Thread: If you could just pick ONE!

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Spec Rhythmes was some of the first belly dance music I was exposed to as a baby dancer, and it still stands as some of the finest music around. LOVE the full-length dance routine (I just danced to a portion of it last weekend) and the more folkloric selections on the "B" side.

The baladi on the B side just rocks, we danced to it forever here in Vegas, but I love to drag it out every now and then!!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I can't stop thinking about this. How does this happen? Maybe you have a split personality, Sedonia. ..g.:

Yes...her dominant personality, the Sedonia we know and love, goes into a trance-like slumber whilst the Evil Sedonia flits about to trite drum solos, teaches improper anatomy, and lectures at length about the origins of belly dance in temple sex rites, periodically stopping to chant ART EVOLVES.

..g.:

Sorry, snowed in at work, bored, slightly loopy...

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

Yes...her dominant personality, the Sedonia we know and love, goes into a trance-like slumber whilst the Evil Sedonia flits about to trite drum solos, teaches improper anatomy, and lectures at length about the origins of belly dance in temple sex rites, periodically stopping to chant ART EVOLVES.

..g.:

Sorry, snowed in at work, bored, slightly loopy...

Duh, you forgot about your magic unicorn. ..l;,

I think I would have to go with Jalilah 3 or Stars of the Casino Opera--though how could I leave behind Mahmoud Fadl or Upper Egypt Ensemble? I think my one CD would have to be a burned CD full of mp3s

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

Yes...her dominant personality, the Sedonia we know and love, goes into a trance-like slumber whilst the Evil Sedonia flits about to trite drum solos, teaches improper anatomy, and lectures at length about the origins of belly dance in temple sex rites, periodically stopping to chant ART EVOLVES.

..g.:

Sorry, snowed in at work, bored, slightly loopy...

heh heh heh ..l;, Tedi could tell us. ..g.:






ETA: Wait....Tedi might BE 'evil Sedonia' *tries to remember if I've ever seen them in the same room at the same time*

Originally Posted by christos

Gosh thats a hard one too pick out Norma

I would have to say only thing coming to mind now on bellydance cd
is buy the late Bouzoukist "Bournelis' almost all Bouzouki players know of his solos. And never dies out for Great Bellydancing music.

,r:; .w.:

Can you figure out how to post a clip of that Chris? On bhuz we are always on the search for great Greek belly dancing music.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Mahmoud Fad's Umm Kalthum 7000

(but my second choice would be Jalilah 3 OR Fatme Sirhan's Best of Saidi OR...)

What do you like about it Lauren? I've heard that CD mentioned before but I have not run across it yet. What songs are on it? What makes it special from all the other CD's with her?

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Spectacular Rhythms from the Middle East, recently re-released as Bellydance Seduction, by Ziad Rahbani.

REALLY! That used to be called the "graduation album" by my teacher. She figured that once you could dance to every rhythm on that cd then you were ready to go pro. Great CD.

Do not mix up this cd by the cd of the same name by the drummer Said Artist. His CD is crap!

Originally Posted by honoluluhabibi

sorry,gotta list a few!

casino opera jalliah's 5-yummy!

spectactular rhythms!- the drama, the drama!

princess of cairo -to die for

best of saidi- peko with fatma serhan

tribute to abdel halim hafez-peko i call it the 'brown one' with ooloo loo and a 10;30 gana al hawa

ya salaam ya fatiem- full tammerhenna routine

setrak 17!- 'nuff siad!

Okay Honolulu. You gotta pick just one. That's the rules of the game. Great choices though!

Originally Posted by yasmindiab

I'm cheating.

I'd grab one of the 6 compliations that I've put together myself. Probably number 4 or 5... :)

No cheating. You need to sit down with your CD's and do some soul searching.

Okay not's get off track. My reason for posting this topic is that some of us still buy CD's and don't download songs onto the ipod. I've spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars on CD's and counted myself lucky if there was one good song. This question is designed to discover what really good CD's are out there. So far, the old classic Spectacular Rhythms seems to stand out.

Interesting. Keep it coming ladies. I still haven't made my own decision although I seconded all of the cd's mentioned. I haven't committted to them being my one and only.

Honestly (and unfortunately), I think that most of my answers (and there could be more than one, I'm just limiting myself) would be albums that are old - with the exception of Jalilah's Raks Sharki series, most of my must haves are at least twenty years old. They just don't compose and produce belly dance music like they used to.

