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Watch at https://youtu.be/628MU8iTqzE |
Hosted by Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti, Arabology is a podcast, blog and YouTube program showcasing indie Arabic music and other cultural productions from/about the Arab world.
Sunday, December 27, 2020
New Year Video Message from Dr. Ramzi Salti's Arabology Program
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Fairuz's "Khidni Ya Habibi" Translated into English by Dr. Ramzi Salti
Here is my modest attempt to translate Fairuz's song "Khidni Ya Habibi خدني يا حبيبي " [Take Me Away, My Love] from Arabic into English. This song has always had a special place in my heart, as does the operetta/musical Petra in which it was initially performed, back in 1978.
I have uploaded a special video of the song, with optional English subtitles, to my YouTube Channel. To view subtitles, start playing video then click on CC at bottom of video screen/window.
For bilingual English/version, scroll down.
Watch below or at https://youtu.be/Hi4-DAq72s8
An Egyptian man arrived one night
English Translation by Dr. Ramzi Salti |
Original Arabic Lyrics |
An Egyptian man arrived one night Carrying with him the mysteries of the Pyramids And the sublime color of the Nile He appeared out of nowhere and, like joy itself, He gave us hope. Take me away, my love To a house that has no doors Take me away, my love To the moon that guides the forgotten Leave me in a deep slumber on a clear, bright day Until the nights return, along with our loved ones My love, my love, my love Take me away, leave me behind Joy is on its way Your love consumes me While you have no companion O King of all Swords You took away the summer I imagine you everywhere Lost in the fog Take me away, my love Take me away, my love Leave me in a deep slumber On a clear and bright day My love, my love, my love There was once a little princess Who grew up too quickly Jealousy surrounded her And she had no wings to fly away They made her live in Palaces Surrounded by vast oceans But the Princess was too little And the oceans (doors) too vast Take me away, my love To a house that has no doors Take me away, my love To the moon that guides those who are lost Leave me in a deep slumber On a clear, bright day Until the nights return, along with our loved ones My love, my love, my love |
ببيروس اللي إجا من الليل حامل غموض الهرم ولون النيل وصل ع غفلة متل الفرح وأعطانا الأمل خدني يا حبيبي ع بيت مالو بواب خدني يا حبيبي ع قمر الغياب انساني بالغفا بأيام الصفا تترجع الليالي ويرجعوا الأحباب يا حبيبي يا حبيبي يا حبيبي خدني ولا تخدني الفرح ع الطريق حبك بيحصدني وما عندك رفيق يا أمير السيف وين أخدت الصيف بشوفك وما بشوفك وضايع بالضباب خدني يا حبيبي خدني يا حبيبي انساني بالغفا بأيام الصفا يا حبيبي يا حبيبي يا حبيبي في أميرة زغيرة انخطبت بكير رميوا عليها الغيرة وما بتعرف تطير سكنوها قصور خلف سبع بحور وزغيرة الأميرة وكبيرة البواب خدني يا حبيبي خدني يا حبيبي ع بيت مالو بواب خدني يا حبيبي ع قمر الغياب انساني بالغفا بأيام الصفا تترجع الليالي ويرجعوا الأحباب يا حبيبي يا حبيبي يا حبيبي |
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Ramzi Salti Interviews +Aziz of Kuwaisiana (Arabology Online, December 2020)
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Watch this interview at https://youtu.be/Dd-qunnCnC0 |
Working in Arabic and English, Kuwaisiana is a full-bodied band producing a danceable, dynamic sound that draws on world music and indie rock. Led by Kuwaiti singer-songwriter +Aziz, the 6-piece blends funk, rock, ska with New Orleanian jazz, adding a unique twist to what Indie Arab Rock can sound like. Their followup is scheduled to be released on January 15, 2021.
Current Band Members of Kuwaisiana: +Aziz - vocals/guitar 🇰🇼 Matthieu - Drums 🇫🇷 Sam Levine - Bass 🇺🇲 Dehan Elçin - Trumpet 🇹🇷 Nick Ferreirae - Sax 🇺🇲 Patrick Driscoll - Hand percussion 🇺🇲 |
Lyrically, +Aziz explores the cultures he knows so well through his metaphor-rich lyrics, which sustain a tension between conversational and a more evocative, poetic perspective. Kuwaisiana is making progress at a time when so much of the world is in flux. Pre-order the EP at link below (to be released on January 15, 2021).
