ARABOLOGY: 2018

Ramzi Salti Interviews Director Nadine Labaki + Khaled Mouzanar

I am proud to share my radio interviews with (1) Lebanese Director Nadine Labaki and (2) Producer/Musical Composer Khaled Mouzanar who composed the Capernaum كفر ناحوم soundtrack as well as the score for Labaki's previous films Caramel and Where Do We Go Now?

At the Arab Film Festival in San Francisco, November 2018

This interview was recorded in San Francisco on November 18, 2018 while Labaki and Mouzanar--who are married in real life--were promoting the film for Sony Pictures Classics. The film is set for its U.S. theatrical release on on December 14, 2018.

My interview with Nadine Labaki: https://soundcloud.com/arabology/nadinelabaki

My interview with Khaled Mouzanar at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/khaledmouzanar

This film has just been nominated for a Golden Globe award and has been selected as a candidate for the 2019 Oscar race. It also won the Prix du Jury at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival as well as "Best Foreign Language Film" at the 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards.

For more info about the film, see https://sonyclassics.com/capernaum/

To watch the movie trailer, see https://youtu.be/ULUo0048xZE

Short video of Nadine Labaki and Khaled Mouanar greeting Stanford students + Arabology listeners in Arabic: https://youtu.be/dttkISpBjWM

With thanks to Sony Pictures Classics, The Arab Film Festival and The Arab Film and Media Institute.

To listen/share my Arabology interviews and podcasts, please go to https://soundcloud.com/arabology

'The Migrant Kitchen' TV Show Celebrates the Man'ouche منقوشة

Watch at this link

The latest episode of the Emmy Award winning TV series The Migrant Kitchen (aired on December 5, 2018) highlighted the cuisines of two Palestinian women whose culinary skills have long received much critical acclaim in the San Francisco bay area. The episode was titled Man'ouche منقوشة and showcased Chefs Reem Assil and Lamees Dahbour (aka Mama Lamees), both of whom have long attempted to use food to bring their homeland closer to Western tolerance and acceptance.

You can watch the trailer at this link or you can watch the whole show below or at https://www.kcet.org/shows/the-migrant-kitchen/episodes/manoushe

The show also included interviews with Stanford Lecturer/Radio Host Dr. Ramzi Salti + AROC Director Lara Kiswani.

You can also read this article about the show (featuring quotes by Dahbour, Assil, and Salti) at THIS LINK

Read full article at this link

"The Migrant Kitchen" is an Emmy®-winning food series that explores California’s booming food scene through the eyes of a new generation of chefs whose cuisine is inspired by the immigrant experience. Visit the kitchens of those who have transformed the culinary landscape of the state, combining traditional ethnic cuisines and a fusion of new flavors and techniques to make it a food capital of the world. "The Migrant Kitchen" is produced in association with Life & Thyme.

For more info about the show, please see https://www.kcet.org/shows/the-migrant-kitchen

Ramzi Salti Discusses Music of Arab Spring at Portland State University

Watch video at https://youtu.be/d46Auymv26s

Stanford Lecturer + Arabology radio host Dr. Ramzi Salti gave a talk about the music of the Arab Spring (and beyond) at Portland State University on November 18, 2018. The talk was titled "Music of the Arab Spring and Beyond: From Revolution to Revelation" and was given by special invitation by the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon - AACCO.

You can watch video experts from the lecture below or at https://youtu.be/d46Auymv26s

The talk was meant to go along with this YouTube Playlist

Ramzi Salti Moderates Film Discussion of "From Baghdad to the Bay" in Oakland, California

Watch the talk at https://youtu.be/9HVkecq0KMo

This discussion following the screening of the award winning documentary "From Baghdad to the Bay" at the Arab Film Festival 2018 was recorded on October 19, 2018 at the New Parkway in Oakland, California. It was moderated by Dr. Ramzi Salti and Co-presented by Human Rights Watch San Francisco and the International Rescue Committee in Northern California. Q&A session was moderated by Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti ft Director Erin Palmquist + star of the film Ghazwan Alsharif + Christine Lemonda, Deputy Director of Programs at the International Rescue Committee in Northern California. Special thanks to Serge Bakalian and The Arab Film and Media Institute for organizing the Arab Film Festival, the nation’s oldest and largest Festival of Arab films! Also many thanks to Alexander Farrow (AFF) and to Scott Schwerdtfeger for allowing me to use video highlights from his footage. "From Baghdad to The Bay" follows the epic journey of Ghazwan Alsharif, an Iraqi refugee and former translator for the US military. After being wrongfully accused of being a double agent he is ostracized from his family and country. The film follows Ghazwan as he struggles to rebuild his life in the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can watch discussion excerpts below or at https://youtu.be/9HVkecq0KMo

You can watch the trailer for the film below or at https://vimeo.com/155901926

From Baghdad to The Bay Teaser from Erin Palmquist on Vimeo.

