Thread: Eponymous Songs - dancing to them is odd?

So, I have a question based on that new CD I recommended in the Product reviews section - one of the tracks is eponymous - what does a dancer do? It seems odd to dance to it in a way, but what the heck? I felt the same way about a track on Bahaia's CD - great track but kinda weird for anyone but her to dance to it, no?

What's the protocol?

I would just dance to it - I've danced to "Ya Bahaia" a zillion times. If it makes you feel funny, just think about it as a character piece, and you're playing the part of the person named.

I don't think that anyone really pays any mind anyway. For instance, Tamrhenna is also an eponymous song, but lots of dancers have danced to it...

ok, so for those of us who are extrapolating the meaning of "eponymous" it's something that uses a specific name?

And yes, I've danced to Ya Bahaia so many time, "acting out" the part of Bahaia, Azizza would be another

no extrapolation necessary - I just mean a self-titled or lyric-mentioning song - easier to say eponymous, but maybe not..g.:

The difference in a classic like Tamr-henna and Ya Bahaia is that Tamr-henna wasn't written for a dancer who is alive right now that I know of and Ya Bahaia is/was written for her (the two tamra-hennas we know excepted of course...:)

And there's that cute Nancy Ajram song that uses her name and so on....
just wondering if it's weird or no worries.

Originally Posted by kina

ok, so for those of us who are extrapolating the meaning of "eponymous" it's something that uses a specific name?

And yes, I've danced to Ya Bahaia so many time, "acting out" the part of Bahaia, Azizza would be another

Hi Dani,

I think you are worrying too much about it. Dance to it and have fun.

I worry about my weight, I'm curious about eponymous songs ..g.:

seems like something others might wonder about too...

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Hi Dani,

I think you are worrying too much about it. Dance to it and have fun.

Ya Bahaia/Beheya is an old song though, to the best of my knowledge. Lots of versions abound!

Now here is something to ponder.

Imagine only the music to the song you like that was made for another dancer. Would you dance to it with out lyrics or would you still think it wouldn't be right?
I look at it this way, if it was only for one dancer than it wouldn't be put on a CD for the entire world to dance to and have a shimmy good time.

Michelle

I've thought about it, and given it up. I've danced to Jemileh, which is actually how I got my dance name. While I understand why people are concerned about dancing to it, I'll still do it for gp type audiences, even if I'm dancing the "character". I might pause if I were dancing for people who spoke the language, so I understand the hesitancy.

I had thought that ya bahaia was already a song, not written about "our" bahaia? I had read that somewhere as people were discussing the different versions of the songs and assumed that it had been a folkloric piece that got re-worked. Am I wrong?

Originally Posted by danidance

no extrapolation necessary - I just mean a self-titled or lyric-mentioning song - easier to say eponymous, but maybe not..g.:

The difference in a classic like Tamr-henna and Ya Bahaia is that Tamr-henna wasn't written for a dancer who is alive right now that I know of and Ya Bahaia is/was written for her (the two tamra-hennas we know excepted of course...:)

And there's that cute Nancy Ajram song that uses her name and so on....
just wondering if it's weird or no worries.

Actually, "Ya Bahaia" wasn't written for Bahaia, it's an older standard, but I'm not sure who the original artist was.

I wouldn't hesitate to dance to such a song that I like. I've danced to Aziza, Ya Mustapha, Tamra Henna, Linda Linda, Jemileh, and many others.

Originally Posted by kina

I've thought about it, and given it up. I've danced to Jemileh, which is actually how I got my dance name. While I understand why people are concerned about dancing to it, I'll still do it for gp type audiences, even if I'm dancing the "character". I might pause if I were dancing for people who spoke the language, so I understand the hesitancy.

I had thought that ya bahaia was already a song, not written about "our" bahaia? I had read that somewhere as people were discussing the different versions of the songs and assumed that it had been a folkloric piece that got re-worked. Am I wrong?

But remember that night when I danced to Jemileh and you were in the audience? That was pretty funny. You will always be the real Jemileh to me.

