PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

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  • Music Theory & Structure
  • The Songs We Listen & Dance To
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  • Translations of Songs from Arabic
  • Translations of Songs from Turkish
  • Translations of Songs from Armenian
  • Translations of Songs from Greek
  • Translations of Songs from Hebrew
  • Translations of Songs from French
  • Translations of Songs from German
  • Lyrics for English-Language Songs

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Music Theory & Structure

• Middle Eastern Music — An Introduction
• An Introduction for Dancers to Middle Eastern Music Rhythms. By Arabella.
• The Language of Dance
• Why Is Arabic Music So Confusing?. By Arabella.

Using Song Translations

• The Liver in Egyptian Song and Language. By Priscilla Adum.
• The Language of Dance. By Shira.
• Why Is It Important to Know What the Lyrics Mean? By Lennie Clark.
• Introduction to Understanding Arabic Song Translations. By Osama el-Gohary.
• Translations to Lyrics for Over 200 Near Eastern Songs

The Songs We Listen and Dance To and the Musicians Who Created Them

• Google Doodles Honoring Legends of Egyptian Music. Placed online September 2, 2012.
• Are You Sure You Want to Belly Dance to That Song? Placed online August 7, 2012.
• Set El Hosen: Prettiest of the Pretty. Written by Priscilla Adum.
• Iman El Bahr Darwish Elected to Head Musicians' Union in Egypt, July 2011. Translated by Priscilla Adum.
• "There's a Place in France" - That "Snake Charmer" Song
• Ya Mustapha! A Song Conquers the World! By Meissoun.
• Christmas Songs in Arabic. By Linda Grondahl.
• Opinion Poll: Favorite Style of Music for Dancing?

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Kaylyn Hoskins, Solon, Iowa.

Songs in Arabic

• A Nada (Oh, Nada). Sung by Sabah and George Abdo. This page contains two translations done by two different people.
• A'Aleem Ilaah (God Knows). Sung by Simone Hadsheiti.
• Aba'ad (Far Away). Sung by Mohammed Abdu.
• Aba'ad wa Ansak (Go Away and I Will Forget You). Sung by Tamer Seif.
• Abo A'ali (Father of Ali). Sung by Gawaher.
• Abu Ouyoun Garea (The One With the Brave Eyes). Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Ah Wa Noss (Ah and a Half). Sung by Nancy Ajram.
• Ah Ya Helu (O Beautiful)
• Ah Ya Zalem (O Oppressor). Sung by Gawaher.
• Ahl El Maghna (The Family of Singers). Sung by Fella.
• Ahmed Ya Habibi (Ahmed, My Loved One).
• Ahsan Nas (The Nicest People). Sung by Dalida, Mahmoud el Esseilly, and Haytham Said.
• Akhasmak, Ah (I Will Upset You). Sung by Nancy Ajram.
• Al Bab al-A'ali (Al Baki Alay) (Enter the High Gate). Sung by Katia Harb.
• Al Ward Gamil (Roses Are Beautiful). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Ala Babi Waef Amarain (Two Moons Are Standing At My Door). Sung by Melhem Barakat.
• Ala Dalouna (Help Us). Recorded by Fairuz, Tony Kiwan, and others.
• Ala Hasb Wedad Albi (It All Depends On My Heart). Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Alf Leyla wa Leyla (1001 Nights). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Alli Garra (About the Past). Sung by Asala Nasri and Saber el Reba.
• Am Fettesha El Gharous (I'm Searching For A Bride). Sung by Emad Sayyah.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Pixie Vision Productions, Glendale, California.

• Amarain (Two Moons). Sung by Amr Diab. This is an entirely different song from the one titled "Amarain" by Hassan Asmar.
• Amarain (Two Moons). Sung by Hassan Asmar. This is an entirely different song from the one titled "Amarain" by Amr Diab.
• Ammouna fi al-Said (Ammouna from the Said). Sung by Bassem Yazbeck.
• Amriika (America). Sung by Shaban Abdel Rehim.
• Ana 3indi Ahwai Morra (I Have Sour Arabian Coffee). Sung by Darine Hadchiti.
• Ana A'arfa (I Know). Sung by Warda.
• Ana A'Ayesh (I Am Alive). Sung by Amr Diab.
• Ana Baddi 3eish (I Want to Live). Sung by Nawal al-Zoughbi.
• Ana fi Inta Zarak (I'm Waiting for You). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Ana Hina Ya Ibn il-Halal (I Am Here, O Legal Son). Sung by Sayed Mekawi.
• Ana Laka (I Am for You). Sung by Gawaher.
• Ana Lamma Ib-Hibbak (When I Love You). Sung by Majida el-Roumi.
• Ana Min Dounak, Ana (I Am Without You, I am). Sung by Karol Samaha.
• Arabiyon Ana (I Am an Arab). Sung by Yuri Mrakadi.
• Arraib Layyi (Get Close to Me). Sung by Wael Kfouri.
• Atshana (I am Thirsty). Sung by Nagwa Karam.
• Ayeela Tayeha (Lost Daughter). Sung by Ahmed Adaweyya.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by André Elbing, Bärbroich, Germany, at one of Shira's performances in Egypt.