Ramzi Salti Discusses Music of Arab Spring Using Zoom Video Communications

Watch at https://youtu.be/zNaTLgmmJ4s

On November 16, 2018, Stanford Lecturer + Arabology radio host Dr. Ramzi Salti discussed the music of the Arab Spring with a remote audience using Zoom Video Communications, a company operating from San Jose, California that provides remote conferencing services using cloud computing.

You can watch the lecture below or at this link: https://youtu.be/zNaTLgmmJ4s

This lecture was meant to along with this YouTube Playlist (or scan below to get to Playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

Scan code above to go to Playlist

This lecture was presented to the fellows in the Stanford Global Studies Education Partnership for Internationalizing Curriculum (EPIC) program. More info below.

Arab Spring Music: From Revolution to Revelation

An Audio Visual Lecture by Dr. Ramzi Salti (author30@gmail.com)

Lecturer at Stanford University + Radio Host of ‘Arabology’ @KZSU 90.1 FM

Dr. Salti's Arab Spring Music YouTube Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLWDZIrxtQY8a0olTC3ZpCORWcahOBRS

1. Noor - Don't Wanna (Arab Spring / ربيع العرب)

2. El général, the voice of Tunisia, english subtitles

3. My word is Free ( كلمتي حرة ) , English Subtitled (Tunisian revolution)

4. Emel Mathlouthi - Kelmti Horra (Orchestral Version) (+English, French and Arabic Lyrics)

5. Revolutionary Art: Ramy Essam and The Protest of Tahrir Square

6. Ramy Essam at 60 Minutes - CBS News تعذيب رامى عصام 9 مارس

7. Music Amidst Revolution

8. Ramy Essam - Bread Freedom

9. Cairokee - Ethbat Makanak - (English subtitles)

10. Cairokee ft Aida El Ayouby Ya El Medan (English Subs)

11. Massar Egbari - Wana Kol Ma2ol | وأنا كل ماقول - مسار إجباري

12. Massar Egbari - E2ra El Khabar | مسار إجباري - اقرا الخبر

13. Massar Egbari - Read The News

14. Eskenderella Short Report

15. Eskenderella – Safha Gedeeda

16. Youssra El Hawary - El Soor

17. Ibn Thabit feat. MC Swat - Victory or Death (English Subtitles)

18. Ibn Thabit نداء لشباب ليبيا إبن ثابت

19. Khaled M ft Lowkey - Can't Take Our Freedom

20. Souad Massi - Raoui English translation

21. Souad Massi – Raoui (Live)

22. Rachid Taha - Ya rayah (English subtitles)

23. Amine AUB & Masta Flow - Kan Ya Ma Kan (Music Video) | أيوبي و ماسطا فلو - كان ياما كان

24. Mashrou Leila on Dateline: Rocking the Middle East

25. Mashrou' Leila - Ghadan Yawmon Afdal

26. Zeid and the Wings - GENERAL SULEIMAN

27. Zeid Hamdan and Maryam Saleh | Eslahat

28. Fareeq El Atrash - Lawein & Ba'ed Min Hon (Video Clip)

29. Tania Kassis - Islamo-Christian AVE (live at l'Olympia) | تانيا قسيس - الصلاة الإسلامية المسيحية

30. Tania Kassis - Watani (live from Sydney Opera House)

31. Tania Saleh - Omar & Ali عمروعلي LIVE

32. Tania Saleh – It’s Springtime

33. Hiba Tawaji - Al Rabih Al Arabi [Official Music Video] (2014

34. Tanjaret Daghet - Ta7t El Daghet / Under Pressure (Official Music Video)

35. Tanjaret Daghet Our Dream for Syria

36. Omar Offendum - #SYRIA

37. Malek Jandali - Watani Ana

38. DAM - Change Tomorrow with English Subtitle

39. DAM featuring AMAL MURKUS - If I Could Go Back In Time لو أرجع بالزمن

40. Rim Banna - The Absent One

41. JOWAN SAFADI – TO BE AN ARAB

42. JOWAN SAFADI & TAMER NAFAR - AWAL BAWAL

43. Revolution Makers - غزة افتحي قلبك - صناع الثورة

44. Basel Zayed - Gaza

45. Jadal - El Makina (Official Lyric Clip)

46. Yazan Al Rousan Feat. Hana Malhas - Trouh

47. Narcy featuring Shadia Mansour - "Hamdulillah" Official Music Video

48. SHADIA MANSOUR FT. OMAR OFFENDUM - لازم نتغير (We have to change)

49. 47SOUL - Mo Light (Official Video) | السبعة وأربعين - رفّ الطّير

50. Yasmine Hamdan – Balad

New Arabology Podcast Highlights Indie Arabic Music from North Africa

