Thread: Your current favorite music!

I know threads like these pop up every so often, but we all can use some new inspiration from time to time, right?

So, what are the songs, versions of songs, artists, CD's you're obsessed with right now? New finds? Classics?

That's a highly subjective question--what I like may not be what you like! Personally, I think it's important to stay current with what other dancers are using (as opposed to being the noob who pops up every six months or so to tell us she just discovered this really great new song for veil and it's called "Yearning" by Raul Ferrando...), but if you want fresh inspiration, the best thing is to do your own searching. Not only does it broaden your musical horizons by exposing you to lots of different styles of Middle Eastern music, but it decreases the chance that you'll be caught at a show using the same track off of a BDSS album as another dancer.

This thread http://www.bhuz.com/forum/music-trad...pop-songs.html talks about finding new music, and if you scroll down to Post #11, it lists a bunch of different sites that offer streaming content. All of these sites have both new releases and older classics, so just start clicking until you find something that intrigues you.

I'm re-obsessing on some of my favorite classics, Al Atlal off the Beata and Horacio CD's, Rakset Ranine from Setrak, and Leylet Hob-again! I'm also on the prowl for an orchestrated version of Set el Hosan, I use to have a copy I got from Bobby Farrah back in 1981, but that cassette disappeared years ago, ,m:: it was the best version ever!!!! Unfortunately, all of his music and such are not being released to the public since his death which is unfortunate, he had a great collection!

lol Hey! I do a lovely veil piece to Yearning (inspired by the lovely Aziza:) but that is true. I use the BDSS CDs for improv practice and open dancing at halfas because everyone has heard them but I second a good searching to find music that strikes you and makes you want to dance.

Wow, I must disagree with the "do your own searching" response. There are artists I would never discover without someone recommending them to me -- you could spend a million years on maqam.com and never find them. True, you should spend some time looking for yourself, but recommendations can really help.

Personally I'm listening to a bunch of Saber el-Roubai right now. He's Tunisian. I'm not so into his slow romantic stuff but some of his pop tunes are a lot of fun. I'm also listening to the orchestrated songs recorded by the Al-Ahram Orchestra. They're really lush!

classical golden era Egyptian

Originally Posted by tigerb

Wow, I must disagree with the "do your own searching" response. There are artists I would never discover without someone recommending them to me -- you could spend a million years on maqam.com and never find them.

I like Maqam and buy from them, but they actually carry a relatively mundane assortment of titles and artists. They don't stray very far off the beaten path, but it's obviously in their interest to stock the most recent CDs by the most popular singers because that's what sells--not obscure singers and back catalogs. They're only the tip of the iceberg.

I've been enjoying some random stuff lately: Hossam Ramzy's "Ruby" (orchestral Egyptian), Tarkan's "Metamorfoz" (Turkish pop), and two "DJ Zen" cds I bought from Aradia at Desert Dance Festival (Middle Eastern-inspired dance music). I think all of these are on iTunes or Amazon.

Originally Posted by Aradia

I'm re-obsessing on some of my favorite classics, Al Atlal off the Beata and Horacio CD's, Rakset Ranine from Setrak, and Leylet Hob-again! I'm also on the prowl for an orchestrated version of Set el Hosan, I use to have a copy I got from Bobby Farrah back in 1981, but that cassette disappeared years ago, ,m:: it was the best version ever!!!! Unfortunately, all of his music and such are not being released to the public since his death which is unfortunate, he had a great collection!

Do you have the VOS version of Set el Hosan? It's on Belly Dance with Samara and it's called Raksat Samara. That's the best version I"ve come across so far. The full song, fully orchestrated.

I too like Rakset Ranine and Leylet Hob.

The Samara routine by Setrak is really good too. Vol. 21

Originally Posted by norma

Do you have the VOS version of Set el Hosan? It's on Belly Dance with Samara and it's called Raksat Samara. That's the best version I"ve come across so far. The full song, fully orchestrated.

I too like Rakset Ranine and Leylet Hob.

The Samara routine by Setrak is really good too. Vol. 21

I ordered the VOS version from Dahlal the other day, I can't wait to get it!

I'm really loving Rhu el Fouds Dinga Dinga cd right now and the song Ahfleflak, Ahfelflak by Setrak Sarkissian.

Originally Posted by Aradia

I ordered the VOS version from Dahlal the other day, I can't wait to get it!

It's a great CD with some other all time classic songs and kickass drumsolos.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

I like Maqam and buy from them, but they actually carry a relatively mundane assortment of titles and artists. They don't stray very far off the beaten path, but it's obviously in their interest to stock the most recent CDs by the most popular singers because that's what sells--not obscure singers and back catalogs. They're only the tip of the iceberg.

And well, there you go. After leaving maqam you need to spend another million years on all the other music-selling sites. ..l;,..l;,

Originally Posted by tigerb

And well, there you go. After leaving maqam you need to spend another million years on all the other music-selling sites. ..l;,..l;,

Grab one of the sites from here http://www.bhuz.com/forum/561915-post11.html and stream music while you're Bhuzzing!

