Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Ronza - Do You Thinkرونزا - قولكAwlak

Ronza was popular in the 80s, with many songs composed by the Rahbani Brothers after Fairuz and Assi's divorce.



Ronza - Do You Think?

Do you think we'll ever meet again and go out?
And talk like we used to when we were young
And walk together, and sing together
Do you think?

Do you think the old times will ever come back and we'll walk down this road again?
And the wind will blow and take us away together
And you'll tell me I love you and I am jealous about you (there is an idea that if you love someone you will get jealous a lot because you covet them)
Do you think?

If only the days would come back to me each night
And I could see his eyes again and that bright smile
And he would be mine as long as I live
And I could keep him in my heart and eyes

رونزا - قولك

قولك قولك قولك رح نتلاقى بعد بشي مشوار
نحكي متل الماضي وقت كنا صغار
ونتمشى سوى ونغني سوى
قولك

قولك بعد بيرجع الزمن العتيق
نمشي أنا وانت عهاد الطريق
ويهب الهوا وياخدنا سوا
وانت تقول لي بحبك وانا عليك بغار
قولك

يا ريت اليام ترجع لي ليلية
وارجع شوف عيونه والضحكة المضوية
ويبقى لي عطول مهما العمر يطول وخبيه بقلبي وعيني

Lyrics transcription from here

Rachid Taha - Everybody Out!رشيد طه - بره برهBarra Barra

"Barra (بره)" means "outside" and therefore "barra barra" means "get out" or "everybody out". This song is about all the problems there are in Algeria, and the reality that you have to get out of the country to escape those things, a sentiment also expressed in Cheb Khaled's "El Harba Wine?" However, you could alternatively understand the song as a message to those who are responsible for the problems.

Of course Rachid Taha like most of the biggest Rai singers has in fact fled Algeria and currently lives in France.



Rachid Taha - Everybody Out!

Everybody out! There's sadness, rage and treachery
Everybody out! Corruption and jealousy, no longer can anyone be trusted
Everybody out! Thirst, the people are forsaken
Everybody out! There's no honor, just oppression and slavery
Everybody out! Thankfulness is gone and ugliness is everywhere
Everybody out! The stars have gone out and the sun has gone black
Everybody out! There's no more goodness, happiness or prosperity
Everybody out! There's no more trees and the birds have stopped singing
Everybody out! There's no day or night, only darkness
Everybody out! Hell has taken over, there's no beauty left
Everybody out! The time has passed, there is no honor
Everybody out! There's corruption and war and the blood is running
Everybody out! Only the walls are left standing
Everybody out! There's fear and so everyone is silent

رشيد طه - برا برا

بره بره... الحزن والبغض والزوارة
بره بره... الفسد والحسد ما بقى أمانة
بره بره العطش والناس منحوسين
بره بره... لا حرمة ظلم وعبودية
بره بره... الشكر دان والقبح ران
بره بره... النجوم طفت ظلمت الشمس
بره بره... مابقي خير لا سعاده ولا زهار
بره بره... مابقت شجرة سكتوا لطيور
بره بره... مابقي ليل ولنهار لضلمه
بره بره... الجهنم نما ما بقي الزين
بره بره... كتر الزمان مابقت حرمه
بره بره... الفسد والحرب والدم يسيل
بره بره... الحيطان الحيطان واقفين
بره بره... الخوف فالناس ساكتين

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Amr Diab - What Can We Say? (I'm Yours)عمرو دياب - نقول ايه | أنا ليكNeoul Eh (Ana Leek)



Amr Diab - What Can We Say? (I'm Yours)

What can we say?
That's it, there's nothing left for us to say
We've reached a level of love that nobody in this world has every reached

I'm yours, my darling, and I will never be anyone's but yours
My heart (literally, soul) needs you
This moment that you are far from me
How can my heart survive it?

My darling, how can I express how happy I am with you
It's tough
You've given me more than I ever dreamed of

عمرو دياب - أنا ليك

نقول ايه خلاص انا و انت حبيبي مفيش حاجة نقولها
واصلين لدرجة حب محدش في الدنيا وصلها

انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها
انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها

يا حبيبي أوصف فرحتي بيك ازاي صعب عليا
أكتر يا قلبي ما بحلم بقى ملكي و بقى في إيديا

انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها
انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها
انا ليك و عمري ما اكون يا حبيبي غير ليك روحي شاغلها
دي الثانية و انت بعيد ازاي قلبي هيستحملها

DAM - I Have No Freedomدام - ما إلي حريةMali Hurriye



DAM - I Have No Freedom

Chorus:
Everywhere I go I see borders, imprisoning humanity
How come all the children in the world are free, but I have no freedom?

Tamer:
We've been living for more than fifty years behind the bars of the laws that are imprisoning me in a reality that never changes
We don't get to feel any light except a fence from it
We see a blue sky with white clouds
In the middle of a star that reminds me I'm tied up (ie Israeli flag)
But no I'm resilient, living optimistically
You won't keep me from hoping with a dividing wall
And even if this barrier surrounds me I am tied to Palestine like a fetus to an umbilical chord
My legs are the roots of the olive tree in the earth that keeps producing and regrowing branches
Every branch outstretched in peace
Every branch subject to occupation, refusing to give up
So why don’t I have freedom?
Because I refuse to live in slavery

Mahmoud:
We searched for peace among the leaders of war
Generals of war, with them we've all become children of war
Asking for freedom from the prisons that mean to keep us blinded
Our eyes staring at the free children
While we keep rolling to the bitter life
And our leaders are only good at sweet-talking
Meanwhile they're crippling our country
We use power because of our weakness
We put up with death so that life will treat us kindly and not with oppression
We were born into this life
And when we found that we were not in control of it, we tried to take it by force
So we died, when all we ever asked for was a breath
And what we've sacrificed is our souls
So you tell me
How come I have no freedom when all the children in the world are free

Suheil:
I don’t want to live on my knees
And I don't want to die on my feet
I still see the Occupation reaching out its hand
Not for peace
Not for equality
Rather to strangle me
Another massacre
And a wall that’s separating me from myself that doesn't let me see the light of day
While the mother of the 51st state (ie America) raises another state
They who have been raised at the expense of another (ie Israel) are just like their mother
We're like the American Indians
Instead of protecting us they brainwash us
They tell us that we're the problem
But all the armies in the world can't stop freedom!

