Thread: Iraqi Music

Hi everybody!
I will be performing at an American/Iraqi wedding.
I would like to include some Iraqi songs in the set.

I have the 3-CD album "Beginner's Guide to Arabia"
some of the songs are from Iraq....but I am wondering if they are wedding appropriate?

Is anybody familiar with these songs??

off CD 2
(song 3) "Khuttar" by Ilham Al Madfai
the booklet gives the translation that 'khuttar' translates to 'visitor'
"looking back at my life, happiness is just like a visitor"
...but is that a happy wedding kinda song??

off CD 3
(song 2) "Al Ghurbeh" by Kareem Al Iraqi
(song 5) "Laish Laish Ya Jara" by Mai & Waheed
(song 7) "Baghdad" by Rida Al Abdallah
the booklet says this song is a tribute to Iraq's capital city...a wedding song?
(song 10) "El Tufah" by Ilham Al Madfai

The booklet doesn't help much with the translation of the above songs.

Any ideas which song is happy-wedding-OK??
Thanks in advance for any help!
~Zayna : )

saadoun al-bayati "songs of iraq".

LOVE Saadoun al-Bayati. I have him on vinyl, with a hunky picture on front. *sigh*

How about something by Kazem Sahar? I think all Iraqis like him.

Latifa

Thanks for the posts!
The above songs I listed are the only ones I have at the moment.
The groom's father said anything by Ilham Al Madfai is always good.
I just don't want to be dancing to a sad song at a wedding...

Thanks again!

Seconding Kazim al Sahir. You should be able to find his music fairly easily on Itunes. Every CD I have of his comes with lyrics or with very detailed idea of what the song is about. He writes many of his own lyrics, but also covers a lot of other singers and poets. Wonderful stuff, and he is Iraqi (though he often sings in fusHa/Modern Standard Arabic...a blessing for us Arabic as a second language learners!). He has a diverse repertoire, much if it good for a wedding.