https://soundcloud.com/arabology/arabology121

The latest episode of my Arabology radio show (Oct 2018) highlights indie Arabic music from North Africa. You can listen below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/arabology121

Arabology is a radio show that airs on KZSU 90.1 Fm (Stanford) and is hosted by Stanford University Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti. This episode featured music by Taha El Hmidi, Temenik Electric, Babylone, Jawhar, Fahmi Riahi, Sabry Mosbah, Yuma, Imed Alibi (featuring Mounir Troudi an Michel Marre), Youssra El Hawary, Cairokee, Mazeek, Nawawe, Mimi Amina + more.

The show also featured interview with some of the Techwadi/Injaz Egypt winners who visited Stanford earlier this year to promote their amazing projects.

Listen to the show at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/arabology121

Arabology Interviews Jordan-based Syrian Artist Rana Sunaij

https://soundcloud.com/arabology/ranasunaij

Recorded on August 13, 2018 in Amman, Jordan. Listen to the interview below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/ranasunaij

Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews Jordan-based Syrian artist Rana Sunaij at her atelier in Amman, Jordan.

Born In Damascus, Rana Sunaij entered the world wide-eyed and surrounded by a big loving family that were all creative. After studying Literature at the University of Damascus, she left to California to follow her dream of studying art. However, after getting married to an Austrian diplomat, her path changed and took her to Cairo, Egypt where her “nomadic lifestyle” began. The Austrian artistic heritage of Klimt, Kokoshka and the Wiener Werkstätten had lasting effects on her. During a short yet intensive stay in Sri Lanka her work was lastingly influenced by the brightly colored tropical flowers and the paradise like landscapes of the land.

When, in 2006 she moved to Jordan, she instantly “fell in love” with the country and its people. The colors and the vibrancy of Middle Eastern culture left a lasting legacy on her artwork.

For samples of Rana Sunaij's work, see:

Ramzi Salti Moderates "In Between" Film Discussion at Stanford

Watch video at https://youtu.be/AB0Yw12qwJk

Stanford Lecturer + Radio Host Dr. Ramzi Salti moderated a lively film discussion at Stanford on June 13, 2018 following the screening of Maysaloun Hamoud's film "In Between بر بحر לא פה, לא שם"

The film was part of Stanford Global Studies' annual film festival featuring movies from all around the world. This summer's theme was “Friends & Family: Tales From Near and Far.” This screening was sponsored by the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies.

Below is a video of the film discussion, moderated by Dr. Ramzi Salti, in which members of the audience expressed various points of view that contributed towards a much needed discourse that centers on women, gender roles and marginalized sexualities in the Middle East.

Watch the video below or at https://youtu.be/AB0Yw12qwJk

Musical Trailer for the film "In Between" (Created by William Sakhnini)

Mete Tasin Sings "Lamma Badda Yatathanna" Live in Concert

Dr. Ramzi Salti (left) introduces Tenor Mate Tasin

Turkish Opera singer Mete Tasin, whose repertoire has long included songs in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Persian, and Turkish, recently debuted an amazing rendition of the song "Lamma Bada Yatathanna" لما بدا يتثنى in Arabic. The song was introduced by Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti during Mete's concert at Angelica's in Redwood City on Saturday April 28, 2018 and left the audience cheering for more. You can watch Mete's performance below or at https://youtu.be/owP7nqpVMyM

