At first, when thinking of musicians related to the Arab World, I thought of the Jazz singer formerly known as Cat Stevens. The reason that I though of this British jazz singer was that some years ago he converted to Islam after having been raised Greek Orthodox, and subsequently changed his name. His name is now Yusuf Islam, though he still answers to the name under which he operated through most of his carrier. I speak of him now as a sort of "honorable mention", being an outsider who adopted Arab culture and uses this stance not only in his music carrier, but also in his activism in support of education (which has been the legacy of Muslim culture for many years).
Being that Yusuf does not hail from an Arab nation, I thought I would explore names with which I was completely unfamiliar and listen to Arabic music (with translation, of coarse). It was in this exploration that I ran across Asala Nasri. Asala is a Syrian- born popular artist from Damascus, who has over 4,000,000 views on youtube with regard to her songs. She is not the first in her family to display musical talent however, as her father, Mostafa Nasri was a well known Syrian composer and singer. Unfortunately, when Asala was only 17, her father passed away due to injuries sustained in a car accident. Thereafter, Asala helped to raise her siblings. Just five years later, Asala produced her first studio album. Since that time, she has produced 22 albums and she has a truly beautiful voice! Religiously, she identifies as a Sunni Muslim and now holds citizenship in Bahrain (which she was granted by the king, himself). Her Syrian passport however was revoked in 2014 due to her criticism of Syrian president Bashar al Assad. At the time of this action taken by the Syrian government, she was place under house arrest. She was just before this point named the United Nations Ambassador for Peace in the Middle East. While it is likely much to the disdain of the Syrain government, she remains one of the most popular performers in there region. She now hosts a television show in Dubai called Soula, and lives happily with her four children. Many of the love songs that her writes appear to be love songs in nature, singing of both love and the pain of having been left, amongst other themes. Her music seems to utilize traditional Arab musical style and instruments and is absolutely beautiful!
Below is one of her most popular songs, Qad al Harouf :
English translation:
As many letters spell out the names of those in love, I love you.
As many seconds, days and years as time is made of, I love you.
As many letters spell out the names of those in love, I love you.
As many seconds, days and years as time is made of, I love you.
As many worries there nest in people’s hearts,
As many eyes deprived of rest turn dark,
As many worries there nest in people’s hearts,
As many eyes deprived of rest turn dark,
As much as my heart protested your passion’s fire,
As much as my night bemoaned your absence here,
As much as my heart protested your passion’s fire,
As much as my night bemoaned your absence here,
As many letters spell the world’s lovers’ names,
As many tears spill from the eyes of those in pain,
As many letters spell the world’s lovers’ names,
As many tears spill from the eyes of those in pain,
I love you.
Why is the moon so precious to me?
Perhaps because in its soft light and distance there’s something of you
Why does the winter sadden my heart?
Perhaps because, in its stern chill there’s also something of you
Why is the moon so precious to me?
Perhaps because in its soft light and distance there’s something of you
Why does the winter sadden my heart?
Perhaps because, in its stern chill there’s also something of you
Why do I love the clouds’ milky glow?
Perhaps because, like my heart, to you they are close
Why does the rain torment me so?
Perhaps because, like my tears, it makes your absence worse
Why do I love the clouds’ milky glow?
Perhaps because, like my heart, to you they are close
Why does the rain torment me so?
Perhaps because, like my tears, it makes your absence worse
When you are far, why must I be
Afraid for me, afraid for you, and also of you?
When you are far, why must I be
Afraid for me, afraid for you, and also of you?
Why, when I gaze up at the stars and see so many, do I feel such envy?
Why, why, when I gaze up at the stars and see so many, do I feel such envy?
Why, when I gaze up at the stars and see so many, do I feel such envy?
Perhaps because, to the extent of the sky, and all the stars,
I love you, I love you, aaah, I love you.
As much as my heart protested your passion’s fire,
As much as my night bemoaned your absence here,
As much as my heart protested your passion’s fire,
As much as my night bemoaned your absence here,
As many letters spell the world’s lovers’ names,
As many tears spill from the eyes of those in pain,
As many letters spell the world’s lovers’ names,
As many tears spill from the eyes of those in pain,
I love you.
My heart and my eyes, what does it mean
If the tears stream from my eyes because of you one day?
What does it mean when you soothe
All of my fears and yet your comfort causes me pain?
My heart and my eyes, what does it mean
If the tears stream from my eyes because of you one day?
What does it mean when you soothe
All of my fears and yet your comfort causes me pain?
What does it mean when the night forbids sleep?
What does it mean when distance cuts deep?
What does it mean when the night forbids sleep?
What does it mean when distance cuts deep?
What does it mean when I run away
And, missing you so much, come back one day?
What does it mean when I run away
And, missing you so much, come back one day?
What does it mean when we throw insults
At one another, and then beg forgiveness?
What does it mean when we throw insults
At one another, and then beg forgiveness?
What does it mean when I tell you that
As many letters spell out the names of those who love,
I love you.
