Thread: Raks Mona

Does anybody know of where i can get a copy of Raks Mona that Hadia uses in her raks sharki series? It would be much appreciated.. Thanks!

Originally Posted by mlacombe

Does anybody know of where i can get a copy of Raks Mona that Hadia uses in her raks sharki series? It would be much appreciated.. Thanks!

Yes, that's such a great piece; Hadia's VHS combo set was one of the first I bought several years ago and I loved her "Raks Mona" performance, such a beautiful combination of technique, artistry, and music. If my memory serves me correctly, the credits on the vid mentioned Hadia and another artist beside the title; perhaps it was a collaborative effort? Anyway, imagine my delight when, upon taking a workshop with Hadia in Ottawa, "Raks Mona" was on the CD she made available for purchase at the end of the session. If you were to email Hadia directly, I'm sure she would provide you with more info and may even have a CD on hand for you to purchase: hadia@hadia.com

Good luck!


Khalida

I haven't seen Hadia's video, so I don't know what the song sounds like that appears on it.

However, I can tell you that I have an old LP vinyl record with a track on it called Raks Mona which Maria D'Silva used to create a choreography many years ago. (More than 20 years ago, in fact.) So I'll tell you about the record album. It's called "Exotic Oriental Dances - Cairo By Night (Instrumental) Volume 2". The credits say it was composed and conducted by Ali Srour.

My copy came from Rashid Sales in New York City. I have no idea whether it was ever re-released on CD.

I know of two versions, one off the Best of the Sultans cd, I found it on Itunes by Omar Faruk Tekbilek; the other is off a Voice of Stars cd....

Wasn't there a version on one of Suhaila's music releases? Maybe the second one?

I know there is more than one song out there by this name. Are you looking for the one Mona Said dances to in her pink and blue costume? I'll put the youtube clip here:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmx_jvwT4DE&feature=PlayList&p=6856D693470 6854D&index=4]YouTube - Mona al Said Zara's Best Favourite!!!! Part 1[/ame]


Because I'd love to know which of the above, if any are this song or a different one.

The song Mona is dancing to is the first song on either vol. 1 or 2 of Suhaila's Salimpour Arabian musicals. I'd have to look at my Cd to tell you which one for sure.

Originally Posted by shems

Because I'd love to know which of the above, if any are this song or a different one.

Just listened to the clip. It is definitely *not* the same clip as appears on the Exotic Oriental Dances vinyl LP record that I mentioned earlier.

I have the CD The Best of the Sultans. The track on that CD is titled "Mona Nay Solo, Drum Solo, Finale", *not* "Raks Mona", if that matters. Also, the opening and closing songs on this CD are both entirely different from either the youtube clip you posted or the Exotic Oriental Dances vinyl LP record I mentioned earlier.

So we're up to at least 3 different songs so far with "Mona" in the name.

The Raks Mona I have is on Cairo by Night, like Shira mentioned. It's just an MP3 file. I don't have the original album.

Originally Posted by jewelsdances

I know of two versions, one off the Best of the Sultans cd, I found it on Itunes by Omar Faruk Tekbilek; the other is off a Voice of Stars cd....

Those are the two versions I know of as well. In fact VOS also recorded the Sultans version. I haven't heard the Hadia version.

It's the one where mona is in her pink and blue costume.. love that song! We're narrowing it down ladies!

Originally Posted by mlacombe

It's the one where mona is in her pink and blue costume.. love that song! We're narrowing it down ladies!

That is Raks Jamila off of Suhaila Salimpour's Arabian Musicals, vol. 1.

Suhaila Unveiled - Raks Jamila - Brightcove

Thanks ladies,

The copy of the song in Hadia's video is only available through Hadia, however i believe the suhaila salimpour- raks jamila version is very similar, with possibly a few differences in tempo, etc.
Thank you to everybody for all your help!