Lamma Bada Yatathanna is an ancient muwashshah, a genre of secular music from Al Andalus, Moorish Spain, which means it’s from some time before 1492. Here are the lyrics in Arabic and in English translation:

لما بدا يتثـنى *** حبي جمـاله فتنــا
أوما بلحظه أسرنا *** غصن سـنا حين مال
وعدي ويا حيرتى *** من لي رحيم شكوتي
في الحب من لوعتي ***إلا مليـك الجمــال

When my beloved begins to sway,
His/her beauty drives me to distraction
When I am enraptured by a glimpse,
My beloved’s beauty is a tender branch caught by the breeze;
Oh my destiny, my perplexity,
No one can comfort me in my misery,
In my lamenting and suffering for love,
But for the one in the beautiful mirage

Mete Tasin is a compelling and versatile opera singer who was born in Germany and raised in Turkey. He studied with Prof. Guzin GUREL at Istanbul University State Conservatory and Patricia McCaffrey at Brooklyn College (Master of Music). His career began in Minnesota, USA with Carmen ( Don Jose ) and Lucia di Lammermoor ( Arturo ). Mete has been in many leading roles in Europe, United States and Turkey.

For more info about Mete, see http://www.metetasin.com/

Ramzi Salti Interviews Director John Slattery (Video)

Watch video at https://youtu.be/3ZLrIHKsQ2w

Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti's April 2018 interview with John Slattery, Director of the film "Casablanca Mon Amour' الدار البيضاء حبي, is now available online. The film explores the entwined relationship between Hollywood and the Arab World by focusing on portrayals of Arabs and/or Muslims in American cinema. You can watch the video below or at https://youtu.be/3ZLrIHKsQ2w

This 50-minute talk includes a discussion of the film 'Beirut' (2:21), Jack Shaheen's 'Reel Bad Arabs' (7:39), Lebanese Director Nadine Labaki (10:45), the Oscar nominated Lebanese film 'The Insult' (11:38) and much more.

Arabology Honored at Stanford's 25th Annual Publication Celebration

Dr. Ramzi Salti's Arabology radio show + podcast were among the works that were celebrated during the 25th Annual Publication Celebration which took place at The Stanford Humanities Center on March 6, 2018.

The event included kind remarks by Stanford Provost Persis Drell, seen below as she interacted with the Arabology audio-visual display.

Photo by Steve Castillo

The special Arabology episode that was honored for 2017-18 included an interview with Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan who graced the Stanford campus in November 2017. That interview, available in full on YouTube, was chosen as Arabology's best interview for 2017-18.

You can watch Dr. Ramzi Salti's interview with Yasmine Hamdan below or at this link: https://youtu.be/2U_UUQlFs3Q

Arabology is a radio program that is hosted by Dr. Ramzi Salti, Lecturer at Stanford University, showcasing music and other cultural productions from the Arab world. 'Arabology' airs on KZSU 90.1 FM. This was the fifth time that Arabology has been honored at Stanford's Publication Celebration.

For more info about Arabology:
* Arabology Blog: www.arabology.org
* Arabology on Facebook: facebook.com/arabology
* Arabology on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/author30
* Arabology on Soundcloud: @arabology
* Arabology Contact: author30@gmail.com

Tania Saleh Intersects Music, Art, and Poetry in New Arabology Interview

Listen at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/taniasaleh2018

My 60-minute Arabology interview with Lebanese singer/songwriter/artist Tania Saleh was initially intended to discuss the music on her new "Intersection" CD yet quickly expanded into a lively discussion of the singer's latest project where music, poetry and street art intersect to give birth to a totally unprecedented audio-visual work--one that merits time and explanation in order to be fully savored and appreciated. This project, coupled with Tania's poignant commentary about each track on the album, made for a rich, informative interview that could have easily transfixed any audience worldwide (listen below or at this link).

First, there are Tania's angelic vocals which, when combined with Tunisian Music Producer Khalil Judran's contemporary electronic sounds, give new life to poems by such acclaimed poets as Mahmoud Darwish, Khalil Gibran, Nizar Qabbani, Nazik Al-Malaika, Bayram Al-Tunsi, Abdallah Al Bardawni, Joumana, Haddad, Bader Shaker Al-Sayyab, Salah Jahin,Younes El Ebn and Ahmad Fouad Najm. This new approach not only payed homage to these great Arab poets but also made their work accessible to a whole new generation of listeners, both in and out of the Arab world, whose sole musical connections to these poems had been relegated to singers from their parents' generation. Case in point is Tania's musical interpretation of Gibran's "There Is No Justice in the Forest ليس في الغابات عدل"-- a mesmerizing track that seems reminiscent of Fairuz when she so gloriously set Gibran's poetry to music back in the 1970's.

