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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.
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Finding Music by Abdel Halim Hafez
by Shira
Table of Contents
About Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Hafez was born in 1929 in a village north of Cairo. He was orphaned at a young age. His mother died a few days after giving birth to him, and his father died five years later. After a few years of living in an orphanage, he went to live with his aunt and uncle in Cairo. At age 14, he joined the Arabic Music Institute in Cairo.
When he launched his music career, at first he had difficulty achieving success with audiences. His musical style was different from what had gone before. Things began to turn around for him after the 1952 revolution. He sang a number of patriotic songs that celebrated the event, and became known as the "Voice of the Revolution" or the "Son of the Revolution". Gradually, his popularity began to build.
His big break came in 1953 when he was recruited to do a live radio performance to substitute for another artist who was unable to do it. This performance was heard by Hafez Abdel Wahab, the supervisor of musical programming for Egyptian national radio, and he opened doors for the young artist.
Abdel Halim Hafez was known as both a singer and a movie star. His music, in particular, appealed to young women because of its romantic character. His career thrived from the mid-1950's into the early 1970's. He was known as the "Dark Nightingale."
Hafez suffered from fragile health most of his life, having been diagnosed in childhood with the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia. He died in 1977, and some say his funeral was attended by over 100,000 mourners.
His biggest hits included:
- "Ahwak"
- "Ana Lak Ala Toul"
- "Ay Damet Hozn"
- "Balash el Etab"
- "Be Amr el Hob"
- "Betlomouni Leih?"
- "Gabar"
- "Gana el-Hawa"
- "Hawel Teftekerni"
- "Mawoud"
- "Nibtidi Mneen al-Hikaya"
- "Qariat al-Fingan"
- "Sawwah"
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Lists of Recordings
Many belly dancers around the world today use music by Abdel Halim Hafez for performances. Usually, dancers will use the instrumental overtures and interludes of his songs rather than dancing to the segments with his vocals. However, some dancers do make exceptions to this.
My music collection contains over 200 albums specifically intended for use by belly dancers. Among these albums, more than 40 include danceable recordings of songs by Abdel Halim Hafez. These contain more than 70 music tracks, mostly instrumental, featuring 20 of his songs. All of these tracks are listed on this page, organized by song. I've sorted them according to the length of the track, with shortest first, to make it easy for dancers to identify which tracks might fit the needs of a particular show or classroom playlist.
There are translations elsewhere on my web site for some, but not all of these songs. Where available, I've included a link to each song's translation.
I've researched the information below to the best of my ability, but I realize there may have been errors in some of my sources. I apologize for any such errors you may encounter.
Ahwak (أهواك)
- Year: 1953, 1957
- Appeared in two motion pictures:
- Bayieat al-Khubz (1953)
- Banat al-Youm (1957)
- Lyricist: Hussein El-Sayed
- Composer: Mohamed Abdel Wahab
- Lyrics translation
The motion picture that included this song, Bayieat al-Khubz, was early in Abdel Halim Hafez' career. In it, he and Berlanti Hassan sang this as a duet. However, they did not have an onscreen role in the film. Instead, the onscreen actors were Shukry Sarhan and Magda, who were lip-syncing to the song. Then, in the 1957 movie Banat al-Youm, Abdel Halim Hafez performed this as a solo.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Gems of the Middle East, Volume 1 | Mary Ellen Donald | Ahwak | 4:29 |
Return to table of contents.
Ala Aad El Shooq (على قد الشوق)
- Year: 1955
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Lahn El Wafaa (The Song of Truth)
- Lyricist: Mohamed Ali Ahmed
- Composer: Kamal Al-Tawil
- Lyrics translation
The movie Lahn El Wafaa, which is the one that this song appeared in, was Abdel Halim Hafez' very first role on the silver screen.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Ala Aad Elshwook | 5:47 |
Return to table of contents.
Ala Hesbi Wedad Albi (على حسب وداد قلبى)
Other ways this song title can be spelled is "Ala Hasb Wedad Alby Ya Boya", "Ala Hasby Kalbi", "Ala Hisb Wedad Albi",
or "Ala Hasb Weddad Qalbi".
