Thread: Can I dance to sad music at a Birthday party?

I'm dancing for my great-aunt's 80th birthday party in June. She's a nice syrian lady and her friends are mostly Syrian so I wanted to dance to some syrian music. I have a nice song from George Wassouf - Etakhart Kteer but I found a summary of the song and it'a all about two people who are apart and the one who finally returns is too late. It's a fun song, but I just worry about it dragging down the mood of people who can actually understand the lyrics. My great aunt has a boyfriend who she finally hooked up with after knowing him for most of her adult life (they are so cute together) so I could turn it around by saying "it's never too late," but I wanted to make sure this wasn't a collossaly bad idea.
Any thoughts?
Any additional suggestions for syrian music?
Thanks!!

Sorry, I don't know the song in question OR any Syrian music, so I can't advise you.

But the couple getting together so late in life really touched me, and immediately made me think of Inta Omr, which, IIRC, is all about 'you are my life, my life didn't begin until I found you..'

Not Syrian, though. See, guess I'm useless.

no..tina

1. Without the proper ethnic background, and merely expressing a gut feeling: I'd look for something else.

2. Zein Al Jundi - Traditional songs from Syria is a lovely CD (I can't say how authentic it is, but it's a nice CD). http://zeinaljundi.calabashmusic.com/

I wouldn't dance to sad music. No way. Not even if people didn't understand the lyrics. People want HAPPY at birthday parties.

Thanks ladies! Zein's voice is lovely. I think I will pick up something else. My problem was it didn't sound sad, but I found out the words weren't so happy. I've been listening to arabic music for 7 years and I still can't pick up on the sad stuff sometimes. I ought to learn the language maybe, eh?

I agree with others who say no to sad music at a happy occasion. My suggestion would be "Ya mal el Sham", an old Syrian song which I think is about a homecoming and which Arab musicians have often played for my dancing at restaurants. The Arab audiences love it, clap, smile, "dance in their seats". There's a great version by Fatme Serhan on the CD "Queen of Balady". I got mine from Peko www.hollywoodmusiccenter.com