Second, this is perhaps the first time in the history of contemporary Arabic music that an entire CD has been so eloquently accompanied by a documentary that seeks to link each song with a work of art or, in this case, with murals that were painted by Tania Saleh herself on the walls of various cities around the world. That intercession between Tania's artwork and songs has been brilliantly documented in Tania Saleh "Intersection - تقاطع": The Film, a 15-minute audio-visual feast (with English subtitles) that was brilliantly directed by Elie Fahed and released on YouTube to coincide with the launch of the CD (watch below or at https://youtu.be/jH0NSa6Vu4c).

Third, Tania Saleh's "Intersection" also functions as a much needed socio-political commentary on the state of the Arab world at various historical junctures--a fact that is evidenced through the thoughtful and well researched commentary she shared with us during our recent Arabology interview. Tania is not shy about critiquing an Arab world that is suffering from endless wars and internal conflicts but through it all, she still manages to find some kind of unity in the music that she has sought to create since the 1990s--tracks that express the pain she feels for the region with a sense of optimism that is consistently found within her lyrics.

Fourth, it seems quite crucial to note the tragic absence of companies and individuals in the Arab world who could or would have ever released a musical project of such high caliber. As Tania puts in our interview, "this musical project would not have seen the light were it not for Erik Hillestad, the Kirkelig Kulturverksted label, and the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs." To all those, we owe a note of thanks, coupled with a call to various venues worldwide--and especially in the US--to invite singers such as Tania Saleh to come and share their work with us, for it is perhaps in the global intersection of music and art that we can finally aspire to a richer, more tolerant world.

Listen to my interview with Tania Saleh at: https://soundcloud.com/arabology/taniasaleh2018
Purchase Tania Saleh's CD on iTunes and Amazon via this link.
Check out Tania's music + artwork at taniasaleh.com

يسرّني أن أدعوكم للاستماع الى حواري الاذاعي مع تانيا صالح الذي يدور حول البومها الجديد «تقاطع» وهو مشروع فني يجمع بين الغناء والريشة وأشعار #جبران_خليل_جبران #نازك_الملائكة #نزار_قباني #صلاح_جاهين #محمود_درويش #بدر_شاكر_السياب #عبدالله_البردوني #جمانة_حداد #أحمد_فؤاد_نجم #يونس_الابن #بيرم_التونسي

:يمكنكم الاستماع الى المقابلة بأكملها عبر الرابط التالي

https://soundcloud.com/arabology/taniasaleh2018

My Radio Interview with Karim Miské (February 2018)

https://soundcloud.com/arabology/karimmiske

I am delighted to share my radio interview with Mauritanian-French filmmaker and writer Karim Miské which was recorded on February 12, 2018 at KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM.

Listen/download the interview below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/karimmiske

Karim Miské is a groundbreaking filmmaker and novelist who, over the past 20 years, has made a number of documentaries on a wide range of issues including colonial legacies, hip hop culture, informal economy, freedom of press, and bioethics. His widely-acclaimed debut novel Arab Jazz (2012) won the English PEN Award.

Karim Miské has also received much critical acclaim for his documentary "Musulmans de France" [Muslims of France] which tells the history of Muslims in France, starting with the 1904 arrival of poor North African immigrants to the 2007 election of Muslim candidates to government offices. It asks the questions: what does it mean to be a Muslim in France today? How did Islam become the second religion in France?

Watch this TV report (in French) about Karim Miske's documentary series "Musulmans de France" below or at https://youtu.be/Dal66vPSoqc

Miské is FSI-Humanities Center International Visitor, 2017-18 and Aron Rodrigue International Visitor, 2017-18. His Stanford events were cosponsored by the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies along with the France-Stanford Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy, Mediterranean Studies Forum, The Europe Center, and the Markaz Resource Center.

