Thread: Music for American-Egyptian Weddings?

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone have any suggestions for American-Egyptian weddings? The bride is American and the groom's family is Egyptian. I pretty much know what to avoid, but I am struggling with finding something new for the set. All my music feels old to me right now :(

well since the groom is Arabic and Raks Sharki consist of many beautiful Classical Egyptian/Lebanese music. I would use Classical upbeat Mashaal, Tales of Sahara, Oum kalthoum, songs from Cairo Orchestra, Hossam Ramzy, Jalilah's cds...and add veil, drum solo, upbeat finales like Hakim..for people dance with you

Qariat El Fingan, Enta Omri, Mashaal, Sahara City, Hakim songs, Aziza, Alf Layla Wi Layla, Daret Al Wayam...some of the best I can think of now.

How old is the groom? If he's in his 20's, then Hakim may sound kind of old and fuddy to him, and you might want to go with a younger singer if you're doing a pop piece.

One thing that can be fun for an American/ME wedding is to do one song that's a ME remake of an American song, so the brides family can hear a song they're familiar with too. Usually this sort of event is about bringing the two families together, so a nod to the American one can, in my experience, be quite joyous.

I did a Turkish/American wedding once where I could tell the bride's side was feeling a little left out because they couldn't even clap along to Rompii Rompii, while the groom's family was going bonkers and singing along. But the bride and I decided that I would do "Bambaska Biri" the Turkish cover of "I Will Survive" - not the most lyrically appropriate for a wedding, but you can't beat the recognition factor. It was so awesome - the bride's family rushed to the dance floor to join the groom's for the first time, instead of sitting in their seats with slightly puzzled expressions on their faces.

Even that Hakim and James Brown "Leyla" duet would be good - most American audiences would be tapping their foot as they recognized Brown's vocal, I think.

Have you asked the bride what her husband and his family like? That would probably be the BEST solution.

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Have you asked the bride what her husband and his family like? That would probably be the BEST solution.

Hi Michelle! I am meeting with her this weekend and I will ask her! Thanks!!!

Thanks for all of the wonderful suggestions everyone! I forgot to instantly notify myself and didnt know these were posted! grrrr

Yeah I was going to say ask the bride and groom. They probably thought about it longer than you have.

The turkish version of Kiss Kiss is played commonly here to western crowds who recognise to tune.

I would also suggest instrumentals of well known arab song set to a fast western disco beat. You hear it all the time at restaurants.

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Have you asked the bride what her husband and his family like? That would probably be the BEST solution.

Yes - just like the bride and groom at fully American weddings, they should really tell you what they want.

Some good suggestions above. I've always had good luck with using Gawaher from Dr. Sami Farag's Midnight Magic CD when doing mixed weddings.

So anyways, I asked the bride and groom and they have asked me to propose music. However, it will all be run past the mother-in-law. So in the end, I think I will do a bit more digging and see what I like at the moment and what may go well together. Thanks for your help :)

Abdel Halim Hafiz songs are always a crowd pleaser for the parents and grandparents. Sawwah is very upbeat and pleasing to Americans as well.

Originally Posted by norma

Abdel Halim Hafiz songs are always a crowd pleaser for the parents and grandparents. Sawwah is very upbeat and pleasing to Americans as well.

Thanks Norma! I actually really like Sawwah myself. This is kind of dorky, but I put it on repeat when I am drawing at my day job :)

Maybe a zeffa intro would be nice. Song: Du'ul a Mazhar (spelling?).