Umm Kulthum-أم كلثوم
Posted by Nathan in Ramblings, tags: 9/11, Idan Bitton - עידן ביטון, Israel, Jordan
I admit I know almost nothing about Arabs and the Arab world. My perspective is unrecoverably linked to the Israeli-Terrorist conflict, 9/11 and beyond. My interactions with Arabs have been limited either “westernized” ones and pleasant or in Israel and Jordan where they were not unpleasant but not exactly feel-good either.
In realizing that a larger than I had imagined section of the world Jewry is indeed Arab extracted, if not Arab and in am effort to try to move past my own preconceived notions and stereotypes I have tried to read more about Arab history, culture and arts. As well as experience more Arab things.
To this end, I asked Idan to bring me back from more traditional Arab and Mizrahi/Sephardic music. He brought me some great CDs. One of which is an artist named Umm Kulthum-أم كلثوم. She is no less than one of the most famous people in the world, but I have never heard of her. With a funeral attended by no less than 4 million people and a career spanning decades I have no idea how I missed learning about someone of such prominence! I am currently listening to her song Enta Omri - You Are My Life. Some of the lyrics:
With your light, the dawn of my life started.
How much of my life before you was lost.
It is a wasted past, my love.
My heart never saw happiness before you.
My heart never saw anything in life other than the taste of pain and suffering.
It has to be one of the most stunning songs I have ever read! It is not a song it is a true poem. All I can say is WOW!
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