Music!

Music I'm loving right now:

Bellydance Seduction (check out Nesrin dancing to it here) This long track has a classic Vintage Oriental (or American Cabaret) continuous fast-slow-fast-slow-etc. set-up. It really takes you on a journey of musical variety with a live band, Middle Eastern club in the 70's/80's feel.  Dancer Norma of Detroit recently said on Bhuz, "My teacher used to use these piece of music for her advanced students. She said if you could dance to every section of this music you were ready to become professional." (She also pointed out that it was originally the second track of the album, "Belly Dance! Spectacular Rhythms."

From Cairo With Love From the recently released album of the same name, this song is a great entrance piece for the type of shows where I perform. The length is just right (5:40) and there is plenty of variation throughout the song to get you and your audience warm-up for the rest of the show.

Ya Habaybi Ya Ghaybine I have linked to a remix (but not overly so, in my opinion) version of this classic originally performed by Farid El Atrache. I already liked the song when I first heard it, but then really fell in love when I saw this clip of Farid singing and the lovely dancers performing in the background.  They look like dancing candy.  :)

Ala Rimsh Eyounha This link is to the album "Aheb Masr" by Yasmina. Track 5 is certainly one of my current song crushes! It's fun, Middle Eastern patrons/audiences love it (and will probably sing along), and the lyrics make you want to wear your best fake eyelashes.