Aline Khalaf - Sodfa

Though her voice may not turn heads, when it comes to Aline Khalaf, you can always count on there being an extremely catchy single. La Li Leih, Az Alaya, Law Andak Kalam, Ba'dak Aal Bal, and her latest Farhet Ainayeh stick whether you like it or not. Bardo Sodfa, the story of lover who stalks her, is no exception thanks to Mohamed Yehia and Medhat Khamis. It is followed up by Menni Lik, another catchy maksoum song, and Kelma Fi Albi, an R&B-style song composed and arranged by Khaled Ez. Rah El Wafa (Mish Inta), a Tarek Abou Jaoudeh-Hadi Sharara collaboration, is in the duo's signature style and easily the best ballad on the album. Another ballad worth mentioning is Addet Sana, and Khaled Ez does a great job incorporating swooping strings and ney into the song. Gani We Alli is another infectiously catchy song by Mohamed Yehia, albeit in the upbeat oriental style that suits Aline best. From beginning to end, Aline's 2005 album is thoroughly enjoyable, and even the less interesting songs, like Eyounak Shaghleh, are still good and listenable.



1. Bardo Sodfa
2. Menni Lik
3. Kelma Fi Albi
4. Ta'raf Tebtesem
5. Rah El Wafa (Mish Inta)
6. Gani We Alli
7. Ezay Ansak
8. Eyounak Shaghleh
9. Addet Sana
10. Adda Alaya

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Assi Al Hillani - Zghireh El Denyeh

Assi Al Hillani never made an album as diverse as Zghireh El Denyeh, and the success that followed was only natural. The album includes the smash hits Habibi Yalli Nasini, Senin, Ouli Jayeh, as well as Zghireh El Denyeh and an electronic remix of the the 2000 hit El Hawa Tayer. Though Tarek Abou Jaoudeh does not dominate this album (like he did Forset Omur), his work is stellar all the same on all four songs he composed: Habibi Yalli Nasini, Ouli Jayeh, Dayeb Fik, and Tarani. Whether its pure pop songs, like the title song or Dayeb Fik, dabke songs like Lamma Betkouni Ma'i and Ala Ain, or fusions like Habibi Yalli Nasini and Tarani, Zghireh El Denyeh is an album that doesn't disappoint. The list of musicians and arrangers Assi worked with is just as impressive, with arrangers Hadi Sharara, Jean-Marie Riachi, Boudi Naoum, and Ravi. Also on the list is İsmail Tunçbilek (on saz), Maher El Ali (ney and kawala), and strings by Jihad Akl, Raymond Nassif, and Orchestra Gundem from Turkey.



1. Zghireh El Denyeh
2. Habibi Yalli Nasini
3. Senin
4. Ouli Jayeh (feat. Karol Sakr)
5. Lamma Betkouni Ma'i
6. Tarani
7. Dayeb Fik
8. Ala Ain
9. Inti El Ha'i'a
10. Weili
11. Be Einak Shoug
12. Haniyalak
13. El Hawa Tayer (Remix)

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Moin Shraif - Albak Tayeb

Moin Shraif's excellent 2007 album, perhaps due to the lackluster title song, was quickly forgotten. It's undeniable, however, how popular the singles As'ab Kelmeh and Rsamtak later became. Moin's album consists of 8 tracks, diverse in terms of both composition and arrangement. Nicolas Saade Nakhle's compositions were extremely well-received, but the overly repetitive title song is quickly overshadowed by Rsamtak, and the electrifying arrangement done by Hadi Sharara. Rawad Raad composes another two stellar songs on this album; a great ballad, As'ab Kelmeh, and Addait El Nejmat, a great dabke song arranged beautifully by Bilal El Zein. Mahmoud Khayami's compositions, El Omr Kello and Yama Alou Fik, are the least interesting songs, but listenable still thanks to Adel Aayesh's rich arrangement. The last two tracks are composed by Samir Sfair and arranged by Tarek Aakef, and are both great ballads that harken back to the duo's 1990s work.



1. Albak Tayeb
2. As'ab Kelmeh
3. El Omr Kello
4. Yama Alou Fik
5. Rsamtak
6. Addait El Nejmat
7. Kel El Haq Alaik
8. El Moshkela Ennak Habibi

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Nancy Ajram - Ah We Noss (Collector's Edition)

If Ya Salam as Nancy's first taste of fame, Ah We Noss laid the foundation for the singer who was about to become one of the Arab World's biggest acts. Unlike her previous album, which succeeded thanks to its three wildly successful singles, Ah We Noss was full of excellent songs. Many collaborators return, such as Samir Sfair (tracks 7, 8, & 11), Mohamed Saad (Oul Tani Eih), Tony Saba (tracks 3 & 6), Adel Aayesh (Ta'ala Ya), Tarek Madkour (tracks 1, 4, & 7), and Mohamed Mostafa (Ana Leih). Nancy also worked with several musicians for the first time, like Tarek Aakef (tracks 8 & 11), Mahmoud Khayami (Baddala' Aleik), Walid Saad (Hobbak Liya), Fadi Saad (Sana Wara Sana), Khaled Jenaid (Ta'ala Ya), Medhat Khamis (Hobbak Liya), Mohamed Rahim (Ana Leih), and Tarek Abou Jaoudeh (Lawn Eyounak). Colossal hits like Ah We Noss, Lawn Eyounak, Oul Tani Eih, and Inta Eih need no introduction, but everyone has their own personal favorites as well among the remaining tracks (like mine, Baddala' Aleik). This remastered, repackaged version of Nancy's hit 2004 album gives the audio the quality and clarity it deserves.



