Belly Dance Traditions & StylesFrom traditional folk to modern performance, there is a lot ot discuss regarding the characteristics of Middle Eastern dances.
I have been listening to this song and it has a nice, upbeat quality to it - and sounds of the ocean in the intro which I thought would fit in nicely with an Alexandrian (seaport city) style Melaya Leff solo. I can't find a translation for it, but does anyone know in general what the lyrics are about? I want to be sure, especially after finding the lyrics for "Ah Ya Liel" sung by Shereen, which is not a happy song; really a defiant song generally saying "who cares if your love has left me, who are you to.....etc."
So, I think I better find out what "Esme Y'alli" is about before I do a Melaya Leff routine that is oddly out of character for the meaning of the song!
I believe the title means something like "Listen, You!"
I love Esma Y'alli but I don't know about Melaya for that song. It doesn't have quite the right feel to it. The dreamy intro, the horns, and such just don't work and it doesn't have enough of a playful feel to it through out.
I haven't performed a Melaya dance, but maybe others can suggest something that would fit just right.
On the Hakim kick...maybe something like "Talakik" (which makes Zorba have a fit of convulsions BWAhaHaha!) would work better because it's about an unattainable flirty girl, I think. Shira has the translation on her site.
On the Hakim kick...maybe something like "Talakik" (which makes Zorba have a fit of convulsions BWAhaHaha!) would work better because it's about an unattainable flirty girl, I think. Shira has the translation on her site.
Nisima here and I'm with Zorba: "Oh no not Talakik!" I've been practicing walking out slowly when the horns start, pose all wrapped up in Melaya, big hip circle and then whamo - open Melaya and do hip drops when fast music starts, felt pretty perky from then on and I like the "Hey you listen" but maybe isn't flirty enough for Melaya....
Talakik does seem to elicit love/hate reactions from people. I just listened to it while I was walking and I thought, "This is a fun song" and then after it got near the end (where it sounds like a CD skipping), I realized it might be a little annoying!!!
I don't have a lyrics translation, but when a troupe I was in performed to Esma Yalli, we were told that the words were pretty much "oh girl you are driving me crazy, please give me just one look or I'll go mad, how can you make me suffer so" etc etc. You know, your basic happy Arabic love song
I personally wouldn't use that song for a melaya leff. But I have videos of Raqia Hassan and other Egyptian teachers, teaching melaya choreographies to Hakim songs. So even though I personally wouldn't use it, generally, I would say its okay.
I got this translation somewhere on the internet a while ago for my own files. (Sorry I can't credit the translator as I didn't note that.)
Esma Yalli - Hakim
Slow intro: When we met it was like clapping thunder,
Face to face we circled around each other, and all at once I was overcome with too much emotion.
Ta'ab ti elbi ahwed At yahwed (hey kid*), ma sen maddeh hob ay yawed...
Hey kid, you try and exhaust my heart, could it be love?
Hey kid, you try and exhaust my heart, could it be love?
You don't have to push/add more stress; I am too patient for your heart.
Chorus: (Esma Yalli ganitinee) Listen you, the one who makes me crazy, either you hate me or you love me.
I'm yours, I'm a good guy - if you don't want me, what DO you want?
(Sherelti behli) You fire up my imagination trying to figure out what's going on
When I hear you talk, my heart gets softer towards you, I don't want to stop talking to you.
I wish I hadn't met you; you stole my heart and then you disappeared
Hey kid, get me my heart back, don't be so stubborn.
You're still my love, though you hijacked my heart, don't leave me in confusion, don't let me suffer
Don't play with me, don't drive me crazy, sit down and listen to what I have to say.
Come and listen to what I'm gonna tell you.
Chorus
(Esmak kalamak...) When I listen to you, the differences between us just melt;
but then suddenly you become hard, and I find myself sitting home alone at night
I tell myself I will change to forget you and stop loving you; but then the longing returns.
You let me suffer, that makes me crazy; I don't know why I feel weak when I am in your presence.
Chorus
*literal translation: "hey, boy", used here in the generic sense. Many Arabic songs refer to female as "he" or "boy" since it's considered impolite to address females directly.
I got this translation somewhere on the internet a while ago for my own files. (Sorry I can't credit the translator as I didn't note that.)
Esma Yalli - Hakim
Slow intro: When we met it was like clapping thunder,
Face to face we circled around each other, and all at once I was overcome with too much emotion.
Ta'ab ti elbi ahwed At yahwed (hey kid*), ma sen maddeh hob ay yawed...
Hey kid, you try and exhaust my heart, could it be love?
Hey kid, you try and exhaust my heart, could it be love?
You don't have to push/add more stress; I am too patient for your heart.
Chorus: (Esma Yalli ganitinee) Listen you, the one who makes me crazy, either you hate me or you love me.
I'm yours, I'm a good guy - if you don't want me, what DO you want?
(Sherelti behli) You fire up my imagination trying to figure out what's going on
When I hear you talk, my heart gets softer towards you, I don't want to stop talking to you.
I wish I hadn't met you; you stole my heart and then you disappeared
Hey kid, get me my heart back, don't be so stubborn.
You're still my love, though you hijacked my heart, don't leave me in confusion, don't let me suffer
Don't play with me, don't drive me crazy, sit down and listen to what I have to say.
Come and listen to what I'm gonna tell you.
Chorus
(Esmak kalamak...) When I listen to you, the differences between us just melt;
but then suddenly you become hard, and I find myself sitting home alone at night
I tell myself I will change to forget you and stop loving you; but then the longing returns.
You let me suffer, that makes me crazy; I don't know why I feel weak when I am in your presence.
Chorus
*literal translation: "hey, boy", used here in the generic sense. Many Arabic songs refer to female as "he" or "boy" since it's considered impolite to address females directly.
I wouldn't dance to it as a melaya leff either. The beginning has a flamenco or spanish sound to it which doesn't suit the dance UNLESS you edited it out. I supppose that could work.
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I heard a song recently that I thought would be good for Melaya. It's from one of the George Abdo CDs with (I think) Juliana on the cover, wearing a lot of 1960s bling, and the English version of the title is something like "The Beauty of Her Scarf." Would that be a good choice?
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