jamie lynn bellydance
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MUSIC

  Hello Dancers and Enthusiasts!  If you are like me, you have fallen in love-with Middle Eastern music. That is the main reason I dance, because I want to be the music: the drums, flute, oud, qanun, and other instruments used in this genre of music. This style has had an illustrious history, from the stories (are they true?) of the Arab-Isreali war being halted mid-afternoon every day for Om Kalthoum’s radio broadcast, to the soap-operetta of a dancer, Samia Gamal and her famous vocalist lover, Farid Al Atresh, who refused to marry her because he was a prince and could not marry a bellydancer! (See Hossam Ramzy’s article for more heartbreaking info.)

Middle Eastern  music has a range of styles and contributing countries and we have the luxury of dancing to any and all types, be they classical Egyptian, Turkish, Morrocan, Tribal or American etc etc…  There are a few lists of "songs every bellydancer should know" floating around. I know it is difficult, especially for newer dancers to know what to look for as far as music goes because Middle Eastern music is not exactly played on the radio in one’s car here in Central Texas where I live, and usually not something most of us have grown up with. Although it is very subjective, each dancer having their favorites, I would like to present a list of traditional or vintage songs that have been consistently danced to or done by a variety of artists. Most of these will be classical Arabic songs, as that is what most house bands would know if you get the chance to dance with a live band.

This compilation is comprised of a few lists found on the internet, most notably, snakeskin.com and Dahlal’s website along with songs I have come across again and again on various cd’s in various incarnations.  These albums are the ones I would recommend that, all together, include almost all of these songs. Of course, there are many, many albums out there, but these have the most concentration of these songs I could find. Some are available on ITunes, some through Dahlal International, others can be found at Waterloo Records in Austin or on the internet. 
Aziza Raks                                                               
Belly Dance Super Stars 1-4                                        
A Tribute to Um Kalsoum  by Cairo Orchestra          
Master of BD volume 1&2
Global Bellydance                                                       
BD 2000 with Mesmera by Salatin el Tarab Orchestra
On Fire!                                                                              
Hossam Ramzy Best of Albums

Bellydance New York
Bellydance The Music of Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Jalilah’s Raks Sharki series 1-5                                  
Bellydance: Music for an Oriental Dance Vol 1,3,4
Bellydancing for Fortune and Fame                                            
Baladi Blues by Guy Schalom
Bellydance Classics by Cairo Orchestra    
                  

So, here you are, songs we should all be familiar with, a translation of the title, who originally wrote or performed it and the emotional “gist” of the song (if I could find a full translation):

Accordian Balady/Solo Accordian/ Al Saidi/ Ya Hassan ya kouli/Koulli/ Nawal
BDSS 2       BD Classics       V&N Fantasy      Baladi Blues

Ala Rimsha Ouyounha-In her Eyelashes       (Emotional Element: Love Lost)
Ahlamy by Hossam Ramzy       Best BD Album Ever! 2
 

Ala Balad Mahboub – In the country of my sweetheart     Um Kalsoum                  
Global Bellydance      BD Music of M. Wahab
 

Ala Nar- I am on Fire                  
 
Oriental Fantasy 1        BD 2000 with Mesmera
 

Alf Leyla wi Leyla –A thousand nights   Um Kalsoum    (Emotional Element: Joy)                            
Oriental Fantasy 5   Jalilh’s  3     10 Songs   Aziza Raks      A Tribute to UK 
 

Amal Hayati/Coctail Om Kalthoum                
Bellydances Aziza        Amani Red
 

Ana Fi Intizark-In Waiting for You   Um Kalsoum      (Emotional Element: Loss)                                               
Oriental Fantasy 6   Hossam Ramzy -Best of UK     A Tribute to UK     Aziza Raks
 

Anawenta-  Farid El Atrache 
Ansak Ya Salem  -I will never forget you       Um Kalsoum                      
 
Jalilah’s 1     HR- Best of UK 


Aya Zein/ Ah Ya Zein -Oh Beautiful  One (Emotional Element: Adoration)               
Saroyan Sings       BD for Fortune and Fame      V&N
 

Ayoub-                
 
Amani Blue    Bellydance Treasures
 

Aziza-A girls name   Mohamed Abdel Wahab               
BD Music of MW   Global BD    BDSS 1 and 4     10 Songs    Masters of BD 1    Baladi Blues 


Bahlem Beek-  Dreaming of You    Abdel Halim Hafez               
Hossam Ramzy -Best of Abdel Halim Hafez
 

