Friday, May 18, 2012

POPULAR WESTERN SONGS WITH A MIDDLE EASTERN INFLUENCE




Before I started belly dancing I was a confirmed rock ‘n’roll chick. For years, I went out to clubs almost every night to listen to live music, rockin’ torn up fishnets and leather jackets. My record collection was huge, and I enjoyed music of all genres… as long as the songs I was listening to had “that certain something”.

Shortly after I became obsessed with belly dancing- and had been listening to Middle Eastern and North African music non-stop- I began to make a connection and realized that many of my favorite western pop songs all had something in common.

The certain something they all had was that many of them featured some sort of Arabic influence, whether in the time signatures, minor-keyed chord progressions, subject matter in the title or lyrics, or the use of certain sounds, like the sustained drones in The Velvet Underground’s “Venus In Furs”. I loved The Stones in their Moroccan period, U2’s “Mysterious Ways" not only had an amazing riff but they also featured a belly dancer in the video for the song, and I couldn’t get enough of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”.

Later in my career, bringing this all to full circle, I performed twice for The Rolling Stones, and appeared belly dancing in the 2002 music video for "Addicitive" by R&B Truth Hurts, featuring Bollywood samples and guest starring Rakim.

You can see me belly dancing towards the end of the video here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTjPmgN98H8


Thinking about all of this the other night, I compiled a list of these unique songs just for fun, off the top of my head. Aside from the absolutely obvious, such as Sting's "Desert Rose" featuring Cheb Mami, lots of Shakira's work or pretty much anything by Natacha Atlas, quite a lot of songs made my impromptu list.

All of these western tunes-of all genres- feature a Middle Eastern sound, some sort of lyrical reference to Middle Eastern-influenced fantasies, or use Arabic or Indian musical samples.

Here’s what I came up with:


PAINT IT BLACK The Rolling Stones

MYSTERIOUS WAYS U2

FATHER FIGURE George Michael

VENUS IN FURS The Velvet Underground

KASHMIR Led Zeppelin

HAREM SCAREM Elvis Presley

WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN The Bangles

BELLY DANCER Akon

LITTLE EGYPT The Coasters

ROCK THE CASBAH The Clash

DANCE Nas

BLUE BLUE ELECTRIC BLUE David Bowie

ARAB MONEY Busta Rhymes

ADDICTIVE Truth Hurts

NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO Madness

ISAAC Madonna

HOOD SCRIPTURES Foxy Brown

ALI BABA Linval Thompson

WHITE RABBIT The Jefferson Airplane

BUTTONS The Pussycat Dolls

I WANNA SEE YOU BELLY DANCE the Red Elvises

BIG PIMPIN’ Jay-Z

TOXIC Britney Spears

FUNTIME Iggy Pop

ON THE NILE Egyptian Lover

CITIES IN DUST Siouxsie & The Banshees

BELLY DANCER Amina

LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS The Beatles

GALVANIZE The Chemical Brothers

LAYLA Eric Clapton

MISERLOU Dick Dale

Can you think of any more songs like this?


PHOTOS: ELVIS IN THE 1965 FILM "HAREM SCAREM", BRINEY SPEARS RAQQIN' OUT, COVER OF "ROCK THE CASBAH" BY THE CLASH

75 comments:

  1. Sting's Desert Rose... or maybe that's an actual ME/NA song?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, I mentioned that song in the paragraph before the list... cause it's one of the "standards" , along w/ stuff by Shakira & Natacha Atlas : )

      Delete
    2. Gomper by the Rolling Stones...I myself was looking for rock songs with arabic influence and wandered to your blog :)

      Delete
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  2. I could be reaching, but I kinda hear that "thing" in She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby). And of course there's The Gap - Thompson Twins, and maybe even some early Duran Duran (Night Boat and Tel Aviv)...can you tell I was a teenager in the 80s?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh you're so right!
      And when Duran Duran first came out, I always thought of Sirhan Sirhan ; P

      Delete
    2. Has nobody mentioned “Mustapha” by Queen , late 70’s?
      or Mustafah ?
      ~never can resist dancing when I hear it.

      Delete
  3. Green Tambourine by the Lemon Pipers? (probably more Indian since - if it's not one - it sounds like a sitar). I came across a couple other songs recently - one was something my daughter was listening to and they sampled (I'm pretty certain) an Umm Kulthum song. Also, I heard that Dick Dale's mom was a belly dancer - do you have any info on that? Definitely will be back to post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Green Tamborine! Totally!

      I do have a Dick Dale story- when I met him, first thing he told me ( without knowing) was "You look like a belly dancer" and he told he worked at his father's falafel stand as ateenager!!!!!

      Delete
  4. Tomorrow by the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Paul Revere and the Raiders - 1001 Arabian Nights (often thought of doing a choreo. to this), Tied Up -Yello and Joe Satriani - Bellydancer...

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  5. Istanbul, Not Constantinople...either version.

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  6. Temple of Love by the Sisters of Mercy

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  7. I can't believe no one's said "Killing an Arab" by The Cure yet ... or maybe I can believe it! Oddly, "Fire in Cairo" doesn't sound ME at all, but to me "Lovecats" does!
    I think The Banshees went through a thing - as well as "Cities in Dust" there's also their "Arabian Nights."

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  8. I don't know if you're still using this blog or this entry but there's this song called bad girls by M.i.a and it def fits under this bloggy thing. Would you happen to know any songs that sound similar?

