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
Sting's Desert Rose... or maybe that's an actual ME/NA song?
ReplyDeleteHi, I mentioned that song in the paragraph before the list... cause it's one of the "standards" , along w/ stuff by Shakira & Natacha Atlas : )
DeleteGomper by the Rolling Stones...I myself was looking for rock songs with arabic influence and wandered to your blog :)
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DeleteI 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?
ReplyDeleteOh you're so right!
DeleteAnd when Duran Duran first came out, I always thought of Sirhan Sirhan ; P
Has nobody mentioned “Mustapha” by Queen , late 70’s?
Deleteor Mustafah ?
~never can resist dancing when I hear it.
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!
ReplyDeleteYes, Green Tamborine! Totally!
DeleteI 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!!!!!
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...
ReplyDeleteYES, YES!!!!!!
DeleteIstanbul, Not Constantinople...either version.
ReplyDeleteTemple of Love by the Sisters of Mercy
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteI think The Banshees went through a thing - as well as "Cities in Dust" there's also their "Arabian Nights."
western songs
ReplyDeleteI 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?
ReplyDeleteIm Nin'alu, - Ofra Jaza,
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc35GBJY1VY
ORPHANED LAND - Ocean Land
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf7i6UB5vGw
Elvis Crespo - Pegaíto Suavecito ft. Fito Blanko
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1B_MQU14Lg
A videoclip with bellydancers.
Shakira - Ojos Así
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z9w8s2l8NM
Alabina - Alabina (Yalla Bina Yalla) - Original Version
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDhmKrW4F6Y
Alabina - Salma Ya Salama (Olé Y Ola) - Official Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhSu5kzpeo4
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStargazer & Gates of Babylon by Rainbow.
ReplyDeleteBlancmange - Living On The Ceiling (1982)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8qPOk0Zvc
The end of this song:
ReplyDeleteJEFF LYNNE -Now youre gone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1yXlWXEQmU
Beyoncé - Naughty Girl,
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZuJ_OHBN78
Hilary Duff - Stranger
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Blur - Out of Time
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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.
ReplyDeletepay the man - offspring
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIPaZ0V5f-8
ReplyDeleteNatacha Atlas - I Put A Spell On You
Christina Milian- Dip It Low, Get it Loose
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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
Paula Abdul - My love is for real
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ReplyDeleteThis 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.
ReplyDeleteDavy Gragan - Fakir
ReplyDeleteA beautiful guitar piece composed by great guitar composer Davy Graham, who traveled to many middle eastern countries.
Forever May Not Be Long Enough by LIVE
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Fly by Moz Vani
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3bjZlmsb4A
A-WA - Habib Galbi - Official Video
Black Heart, by Marc and the Mambas, and a few Soft Cell songs too
ReplyDeleteDALIDA Salma ya salama (Arabic)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-DqwZrx2Hg
Salma ya Salama Dalida(version française)
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SecNHHb3SFU
Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldaur
ReplyDelete-Sausan, Sausan Academy of Egyptian Dance
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ReplyDeleteOne night in Bangkok has a Middle Eastern/Eastern vibe.
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David Bisbal-"Al Andalus"
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d6gaJfjQnI
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ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteWalk 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
Uska Dara (A Turkish Tale) - Eartha Kitt (can't believe no-one has mentioned this)
Zahara - Escala
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.
I'll also add 'Bourée' from Jon Lord's 1976 album 'Sarabande' would be ideal for a soft sensual belly dance.
DeleteOne more addition: 'Arabian Song' by Eartha Kitt.
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ReplyDeleteSiouxie & The Banshees - Kiss them for me
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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
I think of "Darkness, Darkness" by Youngbloods, and "The End" by the Doors.
ReplyDeleteDoes 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?
ReplyDeleteDon’t know that this counts as a “western” song but it is middle eastern and it got played like crazy in dance clubs in Quebec in the mid 80’s. The band is called Dissidenten and the song is “Fata Morgana”
ReplyDelete