• Bahebak wa Baghar (I Love You and Get Jealous). Sung by Assi el-Hellani.
• Bahlam Beek (I Saw You In My Dreams). Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Batwannes Beek (You're Always With Me). Sung by Warda.
• Bayinnina (It Is Clear to Us). Sung by Baha'a Sultan.
• Beni Wa Benak (Between You and Me). Sung by Hakim.
• Billadhi Askara (The Intoxicating Beloved). Sung by Feiruz.
• Bint el Arabia (Daughter of Arabia). Summary only.
• Bint El Shalabia (The Pretty Girl). Sung by Fairuz.
• Bint el Sultan (Daughter of the Sultan). Sung by Ahmed Adaweyya.
• Boussi Ba'a (Look Over Here). Sung by Sherine.
• Cleopatra (Cleopatra). Sung by Mohammed Abdel Wahab.
• Dalona (Dalona). Sung by Nawal al-Zoughbi.
• Digi Digi Ya Rababa (Play, Play Oh Rababa). Sung by Nadiha Yazbeck.
• Doubti Doub (Barely Melted). Sung by Ehab Tawfiq.
• Ed Hak (Laugh). Sung by Hanan.
• Eddam el Kel (In Front of Everyone). Sung by Darine Hadchiti.
• Efred Masalan (Assume, For Example). Sung by Hakim.
• Eina Ellayali (Where Did the Good Nights Go?) Sung by Asmahan al-Atrache.
• El Bango (Marijuana). Sung by Shaaban Abdel Raheem.
• El Bulbul (The Nightingale). Sung by Sabah Fakhri.
• El Helwa Di (The Sweet One). Sung by Dania, Sheikh Sayed Darwish, and others. Some recordings of this song identify it as "Cou Cou".
• El Hob El Ha'ee'ee (True Love). Sung by Mohammed Fouad.
• El Layali (The Nights). Sung by Nawal al-Zoughbi.
• El Tannoura (The Skirt). Sung by Fares Karam.
• Etmakhtari Ya Helwa Ya Zena (Walk With a Swinging Gait, O Beautiful, O Pretty One).
• Ezzai? (How Come?) Sung by Mohamed Mounir.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Michael Baxter, Santa Clara, California.

• Gafnouhou (Her Eyelashes). Sung by Mohammed Abdel Wahab.
• Gamil Gamal (Beautiful Dancer). Sung by Farid al-Atrache.
• Gana el Hawa (Love Has Come Our Way). Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Gawezohalo (Get Her Married to Him). Sung by Gawaher.
• Ghanili Shwaya Shwaya (Sing to Me Softly, Softly). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Haad Yensa Alboo (Can Someone Forget His Own Heart?). Sung by George Wassouf.
• Habena (Love Us). Sung by Farid al-Atrache.
• Habib el-Rouh (Soul Lover). Sung by Claudia Shmaali.
• Habibi Dah (That's My Lover). Sung by Hisham Abbas. The song title is listed in some places as "Nari, Narain."
• Habibi, Hayaati (My Darling, My Life). Sung by Baha'a Hosni.
• Habibi Ya Eini (Darling, O My Eyes). Sung by Nourhan.
• Habitek Bel Saif (I Loved You In Summer). Sung by Fairuz.
• Harramt Ahebbak (I've Given Up on Loving You). Sung by Warda.
• Hizzi Ya Nawaem (Shake It, Little Delicate One). Sung by Farid al-Atrache, George Abdo, and others.
• Huwwa Sahih el-Hawa Ghallab (Is It True That Love Is Irresistible?). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Inte Habib A'Youni (You Are the Lover of My Eyes). Sung by Maya Nasri And Hadi Khalil.
• Inte Omri (You Are My Life). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Inzal Ya Gameel. Sung by Walid Toufic.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Pixie Vision Productions, Glendale, California.