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Laura at the Harem | Andus Ensemble | Ala Hisb Oodab Galbi | 2:23 |
| Setrak, Vol. 19, Setrak and Samara | Setrak Sarkissian | Aala Hisbi Wadab | 3:12 |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Ala Hezb Wedad | 4:47 |
| Best of Baladi and Saaidi Disk 1 | Hossam Ramzy | Ala Hesb Wedad Galbi | 5:29 |
| Aheb Masr | Yasmina of Cairo | Ala Hizboadad | 6:09 |
Return to table of contents.
Ana Koulli Magul El Toba (أنا كل ماقول التوبة)
This is not the same song as "El Toba" which appears in the 1955 movie Ayyam wa Layali (Days and Nights).
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Al Amoura |
Outi |
Ana Kuli Magul El Toba |
4:20 |
| Musica Arabe Instrumental Volume 08 | Mario Kirlis | Ana Culi Ma Gouli Toba | 4:29 |
Return to table of contents.
Asmar Ya Asmarani (أسمر يا أسمراني)
- Year: 1958 (version by Abdel Halim Hafez)
- Appeared in Motion Picture: El Wesada El-Khalya
- Lyricist: Ismail El Habrouk
- Composer: Kamal al-Tawil
- Lyrics translation
This song's original artist was Fayza Ahmed, but it was later recorded by Abdel Halim Hafez.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Oud Mosaics | Amer Ammouri | Asmar Yasmarani | 3:54 |
| Purple Nights Belly Dance with Shahraman | HMC | Asmar Yasmarani | 6:11 |
Return to table of contents.
Awwel Marra Taheb Ya Albi (أول مرة تحب يا قلبي)
- Year: 1957
- Appeared in Motion Picture: El Wesada El-Khalya (The Empty Pillow)
- Lyricist: Ismail El Habrouk
- Composer: Mounir Murad
- Lyrics translation
Has also been recorded by Nancy Ajram (2009) and Elissa (2014).
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Bellydance Plus | Gizira Band | Awwil Marra | 3:41 |
| Purple Nights Belly Dance with Shahraman | HMC | Awel Marra | 3:49 |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Awel Mara Tehab | 5:40 |
Return to table of contents.
Ay Damet Hozn (أي دمعة حزن)
This song title can also be spelled as "Ay Dam3et 7ozn La" or "Aai Damait Hozen".
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Belly Dance with Warda and Abdel Halim Hafez | Setrak Sarkissian | A Yi Damhet Hozn | 2:30 |
| Reda's Flower | Reda Darwish | Hozn La | 4:13 |
Return to table of contents.
Bahlam Beek (بحلم بيك)
- Year: 1959
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Hekayat el-Hob (A Love Story)
- Lyricist: Morsi Gamil Aziz
- Composer: Mounir Murad
- Lyrics translation
In that same film, he also sang "Betlomouni Leih?".
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Music Saqra Likes | Mediterranean Raqs Band | Bahlam Beek | 1:16 |
| Purple Nights Belly Dance with Shahraman | HMC | Bahlam Bik | 1:41 |
Return to table of contents.
Betlomouny Leih (بتلوموني ليه)
- Year: 1959
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Hekayat el-Hob (A Love Story)
- Lyricist: Morsi Gamil Aziz
- Composer: Kamal al-Tawil
- Lyrics translation
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Betlomouny Leh | 5:07 |
El Hawa Hawaya (الـــــهـــــــوى هـــــوايـــــا)
- Year: 1969
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Abi Foq al-Shagara (My Father Is Up a Tree)
- Lyricist: Abdul Rahman Al-Abnoudi
- Composer: Baligh Hamdi
- Lyrics translation
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Elhawa Hawaya | 4:25 |
| Bellylicious Raks | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | El Hawa Hawaya | 4:59 |
Return to table of contents.
Gana el Hawa (جانا الهوى)
- Year: 1969
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Abi Foq al-Shagara (My Father Is Up a Tree)
- Lyricist: Mohamed Hamza
- Composer: Baligh Hamdi
- Lyrics translation
A version of this song with Greek lyrics was released by Eleftheria Hristopoulou under the title "Agori Mou Melaxrino."
This song became a hit in 1969, when it appeared in the Egyptian movie Abi Foq al-Shagara (My Father Is Up a Tree.) This was Abdel Halim Hafez's final movie. The movie was immensely popular, lingering on theater screens for 36 weeks, making it second in popularity only to the 1972 movie Khally Balak Men Zouzou (Pay Heed to Zouzou).
