I am currently listening to the song while thinking about what makes a home, home to a person.. and when do we wish to leave a lovable place or lovable people..

Part 1: [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Part 2: [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Love came to me suddenly, and as time went by it felt merrier
Yet I never thought one day it will take me far away,
Promising my heart with lots of joy, but every time I end with a new hurt.
[...]
And instead of saying enough – I am sick of it, I ask God to send me more..
How did that happen?.. I don’t know.

Sometimes a song or a piece of music struck me by the beauty of the words, or the magic of the melody or the gracefulness of the voice. And in the three cases, I like to highlight the gems in my oriental culture to either westerns who may not be aware of it, or people living in the east and are blinded by the western culture or globalization.

I find majesty in original artistic creations, specifically from my region. And just now as the idea crystallizes in my mind, for the first time, I would like to take my blog one more extra step. Therefore, I will introduce pieces I feature in a different way and try to make you (whoever you are, my dear visitor) understand my culture a little bit more. So feel free to pop up any time, and leave your comments or questions. As usual, I will not promise to have the answers you need, but will promise to search for one.

~*~*~

Today’s song is for Lena Chamamyan (Arabic: لينا شماميان). As per Wikipedia, a Syrian singer of Armenian descent. I like to describe her as one of the new wave of intellectual singers in the Arab world, who likes to mix oriental folk music with elements of jazz.

In her 2006 album, Hal Asmar Ellon, one of the songs she sung was from the Andalusian folk (Arabic: موشحات أندلسية) called “Lamma bada” (Arabic: لما بدا). While this song is widely remembered for a version sung by the famous Lebanese diva Fairuz, many other Arab singers did the same over time; and yet the original composer stays anonymous.

It is a fine melody..
Yalla, enjoy!

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

When I saw my love sway, his beauty amazed me.
Something about the moment captivated me.
Like a branch bending gracefully.
Oh my fate, and reason for my perplexity .

Who could be the one to alleviate my sufferings in love and torment,
except the king of all beauty.
Oh mercy, oh mercy, oh mercy.

~*~*~

PS: I managed to do the above rough translation, by the help of my friend Huda Gado [Ar], so that you can catch the meaning while you listen.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

بلا و لا شي بحبك بلا و لا شي
و لا في بها الحب مصاري و لا ممكن في ليرات
و لا ممكن في أراضي و لا في مجوهرات
تعي نقعد بالفى مش لحدا هالفي
حبيني و فكري شوى
بلا و لا شي وحدك بلا و لا شي
بلا كل انواع تيابك بلا كل شي فيه تزين
بلا كل أصحابي اصحابك الثؤلى و المهضومين
تعي…
بلا جوئة امك بيك و رموش و مسكرا
بلا مالنسوان تحيك بلا كل هالمسخرة
تعي…
بلا و لا شي

My mother taught me how to taste music. She taught me to appreciate fine arts, all forms of arts. Good novels, architecture, nature and Om kalthoum. She says I remind her with her father – my grandfather. He was a painter. He was a very good painter actually, who used to listen to radio every day at night while painting. She told me that she knew Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Korsakov through listening to my grandfather’s radio playing in the other room. I used to draw too – before I stopped. I drink coffee like him while working, I listen to radio everyday at night, I wish to tour the globe one day like him, and I dream to have a library, as big as his library.. before they sold the old house..

I am still living with my parents, but my grandfather died long time ago. I barely remember his face, though I can still feel his hands tapping on my shoulders, when I used to call him “Dodo” with 3-year-old-voice…
These memories seem so far away now..
And although they may be no one, no one at all to you.. I am proud to be a fresh copy for the three of them.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

The music is cheerfully sad, and it tells a whole lot of stuff and things enclosed inside each and everyone of us.. When a piano man plays..

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Omar Khairat
~ Don’t lose your mind

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

أم كلثوم
نزار قباني
محمد عبد الوهاب
~ أصبح عندي الآن بندقية

Tonight I left the bus and went back home walking; and throughout the way, my last visit to Beirut was on my mind. I remembered the first night I spent walking with strangers in the streets. It was my first time to travel somewhere new and spend it with people I barely know. I was frightened. But then the other night I walked alone, I wasn’t as frightened as expected. The streets of Beirut were cozy and familiar, and I felt free.. free as I never felt before..

I always love walking and loved it more when I was taken away in a new place with new faces. Some in-comprehended beauty was added to the atmosphere, as I was re-discovering myself..

Today, I was at peace with the world. And as I am about to travel again, I wonder if I will have the same chance. I wonder if I can keep walking till I find my way back home..

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Was humming this piece of music by Marcel Khalife throughout the streets of Cairo. The one embedded here is not a complete version. I’ve trimmed it to the parts I love the most..
~ Popular Caf

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

أنا وانت نسينا نتعاتب ونتصارح
وعز عليك تسيب العند وتسامح
وعز علي أكون البادي واتصالح
وأصبح كل يوم بينا يفوت أصعب من امبارح