Batwannes Beek-  You’re Always With Me  (Emotional Element: Cherishing) Popularized by Warda
               
BDSS 1 and 4         Aziza Raks    

Bent el Balad-   Girl of the Country    Mohamed Abdel Wahab               
BD Music of MW      Baladi Blues 


Bint el Sultan –Daughter of the Sultan   Ahmed Adawaya      (Emotional Element:Notice Me)               
Hossam Ramzy -El Sultan Cleopatra-   Mohamed abdel  Wahab
               

Daret al Ayam - Days Go by    Um Kalsoum       (Emotional Element: Missing)                
On Fire!    A Tribute to UK        Masters of BD  2       V&N Essential 


El Henna -  The Flower     See Henna ya Henna                

 
El Hob Khoulu/ Al eh Bisalooni -  All the Love     Um Kalsoum  (Emotional Element: Sweetness)               
 
Amani Gold     A Tribute to UK
 

Enta Omri/Inta Omri- You are my life     Um Kalsoum                  
Oriental Fantasy  2   Jalilah’s 2    BDSS 4    A Tribute to UK   10 Songs   Masters of BD 1
 

Fakarouni-  They Reminded Me    Um Kalsoum  (Emotional Element: Longing)               
A Tribute to UK
 

Gamil Gamal/ Nightime-Such Beauty   Farid al Atrash               
Hossam Ramzy –Best of HR     Omar Faruk Tekbilek-Beyond the Sky
 

Gana el Hawa/ Zamant Kollo -  Love has come our way   Abdel H. Hafez  (Emotional Element: yearning)              
 
HR - Best of AHH     On Fire!   Oriental Fantasy 2
 

Ganil Shway Shway  - Sing for me a little  Um Kalsoum   (Emotional Element: Enticing)              
 
Oriental Fantasy  5    Global BD   Jalilah’s 3.     BD Classics
 

Hayarti Alby               
Samir Srour and OK       A Tribute to UK 
 

Hadiyet el Eid       Mohamed Abdel Wahab                      
Spectacular Rhythms
 

Harramt Ahebak-popularized by Warda               
Best Arabic Album Ever     Setrak and Samara
 

Hani               
Shake it up       Oriental Fantasy 11
 

Hebbina-  Try to Love Me     Farid el Atresh      (Emotional Element: Longing)               
BD:Music for an Oriental Dance  1 & 3    Gift from Cairo
 

Hebibi ya Eini - Darling of my eye   (Emotional Element: Longing)                
BDSS  3     10 Songs     Best of the Sultans 


Henna Ya Henna – The Flower    Mohamed Abdel Wahab               
BD Music of MW     On Fire!     BD Classics       Masters of Bellydance 1
 

Hezzie ya Nawaem- Shake your Hips     Farid Al Atresh                  
BD: Music for an Oriental Dance  4        BD Sensation        V&N Essential
 

Hikaya-see Nebtiti minen el Hikaya   classical


Hikayet el Hob-               
Bellydance Treasures 


Inta Omri-see Enta Omri    classical 

Ishtaktillak-  I miss you  Fairuz               
V&N Fantasy
 

Kareat al Finjin /Qareat-Reader of Fortunes  Abdel Halim Hafez                
BD: Music of an Oriental Dance 4      BD 2000 with Mesmera
 

Khatwet Samar-The Movements of Samar          Ziad Rahbani               
Spectacular Rhythms
 

Kitab Hayarti
 

La gardienne des Cles –The Guardian of the Keys               
Spectacular Rhythms
 

Leyla – Night    Farid el Atresh                  
BD for Fortune and Fame       Master of Bellydance  2       V&N Essential
 

Leylet Hob/Zamant Kolo  -Love Night     Mohamed Abdel Wahab    (Emotional Element: NOW!)               
 
10 Songs       BD:Music for an Oriental Dance 1     Baladi Blues   Shake it Up


 Lama Bada Yata Sama -When she begins to sway                  
Global BD     Jalilah’s 3   Bellydance NY
 

Lisah Faker - Do You Still Remember       Um Kalsoum      (Emotional Element: regret /nostalgia)                
 
Oriental Fantasy 1    Jalilah’s 1
 

Mashaal-The Torch      Hani Mehanna
Jalilah’s 1    10 Songs      BD Classics

Moustafa/Ya Mustafa- A name   (Emotional Element: longing/ loss)
Bellydance  NY

Nagwa- Hamouda Hali
Princess of Cairo     Masters of Bellydance 1

Nawal-see Accordion Baladi

Nebtiti minen el Hikaya /  Nebteda… hekaya  -Where does the story begin?   M Wahab
BDSS 1    Jalilah’s 5    Masters of Bellydance 2

