Je Suis Jaloux by Abdelwahab Doukkali: A Rare Blend of French Chanson and Moroccan Soul
A deep cut from the 1960s, this genre-bending track showcases Doukkali’s unique fusion of French and Moroccan influences, & a glimpse into his brief exploration of pop and psychedelic sounds
Je Suis Jaloux by Abdelwahab Doukkali, likely released in the late 1960s on the Philips label (I haven’t been able to find a release date!), showcases Doukkali's unique blend of French chanson with Moroccan influences. This song, recorded in France, brought together orchestral arrangements, strings, and the oud, played by Doukkali himself. It was put together with a bit of an R&B rhythm that is unlike almost anything he’d recorded.
His earlier hit, "Ya lghadi f’ tomobil," sung in Moroccan Darija, was a 10-minute song that sold over a million copies and cemented his status in North Africa. With "Je Suis Jaloux," Doukkali expanded his reach, introducing his music to a new audience in the francophone world and further solidifying his influence across cultural borders.
It's a bit of a deep cut, and finding detailed information about the song is challenging. For Doukkali, it was likely an attempt to expand his appeal beyond Morocco into France and Belgium—clearly a period when he was exploring pop influences before returning to more traditional Moroccan music.
With over 60 years as a performer and more than 30 albums released, this single stands out from the rest of his work, dipping into the psychedelic rock sound of the era in a way that's unlike anything else I've heard from him.
Even the video I like for it has less than 150 plays as of this writing – sound quality is better & I love watching records spin.
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