The plot of the movie centers around a wholesome young man named Adel (Abdel Halim Hafez) who is lured by a nightclub dancer named Ferdous (Nadia Lotfi) into a dark world of gambling, alcohol, smoking, and sex. As they have their affair, he falls in love with her, leaving his former friends feeling disgusted with him. When one of his friends comes to the nightclub to confront him, he defiantly professes his love for her. Immediately after this scene, Adel sings "Gana el Hawa" as he and Ferdous enjoy a trip to Beirut together and cavort in the waves. |
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Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Setrak, Vol. 19, Setrak and Samara | Setrak Sarkissian | Jana al Hawa | 2:48 |
| Laura in Balady | HMC | Jama Al Hawa | 5:02 |
| Bellylicious Raks | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | Gan al Hawa | 5:16 |
| Helwa | Safaa Farid | Ganal Howa | 7:07 |
| Oriental Fantasy Volume 02: Enta Omri | Mokhtar al-Said | Ganil Hawa | 7:11 |
| Mazamir Sahara | Upper Egypt Ensemble | Gan al Hawa | 7:29 |
| Arabian Legends | Cairo Orchestra | Gan Al Hawa | 9:50 |
| On Fire | HMC | Gana el Hawa | 10:39 |
Return to table of contents.
Hawel Teftekerni (حاول تفتكرني)
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Belly Dance with Warda and Abdel Halim Hafez | Setrak Sarkissian | Hawel Tftekerni | 3:04 |
Return to table of contents.
Kamel El Awsaf (كامل الأوصاف )
Another way to spell the song title is "Kamal Ausaf".
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Musica Arabe Instrumental Volume 07 | Mario Kirlis | Kamel Ausaf | 10:18 |
Return to table of contents.
Khosara, Khosara (خسارة, خسارة)
- Year: 1957
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Fata Ahlami (Boy of My Dreams)
- Lyricist: Mamoun El Shennawi
- Composer: Baligh Hamdi
- Lyrics translation
A version of this song was released by Stelios Kazantzidis with Greek lyrics under the title "Xousara".
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Casbah Bellydance | Salatin Tarab Orchestra | Khusara, Khusara | 4:22 |
Return to table of contents.
Maddah El Amar (مداح القمر)
This song was also performed by the Lebanese artist Taroub in the 1968 Turkish movie Bes Atesli Kadin.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Bellylicious Raks | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | Madah al Qamar | 3:53 |
| Masters of Bellydance, Volume 3 | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | Madah El Qamar | 3:59 |
Return to table of contents.
Mawoud (موعود)
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Belly Dance with Warda and Abdel Halim Hafez | Setrak Sarkissian | Mawoud | 2:34 |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Mawood | 5:39 |
| Sukara | Safaa Farid | Mo'aood | 11:48 |
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Nibtedi Mneen al-Hikaya (نبتدي منين الحكايه)
A version of this song by Manolis Aggelopoulos was released in 1977 with Greek lyrics under the title "Ta Mavra Matia Sou", and became a major hit in Greece.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Bellylicious Raks | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | Nebtedi Minein Il Hikaya Part 2 | 2:55 |
| Gems of the Middle East, Volume 1 | Mary Ellen Donald | Nibtidi Mneen al-Hikaya | 3:18 |
| Presence of the Past | Brothers of the Baladi | Nebtidy M'nain el Hakiah | 3:41 |
| Bellylicious Raks | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | Nebtedi Minein Il Hikaya | 4:00 |
| Masters of Bellydance Music, Volume 2 | Gizira Band | Nabtadi Minen Il Hikaya | 4:07 |
| Belly Dance Yalla Bina Yalla | Setrak Sarkissian | Nbtedi Mnein el Hikaya | 4:11 |
| Belly Dance with Warda and Abdel Halim Hafez | Setrak Sarkissian | Nbtedi Menen Al Hikaya | 4:37 |
| Casbah Bellydance | Salatin Tarab Orchestra | Nabtadi Minen Il Hikaya | 5:27 |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Nebtedi Menien Elhikaya | 5:35 |
| Asala II Live | Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra | Nibtidi Menein El Hikaya | 5:49 |
| Musica Arabe Instrumental Volume 08 | Mario Kirlis | Nebdity Min El Hakaia | 6:39 |
| Jalilah's Raks Sharki 5: Stars of the Casino Opera | Ihsan al-Mounzer | Nebtiti Minin El Hikiya | 17:17 |
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Oolooloo (قولوله )
- Year: 1959
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Sharia el-Hob (Love Street)
- Lyricist: Morsi Gamil Aziz
- Composer: Kamal el-Tawil
- Lyrics translation
This song originally appeared in the 1959 motion picture Sharia el Hob (Love Street). the song title may alternatively be spelled Qouloulou.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Techno Arabisque | Amr Ismail | Ouloulou | 3:40 |
| Aziza Raks | Cairo Orchestra | Oolooloo | 5:45 |
| Arabian Legends | Cairo Orchestra | Oolooloo | 9:11 |
Return to table of contents.