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  9. Im Nin'alu, - Ofra Jaza,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc35GBJY1VY

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  10. ORPHANED LAND - Ocean Land
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf7i6UB5vGw

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  11. Elvis Crespo - Pegaíto Suavecito ft. Fito Blanko
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1B_MQU14Lg
    A videoclip with bellydancers.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Shakira - Ojos Así
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z9w8s2l8NM

    ReplyDelete
  13. Alabina - Alabina (Yalla Bina Yalla) - Original Version
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDhmKrW4F6Y
    Alabina - Salma Ya Salama (Olé Y Ola) - Official Video
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhSu5kzpeo4

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. Stargazer & Gates of Babylon by Rainbow.

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  16. Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling (1982)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8qPOk0Zvc

    ReplyDelete
  17. The end of this song:
    JEFF LYNNE -Now youre gone
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1yXlWXEQmU

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beyoncé - Naughty Girl,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZuJ_OHBN78

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hilary Duff - Stranger
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyShkaAwbR8

    ReplyDelete
  20. Blur - Out of Time
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLWf-fbsLo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for sharing your list of western inspired songs. I really enjoy hearing songs originated and inspired of Arabian culture. Just like TamTam Singer she combined modern pop music with the Arabian sound and it really creates an amazing sound that you will really enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIPaZ0V5f-8
    Natacha Atlas - I Put A Spell On You

    ReplyDelete
  23. Christina Milian- Dip It Low, Get it Loose
    Amerie- Touch
    Mandy Moore- In My Pocket
    Katy Perry- Legendary Lover
    Celine Dion- Eyes on Me
    Ricky Martin- One Night Man
    Joe Jonas - Just in Love
    Selena Gomez- Come and Get it
    Kelly Rowland- Work
    Kelis - Milkshake
    Paulina Rubio- Perros
    Alanis Morissette- Knees of My Bees, Eight Easy Steps
    Tony Parker (NBA Spurs) - Balance Toi
    Shakira and Beyoncé - Beautiful Liar
    Soraya- Cuerpo y Alma
    Priyanka Chopra- Exotic (feat. Pitbull)
    Stella Soleil- Kiss Kiss
    Sean Paul- Pornstar
    David Bisbal -Torre de Babel (Reggaeton Mix)
    J Balvin - Tranquila






    ReplyDelete
  24. Paula Abdul - My love is for real

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is a bit O/T, maybe, but I'm gonna ask anyway. Shinedown's song "Cut the Cord" starts with a sound byte from old black and white films that sounds arabic, but I doubt its authentic at all (nothing in movies ever really is) But I was wondering if you might know the tune. I've been trying to find it, but it eludes me.

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  26. Davy Gragan - Fakir

    A beautiful guitar piece composed by great guitar composer Davy Graham, who traveled to many middle eastern countries.

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  27. Forever May Not Be Long Enough by LIVE

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  28. Tigi tigi - don omar ft. Hakim
    In my pocket - mandy moore

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  29. Bob Azzam [ya Mustapha ]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pE0T07zs5s

    ReplyDelete
  30. RIFF COHEN - ROTZA PRAHIM !
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH7ptxCQbVo
    ------------
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3bjZlmsb4A
    A-WA - Habib Galbi - Official Video

    ReplyDelete
  31. Black Heart, by Marc and the Mambas, and a few Soft Cell songs too

    ReplyDelete
  32. DALIDA Salma ya salama (Arabic)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-DqwZrx2Hg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Salma ya Salama Dalida(version française)
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SecNHHb3SFU

      Delete
  33. Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldaur
    -Sausan, Sausan Academy of Egyptian Dance

    ReplyDelete
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  35. One night in Bangkok has a Middle Eastern/Eastern vibe.

    ReplyDelete
  36. David Bisbal-"Al Andalus"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d6gaJfjQnI

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  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6fFJX4OkDw

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  47. I know this is an old post but found it recently when researching & revisiting this theme. Here's my list, probably containing a few oddities that you haven't heard of!

    Walk Like An Egyptian - The Bangles
    Harem - Sarah Brightman
    Kashmir - several good versions to choose from but I like the one by Escala with Slash
    Ananda - Annie Haslam
    Ojos Así - Shakira
    Shine - Bond
    Nefertiti - France Gall
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    Gypsy Rhapsody - Bond
    Moroccan Roll - Vanessa-Mae
    What He Seeks - Annie Haslam
    Sahara - Bond
    Arabian Nights - Sarah Brightman
    Sahara - Sky (from the album Sky2)

    I picked just two Sarah Brightman songs from her 2003 concept album 'Harem', but whole album is worth mentioning.

    BTW 'Bond', and 'Escala' are both electric string quartets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll also add 'Bourée' from Jon Lord's 1976 album 'Sarabande' would be ideal for a soft sensual belly dance.

      Delete
    2. One more addition: 'Arabian Song' by Eartha Kitt.

      Delete
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  54. Siouxie & The Banshees - Kiss them for me

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  55. I can't believe no one has mentioned The Cure's "Killing an Arab" yet. perhaps, I can believe it. The odd thing is that "Fire in Cairo" doesn't sound at all like ME, but "Lovecats" does.
    I believe The Banshees went through something because in addition to "Cities in Dust," they also released "Arabian Nights." it all looks like im watching an arabic movie... the first thing came to my mind is Cinemolly. come visit us

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  56. I think of "Darkness, Darkness" by Youngbloods, and "The End" by the Doors.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Does any song that sounds "mysterious" sound a little bit Middle East? I think of "Rhiannon" by Mac, "Burning House of Love" by X, "Come Together" by Beatles. The first two maybe are a little fast to belly dance to?

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