His musical talent began to develop seriously when he was twelve years old. He started as, and still is, a guitarist at heart. His musical career formally started when he formed his first band, the Twisters, in the 1960s. They were the first band in Iraq, and probably the Arab world, that used modern instruments to play Arabic music (guitar, drums, bass, & piano). He was the first to modernise traditional and folk Arabic songs, giving a new, wider appeal and freshness, and placing it squarely in the modern era. Although the Twisters created a new wave in Arabic music, the media criticised al Madfai heavily for being an eccentric and for modifying long-maintained musical traditions . His family enjoyed a high social profile, some of them in high governmental positions in the 1940s and 1950s; they were not against his musical style as such, but were against his involvement in music in general.
A few years later, al Madfai left Baghdad for England, in order to study architecture. The young student played with a group and performed at Al-Bayt Al-Baghdadi (Cafe Baghdad) in London; he attracted an audience that included Paul McCartney, Donovan, and Georgie Fame, as well as many jazz musicians.
On his return to Baghdad in 1967 he formed his well-known band, 13 ½. This time he introduced Spanish guitar rhythms from Andalusia to Iraqi traditional songs, appealing to a newer, younger audience. He reached a peak in popularity in the 1970s, becoming Iraq’s most popular musician.
In 1979 al Madfai left Iraq, leaving his wealth, popularity, and his music. He travelled to various countries in pursuit of a a new career, but his passion for music remained, and every now and then gave a concert somewhere in the world. Recordings of these concerts made their way to Baghdad, to the delight of his fans, keeping them in touch with his newer work. Then in 1990 he returned to Baghdad and decided to restart his musical career. He formed Firqat Ilham (Ilham's Band), combining Western and East styles of music.
Most of his releases are his own compositions, such as "Khuttar", "Chathab", "Maasaal", "Baghdad", and "Ana Blayak". He has also set lyrics by famous Arab poets such as Nizar Qabbani, Bedr Shakir Al-Sayab, Ilyya Abu Maadhi, Abul Qasim Al-Shabi, and Abdel Wahab Al-Bayati.
Marina
Ilham Al Madfai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Una ragazza mora ma carina
Ma lei non vuol saperne del mio amore
Cosa faro' per conquistarle il cuor
Un girono l'ho incontrata sola sola
Il cuotre mi batteva mille all'ora
Quando le dissi che la volevo amare
Mi diede un bacio e l'amor sboccio'
Marina, Marina, Marina
Ti voglio al piu' presto sposar
Marina, Marina, Marina
Ti voglio al piu' presto sposar
O mia bella mora
No non mi lasciare
Non mi devi rovinare
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
O mia bella mora
No non mi lasciare
Non mi devi rovinare
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
Marina, Marina, Marina
Ti voglio al piu' presto sposar
Marina, Marina, Marina
Ti voglio al piu' presto sposar
O mia bella mora
No non mi lasciare
Non mi devi rovinare
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
O mia bella mora
No non mi lasciare
Non mi devi rovinare
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
The lyrics to Ilham Al Madfai's song "Marina" tell the story of a man who falls in love with a beautiful girl named Marina. He is immediately smitten with her, even though she doesn't seem to be interested in him. He wonders what he can do to win her heart, but one day, when he meets her alone, he confesses his love and she kisses him. From that moment on, they are in love and he wants to marry her as soon as possible. He pleads with her not to leave him or ruin their relationship.
These lyrics tell a classic love story of a man who falls in love with a woman and is persistent in his pursuit of her. The song is filled with passion and emotion, as the man tries to win Marina's heart. It's a simple story, but the words are powerful in their expression of love and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi sono innamorato di Marina
I have fallen in love with Marina
Una ragazza mora ma carina
A beautiful, dark-haired girl
Ma lei non vuol saperne del mio amore
But she doesn't want to hear about my love
Cosa faro' per conquistarle il cuor
What will I do to win her heart?
Un girono l'ho incontrata sola sola
One day I met her all alone
Il cuotre mi batteva mille all'ora
My heart was beating a thousand beats per minute
Quando le dissi che la volevo amare
When I told her that I wanted to love her
Mi diede un bacio e l'amor sboccio'
She kissed me and love bloomed
Marina, Marina, Marina
Marina, Marina, Marina
Ti voglio al piu' presto sposar
I want to marry you as soon as possible
O mia bella mora
Oh my beautiful dark-haired girl
No non mi lasciare
No, don't leave me
Non mi devi rovinare
You can't ruin me
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wasimashkar9459
Mi sono innamorato di Marina
una ragazza mora ma carina
ma lei non vuol saperne del mio amore
cosa farò per conquistarle il cuor
Un giorno la incontrai sola, sola
il cuore mi batteva a mille all’ora
quando le dissi che la volevo amare
mi diede un bacio e l’amor sbocciò
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
Mi sono innamorato di Marina
una ragazza mora ma carina
ma lei non vuol saperne del mio amore
cosa farò per conquistarle il cuor
Un giorno la incontrai sola, sola
il cuore mi batteva a mille all’ora
quando le dissi che la volevo amare
mi diede un bacio e l’amor sbocciò
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
oh no, no, no, no, no
oh no, no, no, no, no
@ennaenna5691
Ilham Al-Madfai is fantastic! All his songs!
Big greeting from Hungary :)
@user-js5br4hu8n
هذه الاغنيه لايستطيع احد ان يتغى بهى الا المبدع الهام المدفعي
@mesopotamiansumerian2824
You are the best artist in the middle east. May god bless you.
@amelakaichi2496
God bless the great iraqi People
@kmtarar1
Excellent.....love from Pakistan
@albertabraham8888
What a great singer, God bless you ..
@amoonahkhader266
Wow very beautiful song and amazing voice I wish it’s translated into Arabic ❤️
@theoldsong5053
صوتك مثيل له 📻.
@Taim_allah
المبدع مبدع لا يهم بأي لسان يغني 😍💚
@wasimashkar9459
Mi sono innamorato di Marina
una ragazza mora ma carina
ma lei non vuol saperne del mio amore
cosa farò per conquistarle il cuor
Un giorno la incontrai sola, sola
il cuore mi batteva a mille all’ora
quando le dissi che la volevo amare
mi diede un bacio e l’amor sbocciò
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
Mi sono innamorato di Marina
una ragazza mora ma carina
ma lei non vuol saperne del mio amore
cosa farò per conquistarle il cuor
Un giorno la incontrai sola, sola
il cuore mi batteva a mille all’ora
quando le dissi che la volevo amare
mi diede un bacio e l’amor sbocciò
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Marina, Marina, Marina
ti voglio al più presto sposar
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh mia bella mora no non mi lasciare
non mi devi rovinare oh no, no, no, no, no
oh no, no, no, no, no
oh no, no, no, no, no