1. Ah We Noss
2. Baddala' Aleik
3. Lawn Eyounak
4. Oul Tani Eih
5. Ta'ala Ya
6. Sana Wara Sana
7. Inta Eih
8. Gaiyin Ye'oulouli
9. Ana Leih
10. Hobbak Liya
11. La Teloum

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Tabbouche's: Vote

Bassima - Shou A Bali

Bassima began her career singing and reciting English and French songs, and when you listen to her graceful voice the western influence is evident. However, unlike the way Grace Deeb tends to do, she does not force the western vocal style on oriental songs, but rather compliments them, the way Asmahan did. Shou A Bali is one of, if not the, most successful albums she has released in her decade-long professional career. Samir Sfair, who was impressed with Bassima's voice, composed four of the six tracks, including the smash hit Shou A Bali. The title song and Souret El Hob are both typical pop ballads, though with different arrangement styles from Tarek Madkour and Hani Siblini respectively. The remaining four tracks are stellar, and much more traditional in terms of arrangement. Ah Yana and Ma Yhes El Garh are both moderately paced Egyptian songs. Etr El Madi and Mish Helwin are Lebanese songs composed by Samir Sfair, the former arranged beautifully by Hani Siblini and the latter with relatively generic arrangement from Nasser El As'ad (though the infectiously catchy composition shines through anyway). While Bassima is no stranger to success, Shou A Bali was a milestone in this down-to-earth singer's career.



1. Shou A Bali
2. Ah Yana
3. Etr El Madi
4. Souret El Hob
5. Ma Yhes El Garh
6. Mish Helwin

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Amal Hijazi - Zaman

Amal Hijazi's second album is, arguably, her most successful to date, and most people usually assume that this was her debut album. When you see how many of her hits came from this album, it's easy to see why. Producer Jean Saliba's affinity for Bendeniz continues in this album, and the title song is a cover of the Turkish singer/composer's own 2001 hit of the same name. With the exception of the last two tracks, the album has an oriental flavor throughout, regardless of the style of composition. The album starts with the catchy Ed'ili, Amal's first and only collaboration with Amr Mostafa. "Prince of Rai" Faudel joins Amal on Ainak Ainak, the hit Rai song which proved again Tarek Abou Jaoudeh's diversity as a composer. Iraqis Ravi and Omar compose and sing with Amal. Waili Wah. Romansiya, composed by Mohamed Rahim, is a catchy pop song which mixes in strings and mizmar with western beats and guitar. The hit Oulhali, one of Nasser El As'ad's best songs to date, is an almost magical song which combines a pop beat with oriental strings and even Indian tabla. Zaman has something for everyone, and that's probably why it's Amal's most memorable album yet.



1. Ed'ili
2. Zaman
3. Ainak Ainak
4. Waili Wah
5. Ya Allah
6. Zein El Rouh
7. Romansiya
8. El Hawa
9. Oulhali
10. Albi Dawwa
11. Comme Çi Comme Ça
12. Mali Meil

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Pascale Machaalani - Shou Amaltellak Ana?

Happy Eid to everyone! Here's something to put in your car stereo on your way to the family! Pascale's 2003 album has many great tracks, like the title song, as well as the fun Leila Ba'd Leila, and her first Tunisian song, Ana Habbaitou. This is one of her most upbeat albums, and most diverse too, with composers Melhem Bou Shdid, Mahmoud Khayami, Salim Salameh, Samir Sfair, Riyad El Hamshari, Khaled El Bakri, and Imad Shamseddine all on board. Enjoy!



1. Shou Amaltellak Ana?
2. Leila Ba'd Leila
3. Moush Arfa Ansak
4. Jannanto
5. Yeslamli
6. Ana Habbaitou
7. Gai Walla Nsit
8. Elli Mou Aal Bal
9. Betkhaf Aleik Addi
10. La Far'a Ma'ak

