One Lucky Soul: Songs

Showing posts with label Songs. Show all posts

Wednesday, 25 October 2017

Meet Alf عقبة — a Song Written and Performed to Entertain my 92-Year-Old Grandmother [Video]

A couple of years ago in 2015 during a summer trip to Egypt I was lucky to spend two full months on the Mediterranean Northern Coast with the family. It was great to reunite with all of them in that peaceful setting.

During such time I had a passionate date with a sweet young woman which inspired me to write a lighthearted bilingual song. The point was to sing it to my grandmother, Karima, who was 92-years old then and in a late stage of Alzheimer. The lyrics are not addressing her, yet the rhymes and word play were all that made her laugh out loud.

She already couldn’t recognise some of us, especially myself who had been away for several years. She actually had to ask every time she sees me in the house, to which I patiently comfort her by trying to remind her that I’m the son of her daughter Mervet, which makes her my grandmother. She would look amazed, and repeats: YOU are the son of Mervat?! ( معقولة ) — really? She was not able to connect the dots, yet she would smile and let it go. Then it’s repeated all over again the next time.

So to add some fun and novelty sometimes I would introduce myself to Madame l’Ambassadrice as “the drummer” or “the entertainer or joker” who’s here to sing for you and make you laugh. Then I proceed with some light drumming and/or simple word play. She has always loved to laugh, dance, and have a good time; and when she lost part of her mind, that didn’t change much. Despite the feeling of being lost, she still had that ability to laugh from the heart — even if it is only temporary and only on occasions. And I loved to help her get there. Simply because laughter is the best of medicine. It certainly is worth it.

I specifically recall a few instances when she would look at me and her mind cannot really grasp who I am. However, it felt like her heart could still remember. Because her face would lighten up, as if getting ready to giggle. While looking deep into my eyes, I could sense the comfort, familiarity, the peacefulness; it all showed on her face. “This is the one who makes me laugh,” she would say. And that was before I utter a single word or share any word play. I guess she might have associated me with that person who made her smile and laugh, even if for those brief moments. You can probably see it in the featured photo above.

Young Karima el Gammal in Ras el Bar

After all, I had lived with her for two years as a 6 and 7-year old when my parents were away. I hold that this time has truly shaped my character and who I am as a person. It was also her who taught me what unconditional love is. We held a truly special bond ever since. So adding some laughter to her confused existence was nothing but a humble thank you for everything.

Fastforward to last Sunday when this wonderful woman peacefully passed on to her next journey at her Zamalek home in Cairo. Since I’m all the way here in Los Angeles and cannot be with the family at such a time, I added some photos of her to this piece and am resharing it. Such a special, loving and giving soul who will eternally remain dear to our hearts.

I will also be holding a memorial sunset drum circle for her. Nothing too loud, just a small gathering in honour and memory of her great life. We’ll meet by the little pier off the Venice Boardwalk and Rose Avenue at around 5-5:30. Anyone and everyone is welcomed.

Here is the song and lyrics followed by the captures.

May Her Beautiful Soul Rest In Peace 💗

Meet Alf عقبة

Lyrics

I had a date ...................... و إتشقيت

Couldn’t be late ................ بس عطيت

يا سلام عالبهجة ................. ’t was so great

Long walk on the beach ...... و مرح فالغيط

البنت لذيذة ............... She heightened my state

Too happy am I ...................... فقمت غنيت

Wonder if she’ll change ...... و نلبس فالحيط

I really hope not .................. لاحسن أنا استويت

ده كلام مكتوب ....... Destiny & Fate

Thing is .................... لو إستنيت

شعري هايشيب ................. Offside و Checkmate

وأنتخه فالبيت و أنتخه فالبيت

وقعاد فالبيت و قعاد فالبيت

And that is why ................ في ذاك الديت

أنا مانسيت إني افتريت

And that is why ................ في ذات الديت
أنا رحت و جيت أنا رحت و جيت

And that is why ................ في هاك الديت
اللي عندي إديت اللي عندي إديت

و يا سلام عالفرحة ................. ’t was so great

Too happy I am ...................... فقمت غنيت

و كيت و كيت .......... See you after 8

See you after 8 ......... و كيت و كيت

With younger blonde sister Madiha in Ras el Bar

With my grandfather Yehia Hassan and first daughter Mahy at the Pyramids

Karima with her two daughters Mahy and mother Mervat (L.)

