Unfortunately, I haven’t a clue as to how to post YouTube videos, so just go to Lisa’s On the Face and catch Nancy Ajram’s Einteh Eih video along with Lisa’s always worthwhile posts.

(ed. note: view/page source – sheesh, it’s not that hard…)
(Other ed. note: maybe, but I have no clue what you’ve just said with “view/page source.” Thanks for adding it, though.)
(ed. note: Oy.)

Sure, sure, it’s another love song by a dumped beauty, but it’s so darned good you deserve the translation of the lyrics.

Enta Eih?

Enta eih mesh kfaya aalaik
what are you (how cruel are you) Is it not enough
Tegrahni haram aalaik enta eeih
That you hurt me? Have pity. How cruel are you?
Enta laih dimooai habeebi tehoun aalaik
Why my love, is it so easy for you to bring me to tears
Tab w laih ana radya enak tegrahni w roohi feek
And why do I accept that you hurt me when my soul is part of you
Tab w laih yaani eih radya beaazabi bain edaik
And why am I accepting this torment at your hands?
(x2)

Law kan da hob ya waili mino
If this is love, my misery is from it
W law kan da zanbi matoub aano
And if I am to blame, I cannot say never again
Law kan naseebi aaeesh fey gerah
And if it is my lot to live in torment
Hayaeesh fey gerah
I shall live in torment

And so on, and so forth. You can read the rest of the lyrics at the link provided. Sounds just like a jilted lover love song you’d hear on a radio station in North America, doesn’t it? There is a commenter on Lisa’s site who writes the following interesting analysis:

The Nancy Ajram phenomenon is a very significant one to the middle east, this region so touched by religion and by taboos! All the new young female singers in the arab world are kind of participating in the huge social developpement that was impossible 10 Years ago! And the fact that Arab TV stations don’t hesitate to show the video clips of these artists, Video clips that ignore a lot of Taboos of the arab world, is a very good sign of future opening to the rest of the ” Developped” world! I’m crossing my fingers so that one day we reach the point of cultural “Normalisation” with the West! Not because the culture of the west is the best , its far away from being the best, but because its only by crossing different cultures together that we will reach understandings on a lot of things and avoid the so called ” Shock of Civilisations”….

About the author

themiddle

12 Comments

  • Hey TM! Great song, thanks.
    Will you be in Israel during July by any chance?

    Greetings from Budapest (Judapest):
    shadai

  • Wow. Twice-linked on Jewlicious in one month! My cup runneth over. Isn’t it a great song? I’m so glad you like it.

  • I love it Lisa. Keep posting young, attractive Arab songstresses (is that a word?) singing fun songs and you can have your own daily Jewlicious corner.

    Shadai, I wish. Alas, I am too old and talk too much about a particular group of Jews to receive an invitation. Or maybe it’s because they don’t know I can speak about a range of topics? Or maybe it’s my looks? I’m not sure, but sadly I will have to miss this opportunity to meet you. Have lots of fun!!

  • Sorry to hear that TM.

    Getting back to young, attractive Arab songstresses, you should also check out Diana Haddad (if you haven’t done that yet).
    Eg. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyJsJV8x-4w

    Diana has been around at least since the middle nineties (she had a huge hit back in 1997 – all the shouks of East-Jerusalem played it day and night).

    Cheers,
    Shadai

  • EV, she seems to vehemently deny any connection to those roots. Anyway, after checking out a couple of her videos, I didn’t much like the music.

    On the other hand, that Diana Haddad video was lots of fun. Thanks, Shaddai. Have a great trip!!

  • (ed. note: view/page source – sheesh, it’s not that hard…)

    I hear you on that one, ck. 🙂

  • i for one love this song. it’s a got a great bridge -“why do you torment me?” but sadly, no hook. i could listen to this at least once a month.

    what is up with your rss feed? i have it on mygoogle and it shows posts from april.

    * ed note: update your rss feed