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Assi Al Hillani - Yemken

Assi Al Hillani's latest album is less diverse than his previous offering, Daggat Galbi, but Assi never disappoints, and Yemken is no exception. Though his albums are always dominated by traditional songs, his past two albums focused on more electronic and pop-oriented songs like Zghireh El Denyeh and Sa'alou Ainayeh, so pop fans will not like the fact that Assi seems to have grown out of it (for the time being anyways). Seven of the album's 14 tracks are composed by Assi himself (Dalli Ma'i, Halet Galbi, Bendah Ma Am Yesma', Sahra El Sharq, Lebnani, Kheil El Arab, and Khada'tena); and the remaining seven are by Haitham Zayyad (Rja'li Aw Raja'li, El Hawa Dhalem), Maher El Ali (Eyoun Al Maha), Hisham Boulos (Am Oul El Ah), Jean-Marie Riachi (Yemken), and Cem Erman (Nour El Sahar). Yemken, a very mellow title song when compared with Daggat Galbi, starts off as an uninteresting ballad, but about two minutes in, when west finally meets east, the song turns into a much more powerful song that deserves it's place as the first single. In Nour El Sahar, Nasser El As'ad takes Erman's Gümüş theme and remixes it into a far more interesting, dancefloor-worthy song. Assi, who has dueted with (and practically launched the career of) Grace Deeb and Karol Sakr before, sings two duets on this album (and Melissa does a bit of humming in Nour El Sahar as well). Rja'li Aw Raja'li is a ballad featuring Tunisian Star Academy 3 contestant Chaima Hilali, and she excels as usual in this melancholic song which combines both clarinet and oud solos. In Sahra El Sharq, Rouwaida Attieh joins Assi in one of the best dabke songs of the year, and steals the show in the process. Adel Aayesh does a great job also, with very organic arrangement made up of mizmar, ney, kawala, and violins. Assi includes two patriotic songs he previously released as singles, the powerful Kheil El Arab and Lebnani. Bouset Khanjar is a cover of Davut Güloğlu's Ham Yaparim, made more electronic and even more dramatic by Aytekin Kurt. Am Oul El Ah, which is arranged by Hadi Sharara, is a "nouveau-dabke" song in the vein of Najwa Karam's Ta'a Khabbik.



1. Dalli Ma'i
2. Halet Galbi
3. Yemken
4. Nour El Sahar (feat. Melissa)
5. Rja'li Aw Raja'ni (feat. Chaima Hilali)
6. Bendah Ma Am Yesma'
7. Am Oul El Ah
8. El Hawa Dhalem
9. Sahra El Sharq (feat. Rouwaida Attieh)
10. Bouset Khanjar
11. Eyoun El Maha
12. Lebnani
13. Kheil El Arab
14. Khada'tena

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Mayada El Hennawi - Bayent El Hob Alaya

Syrian diva Mayada El Hennawi's 1993 album is a good example of popular music in the 1990s. The album starts off with the playful Bayent El Hob Alaya, the relatively short song (by 90s standards) is an accordion-infused Tarek Aakef composition. Alouli Ansa, which saw a dramatic resurgence in popularity when it was sampled on Aaliyah's More Than A Woman, is also composed and arranged by Tarek Aakef. Mahma Aghanni is a great example of the oriental style of saxophone playing, and Addemt El Rouh is a beautiful classically-influenced ballad. The lengthy Ma'ak Lel Nehaya closes the album on a relatively upbeat note. Once nicknamed Motrebet Al Jil (Singer of the Generation), Mayada's style, which borders on conversation, and her old-world grace, is what she is known for to this day.



1. Bayent El Hob Alaya
2. Alouli Ansa
3. Mahma Aghanni
4. Addemt El Rouh
5. Ma'ak Lel Nehaya

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Various Artists - Dance H1ts

As simply as the title states, this album is a collection of some of the top Arabic hits released between 2006 and 2008, remixed into dance songs by Aytekin Kurt. The album opens with Tigi Mennak, originally a typical Madkour maksoum song, now remixed into a great dance song. Aytekin successfully transforms Ensa Elli Rah, Ayami Bik, Hayda Haki, Nwakel Aleik Rabbi, Aini Alaik, and Bihen, making you listen to them as if they were new again. The majority of the songs are great dance songs, what Aytekin does best, while Saber's is turned into a hip-hop song, and Amal and Wael's are turned into mellower, chillout songs. Aytekin keeps the original strings in many of the songs, keeping the oriental origins of the music intact. The less interesting songs, Eini Aal Gharam and Ana Wel Lail, were not remixed as smoothly, and Aletli Oul drowns the vocals out too much for this listener. Nasser El As'ad and Cem Erman collaborate on Nour El Sahar, taking Erman's Gümüş theme and turning it into a full-blown dance song, with Assi Al Hillani's expressive voice taking it to new places. Definitely one of the best compilations this year, Dance H1ts is for fans of dance and club music as well as those simply looking to rediscover the songs they love already.



1. Nawal Al Zoghbi - Tigi Mennak
2. Amr Diab - Aletli Oul
3. Najwa Karam - Hayda Haki
4. Elissa - Ayami Bik
5. Fadl Shaker - Ensa Elli Rah
6. Marwan Khoury - Ana Wel Lail
7. Ramy Ayach - Eini Aal Gharam
8. Saber Rebai - Nwakel Aleik Rabbi
9. Amal Hijazi - Aini Alaik
10. Wael Kfoury - Bihen
11. Assi Al Hillani - Nour El Sahar (feat. Melissa)
12. Sanawat Al Daya' (Music Remix)

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