Another with the girlies

Karima at the farm in Sarawa

Grandma and her hairdo with few-month-old Omar in her Zamalek
balcony in Cairo, 1978

The family in Agami, 1978

In Hawaii during our U.S trip in 1989


Madame l’Ambassadrice

Heartwarming collage made by my sister Karima who was named
after her and who has also lived with her for a while later in life

Photo I took of her in 1999 in the Northern Coast of Egypt (Sahel)
when she was still smoking her More

Grandma and sunburned young man who had just come back from a few
months training in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and about to enter the adult world
— taken by the Northern Coast in 2000

Fun-loving Grandma happily dancing on a boat trip to Aswan in 2001

Karima el Gammal, Northern Coast of Egypt on August 23 2016

That day I came back from sunset drumming on the beach and introduced myself to her as “the drummer”. Then I played for her sister Khadiga and herself
— taken in summer 2015 when the song was conjured


Highly grateful to have been with her on her final 94th Birthday

Always with us

Shining on and on and on

Recently in 2021, the fun was extended to short videos on social media. Check them out on here: The first of the series Taombellella-laombella2, Eddilo Fel Kazablanka, and the latest Shed el Lebas.

There is also more bilingual fun in Nena Ya Nena: a Bilingual Duet with Vaya Con Dios — نينا يا نينا: ثنائي ثنائي اللغة مع ڤيا كون ديوس from 2016.

*Article and video originally published August 2015

ALSO VIEW:

خزعفرات ٢٥ قيراط 🌀🧪

🌛✧ الخوض السكوني ✧🌜

ألوان الطيف

Journey Into Oneself

قهقهة كونية

هذياني ياني

Reefer Reverie: An Ode

Rebirth

الوقت من دهب يا أبا لهب

دوجو دهب

Intention Connection & Reflective Introspection

Minimalism

حوار سفيه ساخن

Moon Magnoon

Phree Phlow

(H)ero

Francophun يا Waladé

StaYin Yang ☯

Anastasis of the Poetry Quizard

Poème Tragique

Find Your Tao: Phoolosophizing en Prosoetry

Poetitude

Meet Alf عقبة [Video]

Lunacy — Written at 19

Coming Back To The Real

Mima 56 — Written at 20

Beth’s Death — Written at 21

Have No Morsi —هاف نو مرسي

Nena Ya Nena: a Bilingual Duet with Vaya Con Dios — نينا يا نينا: ثنائي ثنائي اللغة مع ڤيا كون ديوس

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Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Nena Ya Nena: a Bilingual Duet with Vaya Con Dios — نينا يا نينا: ثنائي ثنائي اللغة مع ڤيا كون ديوس

I’ve been re-listening to Vaya Con Dios lately (2016) for some unknown and certainly random reason. Some of these songs remind me of going out to bars and pubs when younger in Egypt where they would often play them. After all these years I actually just found out that it’s a Belgian band’s name and not a woman’s. And that this ecclesiastical voice belongs to the lead singer, Dani Klein.

One day last week as I was riding my bike around Venice Beach, I began humming “Ney, Nah Neh Nah”. Bit by bit I exchanged some of the English lyrics with [Egyptian] Arabic ones — using quite the ridiculous words, one might add. The trial was certainly amusing, so I decided to work on it and see what would happen. Few days later and with almost no equipment, the following rendition came to being with my own sensational voice. Bwahaha.

What remains remarkable is coming up with all this silliness while residing alone in Los Angeles, where, except a sole lunch with aunt every month or two, all my interactions are in English. Maybe it is the way my psyche was showing that it's missing its Egyptian roots or simply the Arabic language.