Little Girl Reading Poem:

We want an angry generation
To plow the horizon
To tear up history by its roots
To rip out thought from its depths
We want a new generation
That does not forgive for past mistakes
Nor bow down nor know any hypocrisy
We want a bold generation of giants

دام - مالي حرية

لازمه-علاء عزام
وين ما اروح باشوف حدود
ساجنه الأنسانيه
ليه أطفال العالم حره
وأنا ما الي حريه ?!

تامر نفار
فوق ال 50 سنه احنا عايشين ورى
سجون البنود اللي ساجنيني انا
بواقع, ما يتغير مش حاسين ولا
نور الاّ سياج منها احنا شايفين سما
لونها أزرق غيمها أبيض
بالنص نجمه تذكرك انت مقيد
بس لا, انا صامد, عايش متفائل
ما تعزل مني الامل بجدار فاصل
ولو, السور يدور انا مربوط
بفلسطين كجنين لحبل الطابور
اجري بالأرض جذور شجر زتون
تضل تولد تجدد وتجدد غصون
كل غصن, ممدود للسلام, كل غصن
معروض لاحتلال, ما يريد استسلام
طب ليه, ليه أنا اللي ما اله حريه ?
لأني أنا رافض أني أعيش بعبوديه
لازمه *2
محمود جريري
احنا بندور عالسلام بين قواد حرب
رواد حرب معاهم صرنا أولاد حرب
نطلب الحريه من السجون المعنيه
انه نكون مع عيون دايما معميه
من التفرج عأطفال العالم الحره
دايما نضل بتدحرج للحياه المره
وقوادنا شاطرين بس بتبهرج الكلام
كلهم ماخدين تخرج بتعرج الأوطان
واحنا بنستعمل القوه عشان الضعف
بنتحمل الموت عشان الحياه تعاملنا بلطف
ومش بعسف, للحياه انولدنا
ولما لقيناها مش بايدنا جربنا نوخدها
فمتنا, وكل اللي طلبنا كان نفس
و اللي ضحينا عشانه برضو كان نفس
انت قل لي, ليش أطفال العالم حره
وانا ما الي انا ما الي حريه?!
لازمه *2
سهيل نفار
انا بديش اعيش عركبي
وانا بديش اموت عاجري
وانا لساتني شايف الاحتلال
مادد ايد, مش للسلام
مش مساواه بل تايهديني
حبل مشنقه, كمان مجزره
وجدار اللي فاصل بيني وبين حالي
اللي ما مخلليني اشوف ضو السماء
وأم ال 51 ولايه
تربي كمان ولايه
اللي تربى على حساب غيرها
متأثره من امها, الهنود الحمر
متأمله تمحينا تغسل دماغنا
تقللنا انه المشكله هي احنا
بس حتى جيوش العالم
كلها ما تقدرعالحريه
لازمه *2
عنات اغباريه:
نريد جيلا غاضبا
نريد جيلا يفلح الأفاق
وينكش التاريخ من جذوره
وينكش الفكر من الأعماق
نريد جيلا قادما مختلف الملامح
لا يغفر الأخطاء لا يسامح
لا ينحني لا يعرف النفاق
نريد جيلا, رائدا عملاق

Lyrics transcription from here

Monday, September 28, 2009

Myriam Fares - Eih Elly Byehsal / ميريام فارس - إية اللى بيحصل

An Amazing video clip for Myriam faris on Youtube, it's hot - Eih Elly Byehsal ايه اللى بيحصل


Myriam Fares - Nadini / ميريام فارس - ناديني

Very beautiful ِArabic song by Myriam fares Nadini ناديني


Myriam Fares - Ana Wel Shou' / ميريام فارس - أنا و الشوق

The best Arabic songs by Myriam Fares - Ana Wel Shou' انا والشوق


Meriam Fares - La Tes'alny / ميريام فارس - لا تسألني

Enjoy watching and listening to the best Arabic songs & music video clips from Meriam Fares in her song La Tes'alny - ميريام فارس لا تسألني


Ruby - Kol Ma A'ollo Ah / روبي - كل ما أقوله آه

Hot video clip, watch an Arabic song by the Egyptian Singer Ruby - Kol Ma A'ollo Ah (كل ما أقوله آه)


Ruby - Ana Omry Mastaneit Had / بي - انا عمري ماستنيت حد

Enjoy watching the amazing egyptian singer - Ruby and her beautiful song ( Ana Omry Mastaneit) أنا عمري ما ستنيت حد


Ruby - Ghawy / روبي - غاوي

Watch the beautiful Egyptian singer Ruby live on the stage with great Arabic music - enjoy Ruby's song Ghawy (غاوي) she is hot while singing & dancing on the stage.


Ruby - Eb'a Abelny / روبي - إبقى قابلني

Enjoy Arabic songs and music by the hot Egyptian singer Ruby - Eb'a Abelny.


