Thread: looking for that old-timey feel

I am looking for musical suggestions for a 5-6 minute song, dynamic composition, with an "old-timey" feel to it - maybe it sounds like it came from the 40s, or brings up images of the first bellydancers to grace the stage. If possible, it should also give that sense to a member of the GP. But it should also be danceable and good quality, to be used in a show. Preferably in an Egyptian or Arabic style.

Any ideas? I especially love to get any suggestions of things that are available easily on emusic or itunes or amazon mp3.

I should clarify that I do have my own music and videos to research from, but I always enjoy the collective wisdom of bhuzzers.

I should also add - any of your favorite old bellydance clips - 1960 and before - from youtube. I'm doing some youtube research too.

Try Radio Bastet
Radio Bastet - Vintage Belly Dance Music

I like "Dimashq" on the "rough guide to bellydance"-cd. But it's only a little over 3 min. It has a very "back then" feeling. Also Raqset Kahramana and Tonta etc by Farid al Atrache. Those are also pretty short as I recall. Maybe a combination?

I just re-discovered Tamr-Henna. That might be an option -depending on the instrumentation - it can have that golden era feeling.

"Leyla" from Music for an Oriental Dance is a great choice. It's an old Farid el Atrache song, and this arrangement has that old feel to it.

I didn't find the song on itunes or emusic, though.

Also, "Aziza" from Masters of Bellydance Vol 1 is awesome.

And Raqset Kharamana is a personal fave of mine. You can find it on this CD:

Farid El Atrache - Belly Dance - The Music of Farid El Atrache #01CC1000121

Any of these songs would be great, actually.

I've been listening to this and I think it's lovely:

"40 Days and 1001 Nights, Bellydance Music for Tamalyn Dallal by the Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club of Zanzibar

Tamalyn Dallal produced this CD in Zanzibar. Founded in 1905, Ikhwani Safaa is Africa's oldest band. In the beginning, the Sultan sent musicians to Egypt to study and they came back playing classical Arabic music, which was later inspired by Egypt's Golden Age and Ottoman influences. This disc features two bashrafs (instrumentals) and several taarab pieces (poetic love songs) that were adapted for Oriental dance. The artists use entirely acoustic instruments, and the performances possess such complexity and depth that they become more fascinating with each listen."

I am finding this music very charming and lovely and old-time feeling. Though there are mostly original compositions here, they sound classic.

Don't know if it's on iTunes but here is the link to her website: Book, CD and DVDs | 40 Days and 1001 Nights | Tamalyn Dallal

"Kahramana" from the movie Afrita Hanem, the song Samia Gamal danced to in the scene where she's swooping around Farid al-Atrache

"Lamma Bada Yata Thana", recorded by lots of artists. It's on one of the Horacio/Beata CD's, on one of John Bilezikjian's CD's, on one of the Brothers of the Baladi CD's, and many more.

Anything by George Abdo

There's a great CD out there called The Music of Mohammed Abdel Wahab. It's got a cheesy cover, but great music. One track sounds bad -- like it was actually recorded from a movie playing on a TV, but the rest of them all sound pretty good, and they have that "golden age" sound.

I love Jalilah's Raks Sharki 3: Journey of the Gipsy Dancer.

Anything off of the Casino Opera album (Jalilah's 5th I think).
Taheya's songs, Samia's songs...they're long but easy to cut.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

"Kahramana" from the movie Afrita Hanem, the song Samia Gamal danced to in the scene where she's swooping around Farid al-Atrache

Omigosh! I love that scene and the music; makes me smile every time. The music is perfectly "old timey!"

Deborah

Second George Abdo...Anything really that has a grainy, played on the radio sound to it would be awesome...

It would really work if you did a intro with a real 40's sound clip, the radio tuning in perhaps? Quick sound byte of a song, then settles on your music...

Hey I dream big!

B