Habibi I Love You

Habibi I Love You
"Habibi I Love You" is a 2013 song by Ahmed Chawki featuring rapper Pitbull. The original song was bilingual in Arabic performed by Chawki in Arab dialect (rather than classical Arabic) and rap section in English performed by Pitbull. The single was produced by RedOne. The music video was filmed in Miami, Florida.
The song was also interpreted in additional languages like French, Spanish, and Dutch. It charted in France and the Netherlands.
Music video
Filmed in Miami, Florida, music video shows Chawki performing his song on the beach and sometimes he is accompanied by Pitbull. In a concurrent storyline, Chawki is pursuing an unknown love interest, trying to attract her attention by appearing in various quick cloth changes, but despite his best efforts, she continues to ignore him. But eventually, the two meet in the backdrop of a sea resort where they are both residing. The last scene shows she is finally in his arms and both of them join Pitbull in the final refrain of the song. Non-Arabic Music Videos (Excepting Greek and Dutch versions) marks the additional appearance of other singers in their respective languages alongside Pitbull (Like Kenza Farah in French, Sophia del Carmen in Spanish and Mandinga in Romanian Version).
Track list
Track list – remixes
"Habibi I Love You" (Ahmed Chawki feat. Pitbull) [Radio Edit] (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You" (Ahmwed Chawki feat. Pitbull) [Tommy Rocks Club Radio Remix] (3:35)
"Habibi I Love You" (Ahmed Chawki feat. Pitbull) [Tommy Rocks Club Remix] (6:07)
"Habibi I Love You" (Ahmed feat. Pitbull) [DJ Idriss Radio Remix] (3:34)
Track list – remixes – single
"Habibi I Love You" (Radio Edit) [Ahmed Chawki feat. Pitbull] (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You" (Tommy Rocks Remix Radio Edit) [Amed Chawki feat. Pitbull] (3:35)
"Habibi I Love You" (DJ Idriss Radio Remix) [Ahmed Chawki feat. Pitbull] (3:34)
Track list – French version
"Habibi I Love You" (feat. Kenza Farah & Pitbull) [100 Hits été 2013] (3:31)
Track list – Spanish version
"Habibi I Love You" (feat. Pitbull) [Spanish Radio Edit] (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You" (feat. Pitbull) [Arabic Club Radio Edit] (3:35)
"Habibi I Love You" (feat. Pitbull) [Arabic Radio Edit] (3:40)
Track list – Spanish single
"Habibi I Love You" (Ahmed Chawki feat. Sophia del Carmen & Pitbull) (3:40)
Track list – Spanish EP
"Habibi I Love You" (feat. Sophia del Carmen & Pitbull) – Single – (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You (feat. Pitbull) [Arabic Radio Edit] (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You (feat. Pitbull) [Arabic Club Radio Edit] (3:35)
"Habibi I Love You (feat. Pitbull) [Spanish Radio Edit] (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You (feat. Pitbull) [Arabic Radio Edit] Mykonos (3:40)
"Habibi I Love You (feat. Pitbull) [Arabic Radio Edit] Crazy Beach (3:40)
Track list – Dutch single
"Habibi I Love You" (Chawki feat. Pitbull & Do) (3:40)
Versions
Summary of versions by Ahmed Chawki
French version
The song became a hit in France and other French-speaking markets after a trilingual Arabic/French/English version was launched with additional lyrics by John Mamann sung by Chawki and French-Algerian singer Kenza Farah. Titled "Habibi I Love You (Mon amour, I Love You" it was credited to Ahmed Chawki featuring Kenza Farah & Pitbull. The music video was re-edited with additional footage of Kenza Farah. The song was presented live during "Fête de la Musique à Marseille 2013" and was presented on various French television stations.
Greek version
With the song already big in Greece and Cyprus, a Greek version was released in January 2014 featuring Pitbull and Greek singer Fani Drakopoulou (in Greek Φανή Δρακοπούλου) "Habibi I Love You" and subtitled "Χαλάλι Σ'αγαπώ". Chawki's main renditions in this version are in Spanish whereas Drakopoulou sings in Greek.
Spanish version
Simultaneously, a Hispanic version (trilingual Arabic/Spanish/English) was released with additional lyrics in Spanish composed by Armando Perez. The track was recorded with additional vocals by Sophia del Carmen. The Hispanic version was released by Warner Music Spain and was credited to Ahmed Chawki featuring Sophia del Carmen & Pitbull. Both Ahmed Chawki and Sophia del Carmen sing the Spanish verses. The Miami, Florida music video was re-edited, adding footage by del Carmen.
Dutch version
On 22 November 2013, a Dutch version was released which is a quadrilingual release in Arabic/Spanish/Dutch/English with the participation of the Dutch singer Do who sings parts in Dutch whereas Ahmed Chawki sings most of the lyrics in Spanish. It was released on Sony Music with the single appearing at number 10 in its first week of release on the official Dutch Single Top 100 charts, and climbed to number 5 (peak position). A separate new music video was released rather than a re-edit of the existing music video.
Versions by other artists
Romanian artists Nek and Blondu de la Timişoara have released a track title "Habibi", a remake of the song with an all-Romanian lyrics and new musical arrangement. The duo released a music video to accompany the sing. This non-official version gained popularity long before the official Romanian version featuring Mandinga.
Charts
Ahmed Chawki featuring Pitbull
Chawki featuring Pitbull & Do
*Did not chart in main Dutch Top 40 chart, but was #2 on the "bubbling under" Tipparade Chart
See also
"Habibi (I Need Your Love)"
References
2013 songs
Macaronic songs
Ahmed Chawki songs
Pitbull (rapper) songs
Song recordings produced by RedOne
Number-one singles in Israel
Songs written by RedOne
Songs written by Pitbull (rapper)
Songs written by John Mamann