Ruby - Ya Ramoush يا الرموش - روبي

Beautiful song by the Egyptian singer Ruby - Ya Ramoush يا الرموش - روبي



Amr Diab - Light of My Eyeعمرو دياب - نور العينHabibi Ya Nour el AynLumière De Mes Yeux

Updated media and translation

This is one of the most well known modern Arabic pop songs in the world. I think it was made around 1996. It made this Egyptian singer, Amr Diab the preeminent popstar of the Arabic world to this day.

The video appears to be set in a sort of Andalusian/North African village setting and the flamenco guitars and accordion add to this motif.



Amr Diab - Light of My Eye

My darling, light of my eye, you live in my imagination
I've adored you for years with nobody else on my mind

Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
Darling, darling, darling, light of my eye
You live in my imagination

The most beautiful eyes I've ever seen in the universe
God be with you and their magic
Your eyes are with me, your eyes are enough
Your eyes are with me, your eyes are enough
To light up the nights

Your heart called out to me and said you love me
God be with you, you reassured me

With you is the beginning, with you is the whole story
With you is the beginning, with you is the whole story
I'm with you until the end

عمرو دياب - نور العين

حبيبى يا نور العين يا ساكن خيالى
عاشق بقالى سنين ولا غيرك فى بالى

حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
آه حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
آه حبيبى حبيبى حبيبى يا نور العين
يا ساكن خيالى

اجمل عيون فى الكون انا شفتها
الله عليك الله على سحرها

عيونك معايا عيونك كفايا
عيونك معايا عيونك كفايا
تنور ليالى

قلبك ندانى وقال بتحبنى
الله عليك الله طمنتنى

معاك البدايه وكل الحكايه
معاك البدايه وكل الحكايه
معاك للنهايه

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Nancy Ajram - Ya Salam / نانسى عجرم - يا سلام

Watch the Arabic song (Ya Salam) by the amazing Arabic singer nancy Ajram.


Nancy Ajram - Lawn Eiounak / نانسى عجرم - لون عيونك

Enjoy Arabic music on Melody TV and have fun watching Arabic music with Nancy Ajram and her beautiful video clip Lawn Eiounak.


Nancy Ajram - Elly Kan / نانسى عجرم - اللي كان

Watch the sensational Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram in her beautiful video clip (Elly Kan). Enjoy Arabic music by Nancy Ajram.


Nancy Ajram - Yay Sehr Ouyounoo / نانسى عجرم - ياي سحر عيونو

The best Arabic music and songs, enjoy watching this video clip for Nancy Ajram (Yay Sehr Ouyounoo), it's an amazing song.


Nancy Ajram - Moshta'a Leik / نانسى عجرم - مشتاقة ليك

Enjoy one of the best songs (Moshta'a Leik) by the most beautiful Lebanese singers Nancy Ajram on Melody Tv .


Nancy Ajram - Eftah Albak - Live / نانسى عجرم - إفتح قلبك - حفلة

Live Arabic music on the stage with Nancy Ajram Song (Eftah Albak), enjoy the best Arabic songs .


Nancy Ajram - Baladeyaty - Live / نانسى عجرم - بلدياتى - حفلة

Watch Nancy Ajram live on the stage in one of her beautiful songs (Baladeyaty).




Nancy Agram - Mashy Haddy / نانسى عجرم - ماشى حدى

Enjoy this Arabic song (Mashy Haddy) by the amazing Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram.


Nancy Agram - Meen Dah Elly Nseik / نانسى عجرم - مين ده اللي نسيك

Enjoy Arabic Music and watch the Lebanese Singer Nancy Ajram in her beautiful song Meen Dah Elly Nseik.


Nancy Ajram - Lamset Eid / نانسى عجرم- لمسة إيد

Arabic Music - Melody Music. Beautiful song (Lamset Eid) by the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram.


Nancy Agram - El Donia Helwa / نانسى عجرم - الدنيا حلوة

Arabic Music - Melody Music. Watch a beautiful Arabic song by the famous singer Nancy Ajram - El Donia Helwa.


Saber el Rubai

Tunis Zitouna Great MosqueImage via Wikipedia

The Tunisian singer Saber el Rubai has a very nice voice. He is very elegant, sensitive and honest with himself and with his audience. He was born on the 12th of March in Tunisia. He started singing when he was twelve years old, encouraged by his family for his father played the Oud and his brother was a singer. Besides singing, Saber plays the Oud and the violin.He started the singing as his profession at 17 years old impressed by great singers among which Mohammad Abd El Wahab, Abd El Kader El Asaly, Wadih Al Safi, Abd El Halim Hafez, Karem Mahmoud. Saber composed some of his songs’ melodies among which the song “Word” (Kalima) with an outstanding rhythm. His work with Hilmi Baker, Salah El Charnoubi and Dr Abd El Rab Idriss was a great success. Great singers such as Sayyed Makkawi and Warda were very impressed by his voice.

