Thread: If you could just pick ONE!

If you had to evacuate and could only take one belly dance CD with you that had to last you the rest of your life and you could never own another CD, which would it be?

I'm not even ready to answer that question myself. I fell into a panic when I thought about it. My first answer would be a compilation CD I did myself of all my favorite songs. But that answer is not allowed.

I'll let you know what mine is as soon as I figure it out!!!!

Meanwhile.....

Mahmoud Fad's Umm Kalthum 7000

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

I would do a blind grab into my Abdel Halim Hafez stash. I have a HUGE mental affair/romance with him. I would be lost without his voice. When I listen it's as if he is singing only to me. ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Insert cheesy smile.

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.:

I'M NOT PLAYING!!

Originally Posted by Azhia

I'M NOT PLAYING!!

Party pooper..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

sabla tolo 1
or
my bootleg from the nagua show

thats a really hard question. good one

Hm, it depends a tad on what the goal is. I'd say Turku's Alleys of Istanbul. Wonderful selection of songs, beautifully played. And, to add good vibes, I really like the musicians. I may not necessarily pick these songs for performing, but for just listening, whether it is at the grocery store, in the tub, or while dancing all by myself, I'd pick that CD.

Close second, and if my focus were not so much on being an amateur, but rather mostly on being a performing professional, then it would be Dalia Carella's Shuvani. Ultimate versions of Rumeli Karsilamasi, Laz, Lama Bada and Sulukule for dancing in public.

Wash ya Wash, Volume 2

Abdul Halim Hafez, Kariat al-Fingan. The most beautiful CD ever made.

Latifa

I could not part with Mazamir Sahara Upper Egypt Ensemble.

I got it as one of my gifts from my secret habibi Latifa
IT IS AWESOME!!!

Angelique, I am so glad you like the CD! I love my copy, especially track 1, Ismaooni.



Latifa

Out of my small collectiong of cds, I would take Bellydance Treasures by Bassil Moubayyed. Maybe Cairo plus too....

Aziza Raqs

It has good variety of tempos and lots of good classic pieces.

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

Stars of Casino Opera

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

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

Good choice, I love that one! My Mom danced to it when I was little!

I might have to 2nd Casino Opera!!

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

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

MmmmMmmmmmm! I didn't know that...I'm going shopping. I still have my old album. Love this one!!..g.:

I am having trouble making a choice, I like so many, I don't have one favourite. I think I would have to say bellydance Superstars Vol 5, as it has a fairly good mix of styles.

Just one?????
The best of baladi, Hossam Ramzy

Maria Aya..g.:

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!

Ohhhhh, this is hard! I'd likely pick one of the BDSS compilations too (likely #3), not because they're my all time favorite, but because they would have the most variety to tide me over.

If I wasn't concerned about having at least a couple pop songs to choose from, I'd probably choose Leyali El Sharq by the Al Ahrem Orchestra.

Originally Posted by Aradia

Good choice, I love that one! My Mom danced to it when I was little!

I might have to 2nd Casino Opera!!

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.

I'm cheating.

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

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... :)

LOL, that's what I'd really do. Of course, now that there's iPod, we really don't have to make that choice anymore!

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

LOL, that's what I'd really do. Of course, now that there's iPod, we really don't have to make that choice anymore!

YES. I love my iPod. :)

Originally Posted by Azhia

I'M NOT PLAYING!!

My sentiments exactly!

But just to be scientific, I just sorted my office iTunes library by play count thinking this would reveal my answer. I was fairly shocked by the result (now, keep in mind that hard drive crashes, iTunes restores, etc. make my office version not totally representative, but )

1. track with highest playcount was an english country dance
2. track with second highest playcount was Sahra Saiidi, a drum solo that makes me want to poke my ears out with sharp sticks.
3. track with third highest playcount was a cool version of fisher's hornpipe

4. and finally track with 4th highest playcount was Ashraf Zakaria's Layali Zaman.

the next ones in order are more english country dances, some new age relaxation music that helps me survive anxiety attacks at work, more celtic music, some John McCutcheon, then finally into some Abdel Halim Haifez, etc.

How very strange. I consider that I listen to Arabic dance music about 95% of the time. My office computer must not be very representative of that.

Sedonia

Let's not even talk about play counts. I share my computer with my son. My 'top 25 most played' list has Ice Ice Baby and The Real Slim Shady on it.

Never share your itunes with a kid whose 'rapper name' is White Chocolate.

Better yet, never share your itunes with any kid who has a rapper name.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Let's not even talk about play counts. I share my computer with my son. My 'top 25 most played' list has Ice Ice Baby and The Real Slim Shady on it.

Never share your itunes with a kid whose 'rapper name' is White Chocolate.

Better yet, never share your itunes with any kid who has a rapper name.

Priceless, Lauren.

Originally Posted by ssipes

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

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