Chaabi is a traditional music of Algiers (capital city of Algeria). Originally from the Casbah, Chaabi first appeared in the late 19th century. Chaabi simply means "folk" in Algerian. A typical song features mournful, Arabic/Berber vocals, set against an orchestral backdrop of a dozen musicians, with violins and mandolins swelling and falling to a piano melody and the clap of percussion beats. Chaabi shares many set themes with Flamenco - love, loss, exile, friendship and betrayal.