Qariat al Finjan (قارئة الفنجان)
This song came about when Abdel Halim Hafez read a poem by Nizar Qabbani and was so enamored with it that he wanted to turn it into a song. He recruited composer Mohamed el-Mougy to compose the music for it, a project which ended up taking two years. It was the final song Hafez performed in his career. He died a year later, in March 1977.
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Belly Dance 2000: Dance with Mezmara | Salatin Tarab Orchestra | Kariat al Finjan | 2:13 |
| Egyptian Cabaret Music | Judy Jihan Reda | Kariat al Finjan | 2:14 |
| 50 All Time Greatest Belly Dance Hits: Disk 1 | Andelus Ensemble | Kariat Al Fingan | 2:38 |
| Belly Dance Yalla Bina Yalla | Setrak Sarkissian | Karaat Elfingan | 3:12 |
| Musica Arabe Instrumental Volume 09 | Mario Kirlis | Qariat El Fingan | 4:35 |
| Laura at the Harem | Andus Ensemble | Kariat al Finjan | 5:14 |
| Belly Dance with Warda and Abdel Halim Hafez | Setrak Sarkissian | Karaat el Fingan | 6:10 |
Return to table of contents.
Sawwah (سواح)
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| 50 All Time Greatest Belly Dance Hits: Disk 1 | Salatin Tarab Orchestra | Sawwah | 4:29 |
| Beirut Underground | Samir Srour & Orchestra with Club Beats | Sawwah | 4:32 |
| Karma | Ali Arsoy | Sawwah | 6:01 |
| Belly Dance 2000: Dance with Mezmara | Salatin Tarab Orchestra | Sawwah | 8:16 |
| On Fire | HMC | Sawwah | 8:17 |
| Gems of the Middle East, Volume 3 | Mary Ellen Donald | Sawwah | 8:46 |
| Helm el Raqs | Outi | Sawah | 9:25 |
Return to table of contents.
Shaghalouny (شغلونى)
- Year: 1955
- Appeared in Motion Picture: Ayyam wa Layali (Days and Nights)
- Lyricist: Hussein al-Sayed
- Composer: Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Wash Ya Wash Volume 7 | Unidentified | Shaghalouny | 3:59 |
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Zay al Hawa (زى الهوا)
Album Title | Album Artist | Name of Track | Length |
| Setrak, Vol. 19, Setrak and Samara | Setrak Sarkissian | Zayy Al Hawa | 2:36 |
| Belly Dance Nightclub | HMC | Zay el Hawa | 3:16 |
| 10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know | Mohamed Ali Ensemble | Zay el Hawa | 4:24 |
| Beyond the Desert | Sami Nossair Orchestra | Zay el Hawa | 5:05 |
| Masters of Bellydance, Volume 3 | Ya Salam Orchestra | Zay al Hawa | 5:14 |
| Bellylicious Raks | Fayez Deryan Orchestra | Zay Al Hawa | 5:59 |
| Om Al Dunya | Safaa Farid | Zey Al Howa | 6:40 |
| Arabian Legends | Cairo Orchestra | Zay Al Hawa | 6:48 |
| Musica Arabe Instrumental Volume 06 | Mario Kirlis | Sei El Hawa | 8:08 |
| Raks Balady | Bassem Ayyoub | Sei Al Haua | 8:18 |
| The Best of "Ya Salaam" | Ya Salaam | Zai El Hawa | 10:10 |
| Sahra Saeeda | Ashraf Zakaria | Zey el Howa | 12:26 |
Return to table of contents.
Related Articles:
Lyrics Translations for Songs by Abdel Halim Hafez
Translations on this web site for songs performed by Abdel Halim Hafez include:
Related Articles:
Other Resources About Abdel Halim Hafez
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