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.
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* 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!
La' Moush Ana El Abki
Soumaya Baalbaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ولا انا اللي اشكي
لو جار عليا هواك
ومش انا اللي اجري
واقول عشان خاطري
وانا ليا حق معاك
وفاكرني هترجاك
انا قولتها كلمه ، وكل شئ قسمه
ودي قسمتي وياك
وكفايه قلبي انشغل ، علي قلب خان الامل
وعايزني ارجع تاني ، لا
ارجعلك تاني ، لا
لا لا لا
لا مش انا اللي ابكي
ولا انا اللي اشكي
لو جار عليا هواك
ومش انا اللي اجري
واقول عشان خاطري
وانا ليا حق معاك
من كام سنه لما ، دار الهوا بينا
فاكر احنا قولنا ايه
مش براحة قلبي ، ولا ده امل حبي
اللي اتفقنا عليه
اشمعنا انا عهدك صونت ورعيت ودك
والعمر داب حواليك
لكن اللي بيحبك ، ملوش تمن عندك
والغالي يرخص ليك
انا راح زماني هدر ، ولا كانش عندك خبر
وعايزني ارجع تاني ، لا
ارجعلك تاني ، لا
لا لا لا لا
The lyrics to Soumaya Baalbaki's song "La' Moush Ana El Abki" are about a woman who refuses to continue crying or complaining about a past relationship. She tells her former lover that he was the one who betrayed her and that she won't return to him, even if he begs her to. The chorus repeats that she is not the one who cries or runs after him, even if he thinks she will. She has moved on and is standing up for herself.
The song is a powerful message of self-love and empowerment. The woman refuses to be the victim of a failed relationship and instead takes control of her emotions and her life. The lyrics can be seen as a warning to those who might try to take advantage of her or hurt her in the future. She knows her worth and won't settle for less.
Overall, "La' Moush Ana El Abki" is a powerful anthem for women who have been hurt in relationships. It is a reminder that they deserve love and respect, and that they should never allow someone to treat them poorly.
Line by Line Meaning
لا مش انا اللي ابكي
I'm not the one who cries
ولا انا اللي اشكي
Nor the one who complains
لو جار عليا هواك
Even if your love hurts me
ومش انا اللي اجري
I'm not the one who runs
واقول عشان خاطري
Saying things just for my own sake
وانا ليا حق معاك
And I have every right with you
تبقي انت هاجرني ، وانت اللي ظالمني
You leave me and you're the one who wronged me
وفاكرني هترجاك
Thinking that I'll beg you to come back
انا قولتها كلمه ، وكل شئ قسمه
I said a word, and everything was divided
ودي قسمتي وياك
And this is my destiny with you
وكفايه قلبي انشغل ، علي قلب خان الامل
It's enough that my heart was preoccupied with a heart that betrayed hope
وعايزني ارجع تاني ، لا
And you want me to come back, no
ارجعلك تاني ، لا
To come back to you, no
لا لا لا
No, no, no
من كام سنه لما ، دار الهوا بينا
Since when love was between us
فاكر احنا قولنا ايه
Do you remember what we said?
مش براحة قلبي ، ولا ده امل حبي
It's not resting my heart, nor is it the hope of love
اللي اتفقنا عليه
What we agreed on
اشمعنا انا عهدك صونت ورعيت ودك
How come I kept my promise, protected and cared for you
والعمر داب حواليك
And age revolves around you
لكن اللي بيحبك ، ملوش تمن عندك
But the one who loves you, doesn't have any value to you
والغالي يرخص ليك
And the precious becomes cheap to you
انا راح زماني هدر ، ولا كانش عندك خبر
I wasted my time, and you didn't even know it
وعايزني ارجع تاني ، لا
And you want me to come back, no
ارجعلك تاني ، لا
To come back to you, no
لا لا لا لا
No, no, no, no
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.