Suggestions for "Olive Pop" music needed
January 14, 2019 12:42 PM Subscribe
~20 years ago, there was a brief "olive pop" musical moment, where Middle Eastern performers like Ofra Haza and Elissa got a little bit of traction in the US and other Western markets. What other similar artists can you suggest for me? I'm primarily interested in women vocalists, and I'd like to find a healthy mix of nationalities and ethnicities from the region -- what I'm mostly looking for is that "Middle Eastern" sound, which I don't know how to describe. A few examples under the cut.
A'ayshalak (Elissa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EhC-tMcXUo
Im Nin'Alu (Ofra Haza) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRnzTTYk7_Q
Aam Bimzah Maak (Najwa Karam) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQVZNzNv9SY
Thank you.
A'ayshalak (Elissa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EhC-tMcXUo
Im Nin'Alu (Ofra Haza) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRnzTTYk7_Q
Aam Bimzah Maak (Najwa Karam) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQVZNzNv9SY
Thank you.
Cheb Mami was my answer as well - he did vocals on Sting's "Desert Rose" single off of Brand New Day
posted by dismas at 1:11 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by dismas at 1:11 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Desert Rose on YT
Don't think I realized until now that Cheb Mami was a man; his range in this song overlaps with the feminine range.
posted by Sunburnt at 1:43 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Don't think I realized until now that Cheb Mami was a man; his range in this song overlaps with the feminine range.
posted by Sunburnt at 1:43 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Alabina
posted by k8t at 2:00 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 2:00 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Transglobal Underground - this track features the afore mentioned Natacha Atlas but the others are good as well.
Check out some of the artists on the Middle Eastern Groove, Arabesque, and Arabic Beat compilations.
Six Degrees Records had quite a few things in that genre.
Indian rather than Middle Eastern, but you might like Shiela Chandra as well.
posted by Candleman at 2:55 PM on January 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Check out some of the artists on the Middle Eastern Groove, Arabesque, and Arabic Beat compilations.
Six Degrees Records had quite a few things in that genre.
Indian rather than Middle Eastern, but you might like Shiela Chandra as well.
posted by Candleman at 2:55 PM on January 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
I don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for, but the album The Hour of Two Lights by Terry Hall and Mushtaq definitely has that "Middle Eastern feel," and is a pretty extraordinary record.
posted by Dr. Wu at 3:56 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr. Wu at 3:56 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Arab tone system divides the octave into 24 equal parts. I think this is what gives it the "sliding" quality.
posted by Botanizer at 4:33 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Botanizer at 4:33 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
You must hear the extraordinary Fairuz.
posted by conrad53 at 4:40 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by conrad53 at 4:40 PM on January 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
It has Indian instrumentation and it's from the early 80's but Monsoon's Ever So Lonely is gorgeous.
posted by h00py at 3:55 AM on January 15, 2019
posted by h00py at 3:55 AM on January 15, 2019
A couple of Iranian artists you might check out: Mohsen Namjoo (male, but very unique/avant garde with influences of the sort you're looking for), Marjan Farsad, Googoosh, and any Iranian music of the "Bandari" variety
posted by shaademaan at 8:37 PM on January 15, 2019
posted by shaademaan at 8:37 PM on January 15, 2019
Yasmine Hamdan is a Lebanese chanteuse who perpetually amazes with works of bittersweet joy and ominous brooding, and a number of moods in between. She's also phenomenal live (and touring right now!)
posted by FatherDagon at 12:00 PM on January 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by FatherDagon at 12:00 PM on January 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by Capt. Renault at 12:47 PM on January 14, 2019 [3 favorites]