Thread: Song of the Day: Kariat el Finjan

OR Qariat or any other spelling. A friend of mine was looking for versions of this song the other day and now I can't get the song out of my head! So let's post your favorite videos of dancers dancing to the song, favorite versions of the song and translations!

I'll start with the original Abdel Halim version:

This is the full song:


In case you don't have over an hour to kill, this is the most famous part of the song for dancers:

Kariat El Finjan-the Tea Reader (Or Fortune Teller)

Favorite Versions:
Most favorite version is from Arabian Nights
Laura at the Harem
Sherihan

Originally Posted by jamielynn

Kariat El Finjan-the Tea Reader (Or Fortune Teller)

Favorite Versions:
Most favorite version is from Arabian Nights
Laura at the Harem
Sherihan

I like the Laura at the Harem version too. Traditional accoustic instruments.

I haven't heard the Sherihan version.

I have a version by Jihad Akel that is nice. It's part of an Abdel Halim Medley called Jana Al Hawa.

Originally Posted by norma

OR Qariat or any other spelling. A friend of mine was looking for versions of this song the other day and now I can't get the song out of my head! So let's post your favorite videos of dancers dancing to the song, favorite versions of the song and translations!

I'll start with the original Abdel Halim version:

This is the full song:


In case you don't have over an hour to kill, this is the most famous part of the song for dancers:

I like that older version you sent me, who is the orchestra? It's really short, 2 mins, but would be great for an intro!!

I wish I could find an awesome version like this, she's raqin', too!

I think the Judy "Jihan" Reda version is around 2 minutes.

Love that clip with Pricila. She's fabulous! Sigh, hard to find a recorded version that compares with live music.

I found a translation on this website:

It repeats a lot so I'll only cut and past the basic parts:


She sat.
Galesat.
She sat with a fearful look on her face and
Galesat wel khouf be enaiha.
Examined the overturned tea cup.
Tate-amalo fingaan el makloub.

She said, my son, don't grieve.
Kalit ya walady la tahzaan.
She said, my son, don't grieve.
Kalit ya walady la tahzaan.

For love is written for you,My son.
Fal houb alaika houal maktoob, Ya walady.
love is written for you, My son.
Al houb alaika houal maktoob, Ya walady.
love is written for you, My son.
Al houb alaika houal maktoob, Ya walady.
love is written for you, My son.
Al houb alaika houal maktoob, Ya walady.

My son, you will die a martyr.
Ya walady, kutmata shaheedan.
My son, you will die a martyr.
Ya walady, kutmata shaheedan.
My son, you will die a martyr.
Ya walady, kutmata shaheedan.

But death is worth it for the one you love.
Man mata feda-an lel mahboob.
But death is worth it for the one you love.
Man mata feda-an lel mahboob.
But death is worth it for the one you love.
Man mata feda-an lel mahboob.
But death is worth it for the one you love.
Man mata feda-an lel mahboob.

My son, my son!
Ya walady, ya walady.

(Music Interlude)

I interpreted it.
Basartoo
I interpreted it but thought it was a mistake.
Basartoo we nagamtoo kathiraan.
Because I never read
Lakinee lam akrak abadan,
A cup that resembles your cup.
Finganan yoshbihoo finganak.

I interpreted it.
Basartoo
I interpreted it but thought it was a mistake.
Basartoo we nagamtoo kathiraan.
Because I never witnessed
Lakinee lam arif abadan,
Grief that resembles your grief.
Ahzanan toshbihoo ahzanaak.

I interpreted it.
Basartoo
I interpreted it but thought it was a mistake.
Basartoo we nagamtoo kathiraan.
Because I never read
Lakinee lam akrak abadan,
A cup that resembles your cup.
Finganan yoshbihoo finganak.

You're doomed to never settle
Makdooroka antamdy abadaan.
In the ocean of love, constantly changing paths.
Fee bahr el houb be ghair kelou.
And your life, all your life.
We takounoo hayatooka tool al omry.
Your whole life will be a story of tears.
Tool al omry ketaba demou.

You're doomed to always be imprisoned
Makdooroka anta taabka masgoonan.
Between water and fire.
Bainal ma-ee we bainal naar.
You're doomed to always be imprisoned
Makdooroka anta taabka masgoonan.
Between water and fire.
Bainal ma-ee we bainal naar.