Originally Posted by danidance

And there's that cute Nancy Ajram song that uses her name and so on....
just wondering if it's weird or no worries.

If that's the one that starts with "Nancy, I love you."... I actually edited it out of the song. I thought it would be kinda wacky if I kicked off a song with 'nancy, I love you."

If I was a Nancy though, I'd keep it in!

Yes, I'd edit that out too but it does have "nancy" in the lyrics I think but then - how do I know there could be a similar sounding Arabic word....

QUOTE=Nepenthe;23763]If that's the one that starts with "Nancy, I love you."... I actually edited it out of the song. I thought it would be kinda wacky if I kicked off a song with 'nancy, I love you."

If I was a Nancy though, I'd keep it in![/QUOTE]

and here I thought Bahaia was all special and such!

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Actually, "Ya Bahaia" wasn't written for Bahaia, it's an older standard, but I'm not sure who the original artist was.

I have noticed when a song is written for a particular dancer, that the singer does say her name. I've been listening to Outi's new CD and I hear "Outi" . . . lol, so I was thinking "oh, I guess maybe I won't use that" . . . actually it isnt much of an issue because I really love the accordion baladi, so i danced to that one about 3 weeks ago . . . and I didn't hear her name at all! ..l;,

Originally Posted by danidance

and here I thought Bahaia was all special and such!

Oh, but she is!!!!! I'm a huge fan

Dani,

I know what you mean!

I think if there is just the occasional mention of the dancers name, only arabic speakers (and here they are thin on the ground) are going to notice.

However I love Baladi Yasmina from Heya di Yasmina but I'm not sure I'd ever dance to it as the first few minutes every other word is 'Yasmina'!

Z

but it does have "nancy" in the lyrics I think

No, it doesn't. You're thinking of the refrain that begins "Ya naasi hawaek...", which I can't translate but the whole line is translated "you who forget our love and take with you".

I don't think there's anything wrong with dancing to a song that has a name in it. There's additional resonance if it's *your* name but otherwise it's no different than humming along to "Michelle" by the Beatles or, God, any song with a girl's name in it, of which there are hundreds.

Originally Posted by cbarros

I have noticed when a song is written for a particular dancer, that the singer does say her name. I've been listening to Outi's new CD and I hear "Outi" . . . lol, so I was thinking "oh, I guess maybe I won't use that" . . . actually it isnt much of an issue because I really love the accordion baladi, so i danced to that one about 3 weeks ago . . . and I didn't hear her name at all! ..l;,

I thought she uses the stage name Dunya(?)

Originally Posted by kina

ok, so for those of us who are extrapolating the meaning of "eponymous" it's something that uses a specific name?

And yes, I've danced to Ya Bahaia so many time, "acting out" the part of Bahaia, Azizza would be another

I'm sure Bahaia does'nt mind(and even likes!)those of us dancing to her track song at all..g.:

Good to know, Zumarrad, because I do like that song - fun & lively.

Zafirah - thanks for joining in on my proclivity because I still feel kinda weird about it although I'm glad the bhuz forum thinks it's okay and not a big faux pas.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

No, it doesn't. You're thinking of the refrain that begins "Ya naasi hawaek...", which I can't translate but the whole line is translated "you who forget our love and take with you".

I don't think there's anything wrong with dancing to a song that has a name in it. There's additional resonance if it's *your* name but otherwise it's no different than humming along to "Michelle" by the Beatles or, God, any song with a girl's name in it, of which there are hundreds.

I think it's completely fine! If I was the lucky dancer who had a song named after me, (Ya Bahaia is an old song) I would be honored and really pleased that people liked it enough to want to dance to it!
I'd be upset if No one danced to it!

Hi Dani,
Well, somewhere along the line with all songs that have a name in them, there was a person or thing that inspired the musician to write it.
Now, most American audiences wont even hear the name, it just becomes part of the music.
Go for it and be inspired (to sound really So. Cal..) "Channel the dancer that it was originally written about" I'm teasing now.
But you see what I mean.