Arabic:
قَدّ اِلْحُرُوفْ إِلْلِى فى أَسَامِى الْعَاشِقِينْ بَحَبَّكْ
قَدّ اِلثَّوَانِى وِ الدَّقَايِق وِ السِّنِين بَحَبَّك
آه قد الحروف اللى فى اسامى العاشقين بحبك
قد الثوانى و الدقايق و السنين بحبك
قَدّ اِلْهُمُومْ إِلْلِى فِى قُلُوبْ إِلْبَشَرْ
قَدّ اِلعَيُونْ إِللِى كَاحَلْهَا السَّهَرْ
قَدّ اِلْهُمُومْ إِلْلِى فِى قُلُوبْ إِلْبَشَرْ
قَدّ اِلعَيُونْ إِللِى كَاحَلْهَا السَّهَرْ
قَدِّ مَا قَلْبِى اشْتَكَى مِن نَارْ حُبَّكْ
قَدِّ مَا لِيلِى حَكَى عَنْ طُولْ بُعدَكْ
قد ما قلبى اشتكى من نار حبك
قد ما ليلى حكى عن طول بعدك
قَدّ اِلْحُرُوفْ إِلْلِى فى أَسَامِى الْعَاشِقِينْ
قَدّ اِلدُّمُوعَ إِلْلِى فى عَيُونْ إِلْمَجْرُوحِينْ
قد الحروف اللى فى اسامى العاشقين
قد الدموع اللى فى عيون المجروحين
أَنَا بَحَبَّكْ
.................
لِيهْ إِلْقُمَرْ غَالِى عَلَيَّه يِمْكِنْ عَشَانِ فِى نُورُه و بُعُدُهُ فِيهْ حَاجَه مِنَّكْ
لِيهْ إِلشِّتَا فِى قَلْبِى حَزِينْ يِمْكِنْ عَشَانِ بَرْدُه فى قَسَاوْتُهُ فِيهْ حَاجَه مِنَّكْ
ليه القمر غالى عليه يمكن عشان فى نوره وبعده فيه حاجه منك
ليه الشتا فى قلبى حزين يمكن عشان برده فى قساوته فيه حاجه منك
لِيهْ إِلسَّحَابْ بَعْشَق بَياضُه يِمْكِنْ عَشَان زَىِّ قَلْبِى فِى قُرْبِى مِنَّكْ
لِيهْ إِلْمَطَرْ بِيصْعَبْ عَلَيَّه يِمْكِنْ عَشَان زَىِّ دَمَعى فِى بُعدِى عَنِّى
ليه السحاب بعشق بياضه يمكن عشان زى قلبى فى قربى منك
ليه المطر بيصعب عليه يمكن عشان زى دمعى فى بعدى عنى
لِيهْ لَمَّا تِبْعَدْ عَنْ عَينَيَّه بَخَافْ عَلَيَّه و بَخَافْ عَلَيْكْ عَلَيْكْ وْ بَرْدُه مِنَّكْ
ليه لما تبعد عن عينيه بخاف عليه و بخاف عليك عليك و برده منك
.......................
لِيهْ لَمَّا اشُوفْ فِى السَّمَا نُجُومْ كِتِيرْ مِنْهَا بَغِيرْ
ليه ليه لما اشوف فى السما نجوم كتير منها بغير
ليه لما اشوف فى السما نجوم كتير منها بغير
يِمْكِنْ عَشَان قَدّ اِلسَّمَا وْ قَدّ اِلنُجُومْ بَحَبَّكْ بحبك آآآه بحبك
قد ما قلبى اشتكى من نار حبك
قد ما ليلى حكى عن طول بعدك
قد ما قلبى اشتكى من نار حبك
قد ما ليلى حكى عن طول بعدك
قَدّ اِلْحُرُوفْ إِلْلِى فى أَسَامِى الْعَاشِقِينْ
قَدّ اِلدُّمُوعَ إِلْلِى فى عَيُونْ إِلْمَجْرُوحِينْ
قد الحروف اللى فى اسامى العاشقين
قد الدموع اللى فى عيون المجروحين
أَنَا بَحَبَّكْ
.................
قَلْبِى وعَينَيَّه يِجْرَى إِيهْ لَوْ دَمَعَه نِزْلِتْ مِنْ عَينَيَّه فَيُومْ عَلَيَّه
يِجْرَى إِيهْ إِيهْ لَوْ طُمِّنَكْ خُوفِى عَلَيْكْ وْخُفِتْ يَااا قَاسِى عَلَيَّه
قلبى وعينيه يجرى ايه لو دمعه نزلت من عينيه فيوم عليه
يجرى ايه ايه لو طمنك خوفى عليك وخفت ياااقاسى عليه
يِجْرَى إِيهْ لَوْ لِيلَه جَرَّبْتْ اِلسُّهَادْ
يِجْرَى إِيهْ لَوْ عَذِّبَكْ طُولْ البِعَاد
يجرى ايه لو ليله جربت السهاد
يجرى ايه لو عذبك طول البعاد
يِجْرَى إِيهْ لَوْ يُومْ هَجَرْتَكْ وُجِيتْ تَانِى يُومْ قُلْتِلِى إِنِّى وَحَشْتَكْ
يجرى اييه لو يوم هجرتك وجيت تانى يوم قلتلى انى وحشتك
يِجْرَى إِيهْ لَوْ عَاتِبْتَكْ وَعَاتِبْتِبْنِى وِسَامَحْتِنِى وِسَامَحْتِ نَفْسَكْ
آه يجرى ايه لو عاتبتك وعاتبتبنى وسامحتنى وسامحت نفسك
آه يجرى ايه لو عاتبتك وعاتبتبنى وسامحتنى وسامحت نفسك
آه يِجْرَى إِيهْ لَوْ قُلْتِلِى
قد الحروف اللى فى اسامى العاشقين بحبك بحبك بحبك
Web Sources Cited:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assala_Nasri
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/09/24/Lebanon-detains-Syrian-diva-singer-Assala-Nasri.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-5ZIidERWE
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/ad-el-heroof-qad-al-harouf-many-letters-rhyming.html
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/ad-el-heroof-qad-al-harouf-many-letters-rhyming.html
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