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
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



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Some of Ramzi Salti's Arabology guests