In November 1995, along with Greg Ellis, Ali formed Vas, producing four albums: Sunyata (1997), Offerings (1998), In the Garden of Souls (2000), and Feast of Silence (2004).
In 2002 she released her first solo album, Portals of Grace, which saw her expand her repertoire even farther and prove her to be equally as adept in singing in 13th century French-Provençal, Galician and Ladino as she is in Arabic.
In 2005, Ali worked on a new project called Niyaz with solo artist Carmen Rizzo and Axiom of Choice member Loga Ramin Torkian. Its self-titled album, Niyaz features Ali's vocals sung in Urdu and Farsi, backed up by more electronica-style music.
In June 2006, Ali released another latest solo album, Elysium for the Brave, where she includes English singing in her repertoire.
Azam Ali collaborated with Keyavash Nourai and Shahrokh Yadegari on the album Green Memories, released in September of 2008.
In 2011, the latest album, From Night to the Edge of Day was released. It features Ali's unique take on traditional Middle Eastern songs and lullabies.
Neni Desem
Azam Ali Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Üstüne güler derdim olar
Benim yavrum büyür molar
Neni neni e kuzum neni
Bebeğin beşiği camdan
Düştü yuvarlandı damdan
Babası geliyor Şam’dan
Ormanlardan geçemedim
Ben yavrumu seçemedim
O'na yerine yetemedim
Neni neni e kuzum neni
Benim bebeğim yudumudu
Gül dalda Hakk umudum
Ben de kestim ümidimi
Neni neni e kuzum neni
The lyrics of Azam Ali's song "Neni Desem" are in Turkish, and though the language may seem foreign to many, the emotions and themes expressed in the song are universal. The first verse talks about a grandmother (Neni) who stays up late at night worrying about her grandchild. She laughs to cover up her anxiety and care for the young child. The second verse tells of an unfortunate accident where the baby's cradle falls from the roof, and the father, who had been away in Damascus, rushes home to attend to the baby. The third and final verse talks about a mother who couldn't protect her child from harm as they journeyed through the forest. She worries that she is inadequate in keeping her baby safe, but she balances that by expressing her hope in God.
Line by Line Meaning
Neni desem uyur molar
When I call out "Neni," my darling sleeps peacefully
Üstüne güler derdim olar
He smiles when I am sad
Benim yavrum büyür molar
My child is growing up
Neni neni e kuzum neni
Grandmother, my sweet grandmother
Bebeğin beşiği camdan
My baby's crib fell from a window
Düştü yuvarlandı damdan
It fell and tumbled from the roof
Babası geliyor Şam’dan
His father is coming from Damascus
Neni neni e kuzum neni
Grandmother, my sweet grandmother
Ormanlardan geçemedim
I couldn't pass through the forests
Ben yavrumu seçemedim
I couldn't choose my child
O'na yerine yetemedim
I couldn't be enough for him
Neni neni e kuzum neni
Grandmother, my sweet grandmother
Benim bebeğim yudumudu
My baby had a sip
Gül dalda Hakk umudum
My hope is in God like a rose on a branch
Ben de kestim ümidimi
But I cut my own hope
Neni neni e kuzum neni
Grandmother, my sweet grandmother
Contributed by Jayden A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tajemniczy Kubeł
+Khaled Essghaier
(approximate)
If I say sleep, will you sleep?
Will roses fall on you?
Will my baby grow up?
Sleep, sleep, my baby, sleep.
Baby's crib is made of glass
It rolled and fell from the roof
Baby's father is from Damascus
Sleep, sleep, my baby, sleep
I couldn't pass the forest
I couldn't choose my child
I couldn't take care of it
Sleep, sleep, my baby, sleep
I washed my baby
My hope is sitting on a rose branch
Which I lost my faith in, too
Sleep, sleep, my baby, sleep
C14h19n02
I have to say I'm quite blown away by how soothing her voice is. I've never heard anything quite like it. everyone who knows me , knows me as this big metal head I also preform write and record in that manner, but this is bigger than anything I've ever heard. there is so much in her music that just seams to call out the utmost inner parts of my soul. needless to say yes Her music is so very inspiring.
Maryus Pandyra
👍its because her music transcends borders cultures religions languages and styles of music. Kind of electronic folk music! It really is breathtaking
mamc1986
She might be a native persian, but that's not stopping her from singing in French, English, Turkish, Urdu and Pashto. She is very talented.
Elias Diamandis
And Arabic
djfeas001
I listened to her music a couple of years ago during my daily religious0like practice of waking up to watch the Sun rise for an hour or so. Somehow the most memorable moments of my life, just sitting there in the morning stillness and hearing this angels voice and staring into the sun.
Jeweliette Greentree
Beautiful. I might start doing that too
Serazad - Freethinker
Ninni desem uyur molar. Üstüne güler derdim olar. Benim yavrum büyür molar. Nenni nenni e kuzum nenni. Bebeğin beşiği camdan. Düştü yuvarlandı damdan. Babası geliyor Şam’dan. Nenni nenni e kuzum nenni. Ormanlardan geçemedim. Ben yavrumu seçemedim. Her derdine yetemedim. Nenni nenni e kuzum nenni. Benim bebeğim yudumudu. Gül dalda hakk umudum.
balayk
@Kara Pabuc That's true. :)
Kara Pabuc
"molar" diye bir kelime yok, "m' olar" olacak o. Soru ekindeki ünlü yutulmuş muhtemelen ölçü için.
gusota
She sings to the gods ... beautiful voice from the soul