I would probably still be choosing the cd when the aliens or the tornado hit my house ..l;, ( fortunately not many aliens attacks and tornadoes around here).
I think i might go for the best of lenny kravitz, or one from the led zeppelin boxset , or best of david Bowie, or Public enemy ... sorry i cant be of much help to you.
for turkish and arabic music i would have to make a compilation cd even if it is not allowed , i have desobeyed rules on occasions ...so 1 turkish music cd and one arabic cd at least...
note to self: put compilation cds along with bottle of water and lamp for emergency situation.

I'd pick Tribute to Om Kalsoum by Cairo Orchestra.

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by norma

What do you like about it Lauren? I've heard that CD mentioned before but I have not run across it yet. What songs are on it? What makes it special from all the other CD's with her?

Beautiful, gooey, hearfelt, unabashedly emotional interpretations of Umm K classics.

You can hear samples here (along with Fadl's 'For Oriental Dancers from Cairo With Love' which is also quickly becoming a favorite of mine).

Mahmoud Fadl Downloads :: calabashmusic.com

Originally Posted by ssipes

track with second highest playcount was Sahra Saiidi, a drum solo that makes me want to poke my ears out with sharp sticks.

Or gouge them out with a dull spoon. Its actually a very nice drum solo - but its been so over played that I can't stand it anymore. One year at Rakkasah, I counted no less than 10 dancers (in one day) that used it.

But to answer the question - I guess it would have to be Light Rain's "Dream Dancer". Or maybe Desert Wind's "Kali-Ma". Or maybe John Belzjekian's (sp?)...

Oh never mind! This question is giving me strange heart palpations as it is. I'm officially announcing that I'm joining the cheaters and am taking a home brew compilation CD! Just TRY to stop me! :tongue:

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Honestly (and unfortunately), I think that most of my answers (and there could be more than one, I'm just limiting myself) would be albums that are old - with the exception of Jalilah's Raks Sharki series, most of my must haves are at least twenty years old. They just don't compose and produce belly dance music like they used to.

Amen to that T-H, they don't compose those complex, rich orchestrated pieces anymore, it crushes me that pop has dominated the music lately, now I sound like a cranky old lady, sorta like, "these kids and their damn rock n roll noise, that's not real music" ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

i could never choose, you can't make me!

Originally Posted by Aradia

Amen to that T-H, they don't compose those complex, rich orchestrated pieces anymore, it crushes me that pop has dominated the music lately, now I sound like a cranky old lady, sorta like, "these kids and their damn rock n roll noise, that's not real music" ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Hahaha, I'll be in the old ladies' club with you.

*shakes sequinned cane*

..l;,..l;, ..l;, Yes, a sequin cane is a must!!!

At least the Jalilah series, is comprised of older music, it's just a newer release, but it has some of the best classics, so you get the best of both worlds, vintage music without all the hissing and popping of an old recording!

I still haven't picked a favorite one and only yet but it definitely will be an older CD.

Although, I do like Adam Basma's Vol 1 has it has 3 oriental musicale and kick ass drum solo. And I do like Sami Farag's Fatouma CD as I use a lot of those songs to teach with.


I do like Stars of the Casino Opera, but I love Setrak. But I have to have some Oum Khoulsoum. Maybe Setrak's tribute to Oum Khousoulm? But Spectular Rhythms has sentimental meaning to me.

And George Abdo, I cut my baby teeth on him.

I'm giving myself a headache.

WASH YA WASH 2....................OMG.................
CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT IT

okay now Wash ya wash cd's I do not have and I'm not familar with how it sounds though I have heard of it those albums frequently. What songs are on it? What type of orchestration? Or is it a compilation album?

I do love the rich heavy orchestras but I also like the remixes of some of those where they still are heavily orchestrated but with a more modern sound. How hard is it to find that!

Well I still haven't picked a favorite AND I just ordered some George Abdo CD's that I used to have on LP and haven't listened to in a couple of decades. I used to love George Abdo. So we'll see if my tastes have changed over the years.

You guys are cheating.... you can only pick one! .p:: I love how everyone is making lists, how funny! ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Great question, but my first instinct, the CD I couldn't live without, that my soul depends on, is Wash ya Wash vol 2, like Rifka.

Then of course I start thinking of the Tunisian CD I couldn't live without either.... help! ,f:: ..c::