Funky Pop 6

From the Finders Keepers website:

"Commonly, ignorantly but understandably lumped in with its wealthy not-too-distant cousin, Bollywood, Lollywood was inspired by, but often overshadowed by its posh and well-traveled relative. Following the simplistic Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood name game (that would in later years spawn Nollywood in Nigeria), Lollywood’s Lahore based film industry was a profitable and vibrant one that found great success in the modest boundaries of its own country but was seldom savoured outside Pakistan. However, the hugely important musical business spawned a bi-product that was viewed as a potential earner for international entertainment industry, EMI, which allowed talented musicians to create ambitious music with world class mediums at there disposal, which throughout the 60s and 70s ranged from fuzz-guitars, space-echo machines and American and European synthesizers, but, due to the composers indigenous roots, rarely a drum-kit. Here you’ll find fuzzy, scuzzy, twang-happy, spaced-out and funked up urdu-grooves complete with harmonium melodies and driven by some of the most random factor, freakish, finger-numbing, percussion that the South East Asian mainstream has ever had to offer. Above all, Lollywood soundtracks sound RAW! Re-imagine some of the most action packed Bollywood productions (which Lollywooders actively did) then fire the make-up department, take away the special effects budget and then improvise. The lack of gloss on a dusty Pakistani mini-LP makes for truly experimental Eastern Pop music.

So, it’s time to meet the culprits. The names on the back of the records that’ll keep you gambling on Ghazals and taking punts on Pakistani pulp-balladry. As an introduction, in place of R.D. Burman and Asha Bhole, we have Mr. M. Ashraf and his long-term female collaborator, Nahid Akhtar. This duo would provide Pakistan with it’s Gainsbourg / Birkin or it’s Morricone / Dell’Orso for over 20 years, recording squillions of cut-and-paste sonic collages and moog-fuelled desperate love / hate / chase / chill / kill / songs mixing onomatopoeic Urdu lyrics with unexpected bursts of user friendly English language (which often elongates the running time passed the 5 minute mark) and throwing in the odd motif from a Barry White or Donna Summer hit. We also have legends like Noor Jehan, a national treasure and household name in Pakistan whose discography of film songs have deprived the vaults of EMI Pakistan of floor space for half a century."

Dama Dam Mast Qalandar (The Sound Of Wonder) – M. Ashraf feat Ahmed Rushdi

DALILA 'FIN GHZALI"

Sunday Sample #166:Zafer Dilek - İntizar (1973)

Simple micro style approach - same tempo, grabbed a few choice loops and strapped some drums to it, effects/filters and a few extra samples where I could cram them in. :)

Zafer's Escape - Arm Fall Off (SSC#166 Z-Man Dilek Flip)

We found this rare Arabic childeren‘s birthday song that has a nice reggae vibe.

DiscoArab.com

Koko Zay - Ahla Eid Milad (ᵔᴥᵔ) كوكو زي - احلى عيد ميلاد

Al Massrieen, an Egyptian '80 band that was also experimenting with new synthsounds. Check out this unique Arabic arpeggiator vibe!

DiscoArab.com

Hatgeni Tani

Al Massrieen - Hatgeni Tani (1980)

Mona Abdel Ghany - Ashab (1986) (ᵔᴥᵔ) منى عبدالغني - أصحاب

Fariek el Jets - Adaree Lieh (1980)(Arabic Daddy Cool)(ᵔᴥᵔ) فريق الجيتس - داري ليه

Afaf Rady, another amazing actrice/singer. This song from 1985 is a classy tune with lot's of strings, hypnotic vocals and a jazzy feel. She talks about how her lover keeps on sending her gifts. And how happy she is to receive love letters, and hoping that next time he will enter the door. 'Tany, tany' Means 'again and again'. She can't get enough, and neither do we! :)

DiscoArab.com

Afaf Rady - Tany Tany (1985) (ᵔᴥᵔ) عفاف راضي - تاني تاني

Back in 1981 this family band was formed called 4 M! It was composed of actor Ezzat abu el Ouf together with his sisters and cousins. This song was a hit back in 80's Cairo when the cassette was revolutionalizing the music industry. This song was played a lot on weddings, as you can hear the song has a really nice swing. Imagine how awesome those weddings should have been. #discoarabesquo

DiscoArab.com

Fariek 4 M - El Walad Dah (ᵔᴥᵔ) الفور ام - الولد ده (Egypt 1985)

A cool Arabic cover! 

This awesome swingin' French-Brazilian original found it's way to Egypt/Cairo when it was covered by Ezzat Abou el Ouf and Four M. It's a nice tune in Portugese and a nice tune in Arabic. Sway along for a forbidden dance! #discoarabesquo

DiscoArab.com

Fariek 4 M - T'oeloeloe (ᵔᴥᵔ) الفور ام - تقولوله(Arabic Kaoma 'Lambada' - Early 90's)

Happy international women's day!

This awesome Arabic song is by the Lebanese Maya Yazbek. The vinyl was released back in 1987. The name of this powerful song is 'Sho Badak Minny', which is a Lebanese expression meaning 'What do you want'. In the chorus she sings 'I told him: what do you want from me, what do you want. Whatever I want, I do, I do, what do you want! Nobody is better than the other ... '

DiscoArab.com

Maya Yazbek - Sho Badak Minny (ᵔᴥᵔ)(1987) مايا يزبك - شو بدّك منّي

Esaad Younes - Wezet Barakat

DiscoArab.com

This cassette has so many good songs on it, it was very hard to choose which one I should post, but I choose this one ’cause it hits hard from the start and the attitude of the singers is awesome. This group is composed out of five siblings. When the group stopped , the male singer, Ezat abou el Ouf, became more famous because he got into a lot of Egyptian movies and soaps. He often played the bad guy! In the song I really adore the bridge where Ezat Abou el Ouf startes going ‘ya leily ya einy …’, that part is the best blend between western disco vibes and the Arabic traditional influences I found untill now. So dreamy, so disco! Did I already say I was born too late, would have loved to get down and boogie to this one in 80’s Cairo.

Fariek 4 M - Ya Ahl El Maghna (ᵔᴥᵔ) // الفور ام - يا أهل المنفى

Ahmed El Haggar - Lamlimt Giyout El Shams

'Painting colorful sounds with Arabic brushes'

Selector/DJ digging vintage Arabic songs from North Africa and South West Asia (Decolonial 'Middle East')!

Management/Booking etc.
discoarabesquo@gmail.com

Selecting forgotton unique Arabic Tunes with worldy influences!

#DiscoArabesquo
#ArabDisco

#oldies and #contemporary

Been blogging, music sharing, etc. for a while now (see blog under this name) & DJing since 1982. I like all kinds of music.

Most of my playlists are not organized & just hold songs I'm interested in, many of which I haven't listened to yet. The "freeform current listening" playlist is as it says & will be updated regularly. Many of my reposts were unintentional, they were just random tracks I was trying to add to a playlist using my phone & I've got clumsy fingers.

Fariek 4 M - Ya Ahl El Maghna (ᵔᴥᵔ) // الفور ام - يا أهل المنفى

Disco Arabesquo // ديسكو أرابيسكو

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Julian Falk

DSM

Red Lebanese

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