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Ramzi Salti's Talk: Healing through Lebanese Music (EPIC Fellows, Stanford Global Studies, September 2020)
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Watch full talk at https://youtu.be/LzAaUrZEq8k |
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Dr. Ramzi Salti Interviews El Far3i about His Upcoming Crowdcast Concert on Dec 12, 2020
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Watch interview at https://youtu.be/cECHbrGFzBY |
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Ramzi Salti Interviews Hamed Sinno of Mashrou' Leila about his new musical projects, and life after COVID
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Watch this interview below or at https://youtu.be/-a2sOF_hhKw |
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Ramzi Salti Interviews Groundbreaking Arab Rapper Emsallam (October 2020)
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Watch video at this link |
Monday, November 2, 2020
Ramzi Salti Interviews Shahina Osseiran, Daughter of late Lebanese Poet Jawdat Haydar
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Watch at https://youtu.be/0BZC5yrZkNI |
04:37 Verses about Arab Politicians (Deserts of Despair)
For more about Jawdat Haydar: http://jawdathaydar.org
Subscribe to Ramzi Salti's YouTube Channel at https://youtube.com/c/RamziSalti
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Video of Ramzi Salti's Talk about Lebanese Music (Sijal Institue, Aug 2020) Now Available
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Video at https://youtu.be/pOU8RfC7bUM; artwork by Tamer Al Ahmar |
The video recording of Dr. Ramzi Salti's Aug 13 talk about the way in which certain Lebanese songs/musicians can empower/heal us during these catastrophic times is now available online. You can watch below or at youtu.be/pOU8RfC7bUM
To watch the video, please go to: https://youtu.be/pOU8RfC7bUM
Title: Tribute to Lebanese Music from Fairuz to Mashrou Leila
Info: This audio-visual lecture by was recorded by Zoom on Thursday, August 13, 2020 and was presented in conjunction with Sijal Institute in Amman, Jordan. No images/names of attendees appear in this video except where a participant has granted permission.
- 00:00 Introduction by Katy W. of Sijal Institute (Amman, Jordan)
- 02:19 Introduction by Ramzi Salti
- 13:33 Fairuz: Ya Hawa Beirut
- 15:42 Talia Lahoud: Li-Beirut
- 18:38 Yasmine Hamadan
- 21:52 Mashrou Leila
- 24:58 Tania Saleh
- 29:46 Zeid Hamdan
- 35:40 Mike Massy
- 38:23 Tania Kassis
- 41:31 Fareeq El Atrash
- 43:59 Naima Shalhoub
- 46:00 Discussion: Helping Lebanon (includes donation sites)
- 54:24 Q and A Session
Sijal Institute Website: Sijal Website
To watch the video , go to this link: https://youtu.be/pOU8RfC7bUM
Monday, July 27, 2020
Dr. Ramzi Salti Interviewed about His Teaching Career, Radio Show, and Arabic Music
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Watch video at https://youtu.be/tjkA2K34rNs |
Friday, July 24, 2020
Video Recording: Ramzi Salti in Conversation with Director Fadi Haddad (July 2020)
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Watch video at https://youtu.be/ZojLibSdLac |
Friday, July 10, 2020
Film Discussion + Free Screening of "When Monaliza Smiled" on July 22, 2020 (Stanford by Zoom)
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Arabology Online: Interview with Jordanian Artist Tamer Al Ahmar (May 2020)
Monday, May 11, 2020
Artist Talk at Stanford: Jordanian American Artist Ridikkuluz Interviewed by Dr. Ramzi Salti
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Video at https://youtu.be/WA5wTeaEaAs |
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Ridikkuluz with his piece titled "Stop Staring" ©Ridikkuluz |
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The King and Queen of Jordan ©Ridikkuluz |
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Ridikkuluz poses with his renowned piece featuring Arabic cultural icons ©Ridikkuluz |
Monday, April 27, 2020
Rania Kurdi Returns with New Season of "The Rania Show" by Zoom
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Rania Kurdi's new show, titled Ma3ZOOM, available on her YouTube Channel |
- Rania Kurdi on Instagram: instagram.com/kurdirania
- Rania Kurdi's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/RaniaKurdiOFFICIAL
كل أسبوع رح يكون مع رانيا ضيفة/ضيف على تطبيق زوم. الضيوف رح يدربوا كل شخصية من شخصيات رانيا شو على مهارة معينة
Friday, April 3, 2020
Friday, March 13, 2020
Stanford Commemorates the Life and Works of Lebanese Poet Jawdat Haydar
Some of the event attendees - Photo by Tadashi Moriguchi |
Mr Ed Shiner |
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Dr. Ramzi Salti |
Dr. Rula Yazigy |
Dr. Khalid Obeid |
Dr. Alexander Key |
10th Anniversary of Dr. Ramzi Salti's Arabology Program Features All Episodes on Soundcloud + YouTube (Click here)
All 13 seasons of Dr. Ramzi Salti's Arabology podcasts are now available on Soundcloud, for a total of 101 episodes. Additionally, al...

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Tamer Al-Ahmar displays some of his art in Amman, Jordan I first stumbled upon Tamer Al-Ahmar's art when I was in Jordan in the su...