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Sofia Marikh - The Word Loveصوفيا مريخ - كلمة حبKilmet Hob



Sofia Marikh - The Word Love

What difference would the word "love" make?
You could satisfy me with it
My heart asks about it a lot and you're keeping it from me
Tell me what you're feeling and make it sweet
Why are you holding it in?
I wanna hear it

Tell me it again and again and sing it to me
I need to hear it from you a lot

Day after day I'm getting more attached to you and I'm forced to hide it
While I stay up all night thinking of you
Why are you lighting my fire?
This love of yours is showing in your eyes
Why arey ou hiding it?
Then just say it I beg you, and put my mind at ease

صوفيا مريخ - كلمة حب

كلمة حب ح تفرق ايه ترضيني بيها قلبي بيسأل عنها كتير وانت مخبيها
ما اللي تحسه قوللي عليه قولها وحليها انت شايلها فقلبك ليه انا نفسي فيها
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير
يوم عن يوم بتعلق بيك وغلبت اداري وعايشة ليلاتي بقكر فيك ليه بتقد ناري
حبك ده باين في عينيك على ايه بتداري طب ما تقولها الله يخليك وريحلي بالي
يوم عن يوم بتعلق بيك وغلبت اداري وعايشة ليلاتي بقكر فيك ليه بتقد ناري
حبك ده باين في عينيك على ايه بتداري طب ما تقولها الله يخليك وريحلي بالي
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير
قولهالي تاني تاني قولهالي وغنيهالي محتاجة اسمعها منك كتير وكتير

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Rosanna عالروزانا الروزاناAl Rozana

The song "Al Rozana (ع الروزانا)" is a folk song native to the region of the Levant or بلاد الشام, ie Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. The story behind it is that at the height of the intense wheat famine that the region experienced at the beginning of the 20th century, and Italian ship called "The Rosanna" was said to have been sent carrying food to the starving population of the Levant. Everybody was waiting in anticipation for the ship's arrival, but when it finally landed as the story goes in the song, it was carrying nothing but apples and grapes, on of the foods that the region was actually overflowing with at that time. The people cursed the ship for this reason.

Here are the lyrics.

Oh the Rosanna, the Rosanna, everything good is inside her
What has the Rosanna done?
God punish her!
Oh the Rosanna the Rosanna, all happiness is inside her
What has the Rosanna done?
God punish her

Hey you who are going to Aleppo, my love went with you
Hey you who are carrying grapes and on top of that apples
Everyone is with their beloved and my beloved has gone
Oh lord, may the breeze bring my lover back to me

عالروزانا عالروزانا كل الحلى فيها
شو عملت الروزانا ألله يجازيها
عالروزانا عالروزانا كل الهنا فيها
شو عملت الروزانا الله يجازيها
يا رايحين ل حلب حبي معاكم راح
يا محملين العنب فوق العنب تفاح
كل من حبيبه معه وأنا حبيبي راح
يا ربي نسمة هوى ترد الولف ليا


In an article in al-Watan, Bandar Khalil explains the cultural significance of this event in the present day like this:

With this genuine Arabic song, many questions arise in the mind of the genuine Arab. For example, how many of our people have had all of their rosy dreams met with dark disappointment, and all their hopes were squandered on an endless range of despair, frustration and helplessness? How many of us have waited and were patient and bore all of the their pain, only to find that when our Rosanna came and dropped anchor in the harbor of their dreams, nothing came out of it... We as an Arab people that has spent its whole life waiting for numerous "Rosannas" which still have never arrived, while carrying further disappointment for our dreams, how many times must we hear this song each day?

Yet, we shouldn't take this song as perceived by every listener as a song that sums up the broken dreams of the Arab people. Nonetheless, the theme of disappointment pervades discussion of the song. One poster in another forum describes the song as perfect for expression the feeling of disappointment by some soccer team. The point is this folk song is very much a song about getting your hopes up only to find that the thing you were waiting for was a mirage.

I've supplied many different versions so everyone can find their favorite.

Sabah Fakhri (صباح فخري)



Tony Hana (طوني حنا) with Gypsy Band



Lena Chamamian (لينا شماميان)



Amal Marcus (أمل مرقص)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Sofia Marikh - I Love You So Muchصوفيا مريخ - نبغيك بزافBizzaf



Sofia Marikh - I Love You So Much

I love you so much, so much my darling
And I love you to death
Nobody but you has changed my life
Nor is anyone but you ever on my mind
You are so dear to my heart my darling

Your love is growing inside of me and I hope it continues to
Every day I feel something new

Nobody but you has changed my life
Nor is anyone but you ever on my mind
I love you so much, so much my darling
And I love you to death

صوفيا مريخ - بزاف

بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
بزاف عليك يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
غالي يا حبيبي غالي على قلبي بزاف
بزاف عليك يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
حبك يكبر فيي واكتر كي يزيد
انا كنشعر يوميي باحساس جديد
حبك يكبر فيي واكتر كي يزيد
انا كنشعر يوميي باحساس جديد
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
ولا غيرك غيرلي ايامي ولا غيرك ابدا على بالي
غالي يا حبيبي غالي على قلبي بزاف
بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف
بزاف بزاف يا حبيبي بزاف بزاف نبغيك ونموت عليك انا بزاف بزاف

Lyrics transcription from here

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Majida el-Roumi - Listen to My Heartماجدة الرومي - إسمع قلبيIsmaa AlbiÉcoute Mon Cœur

Updated media and translation

She's addressing her lover, expressing embarassment from his question "do you love me" or something along those lines. She's saying she doesn't want to respond, and he should know that from her behavior, that is, he should be able to tell. So he should listen to her heart and see "what is written in her eye," meaning what's on her mind, in order to see the truth.



