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Showing posts from September, 2009

Ronza - Do You Thinkرونزا - قولكAwlak

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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 ر...

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

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"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! Th...

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

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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 شاغ...

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...

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

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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...

Sofia Marikh - The Word Loveصوفيا مريخ - كلمة حبKilmet Hob

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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...

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 carryin...

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

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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 ...

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...

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 ...

Tamer Hosny - Loveتامر حسني - حبHob

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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 و...

Mira Awad - Our Relationshipميرا عوض - علاقتناOlaqatuna

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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 ha...

Amr Diab - With Herعمرو دياب - وياهWayah

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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 ...

Fairuz - Oh Lauraفيروز - يا لور حبكYa Laure Hubbuki

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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 ...

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

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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 squar...

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

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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'...

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...