Originally Posted by danidance

Yes, I'd edit that out too but it does have "nancy" in the lyrics I think but then - how do I know there could be a similar sounding Arabic word....

QUOTE=Nepenthe;23763]If that's the one that starts with "Nancy, I love you."... I actually edited it out of the song. I thought it would be kinda wacky if I kicked off a song with 'nancy, I love you."

If I was a Nancy though, I'd keep it in!

[/QUOTE]

I actually had searched for a translation of this song thinking it was "Nancy" but it's not! It's Nassi:

http://p198.ezboard.com/Nancy-Ajram-...opicID=2.topic

So you can definitely dance away without worrying about being mistaken for a Nancy

For my first solo performance, when I was in high school, I chose an excerpt from "Tahia's Dance" on the Jillina "Stars of the Casino Opera" CD, because I loved the way it sounded and that it represented "classic" bellydance. I had never seen video of Tahia Carioka, so I didn't know that she was known for dancing on a small spot, and my interpretation of the piece ended up including a lot of spinning around the stage and covering lots of ground. I was very embarassed when I found out later how un-Tahia-like I must have looked. :Aembarassed: In the end, though, the decisions that I made with the choreography worked for me and for the venue -- there were a lot of pillars and other obstructions in the room, so if I'd tried to be Tahia and "dance on a single tile," a lot of people would have never seen me! So I say use the music that you like, and make it your own. Don't feel intimidated by other dancers' interpretations.

Originally Posted by danidance

Yes, I'd edit that out too but it does have "nancy" in the lyrics I think but then - how do I know there could be a similar sounding Arabic word....

QUOTE=Nepenthe;23763]If that's the one that starts with "Nancy, I love you."... I actually edited it out of the song. I thought it would be kinda wacky if I kicked off a song with 'nancy, I love you."

If I was a Nancy though, I'd keep it in!

[/QUOTE]

I was listening to Oul Tani Eyh in the car this morning and it also says "Ya Nancy..." repeatedly. Edited to add - thanks Spanishdoll for the translation/transliteration so that we know what it's really saying!

You know what I won't dance to? "Tabel Ya Issam". Love the song, but there's part of it where it sounds like they are saying "ya issam", these high girly voices, basically sounds like a bunch of Issam groupies to me! Until I get a translation, I feel wierd dancing to that song.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

But remember that night when I danced to Jemileh and you were in the audience? That was pretty funny. You will always be the real Jemileh to me.

..g.:

that night was so much fun!!

First of all, thanks for the vocab lesson. I love finding easier ways to say everything ; )

I'm so mad that the beledi in Amar 14 is all"Ya Galilah!" Why didn't Jalilah tell the angry chipmunk chorus to make it less about HER and more about US (the buying public, I mean)?

I also feel weird on the Samara album in her Set el Hosen where it goes into "YElla! (clap clap clap clap clap clap clap) SamARa! (clap clap clap clap clap clap)!" or whatever it is...I feel for the poor Samara's sitting in the audience.

How do you all feel about dancing to Noura Noura? A vocal version, I mean...
Bint al-Sultan?

As far as guy's names, I think crowds who do understand what's going on can have fun with it. Egomaniac musicians (especially drummers) like to put their names in the music. Singers give a lot of tributes/dedications to randoms in their songs. I think audience members can understand these tendencies as part of tradition. Songs specifically about a guy can be fun because those who are mentioned (the eponymized? jk) will feel special.

Maybe songs touting a specific dancer's greatness in words would be confusing to Arabophone audiences, but otherwise...eh. Songs with "Go, Samara, go! We made this song for your ass, now shake it!" would be strange to dance to if you are...Kamilia, for example ; )

On the other hand, if you're not Noura or the Bint al-Sultan, would anyone really care?

I so want a song with my name in it. One of the few things I liked about dancing in restaraunts was when the singer would throw my name in while I was dancing...sigh....:)