An Arabic
tour de force, Om Kolthoum performing Enta Omry (Lyrics: Ahmed Shafik Kamel - Music: Mohamed Abd El Wahab)
During many of my early months here in Doha I would frequently listen to a local Arabic station while in the my white Skoda and often heard an emotive, lengthy, live performance by a female singer backed by a full orchestra. While driving through Doha traffic, which can get chaotic and slow at the same time, it served to bring joy instead of frustration as I would sit in traffic amazed by the many off road, inconsiderate, and dangerous methods of motorists trying to eke out any advantage in the gridlock. There was a stretch where I heard it every day for a week as I left Hamad General Hospital, trying to make my way through the Sports Roundabout toward my villa at Ameera Gardens. The traffic at Sports Roundabout would stall, traffic would be backed up along Al Rayan into the Hamad parking lot, but as long as this music was playing, I was fine.
I had always wondered about this performance, this performer, but never asked - never knowing how to find the answer.
Last week I once again boarded my Emirates Airlines 12 hour flight from New York's JFK to Dubai. What a pleasure it is. Amazing service, delicious food, comfortable seats, and entertainment options galore. This trip included my first complete viewing of Citizen Kane, four hours of the "best of" Bob Dylan, and just before I landed in Dubai I selected the "best of" Om Kolthoum. There were eight to ten songs represented, all long, but the last was close to an hour. Imagine my surprise as the last song began and I was mentally transported to Doha, sitting in a traffic standstill by the Sports Roundabout. I had found it! Om Kolthoum performing Enta Omry!
My second day in Doha I took a run to Landmark Mall to run some errands and made my way to the Falcon music store outlet. About forty different Om Kolthoum titles, but no Enta Omry. I then headed to Villagio, obsessed that I was, to the Virgin Megastore. Again, probably forty different titles, but no Enta Omry.
Upon returning to the lovely (not really) Marriott Doha, I did some internet research to learn more about this singer and piece of music, discovering she is an Arabic music legend, in and out and in favor with politicians in Egypt over the years - who passed away in 1975 with the titles of The Lady, the Incomparable Voice, the Planet of the East.
Today I returned to Villagio, returned to the Virgin Megastore and asked if they could order this music for me. Upon searching their computers they discovered that 6 copies were in the store. The beleaguered young clerk took me to the traditional Arabic music section and we searched and searched and searched (as I had the other day) and no Enta Omry. He was puzzled, asked his colleague, who reported that it was on cassette tape perhaps, not CD. The first clerk volunteered to search for the information and write it down so that the Customer Service folks could order it for me. I took the paper to Customer Service only to be told the vendor identified is not one they utilize, thus it was impossible for them to order. (Welcome to Qatar!)
As I left Villagio I decided to try Hyatt Plaza on a whim - and entered the Falcon music store outlet with low hopes. Again multiple Om Kolthoum titles, but after about 5 minutes of searching, there it was - Enta Omry!
After paying the QR40 (about 11 dollars), I rushed back to the Marriott to load it into iTunes and listen. I have been listening with pleasure as I write, as the turn down service for my bed was performed, as the sun was setting. What a joy.
Apparently her concerts were quite charged as she utilized an improvisational style to mold the lyrics and vocals to the emotional connection she was making with the given audience - often repetitively singing certain phrases, certain passages - drawing the audience in and flaming their passions. It is an interesting listening experience at the least - and an extremely enjoyable one for me. This is a great performance.
For those interested, lyrics are below.
MQ
Your eyes took me back to my days that are gone
They taught me to regret the past and its wounds.
Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life.
How could they consider that part of my life?
With your light, the dawn of my life started
How much of my life before you was lost
It is a wasted past, my love.
My heart never saw happiness before you
My heart never saw anything in life other than the taste of pain and suffering.
I started only now to love my life
And started to worry that my life would run away from me.
Every happiness I was longing for before you
My dreams they found it in the light of your eyes.
Oh my heart’s life .. You are more precious than my life
Why I didn't meet your love a long time ago?
Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life.
How could they consider that part of my life?
You are my life that starts its dawn with your light.
The beautiful nights and the yearning and the great love
From a long time ago the heart is holding for you.
Taste the love with me bit by bit from the kindness of my heart that is longing for the kindness of your heart.
Bring your eyes close so that my eyes can get lost in the life of your eyes.
Bring your hands so that my hands will rest in the touch of your hands.
My love, come, and enough.
What we missed is not little, oh love of my soul.
Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life.
How could they consider that part of my life?
You are my life that starts its dawn with your light.
You are more precious than my days.
You are more beautiful than my dreams,
Take me to your sweetness--
Take me away from the universe
Far away, far away.
I and you far away, far away. Alone.
With love, our days will awaken
We spend the nights longing for each other
I reconciled with days because of you
I forgave the time because of you
With you I forgot my pains
And I forgot with you my misery.
Your eyes took me back to my days that are gone
They taught me to regret the past and its wounds.
Whatever I saw before my eyes saw you was a wasted life.
How could they consider that part of my life?
You are my life that starts its dawn with your light.
(If you wish to view the lyrics in Arabic script, try this link
almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/Songs/LYR/entaomri.html - if you wish to see the phonetic spelling of the Arabic words with the English translation next to it, click this link
www.shira.net/inte-omri.htm)