I'm really loving the old classic musicals with the full orchestra. They were created with a dancer in mind. Songs like Sit el Hosen, Ma'shaal, Mirijan, Nagwa, Sahara City.

I'm craving new music and want:
Virginia Presents Khan Al Khalili
Golden Era of Bellydance
Cafe Bellydance
Asal

And those are just from Hollywood Music Center! Don't let me start browsing through Dahlal and Maqam. .w.:

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Grab one of the sites from here http://www.bhuz.com/forum/561915-post11.html and stream music while you're Bhuzzing!

Thanks. I knew about Nogomi but those others are new to me.

I have more and more come to love great singers and am currently obsessed with Wael Kfoury and Fadl Shaker. Especially Warl kfoury's album Wael. Was getting pretty tired of the instrumental orientals by Hossam Ramzy etc but I think I only need a break from it and then I can go back to loving it again.

Revising an old chor. done to a great set by Setrak Sarkissian from "Spectacular Rhythms from the Orient"; it's the "Accordion Taksim/Tabla/Ouyoun el Badawaia" part. Just a great all around sample of classical/modern Egyptian musical progression

I really like Wael Kfoury, too!

Do you know the name of the original song that was used for this remix? Album is "Hizzy" by DJ Nader, song is ""Wael Kafoury - Ma'oole Tishti Fee Abb". It's track 5 here - [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B000FMH8H6/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_005?ie=UTF8&track=005&disc=001]Amazon.com : Music Sampler[/ame]

Originally Posted by gisela

I have more and more come to love great singers and am currently obsessed with Wael Kfoury and Fadl Shaker. Especially Warl kfoury's album Wael. Was getting pretty tired of the instrumental orientals by Hossam Ramzy etc but I think I only need a break from it and then I can go back to loving it again.

Originally Posted by kiyaana

IDo you know the name of the original song that was used for this remix? Album is "Hizzy" by DJ Nader, song is ""Wael Kafoury - Ma'oole Tishti Fee Abb". It's track 5 here ...

Still looking? I thought someone had asked about this song before, and when I checked, sure enough.... I looked again, and I still can't find that title. It must be either under a different name, obscure, or recorded especially for Hizzy's remix. If you want to sort through Wael's catalog, here are two listings for him:

Wael at 6rb (clicking on the titles under the photo will launch a page with an embedded player; clicking on the Real icon will stream through an independent RealPlayer)
Wael at 6arab (right column streams into an independent Real Player).

You can run both pages through a translator program for amusing and confusing results. Once you have the correct Arabic title, it should be easier to find the album.

Originally Posted by norma

It's a great CD with some other all time classic songs and kickass drumsolos.

Yay, I got my CD Norma, I love it!! It has that nightclub sound of live music, and no keyboards!!!

Dear Aradia,

Phaedra asked me to post this for her as she does not know how to do it
herself.

I read with interest your post which mentioned Bobby Farrah's music
tapes.
I have not seen this topic come up before. I agree that Bobby's
collection of music is awesome. Just to let you know, hundreds of
audio cassettes of music to which Bobby taught over the years exist.
Most of them are out of their cases, mostly unlabeled, some in Arabic
script and some that are identifiable. I would need a crew to be able
to put these in some kind of order, as it would be a tremendous amount
of work and time. ( I haven't even been able to go through all of the
video material, which is very well labeled). It does bother me that
all of these tapes are just sitting there waiting to be worked on.

Another point is that I could never release this music publicly, even
if it were together, as Bobby did not have the rights to it. However,
if I were able to locate a particular piece that he used in a class or
a workshop, and someone needed it, I would be happy to send it to
them. For example, Sit el Hosan would probably be easier for me to
find, since I do remember seeing it at some point among all of the
tapes.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know this, since you mentioned it in
your post. It is terribly frustrating for me to have these tapes, and
even if I need one for myself, to not be able to find it, or have the
time to search. I am terribly overwhelmed with everything that has
been left in my "care" and I hope that some day I will be able to do
something more with the materials. I really don't know what to do with
these cassettes, except perhaps some day give them to the Lincoln
Center Library for the Performing Arts, Music Division But they would
have to be catalogued and labeled first. If anyone has any ideas on
this, please let me know.

At least there is an archive now on Bobby at the Lincoln Center Dance
Library (although it is not complete (even after 11 years of my
working with the materials,I still have half of it in my studio apt!)
and when dancers come to NY, they can see Bobby's work there by special
request. And I think that is the best thing I could have done with his
work, as the material will be there forever for researchers, long
after I am gone.

Best Wishes,
Phaedra

Thanks for the post Amar, I would love to get a copy of his Set el Hossan version, it was incredible, I learned his choreography to it when I was 11 years old, so it's been a while! I'm sure Phaedra has her hands full with all of his music, video's, etc, that's a full time job!! If she comes across it, please contact me at aradia11@aol.com

Thanks!!