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.
A special video greeting to everyone who has ever supported my Arabology radio/YouTube program and many thanks to all the amazing Arab artists who have graciously agreed to be interviewed through the years. Here's to a better 2021! Watch below or at https://youtu.be/628MU8iTqzE
اتمنى لجميع مشاهدي برنامج عربولوجي عاماً جديداً مليئاً بالصحة والعافية والنجاح والف شكر على محبتكم ومتابعتكم وتشجيعكم عبر السنوات. كما اود أن أشكر كل الفنانين من جميع انحاء الوطن العربي الذين شاركوني بمشوارهم الفني وأعمالهم العظيمة من خلال المقابلات التي أجريتها معهم
الرجاء الاشتراك بالقناة ليصلكم كل ماهو جديد
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.
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
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
There was once a little Princess
Who grew up too quickly
Jealousy surrounded her
She had no wings to fly away
They made her live in Palaces
Surrounded by vast oceans
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
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
JUST RELEASED: Stanford Lecturer + Arabology host Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews multi-talented Kuwaiti musician +Aziz of Kuwaisiana, a groundbreaking band that fuses alternative Arab/Khaleeji rock with New Orleanian jazz, funk and more. This audio-visual interview was recorded in December 2020 and spotlights the band's amazing new music video ' Bara7a (براحة)' and upcoming EP Chapter 2.
While there is a spectrum of alternative Arabic music being made today across the Middle East, Kuwaisiana’s sound explores new territory for the Khaleeji dialect (the culture associated with the Arabian Peninsula), which is typically more closed off and protective of its symbols. ⚡ The result is a unique twist to what “Alternative Arab Rock” or a “New Orleans band” can sound like and a highly imaginative journey for listeners.
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).
Born out of +Aziz’s desire to explore parallels between American and Khaleeji cultures, Chapter 2 is his band’s followup EP to Chapter 1, which was released through Universal Music MENA. This new 22-minute EP deepens the band’s exploration of the day-to-day experiences of Arab-American youth and the evolving viewpoints of Khaleejis living in the Arabian Peninsula. It will be self-released on Bandcamp on January 15, 2021 and then published to streaming platforms.
✔️ Official music video for Bara7a (براحة) by Kuwaisiana: https://youtu.be/qXhzKq7syhQ
✔️ Pre-Order Chapter 2 on Bandcamp: https://kuwaisiana.bandcamp.com/album/chapter-2
✔️ All Lyrics & Translations: http://www.kuwaisiana.com/lyrics