• Kalamangi (Talkative). Sung by Gawaher.
• Khalas (Liberated). Sung by Ehab Tawfiq.
• Khayyala (Fantasy). Sung by Pascale Machaalani.
• Kol Elli Lammouni (All Who Blamed Me). Sung by Zekra.
• Koul el-Kalaam (All the Talk). Sung by Mayez el-Buyaa.
• Koulli Sana Wi-Inta Tayyeb Ya Habibi (Happy Birthday, O My Darling). Sung by Gawaher.
• La Itkarraib Haddi (Do Not Get Close to Me!). Sung by Lara Dabbagh.
• La Titnahad (Do Not Sigh). Sung by Kazem Al Saher.
• Lamma Bada Yata Thana (When She Begins to Sway). This song is over 1,000 years old.
• Lamma B-Shoufak Qalbi Byouqaa' (When I See You, My Heart Falls Down). Sung by Pascale Machaalani.
• Laou (If). Sung by Mohammed Fouad.
• Laou Ma Dakhalt ib-Rassi (If You Had Not Entered My Head). Sung by Diana Haddad.
• Linda, Linda (Linda, Linda). Sung by Samir al-Tawil.
• Lissa Fakir (Do You Still Remember?) Sung by Oum Kalthoum.
• Lowlaaki (Without You). Sung by A'Ali Hamida.
• Ma Bi3od Balaki (I Can Not Sit Without You). Sung by Ilyas Karam.
• Ma Byilbaklak (It Does Not Fit You). Sung by Pascale Machaalani.
• Ma Gayartish Abadan (I Never Changed). Sung by El Amira Al Saghira.
• Maani, Maani (Mine, Mine). Sung by Diana Haddad.
• Maghroora (Arrogant). Sung by Wael Kfouri.
• Mateegy (Come!) Sung by Hakim.
• Mawwal Ya Hob (Ode to Love). Sung by Khalil Abboud.
• Me Alli We Oltelu (He Did Not Tell Me & I Did Not Tell Him). Sung by Farid al-Atrache.
• Meen Habibi Ana? (Who Is Your Sweetheart?) Sung by Wael Kfouri.
• Mihtagalak (I Need You). Sung by Warda.
• Min Aboukra L'Ashiye (From Morning 'Til Night). Sung by Emad Sayyah.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

• Nahna Wil Amar Jiraan (We and the Moon Are Neighbors). Sung by Fairuz.
• Nassini el-Dunia (Let Me Forget the World). Sung by Ragheb Alama.
• Nawi Ta'Ateb (You Are Determined to Blame!). Sung by Amr Diab.
• Nibtidi Mneen al-Hikaya? (Where Do We Begin Our Story?) Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Nour el Ain (The Spark in My Eyes). Sung by Amr Diab.
• Noura Noura (Noura Noura). Sung by Farid al-Atrache, George Abdo, and Hamid El Shari. This page contains two translations done by two different people.
• Nubian Song. Sung by Ali Hassan Kuban.
• Ool Tany Kida (Say This Again). Sung by Nancy Ajram.
• Oolo (I Tell Him). Sung by Ahmed Abd el Mounim.
• Oolooloo (Tell Him). Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Osad Ainy (In Front of My Eyes). Sung by Amr Diab.
• Ouyoun Aalbi (My Heart's Eyes). Sung by Nagwa Karam.
• Parisien du Nord (Parisian of the North). Sung by Cheb Mami and K-Mel. Added July 19, 2012.
• Rouh Rouhi (Soul of My Soul). Sung by Nagwa Karam.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by "K", Santa Clara, California.

• Sababeen el-Shay (Pourer of Tea). Sung by Elaine Khalaf.
• Sa'ban 'Alay (It Is Hard On Me). Sung by Katia Harb.
• Sabri Aleel (I Have Run Out of Patience). Sung by Sherine.
• Safir Ya Habibi Wirjaa (Travel, My Love).
• Sahertou Minhou el-Layali (Stay Up Late Nights). Sung by Soumaya Baalbaki.
• Sahraani (You Fascinate Me). Sung by Ehab Tawfiq.
• Salametha Umm Hassan (Get Well, Mother of Hassan). Sung by Ahmed Adawiyya.
• Sallam Alay (She Greeted Me). Traditional Egyptian song.
• Samahtak (I Forgave You). Sung by Asala Nasri. This is an entirely different song from the one titled "Samahtak" by Pascale Machaalani.
• Samahtak (I Forgave You). Sung by Pascale Machaalani. This is an entirely different song from the one titled "Samahtak" by Asala Nasri.
• Samara (Dark-Skinned One). Sung by Gawaher.
• Samra Ya Samra (Samra, Oh Samra). Sung by Karim Mahmoud.
• Sana Helwa Ya Gameel (Happy Birthday). Sung by Sabah.
• Sanateen Wana Hayyil (For Two Years). Sung by Khalil Abboud.
• Sawwah (Vagabond). Sung by Abdel Halim Hafez.
• Sayyidi Elra-Ees (My Master, Mr. President). Sung by Majida el-Roumi.
• Shaater (Clever). Sung by Diana Haddad.
• Shamandora (Dock Boy). Sung by Mohammed Mounir.
• Shatti Ya Dunya (Rain, Life, Rain). Sung by Fairuz.
• Shi Ghareeb (Something Strange). Sung by Julia Boutros.
• Shoo Imkhabbair Ahlak A'anni (What Are You Telling Your Family About Me?). Sung by Katia Harb.
• Shoo Sarlake (What Has Happened to You?). Sung by Hadi Younes.
• Sirt el Hob (Talk of Love). Sung by Oum Kalthoum.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

