Need song suggestions for a story.

[Ælfscine]

Hi...

I am gathering information for a story I am working on in which there is a belly dancer putting on a performance. I would like to set some suggestions of some Arabic song lyrics that praise the beauty and grace of a belly dancer. If I could get a transliteration of the first few lines and a doum-tak-ka description of the rhythms, that would be really helpful.

Thanking you all in advance,

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

Gamil Gamal. You do realize there are copyright issues with using it in a story and that you need to get permission prior to publishing the story?

Arabic Music: English Translation of Lyrics for Gamil, Gamal by Farid al-Atrache

 

[Ælfscine]

Hello Shanazel...

Thank you for your quick response. Yes, I am aware that there are copyright issues but surely there must be enough songs in the public domain that could be used for my story.

Thank you again,

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

Under US copyright laws you'd have to find music from earlier than 1923 and belly dance didn't even really bust out in the Middle East until 1927 or so. The earliest you can use music written after that is something like 2019.

(Oops, I'm assuming you are in the US. Sorry about that if you are not.)

Why not write your own lyrics and have them translated into Arabic? That would be more fun anyway.

 

[Ælfscine]

Hello again...

Someone just told me that there is an Arabic version of "Erev shel shoshanim (Evening of roses)" but I have no idea what it is call in Arabic.

I'm familiar with the melody but I find it hard to think of it as something that one could belly dance to. Am I wrong or right?

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

Isn't that a love song in Hebrew? I vaguely recall Miriam Makeba singing it. In the current political climate one has to be careful using music associated with Hebrew for belly dance. Seriously. It sucks but there it is.

 

[Shanazel]

Here's Miriam's version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP0OuRVzpw0

English translation

It is an evening of lilies
Let us go out to the garden
Myrrh, Spices, and Frankincense
Are as a carpet under your feet

Night falls slowly
And a wind of lilies blows
Let me whisper a song for you
A song of pure love

Dawn and the dove coos
Your hair is full of dewdrops
Your lips are as roses unto the morning
I will pick them for myself

 

[gisela]

How about Lamma Bada?

It's a very old song and the words are something about "how she sways".




lyrics here
Arabic Music: English Translation of Lyrics for Lamma Bada Yata Thanna

 

[gisela]

Shira.net also has lyrics and sound samples from Erev shel...
Hebrew-Language Music: English Translation of Lyrics for Erev Shel Shoshanim

 

[Ælfscine]

A Plot Bunny

Under US copyright laws you'd have to find music from earlier than 1923 and belly dance didn't even really bust out in the Middle East until 1927 or so. The earliest you can use music written after that is something like 2019.

(Oops, I'm assuming you are in the US. Sorry about that if you are not.)

Why not write your own lyrics and have them translated into Arabic? That would be more fun anyway.

Hi...

Ok, a plot bunny.

The dancer is a Witch. She is often referred to as the "Mistress of the Ice Dragon's Fire". So if I were to write original lyrics how about something like:

O Ishandra, Witch of Ice and Snow,
O Mistress of the White Ice Dragon's fire,
Your dance is like the cold, cold caress of winter,
But you set my heart ablaze.

I have no idea how well that could be rendered into poetic Arabic but perhaps someone could give it a shot. Some might be amused to know that Ishandra often abbreviates her name down to Isha . Ya Isha! Ya Isha! Ya habibi!

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

OKay. Editor coming out in me. Beware.

O Ishandra, Witch of Ice and Snow,
O Mistress of the White Ice Dragon's fire,
Though cold as the caress of winter
You set my heart ablaze.

 

[Ælfscine]

Hi...

That flies for me. How well would that translate into Arabic? Would it be something one could dance to.

I did receive you request but I will not say "yes" or "no" until I know more about what it involves.

My bother, Ælfstangard, is standing over me as I write this. He wants to know if the blonde blue-eyed dancer on the page is single and looking for a husband. I told him that the picture is probably not recent and such a beautiful young woman probably already has a husband. He says that he feels that there is no harm in asking.

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

It is simply an offering of friendship and requires no blood mingling or vows of eternal loyalty. No obligations and no salesmen will call.

 

[Aniseteph]

I'm just guessing here, but I wonder whether things about ice and dragons and witches would translate into Arabic that well. You might have to lose that imagery to get the same sense, or risk a direct translation that read completely differently for Arabic speakers.

It is probably easier to translate things that don't have to be read from a particular cultural POV, if that makes sense. Flowing hair, beautiful eyes, flowers, swaying figures and intoxicating scents and the like are much more universal!

 

[Darshiva]

My bother, Ælfstangard, is standing over me as I write this. He wants to know if the blonde blue-eyed dancer on the page is single and looking for a husband. I told him that the picture is probably not recent and such a beautiful young woman probably already has a husband. He says that he feels that there is no harm in asking.

I believe she is recently engaged, so he's a little late off the mark.

 

[Ælfscine]

I'll do it in Ancient Witchspeak instead

OKay. Editor coming out in me. Beware.

O Ishandra, Witch of Ice and Snow,
O Mistress of the White Ice Dragon's fire,
Though cold as the caress of winter
You set my heart ablaze.

Hi...

I have decided to follow all your advice and suggestions and not risk a copyright infringement or a bad translation into Arabic and just do my own few lines in English which is the language of the majority of my readership. I can claim that the character Levina is singing in Ancient Witchspeak as Ishandra dances but this is how the interpreter spell is rendering it.

O Ishandra, Witch of ice and snow,
O Mistress of the White Ice Dragon's Fire
Though cold as the caress of winter
Thou settest mine heart ablaze!

Thank you all for your time and help with this segment of my story,

Ælfscine

 

[Ælfscine]

My brother's being a pest!

Hi...

My brother, Ælfstangard, is being a pest. He is asking me to get some of you to read a chapter from his fan fiction story Ishandra: Icy's Tale. It is his version of Ishandra doing a belly dance but he wants input and feedback on how well he did or did not do on it. (I think what he really wants is praise from all us beautiful ladies. Men! They always need their egos massaged. :lol Below is the link. And pleeeze leave some reviews and comments so he'll stop pestering me about it.

Ishandra : Icy's Tale Chapter 47: Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance, a winx club fanfic | FanFiction

Thank you all -- you're the greatest,

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

OD isn't really set up for reviewing writers' work, but you and your brother might like this forum: Absolute Write Water Cooler - Powered by vBulletin

The Water Cooler is a great place to interact with other writers and get feedback on your work. There are lots of fantasy writers on the site who will "get" the style in which you write.

 

[Ælfscine]

Sorry!

OD isn't really set up for reviewing writers' work, but you and your brother might like this forum: Absolute Write Water Cooler - Powered by vBulletin

The Water Cooler is a great place to interact with other writers and get feedback on your work. There are lots of fantasy writers on the site who will "get" the style in which you write.

Sorry!

I didn't mean for this to be a problem. I could have mentioned that there is a review function at Fanfiction.net. One can always leave her reviews and comments there.

Again, sorry! Please don't send a squad of angry tolls to my place to beat me up and skin my pet ferret. I won't do it again, I promise! However, I will check out this "Water Cooler" site. Thank you for the suggestion.

Thank you all again,

Ælfscine

 

[Shanazel]

No trolls will call! Your ferret is safe! :lol: I've recently come across Water Cooler myself and just thought I'd share. Lots of excellent information for writers of all types there. I wrote my first story something like fifty years ago and still find myself noting new and interesting WC information.