Majida el-Roumy - Listen to My Heart

Listen to my heart and see its beats
You'll know my love from its rhythym

Why are you asking me and confusing me?
Listen to my heart and see its beats
You'll know my love
Listen
Listen to my heart

There is a word you want me to say to you, I know it
No matter how much you try, rest assured, I'm not going to say it

Ask my heart its secrets
It will not hide or conceal them

I can't tell you with my tongue that I love you
I can't tell you with my tongue that I love you
There is meaning in my heartbeat, it will answer you
The secrets of my heart and its tune are words
They are my tongue

The word you are waiting for is in my eye
The word you are waiting for is in my eye
Written, and you can read it
Look what it is
Look what it is
Ask it to tell you what's up with me
Possibly it loves you, possibly and what does it have to do with me

ماجدة الرومي - إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

في كلمة عاوزني أقولها لك أنا عرفاها
مهما تحاول ريح بالك، مش قايلاها
في كلمة عاوزني أقولها لك أنا عرفاها
مهما تحاول ريح بالك، ، مش قايلاها
إسأل قلبي عن أسراره
مش بيخبي ولا بيداري
إسأل قلبي عن أسراره
مش بيخبي ولا بيداري

ليه تسألني ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

مش ممكن أقلك بلساني إني بحبك
مش ممكن أقلك بلساني إني بحبك
دقة قلبي فيها معاني هي تجاوبك
أسرار القلب وألحانه هي كلام... هي لساني
ليه تسألني ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

الكلمة إللي بتستناها أهي بعيني
الكلمة إللي بتستناها أهي بعيني
مكتوبة وتقدر تقرأها... شوف أيه هي
شوف أيه هي
إسألها تقلك على حالي
يمكن بتحبك... يمكن، وأنا مالي
ليه ليه ليه تسألني ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي من نغماته
ليه تسألني وتحيرني
إسمع قلبي وشوف دقاته
تعرف حبي... إسمع
إسمع قلبي

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Ramallah Underground feat. Lethal Skillz - From the Caveمن الكهفMin il Kaheff



Ramallah Underground feat. Lethal Skillz - From the Cave

Words in the Sample:

They wanna starve the population, cuz when the people are hungry, they no longer think of resisting

Stormtrap:

I'm playing with death
I wanna know what is death toll here
I don't hear anything
Shut off the phone
Ask because nobody's been asking
Be they politician or diplomat
They're sittin on their chairs and discussing
Puttin their heads back relaxin as the homes in Lebanon and Gaza are being destroyed
It's time for us to flip off (ie give them the finger) the whole world cuz they're gonna keep talking and never do anything
So what do we wanna relax and wait, I wish
But it's for nothin
They forgot about us a long time ago
You try to hold yourself back when you see before you those who stood you up and those who carried you (???)
I'm not surprised if diabolical thoughts are goin round in your head
You start to call out to the world but the world's asleep
And even if it woke up it wouldn't hear what you're sayin

Here, it's like you can't win (literally, "one day's yours, a hundred are against you" this refers to the expression in Arabic يوم ليك يوم عليك which roughly translates as "win some, lose some")
There's barriers all around you, your wrists in handcuffs
Tell me what did you do?
I don't wanna hit the wall, I wish
But I am, just like this
My life is a bicycle tire
And now the chain is slipping
The time has come to hit the gas
Start pullin, start spreadin words in every direction
Because my words are my weapon

Boikutt:

One by one, two by two, three by three
They're wiping us out
Let's get down to the shelters before they see us
They bombard us wherever we go, but they could never push us out
We stand strong to the last moment when they're missiles hit us

And the Arab leaders have abandoned us, they left us and ran to our enemy
Cuz they couldn't help us
They promised us with the future, but look where they've brought us?
2007 and the world is marching on and they've blown us up
They starved us, they wanna make us forget
For years we kept building and they suddenly came and destroyed us like that
Threatened us, tried to scare us, poisoned us with democracy
They didn't even let us live a normal life
They put us on a fuse and detonated us
Demolished us and wiped up our blood
All that and they still haven't rid us of our woes

Chorus:

I try to ignore it, but politics keeps pulling at me
I tell it "go away, I don't wanna"
It tells me "I'm a part of your life, you cannot resist me"

Ramallah Underground - من الكهف

بدهم يجوعوا الأهالي لأنو الناس لما يجوعو ما بوعودو يفكروا بالمقاومة


نازل العب بالموت , بدي اعرف ايش عدد الموت هون
مش سامع ولا صوت, اطفي التلفون اسأل لأنو ولا حد سائل
سواءاً سياسي أو دوبلوماسي , قاعدين ع هالكراسي وبتحدثوا
بروحوا بحوطوا روسهم و بتمددو , والبيوت في لبنان و غزة عم يتهدموا
اجا الوقت نرفع بعبوص لكل العالم لأنو راح يضلو يحكي وعمرو ما حيعمل
فئيش بدنا نضلنا نقنع و نستنا بتمنى , بس عالفاضي من زمان نسييو عنا
ساعة بتمسك حالك لما تشوف قدامك , اللي قامك واللي شالك
مش مستغرب اذا افكار جهنمية عم بدور ببالك
نازل بتنادي عالدنيا بس الدنيا نامت , وحتى اذا قامت ما حتسمع كلامك
ها ما حتسمع كلامك!!!!!
هون يوم معاك مية عليك , حواجز حواليك , كلبشات ع ايديك
قولي شو سويت , مابدي فوت بالحيط ياريت
بس انا فايت هيك هيك , حياتي عجل بسكليت
وهلأ فلت الجنزير اجا الوقت ادعس بنزين
ابدا شد ابدا مد حكيي , لكل النواحي , لأنو كلماتي سلاحي.

بدهم يجوعوا الأهالي لأنو الناس لما يجوعو ما بوعودو يفكروا بالمقاومة

11 22 33
عم يمحونا,هات لننزل عال ملاجئ قبل ما يشوفونا
بقصوفونا وين ما روحنا بس بحياتهم ما بطحونا
صامدون لأخر لحظة لصواريخكم ايصابونا
و رؤساء العرب سابونا تركونا و هربوا لعند عدونا
لأنو ما قدروا يعدونا , وعدونا بالمستقبل بس شوف لوين جابونا
2007 عالم بمشي دوغري و احنا فجرونا , جوعونا,بدهم ينسونا
قعدنا سنين نبني و اجو فجأة هيك هدونا , هددونا و خوفونا
بالديمقراطية سممونا,حتى نعيش حياة طبيعية ما خلونا
حطونا عخط النار ونسفونا دمرونا نشفولنا دمنا
كل هاد و لسا ما خلصونا من همنا.