Karim Miské (top right) with Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti, Feb 2018

Audio Interview below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/karimmiske

Arabology Interviews Jordanian Novelist Fadi Zaghmout (February 2018)

https://soundcloud.com/arabology/fadizaghmout

I am proud to share this radio interview which I conducted on Feb 21, 2018 with Jordanian novelist فادي زغموت Fadi Zaghmout whose first two novels, both best sellers in the Middle East, managed to defy and subvert various notions of gender and sexuality in the Arab world. In this interview, Fadi talks about his 2 groundbreaking novels (both available in English translation) while giving us a preview of his third, forthcoming novel "Laila and the Lamb."

Listen below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/fadizaghmout

Listen/share/download the interview at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/fadizaghmout

Fadi Zaghmout is a gender activist, blogger, and author. His first two novels were best-sellers in the Middle East, and his third novel "Laila and the Lamp" is forthcoming from Egyptian publisher Kotob Khan. Fadi holds an MA in Creative Writing and Critical Thinking from Sussex University in the UK. He blogs at thearabobserver.wordpress.com and tweets as @fadizaghmout

Arabology Interviews Amir Eid of 'Cairokee' Band

https://soundcloud.com/arabology/amireid

Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews Amir Eid, lead vocalist/songwriter/guitarist for the Egyptian band Cairokee, which came to prominence during/following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and whose latest best-selling album "Noaata Beida نقطة بيضا 2017" featured the song "Kont Faker"--a track that topped Arabology's Top 20 Songs of 2017. Listen to the interview below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/amireid

Recorded at KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University) in February 2018, this interview features various Cairokee song segments as Amir Eid discusses his musical influences, his career, and the reception of Cairokee's latest album in the Middle East and the West.

Cairokee's band members include Amir Eid (vocals & rhythm guitar), Tamer Hashem (drums), Sherif Hawary (Lead guitar), Adam El-Alfy (bass guitar) and Sherif Mostafa (Keyboard). More info at cairokee.com

يمكنكم الآن الاستماع الى المقابلة الاذاعية التي اجريتها منذ يومين مع المغني والمؤلف الموسيقي الشهير أمير عيد من فرقة كايروكي المصرية عبر الرابط أدناه. تم بث هذا الحوار خلال البرنامج الثقافي "عربولوجي" الذي يقدمه الدكتور رمزي سلطي عبر اذاعة جامعة ستانفورد في كاليفورنيا.

New Arabology Podcast Showcases Top 20 (Alternative) Arabic Songs of 2017

The latest episode of Arabology (aired February 2018) featured the Top 20 Alternative/Indie Arabic Songs of 2017--according to an unofficial poll of selected Stanford students and KZSU 90.1 FM listeners. You can listen to the show below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/top2017

Now in its 7th year, Arabology is a radio program that is hosted by Dr. Ramzi Salti, Lecturer at Stanford University, showcasing music and other cultural productions from/about the Arab world. The program airs on KZSU 90.1 FM (Stanford University) and previous podcasts can be found here.

The massive amount of talented musicians from the Arab world who emerged and re-emerged in 2017 made for a particularly competitive chart this year and included fiercely independent musicians and singers from all over the globe, including Muzdawaj (Jordan), Amine Souikra + Khawla Kayour (Morocco), Alsarah & the Nubatones (Sudan), Ahmad Zoubi (Jordan), Mahmoud Badrawy (Egypt), Temenik Electric ft Mehdi Haddjeri (Algeria), Mahmood Jrere and Tamer Naffar (Palestine/Israel), 47SOUL (Bilad El Sham), Blaak Heat (France/USA) Ft Fareed Al-Madain (Jordan), Mirage (Jordan), Hana Malhas (Jordan), Kabreet (Yemen/Germany), Tamer Qarrain (Jordan) Ft Lara Elayyan, Mashrou' Leila (Lebanon) + Hercules and Love Affair (USA/Belgium), Mike Massy ft Malek El Yaman (Lebanon), Emsallam (Jordan), Yasmine Hamdan (Lebanon), Tania Saleh (Lebanon), and Maryam Saleh (Egypt) + Tamer Abu Ghazaleh (Palestine) + Maurice Louca (Egypt).

The show also featured amazing instrumentals (which served as soundbeds) by The Spy from Cairo, Rasasawt (ft Kamel Badarneh), City of Djinn, Blaak Heat, Maghnatees, Hello Psychaleppo, DJ Lethal Skillz & Beatlalipos, Abdullah Miniawy, Ramy Mishriky, and Imed Alibi. These instrumentals will be played in full on a future show.