LYRICS

I got on the phone and called the girls, said

قابلوني هناك والبسوا الشيرز

عشان

Ney, Nah Neh Nah

In my high-heeled shoes and fancy fads

نزلت ومسيت عالبوابز

ف

Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Nah Neh Nah

When I pushed the door, I saw Eleanor

ينعل أبوه ده خنزؤر

Because

Ney, Nah Neh Nah

Sue came in, in a silk sarong

وكان معاها واد خرونج

Going

Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Nah Neh Nah

Annie was a little late

أڤورت باين فالبيت

عشان

Ney, Nah Neh Nah

Curly fixed another drink

والليلة ماطلعت فشينك

ف

Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Nah Neh Nah

It was already half past three

يا هايبعني يا هاشتريه

Dancing

Ney, Nah Neh Nah

Oh Lord, did we have a ball
بيرة سخنة و شريطين تامول

ياللا

Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Ney, Nah Neh Nah

هوبا

Ney, Nah Neh Nah
Nah Neh Nah

Recently in 2021, the fun was extended to short videos on social media. Check them out on here: The first of the series Taombellella-laombella2, Eddilo Fel Kazablanka, and the latest Shed el Lebas.

More bilingual silliness can be found on Meet Alf عقبة — a Song Written and Performed to Entertain my 92-Year-Old Grandmother [Video].

ALSO VIEW:

خزعفرات ٢٥ قيراط 🌀🧪

🌛✧ الخوض السكوني ✧🌜

ألوان الطيف

Journey Into Oneself

قهقهة كونية

هذياني ياني

Reefer Reverie: An Ode

Rebirth

الوقت من دهب يا أبا لهب

دوجو دهب

Intention Connection & Reflective Introspection

Minimalism

حوار سفيه ساخن

Moon Magnoon

Phree Phlow

(H)ero

When The Sky Spoke Back

Thinking Allowed Is Aloud

The Womb

The Mystic and the Tripper

Trump Le Trompeur

Living On Insanity’s Brink

Tamarack Over Jack

قصيدة تسلم الأيادي ... لو كانت نضيفة

Sophia And The Djembefola

The Alpha-Beta Poem

Francophun يا Waladé

StaYin Yang ☯

Anastasis of the Poetry Quizard

Poème Tragique

Find Your Tao: Phoolosophizing en Prosoetry

Poetitude

Meet Alf عقبة [Video]

Lunacy — Written at 19

Coming Back To The Real

Mima 56 — Written at 20

Beth’s Death — Written at 21

Have No Morsi —هاف نو مرسي

Nena Ya Nena: a Bilingual Duet with Vaya Con Dios — نينا يا نينا: ثنائي ثنائي اللغة مع ڤيا كون ديوس

Monday, 17 November 2014

Sensational All-Time Concerts [Videos]

I hope the generations who were fortunate to cherish and enjoy these concerts let their children watch to learn what real music is instead of all the gibberish we find nowadays. Enjoy the following selection. I make a list because videos often disappear from YouTube.

1. Queen: Live at Wembley — 1986

2. B.B. King & Friends: A Night Of Blistering Blues — 1987

3. Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains The Same: Live At Madison Square Garden, New York, 1973 (also 1975)

4. Grateful Dead: Live in Denmark, 1972

5. Pink Floyd: Live in Venice – 1989

6. Pink Floyd: Live in Venice – 1989 (different copy on Vimeo because due to copyright issues, the first isn’t available; to me at least currently in Egypt.

7. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow: Live in Toronto — 1997

8. Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden —1978

9. Deep Purple: California Jam — 1974

10. Santana: Live in Tanglewood — 1970

11. Eric Clapton: MTV Unplugged — 1994

12. Whitesnake: Live… In The Still Of The Night — 2004

13. Dire Straits: Live at Wembley — 1985

14. Gary Moore and B. B. King: Live Blues — 1993   

These final three are not on YouTube.

15. Pink Floyd: Live at PompeIi — 1972

16. Camel: Live In Concert Hammersmith Odeon, London — 1984

17. Jimi Hendrix: Live at Monterey — 1967