », dans lequel sont engagés, de près ou de loin, tous les membres de Zebda, rafle 12,38% des suffrages au premier tour des municipales à Toulouse."
English: "The Motivé(e)s movement, in which all the members of Zebda were engaged from near or from far, won 12.38% of the votes in the first round of the municipal elections in Toulouse."
After the band's breakup in 2003, the individual members continued to be active in local politics and other activities for social advocacy.
The group is best known for its single " Tomber la chemise" ("Take Off Your Shirt"), from the 1998 platinum album Essence ordinaire. In addition to being a commercial success, the song went on to be named the best French song of 2000 at both the Victoires de la musique awards and the NRJ Music Awards.
| 1992 | L'arène des rumeurs | ||||
| 1995 | Le bruit et l'odeur | ||||
| 1998 | Essence ordinaire | 3 | |||
| 1999 | Le bruit et l'odeur (re-release) | 54 | |||
| 2002 | Utopie d'Occase | 3 | 36 | 36 | |
| 2012 | Second Tour | 4 | |||
| 2014 | Comme des Cherokees | 22 | 81 | ||
| 2003 | La Tawa (live) | 40 | |
| 2012 | Plan d'occupation du sol (compilation from live shows) | 127 | |
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