Despite all that burns you.
Fa be raghm gameia hara-ikiny.
And despite all that saddens you.
Wa be raghm gameia sawabikihy.
Despite all that burns you.
Fa be raghm gameia hara-ikiny.
And despite all that saddens you.
Wa be raghm gameia sawabikihy.

And despite the grief that lives within you
Wa be raghm el hozn elle sakeny feena.
Day and night
Layla nahaar.
And despite the grief that lives within you
Wa be raghm el hozn elle sakeny feena.
Day and night
Layla nahaar.

And despite the wind.
Wa de raghm el reeh.
And despite the rainy and stormy weather.
Wa be raghm el gaw el matary wal asaar.

Love has left you, my son.
El hob sayabka ya walady.
Love has left you, my son.
El hob sayabka ya walady.
Love has left you, my son.
El hob sayabka ya walady.
Love has left you, my son.
El hob sayabka ya walady.

The greatest of things.
Ahla al akdar.
The greatest of things.
Ahla al akdar.

I swear to you, my son, this woman
Be hayateeka ya walady, emrakatoon.
Her eyes are beyond belief.
Einahaa, sobhanaal maabood.
I swear to you, my son, this woman
Be hayateeka ya walady, emrakatoon.
Her eyes are beyond belief.
Einahaa, sobhanaal maabood.

Her face looks like a painting.
Famooha marsoomon kalaankood.
Her laugh is as beautiful as a song or roses.
Dehkatoha anghamoon wa awrood.
Her face looks like a painting.
Famooha marsoomon kalaankood.
Her laugh is as beautiful as a song or roses.
Dehkatoha anghamoon wa awrood.

And her wild and crazy hair,
Wal shaar el ghagaree wel magnoon,
Travels all around the world.
Yo safiroo fe kol al donia.

One day, this woman, my son,
Kad taghidoo amrakiton, ya walady.
The love of your heart,
Ahwaha alkalb
Becomes your whole world.
Heyal donia.
But your sky becomes cloudy and torn.
Lakina sama-ika momtiratoon
And your path is blocked.
We tari-koka masdoodon masdood.

For the love of your heart, my son,
Fa habibaty kalbika, ya walady.
Sleeps in a large, gated castle.
Na-imatoon fekasr el marsood.

He who enters its gates,
Man yadkhoolo hogratiha.
He who asks for her hand,
Man yatloboo yadiha.
He who enters her cell.
Man yabnoo men soory hadikatiha.

He who tries to break her chains,
Man howal faak dafa-iriha.
He who tries to break her chains,
Man howal faak dafa-iriha.

My son, will cause her to vanish.
Ya walady, Mafkoodon.
Vanish.
Mafkoodon.
Vanish.
Mafkoodon.
Vanish.
Mafkoodon.

My son, my son.
Ya walady, ya walady.

(Music Interlude 3)

You will try to search for her, my son Everywhere.
Satifatishoo anha ya walady, Fee kol makaan.
And you will try to ask the waves of the sea
Wa satasaalo anhaa maug el bahr.
And everyone you meet about her.
We tasaalo fairouz el ****aan.


And you'll travel ocean after ocean.
Wa tagoobo biharaan wa bihara.
And your tears will flow like rivers.
Wa tafidoo dimoo-oka anhara.
And you'll travel ocean after ocean.
Wa tagoobo biharaan wa bihara.
And your tears will flow like rivers.
Wa tafidoo dimoo-oka anhara.

And your grief will grow.
Wa siyakboro houznoka
So great as to resemble trees.
Hatta yosbiha ashgaraan.

(Music Interlude 4)

You will try to search for her, my son Everywhere.
Satifatishoo anha ya walady, Fee kol makaan.
And you will try to ask the waves of the sea
Wa satasaalo anhaa maug el bahr.
And everyone you meet about her.
We tasaalo fairouz el ****aan.

(Music Interlude 5)

You will try to search for her, my son Everywhere.
Satifatishoo anha ya walady, Fee kol makaan.
And you will try to ask the waves of the sea
Wa satasaalo anhaa maug el bahr.
And everyone you meet about her.
We tasaalo fairouz el ****aan.