Here is the list of Arabology's Top 20 Songs of 2017 (starting from #20 and ending with #1)

Arabology 11.4: Top 20 Alternative Arabic Songs of 2017

Counted down from #20 to #1 Song of the Year (last row)

Chart Position	Artist	Song	Album	Label
Intro Music: Spy from Cairo “Sahir” from Nothing New Under the Sun on Wonderwheel Recordings
#20	Mashrou Leila + Hercules & Love Affair	Are You Still Certain?	Omnion	Big Beat/ Atlantic Rec
#19	Muzdawaj	Ala Bali (Vocal Mix) على بالي	Muzdawaj	Khaled Nweiran
Music: Spy from Cairo “Sirens of the Nile” from Open Sesame on Wonderwheel Recordings
#18	Amine Souikra Ft Khawla Kayour	7ali Ma3ak حالي معك	The Code	Amine Souikra Ezzanaidi
#17	Alsarah & the Nubatones	Ya Watan (Captain Planet Remix)	Manara Remixed	Wonderwheel Recordings
#16	Ahmad Zoubi	Ghorbeh غربة	Single	Ahmad Zoubi
Music: Spy from Cairo “Open Sesame” from Sirens of the Nile/Open Sesame on Wonderwheel Recs
#15	Mahmoud Badrawy	Mati7sibhash ماتحسبهاش (Acoustic)	Single	Richard Elhaj
#14	Temenik Electric Ft Mehdi Haddjeri	Zakia	Inch’Allah Baby	Nomad Café Production
Music: Rasasawt (ft Kamel Badarneh) “Qalandia Gate” from Music for Checkpoints album
#13	Mahmood Jrere	I’m from There انا من هناك	Rhythm of the Tribe أيقاع القبيلة	Mahmood Jrere
#12	Tamer Naffar	Johnny Mashi	Single	Tamer Naffar
Music: City of Djinn “Hakawati” from City of Djin on Somnimage (1:06:02)
#11	47Soul	Mo Light رف الطير	Balfron Promise	Cooking Vinyl Limited
Music: Blaak Heat “Al-Andalus” from The Arabian Fuzz 7” on Svart Records
#10	Blaak Heat Ft Fareed Al-Madain	Marr El Kallam مر الكلام	Arabian Fuzz 7”	Svart Records
Music: Maghnatees “Madar (Orbit)” from Maghnatees album ©Ghassan Birumi (1:23:40)
#9	Mirage Ft Dina Ra’ad Yaghnam	Ghawali غوالي	Banatalghaim	Mirage Records © K flicks
#8	Hana Malhas	Nasi ناسي	Single	Universal Music MENA
#7	Kabreet	Tefham تفهم	Bidayat بدايات	Kabreet
#6	Tamer Qarrain Ft Lara Elayyan	Let Go! هلا تركنا	A Call for Joy دعوة للفرح	A Call for Joy
Music: Hello Psychaleppo “Bulbul” from Toyour album © Hello Psychaleppo (1:54:25)
#5	Mike Massy + Malek El Yaman	Qalbi قلبي	Single	Malek El Yaman
Music: DJ Lethal Skillz & Beatlalipos “Under Pressure تحت الضغط “ from Iqa3 Mokhtalef
#4	Emsallam (Prod. The Archiducer)	Khanaka خانك الطرف الطموح	Postcolonialism ما بعد الاحتلال	Msallam Hdaib
#3	Maryam Saleh Maurice Louca Tamer Abu Ghazaleh	Teskar Tebki تسكر تبكي	Lekhfa الاخفاء	Mostakell
Music: Abdullah Miniawy “Leaving Munchen” from Ihsan Means Beauty © Abdullah Miniawy
#2 TIED	Yasmine Hamdan	Balad بلد	Al Jamilat الجميلات	Ipecac Rec
#2 TIED	Tania Saleh	Happy about Something فرحاً بشيء ما	Intersection تقاطع	Kirkelig Kulturverksted
Music: Ramy Mishriky “Intrepide” (Single) on Baci Recordings
Music: Imed Alibi “Solo Percussions” from Salhi album © 2017 Salhi (2:44:24)
#1	Cairokee	Kont Faker كنت فاكر	Noaata Beida نقطة بيضا	Egyptlink

Listen to Arabology 11.4 Podcast (Feb 2018) below or at https://soundcloud.com/arabology/top2017