بحاول اطنش بس السياسة بتشدني
بقولها افلتي ما بدي
بتقولي انا جزء من حياتك
مش حتقدر تمشي ضدي.

Lyrics transcription from here

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Tamer Hosny - Loveتامر حسني - حبHob



Tamer Hosny - Love

Where was love before I loved you
Tomorrow, no I don't want tomorrow unless with you

If I will live calling one word may it be your name
If I will live dreaming of tomorrow may it be from you
You are my favorite topic
My life began anew when I first saw you

If you leave me I will not live again after you
I have never experienced affection except when I was beside you
Oh you who is inside my heart I've inscribed your image
All my hope in my life is to remain in your embrace

تامر حسني - حب

حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
لو حعيش أنده بكلمة تبقى أسمك
لو حعيش أحلم ببكرة يبقى منك
يلى أحلى سيرة لما بتيجى سيرتك
يلى عمرى أبتدى من يوم ما شوفتك
لو حعيش أنده بكلمة تبقى أسمك
لو حعيش أحلم ببكرة يبقى منك
يلى أحلى سيرة لما بتيجى سيرتك
يلى عمرى أبتدى من يوم ما شوفتك

حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
حب كان فين الحب قبل ما أهواك
بكرة مش عايز بكرة الا و أنا وياك
لو تسبنى مش حعيش أنا تانى بعدك
عمرى ماشوفت الحنان غير و انا جنبك
يلى جوه جوه قلبى حفرت صورتك
كل أملى فى الحياة أفضل فى حضنك
لو حعيش أنده بكلمة تبقى أسمك
لو حعيش أحلم ببكرة يبقى منك
يلى أحلى سيرة لما بتيجى سيرتك
يلى عمرى أبتدى من يوم ما شوفتك

Lyrics transcription from La7oon.com

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Mira Awad - Our Relationshipميرا عوض - علاقتناOlaqatuna

Mira Awad (Arabic ميرا عوض Hebrew מירה עווד) is an Arab-Israeli. Her father is a Palestinian from the Galilee and her mother is Bulgarian. In recent years, she has become famous and controversial as the first person of Arab descent to represent Israel in Eurovision, singing in Arabic. This, of course, was controversial for both Israelis and Arabs, since some Israelis see non-Jews as non-Israeli, while many Palestinians felt that Mira was being used as a token to falsely portray Israel as a pluralistic society. Still, other Arabs and Palestinians outside of Israel were outraged because Mira is an Arab with Israeli citizenship, pointing to tensions between Arabs and Palestinians descended from families that remained in Israel.

This song, sung in Modern Standard Arabic, is one of the most lyrically strange songs available on the site. Reader SimplyME has provided us with more info. Mira reportedly writes her own songs.




Mira Awad - Our Relationship

Our relationship has bonds of blood
It has bleeding blonds
A philosophical bleeding
A bleeding that has beauty
Our relationship has closeness, and distance
It is full of contradictions
Contradictions that make me find beauty in the bleeding

Our relationship has a connection of birth
It has a connection of miscarriage (or abortion??? the word used here إجهاض is normally the translation for "abortion", which in Arabic is a "forced miscarriage. I guess miscarriage makes sense here in a metaphorical sense, but this is the first time I have ever seen this word used metaphorically. This is extremely provocative language for an Arabic song)
A miscarriage of ideas
A miscarriage with spirituality

Our relationship is full of death, full of life
It's full of madness
Madness that makes me find spirituality in the miscarriage

ميرا عوض (מירה עווד) - علاقتنا

علاقتنا فيها ربط الدم
فيها روابط نزيف
نزيف فلسفي
نزيف ذي جماليات
علاقتنا فيها قرب فيها بعد
فيها تناقضات
تناقضات تجعلني أجد في النزيف جماليات

علاقتنا فيها صلة ولاد
فيها صلة إجهاض
إجهاض فكري
إجهاض ذي روحانيات
علاقتنا فيها موت فيها حياة
فيها جنونيات
جنونيات تجعلني أجد في الإجهاض روحانيات

Amr Diab - With Herعمرو دياب - وياهWayah



Amr Diab - With Her

This is what I've always wanted
For chance to bring her together with me
Why would I waste the chance of a lifetime?
No way

She's looking into my eyes
This is more than I've ever dreamed of
This is the day that I've been waiting for
So I could say...

With her
Life will be sweeter by her side
This is what I've been hoping for
And when I see her, I feel
That she is the most beautiful and special person
She made my heart tell me, "that's it, calm down, we've found her"

Yeaaah, I'm gonna say it again and again
She's right here beside me, not far away
My heart's so happy it's like a holiday
Waiting for her

C'mon, the time has come
I'm not gonna wait another day
I gotta tell her I've had my eyes on her for so long

عمرو دياب - وياه

ده اللي كان نفسي فيه
لو تيجي صدفة تجمعني به
فرصة عمري أضيعها ليه ؟
مش معقول

عيني قدام عنيه
ده أكتر من اللي حلمت به
ده اليوم اللي أنا مستنيه
علشان أقول

وياه
الحياة هتحلي وأنا معاه
هو ده اللي أنا بتمناه
واللي عيني شايفاه إحساس
أنه أحلي وأغلي الناس
خلي قلبي يقولي خلاص
أهدى بقه لقيناه

أيوه هقول وأعيد
مهو بقه جنبي ومش بعيد
فرحة قلبي كأنه عيد
مستنيه

يا الله أهو جه الأوان
مش هستنى اليوم كمان
لازم أقوله انا من زمان
عيني عليه

Monday, September 7, 2009

Fairuz - Oh Lauraفيروز - يا لور حبكYa Laure Hubbuki

This song appeared in the play Meis al Rim (ميس الريم) written by the Rahbani Brothers and starring Fairouz. I have supplied here the video from the play, in which Joseph Nassif (جوزيف نصيف) is singing, in addition to the mp3 or a version recorded by Fairouz.

