In … Read Full Bio ↴Re Soumaya Baalbaki's album "Arabtango*" (by Francisco Vázquez):
In one sentence, Arabtango shows that the Latin American lovers' expressive sadness (of which tango is the utmost accomplishment) goes along well with Arabic, a language that has at least 3 different words for the expression "passionate love". In Arabtango, Soumaya Ba'albaki adapts classic Arabic tango songs like اطلب عيني, giving them new life and making it available for the new generations.
Every melody combines Soumaya's tearing voice with an unconventional mix of "sad" music played in "happy" tones. The final result is not necessarily tango, but it is really good. In other words, if you think that Andrés Calamaro perverted and destroyed tango in "Tinta Roja", do yourself a favor and refrain from listening Arabtango.
[In this album] Soumaya Ba'albaki speaks in the Lebanese dialect, which means that she does not pronounce some letters, not to mention that she does not care about the grammatical rules. In fact, the cd includes a curious explanation about why she decided to use her country's dialect instead of the formal standard Arabic. The explanation has to do with the need to express her feelings in a common language, which goes with the Latin American spirit of tango.
Some non-Arabic speakers who have listened to the cd have found it expressive, powerful and passionate despite the language barrier.
----
* Original edited down for general use. Any references may require factual verification.
ps: if anyone has a real description of Soumaya Baalbaki's actual biography, please be kind enough to share it here. thx!
Bahlam Ma'ak
Soumaya Baalbaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
و نبحر تانى الريح تعاند و الاقيك
فى عينيك و اديك شاطى و امانى
العالم كله بأسراره عايش ويايه
عايش جوايا طول ما انت فى الرحلة معايا
اه
اسمك و اسمى يا حبيبى مدينتى و حكايتى
سكنى و ترحالى بحلم معاك بسفينة و بميناء
اه
بحلم معاك بحلم معاك و نبحر تانى
In Soumaya Baalbaki's "Bahlam Ma'ak," the singer expresses their desire to be with their loved one, imagining a journey together on a ship that navigates against the wind. The singer sees safety and comfort in the eyes and hands of their beloved, with the world's secrets living within them as long as they remain on this journey together. They repeat that they dream of being with their loved one, sailing once again.
This song captures the yearning and longing of being with someone special, the sense of safety and comfort that comes with them. The metaphor of a ship and sailing against the wind evokes the idea of challenging the odds, overcoming obstacles in the face of love. The singer speaks of the world's secrets, perhaps hinting at the idea that love can unlock a deeper understanding of the world and oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
بحلم معاك بسفينة و بميناء ترسينا
I dream of us sailing on a ship and docking at a port together
و نبحر تانى الريح تعاند و الاقيك
We set sail again, defying the wind, and I find you
فى عينيك و اديك شاطى و امانى
In your eyes and in your hands, I find a beach and my refuge
العالم كله بأسراره عايش ويايه
The whole world, with all its secrets, is living with me
عايش جوايا طول ما انت فى الرحلة معايا
You are living inside me as long as we are on this journey together
اسمك و اسمى يا حبيبى مدينتى و حكايتى
Your name and mine, my beloved, represent my city and my story
سكنى و ترحالى بحلم معاك بسفينة و بميناء ترسينا
You are my home and my journey, as we dream of sailing together and docking at a port
و نبحر تانى و العالم كله باسراره عايش ويايه عايش جوايا طول ما انت فى الرحلة معايا
We set sail again, and the whole world with all its secrets is living with us, as long as we are on this journey together
بحلم معاك بحلم معاك و نبحر تانى
I dream of you, I dream of us sailing again
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.