• Tahtil Shibbak (Under the Window). Sung by Fatme Serhan.
• Talaa Men Beit Abouha (From Her Father's House). Sung by Nazem el-Ghazali.
• Talab Eiydi Min Ahli (We Became Engaged!). Sung by Pascale Machaalani.
• Talakik (Looking for Excuses). Sung by Hakim.
• Tamally Maak (I Am With You). Sung by Amr Diab.
• Tfarrak al-Halawa (Watch the Beauty). Sung by Metqal Qenawi.
• Tisslam Eidak (Bless Your Hand). Sung by Hisham Abbas.
• Tool Omri (All My Life). Sung by Nawal al-Zoughbi.
• Wah Wah Adanou Adanou. Originally sung by Abdel Muhsen Mhanna, later re-released by Walid Toufic.
• Wahashtiny (I Miss You). Sung by Khalid Agag.
• Wahdani (My Loneliness). Sung by Khalid Agag.
• Waili Min Zoulmake Liyya (Alas of the Oppression). Sung by Walid Toufic.
• Wala A'ala Baloa (Not Even On His Mind). Sung by Amr Diab.
• Walhanaih (Fascinated). Sung by Nagwa Karam.
• Wana Maali (Why Should I Care?) Sung by Warda.
• Wana Wana Amil Eh? (What to Do?) Sung by Hisham Abbas.
• Wehyat Eneyya (By the Life of My Eyes). Sung by Sabah Fakhri.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

• Ya Ameer El-Mohibbean (O, Lovers' Prince). Sung by Ahlam.
• Ya Ana, Ya Ana (Oh Me, Oh Me). Sung by Fairuz.
• Ya Baheya (O Bahiyya). Traditional Egyptian song.
• Ya Bajat al-Rouh (You, The Pleasure of the Soul). Sung by Sabah Fakhri.
• Ya Jmaira (O Ej Maira). Sung by Nihad Najjar.
• Ya Majnoun. (O Madman). Sung by Asala Nasri.
• Ya Mayla al Ghousoune (You Who Are Leaning on the Tree Branches). Sung by Fairuz.
• Ya Mustapha (Oh Mustapha). Traditional song. Has been recorded by George Abdo and many others.
• Ya Ritni Tir (I Wish I Were a Bird). Sung by Farid al-Atrache.
• Ya Salam (Salute). Sung by Nancy Ajram.
• Ya Tamrahenna (O Tamrahenna). Sung by Fayza Ahmed.
• Ya Tayyeb el Galb (The Good-Hearted One). Sung by Abdul Majeed Abdullah.
• Ya Wail (What a Pity!) Sung by George Abdo.
• Yaho (Yaho). Sung by Hakim.
• Yalil, Yalil (La Fin Des Haricots) (Oh Night, Oh Night, The End of the Beans). Sung by Mickey 3D.
• Yama el Amar al Bab (Oh Mother, the Moon Is At the Door). Sung by Fayza Ahmed.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

Songs in Turkish

• Bir Demet Yasemen (One Bunch of Jasmine). Traditional Turkish song.
• Dere Geliyor (River). Traditional Turkish song.
• Çadırımın Üstüne (Rain Dripped on My Tent). Traditional Turkish song. Also often known as Rampi Rampi.
• Hepsi Senın Mi (Is It All Yours?). Sung by Tarkan.
• Istemem Babacım (Papa, I Don't Want To!). Traditional Turkish song.
• Kil Oldum (I Get Annoyed). Sung by Tarkan.
• Sallasana Mendilini (Wave Your Handkerchief). Traditional Turkish song.
• Şımarık (Spoiled Girl). Sung by Tarkan.
• Şişeler (Bottles). Traditional Turkish song.
• Tin Tin Tini Mini Hanim (Tiny Little Lady). Traditional Turkish song.
• Üsküdara Gideriken (When Going to Üsküdar). Sung by Eartha Kitt.
• Yine Sensiz (Again Without You). Sung by Tarkan.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Michael Baxter, Santa Clara, California.