Nour el Ain  Light of my Eye     Amr Diab    (Emotional Element: adoration)
 
Best Arabic Album Ever

Oolooloo – Tell Him      Abdul  Halim Hafiz ?     (Emotional Element: love)

Aziza Raks     HR- best of AHH      Aziza Raks

Oqbalal yom Milidak    Abdul Halim Hafez
HR -Best of AHH

Rakset Mizmar-Dance of the Mizmar
Jalilah’s 1

Sallam Alay  She Greeted Me   (Emotional Element: love)
On Fire!   Aziza Raks     BD Classics   HR-Ahlamy

Salamat  Peace/Blessing/Feel Better  (Emotional Element: Consoling)
Best Bellydance AlbumEver    Dr. Gebali Music From Egypt Sharky Sharky

Salamentha Om Hassan-Blessing Mother of Hassan   Faruk Salameh   (Emotional Element:Consoling)
Aziza Raks     Amani      Baladi Blues

Samra ya samra –Dark Complected One    Karim Mahmoud
HR Qanun el Tarab      BD for Fortune and Fame

Sawwah -  Wanderer     Abdel Halim Hafez    (Emotional Element: loneliness and longing) 
On Fire!     BD 2000 with Mesmera

Shatti Ya Dunya  Rain World Rain  Sung by Fairuz
V&N  Essential

Shik Shac Shoc  - Pierce, It pierces, it pierced   (Baladi-Beautiful native dance) Hasssan Abou Seoud
10 Songs       Masters of Bellydance 2

Siret el Hob - The Topic of Love   Um Kalsoum   (Emotional Element: Happiness)
Global BD     Samir Srour and OK

Set el Hosen/Rakset Samara- The Story of Hosen
Princess of Cairo    Setrak and Samara     Masters of Bellydance  2

Tahtil Shibek  -Under the Window  (Emotional Element: Anguish and Longing/Remorse) 
On Fire

Tammr Henna - Henna Flower  (Emotional Element: loss)       Mohamed Fouzi
Jalilah’s 3  Aziza Raks   10 Songs     Masters of Bellydance 1

Touta/Tuta    Farid El Atresh  Jalilah’s 5    
 
BD for Fortune and Fame

Wahashtini/  Wa hastiny-  I miss you
On Fire!

We Daret el Ayam-see daret El Ayam

Ya nawal-
Global BD       BD Sensation

Ya Hassan ya Kouli  see Accordion Baladi

Ya Ein Mouletain/Shashkin – Princess’ Eyes
BD 2000 with  Mesmera     Kairo by Night     Masters of Bellydance  2      OFT    BDNY

Yamsa Harney
HR  Best of UK

Ya Salat el Zein      Zakaria Ahmed
BD Sensation    BD:Music for an Oriental Dance 4

Zey el Hawa - Like the Wind or Love  Abdel Halim Hafez  (Emotional Element: your love is gone)
10 Songs     Sahra Saeeda

Zennube/Zannob- Farid al Atresh ?
Best of the Sultans    Jalilah’s 5

Zeina  A girls name  Mohamed Abdul Wahab
BD of MW   BD Classics      Aziza Raks    BD SS 1 and 4     V&N Fantasy

TURKISH
and GREEK

Ates Dansi/Fire Dance 
Turkish BD Hussein Turkmenler      OFT-Fire Dance

Bir demet Yasmeen - A bunch of Jasmine   (Emotional Element:Loss) 
BD for FF           Bellydance NY

Mastika- A girls name 
The Sultans    BD for Fortune and Fame

Mavi mavi - Blue Eyes          

Misirlou  - Egyptian Woman            
1001 Arabian Nights
         Brothers of the Baladi     

Nihavent-
1001 Arabian Nights     OFT-Gypsy Fire

Rompi Rompi  -Essentially: Let’s Party even though Life is Difficult
BD for Fortune and Fame     OFT-Gypsy Fire

Shashkin- see Ya Ein Mulayetin

Sisler   
 
BD for Fortune and Fame    OFT-Beyond the Sky & Gypsy Fire

Ta Mavra Matia Sou-Your Black Eyes   same tune as Nebtiti Minen El Hikaya
Joy of BD

ISREALI

Erev Shel Shoshaneen/ Vartar   An evening of roses (love) 
Kairo By Night    Saroyan Sings

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