Finding Music for Bellydance
When first starting out, it can be a little overwhelming to find new music. Usually Middle Eastern music is very different from what we're used to, and it's hard to figure out where to begin. But with the help of the internet, it's become much easier!
First, I want everyone to be aware that not every song is suitable for dancing. The Middle East is a very complex region and if you don't know what you're dancing to, you might offend someone. The best bet is to start with CDs created with the bellydancer in mind (you can usually tell because there's a dancer on the cover). Also, check out my previous post about finding song translations. PLEASE don't dance to a song unless you know what it's about! Some songs can be political or religious and you will look like a fool if you dance to this kind of music.
If you're internet savvy, I suggest looking on amazon.com, emusic.com and iTunes first. You can preview music selections and they give you recommendations based on what other people have bought. You can listen to samples to see if you like it; then browse through what other people have bought. I have bought the vast majority of my dance music online because I love instant gratification and I really appreciate hearing samples of the music ahead of time. It's really convenient, and I love convenience!
There's a GREAT website that catalogs the various songs that can bedownloaded from the internet: www.bellydancedownloads.com.
If you're not so web savvy, you can still find plenty of music at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble. They have a Middle Eastern section in their world music!
Here's a list of 5 great bellydance CDs with links to their download page on Amazon.com. I prefer Amazon because it's really inexpensive, doesn't require a monthly subscription and your file comes in mp3 format so it's easy to edit songs if you need to:
1. A Tribute To Om Kalsoum - Every dancer needs to become familiar with Om Kalsoum's music. This CD is a great start.
2. Jalilah's Raks Sharki Vol. 1 - Jalilah has several volumes out and they're all great, and I honestly can't choose just one. I listed Vol. 1 because of the awesome recordings of Mashaal and Lissa Fakir. All of Jalilah's volumes are available on iTunes, Amazon, etc.
3. Bellydance Superstars - There's a nice mixture of pop and orchestral music.
4. 10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know - The title says it all!
5. Layali Al Sharq - A couple drum solos, some folkloric music and lots of great, high-energy songs.
This is a great start; listen to the samples and see if you like the music. I purposely didn't include much pop music, but a few of my favorite artists are Nancy Ajram, Nawal Al-Zoghbi, and Amr Diab. All three of these artists have greatest hits CDs - a good way to get familiar with their music.
For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com
First, I want everyone to be aware that not every song is suitable for dancing. The Middle East is a very complex region and if you don't know what you're dancing to, you might offend someone. The best bet is to start with CDs created with the bellydancer in mind (you can usually tell because there's a dancer on the cover). Also, check out my previous post about finding song translations. PLEASE don't dance to a song unless you know what it's about! Some songs can be political or religious and you will look like a fool if you dance to this kind of music.
If you're internet savvy, I suggest looking on amazon.com, emusic.com and iTunes first. You can preview music selections and they give you recommendations based on what other people have bought. You can listen to samples to see if you like it; then browse through what other people have bought. I have bought the vast majority of my dance music online because I love instant gratification and I really appreciate hearing samples of the music ahead of time. It's really convenient, and I love convenience!
There's a GREAT website that catalogs the various songs that can bedownloaded from the internet: www.bellydancedownloads.com.
If you're not so web savvy, you can still find plenty of music at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble. They have a Middle Eastern section in their world music!
Here's a list of 5 great bellydance CDs with links to their download page on Amazon.com. I prefer Amazon because it's really inexpensive, doesn't require a monthly subscription and your file comes in mp3 format so it's easy to edit songs if you need to:
1. A Tribute To Om Kalsoum - Every dancer needs to become familiar with Om Kalsoum's music. This CD is a great start.
2. Jalilah's Raks Sharki Vol. 1 - Jalilah has several volumes out and they're all great, and I honestly can't choose just one. I listed Vol. 1 because of the awesome recordings of Mashaal and Lissa Fakir. All of Jalilah's volumes are available on iTunes, Amazon, etc.
3. Bellydance Superstars - There's a nice mixture of pop and orchestral music.
4. 10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know - The title says it all!
5. Layali Al Sharq - A couple drum solos, some folkloric music and lots of great, high-energy songs.
This is a great start; listen to the samples and see if you like the music. I purposely didn't include much pop music, but a few of my favorite artists are Nancy Ajram, Nawal Al-Zoghbi, and Amr Diab. All three of these artists have greatest hits CDs - a good way to get familiar with their music.
For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com
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