I've translated the name Laur as Laura because it is the same name from the same root, referring to the Laurel tree which in Arabic can also be called شجر الغار.



Here is the Fairuz version:



You can click here to download it

Fairuz - Oh Laura

Oh Laura
Your love has tormented my heart
And I had given you my love and affection
Don't you recall our wonderful nights together
And the pledge we made to be true to each other?

The night, the breeze and the wailing nightingale
And the veil of melodies, as my heart loved you
So many dreams of love and purity blossomed
In them, days seemed like slumber

The night, the dreams and the wet shore
Longing, song, and the calm countryside
Those were such fine days, so wonderful and pure
When the melodies sang of loyalty and devotion


فيروز - يا لور حبك

يا لور حبك قد لوّع الفؤاد
وقد وهبتك الحب والوداد
ألا تذكري ليالي الصفا
وعهداً عهدناه على الوفا

الليل والأنسام والبلبل الشاكي
وسترة الأنغام والقلب يهواكِ
كم أزهرت أحلام بالحب والصفا
ظهرت بها الأيام مثل الغفا

الليل والأحلام والشاطئ النادي
والشوق والأنغام والموطن الهادي
يا طيبها أيام أحلى من الصفا
وتنشد الأنغام على الوفا

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Makhoul Qassouf - If Only the Moon...مخول قاصوف - ريتو القمرReito al Amar

Recorded in 1982, sung by Sami Hawat (سامي حواط)



Makhoul Qassouf - If Only the Moon...

If only the moon would come down as bread
Upon our houses and our fields
On wrecked homes
On tired hearts
Weariness has returned
All of the poems are sleeping
And the months bleed months


There's nothing left on the roads except sand and discarded plastic bags
On the mouth of the plains is a pile of bombs
A pile of stone and rain
Columns, like the people, bent over leaning

We've become images dried on the walls
And we fear the distance
We've become like this sound, echoing off water
They said it was done and the storm had passed
The morning has grown old
The darkness is still like swords on our necks
And the morning still has not come

It's early, my friend
Look at the black sky and the night crawling along its borders

If only the moon would descend upon the abandoned barricades
And lay mines of light in our hands so that we can blow up the graves
And meet the night head on in the squares
And the stones of the buried streets would awaken to our cries and rise up

مخول قاصوف - ريتو القمر

ريته القمر
ينزل خبز تنور
ع بيوتنا
ع حقولنا و يدور
ع بيوت خرباني
و قلوب تعباني

رجع الضجر
كل القصايد غافيه
و شهرْ ينزُف شهرْ

ما ضَّلْ عا الطرقاتْ
غير الرمل و كياسْ مشلُوحة
ع تمّ السهل
كومة قنابل
كومة حجارْ و شتي
عواميدْ مثل الناسْ
. . . عمْ تتكي تكي

صرنا صورْ
يبست على الحيطان
و نخاف المدى
صرنا متل هالصوت لميّ يرجّع صدى
قالوا خلص و العاصفة راحت
صار الصبح ختيار
بعدها العتمة سيوف
فوق رقابنا
بعده الصبح ما صار

بكير يا رفيقي
ليك السما سودا
و الليل عم يزحف على حدودها

ريته القمر
ينزل على متاريس مهجوره
يلغم ايدينا نور
نفجر فيها القبور
نهجم ع وجه الليلْ بالساحات
نخلّي حجارْ الشارع المقهور
تُوعى على صرخاتنا و تثور

Lyrics transcription from here

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Mohamed Abdel Wahhab - Don't Kiss Me on the Eyeمحمد عبد الوهاب - بلاش تبوسني في عنياBalash Tebousni fi Anaya

This song requires a piece of cultural knowledge. When kissing someone goodbye, if it is going to be a long separation or even permanent farewell you might kiss them on their eye. Thus, Mohamed Abdel Wahhab says "don't kiss me on the eye" because he does not want it to be a final farewell.

There is a common misunderstanding of this lyric to be بلاش تبصني في عنيا by some because this phrase, which means "don't look me in the eye", sounds a lot like بلاش تبوسني في عنيا and is a much more common phrase.

I could not find the full lyrics online and don't dare try to decipher them since they are very long and the recording is old. If anyone can find the full lyrics it would be appreciated.



Mohamed Abdel Wahab - Don't Kiss Me on the Eye

Don't kiss me on the eye
Kissing the eye means splitting up
But maybe one day you'll come back to me
And my heart's dream will come true

Let's say goodbye without kissing
So that I can have some hope
Don't kiss me on the eye

محمد عبد الوهاب - بلاش تبوسني في عنيا

بلاش تبوسني في عينيا
دي البوسه في العين تفرق
يمكن في يوم ترجع اليا
والقلب حلمه يتحقق
خلي الوداع من غير قبل
علشان يكون عندي أمل
وبلاش تبوسني في عينيا

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Abdel Rizzaq al-Jabbouri - Truck Driverعبد الرزاق الجبوري - المرهدنEl Murahdan (Ya Shofeer al Qamara)

This song and video clip are particularly interesting because they really go to the heart of what independent or at least non-corporate music in the Arab World means, and reflects cultural and musical reality of what really is the majority of the world's Arab population.