You will try to search for her, my son Everywhere.
Satifatishoo anha ya walady, Fee kol makaan.
And you will try to ask the waves of the sea
Wa satasaalo anhaa maug el bahr.
And everyone you meet about her.
We tasaalo fairouz el ****aan.

And you'll travel ocean after ocean.
Wa tagoobo biharaan wa bihara.
And your tears will flow like rivers.
Wa tafidoo dimoo-oka anhara.
And you'll travel ocean after ocean.
Wa tagoobo biharaan wa bihara.
And your tears will flow like rivers.
Wa tafidoo dimoo-oka anhara.

And your grief will grow.
Wa siyakboro houznoka
So great as to resemble trees.
Hatta yosbiha ashgaraan.

(Music Interlude 6)

And you will return one day, my son,
Wa sitarga yawmaan, ya walady.
Defeated, broken and wounded.
Mahzooman, maksooran wigdaan.
And you will return one day, my son,
Wa sitarga yawmaan, ya walady.
Defeated, broken and wounded.
Mahzooman, maksooran wigdaan.

Because the love of your life,
Fa habibato kalbika,
Has neither a land,
Laysalaha ardoon
Nor country, nor address.
Aw wataanoon aw onwan.

It's impossible to love a woman,
Ma asaab antahawa amraataan.
My son, who has no home.
Ya walady, laysalaha onwaan.
It's impossible to love a woman,
Ma asaab antahawa amraataan.
My son, who has no home.
Ya walady, laysalaha onwaan.
It's impossible to love a woman,
Ma asaab antahawa amraataan.
My son, who has no home.
Ya walady, laysalaha onwaan.

Who has no home.
Laysalaha onwaan.
Who has no home.
Laysalaha onwaan.
No home.
Onwaan.
No home.
Onwaan.

It's impossible to love a woman,
Ma asaab antahawa amraataan.
My son, who has no home.
Ya walady, laysalaha onwaan.
It's impossible to love a woman,
Ma asaab antahawa amraataan.
My son, who has no home.
Ya walady, laysalaha onwaan.

Who has no home.
Laysalaha onwaan.
Who has no home.
Laysalaha onwaan.
No home.
Onwaan.
No home.
Onwaan.

My son,
Ya walady,
My son!
Ya walady!F

-Thanks for the translation Norma!! I did not have that one in my collection-I just knew the title.

I never knew the words before either, just the title. Sad song!

My favourite version is Dr Samy Farags on Ya Amar. It has vocals which I prefer.
Here it is.

Originally Posted by Candi

My favourite version is Dr Samy Farags on Ya Amar. It has vocals which I prefer.
Here it is.

That's a great version! And I love the paillette costume!

This is the version Arabesque Dance Company did.
I loved performing in this piece, it was so different. Yasmina worked with a well know modern dancer, so as you can see it is a theatrical modern interpretation - very much based on the lyrics of the song.

Mellybelly that is YUM.

I love this song, and I actually only have a live version of Abdel Halim singing it, which is both great - for the vocals and the audience responses - and terrible, because the experimental 70s wackiness unfortunately makes me want to roll on the floor laughing at certain points. I am going to have a good time listening to these different versions! But I think it can't possibly ever be quite so great without Abdel Halim..... gosh his voice was lovely.

btw, the lyrics were written by poet Nizar Qabbani. So lovely...

Fortunately, Al Mogi and Abdel Halim got together and made a studio recording. Abdel Halim was losing his battle with Schistosomiasis by that point but one wouldn't know by listening to those sessions.

The recording is another of SONOCAIRO's treasures.

Here's a wee bit from the third movement.

Originally Posted by Zumarrad

Mellybelly that is YUM.

I love this song, and I actually only have a live version of Abdel Halim singing it, which is both great - for the vocals and the audience responses - and terrible, because the experimental 70s wackiness unfortunately makes me want to roll on the floor laughing at certain points. I am going to have a good time listening to these different versions! But I think it can't possibly ever be quite so great without Abdel Halim..... gosh his voice was lovely.

I LOVE his voice! Nothing compares to him singing this song, even with the experimental 70's wackiness!

i love dr farag's version the most