This is a song and video produced by a local production company, likely recorded in the absence of much digital technology aside from the synthesizer known as the Org in Syria. The song, is based on a debke or folk song that exists in myriad forms and has many variable verses and lines that change from person to person and indeed village to village.

The setting is the general area of Deir Ezzor in Eastern Syria on the banks of the Euphrates River, which has a population comprised mainly of a Bedouins and Kurds some more urbanized than others, and this cultural context gives the music of this region its particular sound.

The video was in all likelihood produced and distributed as an MPEG on video CDs and comes to us posted by a youtube user seeking to ridicule the singer and his sensibilities, which he deems "shawi", a derogatory term somewhat analogous to the term "redneck" in English. The poster has inserted these little text comments into the video and I highly doubt they are part of the original since they are mocking. You'll find it posted here, but I have reposted it since the disabled embedding. There's also an alternative version, posted by the same guy here. It has essentially the same scenes but different shots, and also features a shot of Abdel Rizzaq singing on the bridge over the Euphrates.

For many Syrians, especially ones that own computers and post on youtube, this brand of music is seen as backward, silly, and almost embarrassing because it uses a rural dialect featuring rural themes and lacks all the refinement of more professionally produced music that seeks to emulate Western techniques and aesthetics.

However, for the open-minded listener this clip may very well be better than the commercial pop marketed by record labels precisely because it lacks that superficial, processed, bubble gum flavor. The video, if lacking production quality, is also a breath of fresh air because it shows the real, undoctored setting of the song, the bleak dusty roads of these small East Syrian towns. Of course, the video features a clip from a performance, likely at a wedding, with men and women dancing, at times together while other times men dancing with men and women dancing with women. Finally, the director has also put to use these local limited resources by parading a huge flock of sheep through the background of the final scene. Imagine how much it would cost to put a flock of sheep in a modern American music video (provided that you wanted to) and you can see how this song utilizes local characteristics and assets before judging its value.

The artist, Abdel Rizzaq al-Jabbouri has since recorded a more hi-fi version with a cleaned up, in my opinion bland, accompaniment for Gulf television. You can see it here on youtube, however, I prefer the original recording.

I haven't been able to provide the lyrics to all the available verses of this song, which may be infinite, but here we have all but one of the verses to the song in the video. Of course, the information for the translations is not all my own. I have consulted an Arabic discussion forum in which members explain and debate the meanings of obscure, extremely local words and phrases found in Arabic folk music. You can find the original postings here.



Abdel Rizzaq al-Jabbouri - Truck Driver

عبد الرزق الجبوري - المرهدن, يا شوفير الغمارة

We're going to do this song line by line because it needs a lot of explanation:

Did you find the pretty girl for me Mr. Truck Driver? (see note)
ما شفت لي المرهدن (المزيون) يا شوفير الغمارة
She's going east of al-Mouhassan taking al-Ashara road (see note)
يمشي شرق الموحسن وقاضب درب العشارى

In the song he uses the word مرهدن (muhrahdan)or other words indicating that a girl is beautiful. For those interested, مرهدن is a very particular word. According to a poster on youtube.com it refers to a girl wearing a certain kind of dress native to East Syria and Iraq. I couldn't find a picture online, but it would be typical village dress of such places as Deir Ezzor. Anyway, المرهدن walks with رهدنة, which is a slow, feminine walk that is very attractive somehow refers to the movement of her dress from what I can infer. This song, which exists in many forms is often called المرهدنة

However, I am calling this song by it's other title when translating to English because it makes more sense, which is يا شوفير الغمارة (ya shofir al-qamara), a term that means truck driver or perhaps a better translation is trucker. The kind of truck in question الغمارة (sometimes pronounced القمارة) is like a pick-up truck or the front half of the tractor trailer. See the video for pictures of trucks.

In the second line there الموحسن (al-Mouhassan) and العشارى (al-Ashara) are locales found in the region of East Syria roughly between Deir Ezzor and al-Aboukmal. Much of the video seems to be filmed at the locale mentioned in the song, as you can see at the beginning the sign marking al-Mouhassan and the arches over the highway where they come to a T.

God damn money and this luck of mine
يلعن أبو المصاري لبو الحظ اللي رماني
All of them blamed me when they knew I wasn't from here (see note)
كلهم عالوا عليا من عرفوني اجنيباني

The first line is pretty straight forward. The second line contains this word اجنيباني (jnebani) which is similar to the idea of a foreigner but on a much smaller scale. If someone is اجنيباني it really means there are just from a different village or city, which on the village scale might seem like the guy is foreign, foreign enough to refuse marriage anyway.

They want a high dowry so I'll find me a loan (see note)
يريدون سياقه غالي تا شوف لي دبارة
Half from the Abraz boys and the rest from the Baqara (see note)
نص من عيال الأبرز والباقي من البقارة

Apparently سياق(siyaq, or could be siyagh) refers to the "bride-price" or المهر here. This is the amount to be paid to the bride and her family to secure an engagement. So when he says he needs to get a دبارة (dabbara) it means he needs to arrange the necessary funds to uphold his end of the marriage contract.

In the next line, I suppose he is saying where he could get the funds from. The term عيال الأبرز (ayyal al-abraz) is the nickname of the tribe al-3aqidat (العقيدات) and البقارة (al-baqqara) is the name of another tribe in the area.

There is another verse, but I can't make it out and could not find it recorded anywhere online.