dear ilx poster wilter, please tell me the names of some other dabke stuff i can hear via the internet
― thomp, Thursday, 2 July 2009 14:04 (fifteen years ago) link
saw him live a couple of weeks ago. Party vibes.
― the shock will be coupled with the need to dance (jim), Thursday, 2 July 2009 15:20 (fifteen years ago) link
give me more taxi driver's music plzi am so so looking forward to seeing this guy jam the fuck out
― forksclovetofu, Tuesday, 9 March 2010 05:58 (fourteen years ago) link
This is kind of related:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBZ4mUAUCc8
― _Rudipherous_, Saturday, 20 March 2010 05:25 (fourteen years ago) link
New Omar album right about now: Jazeera Nights
― StanM, Monday, 10 May 2010 19:09 (fourteen years ago) link
UK tour starting tomorrow: http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/tour/omar2010.html
― StanM, Monday, 10 May 2010 19:13 (fourteen years ago) link
I guess he cannot get a visa to tour the US. His prior UK tour never came here either. The US is now allowing some Cuban musicians again to tour here but not Syrian ones I guess.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 May 2010 19:47 (fourteen years ago) link
no, he's playing the US.We got him for SummerStage in Central Park, NYC on June 26 with Tinariwen and Toubab Krewe.
― ₣õ®₭§©₤¤∵釰ƒü (forksclovetofu), Monday, 10 May 2010 20:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Can you bring him to W. DC too, or is he coming here already?
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 May 2010 20:49 (fourteen years ago) link
ha, i'm just the pr guy. i know they're working hard on his visa.
― ₣õ®₭§©₤¤∵釰ƒü (forksclovetofu), Monday, 10 May 2010 21:22 (fourteen years ago) link
I heard Omar Souleyman for the first time 2 nights ago. Jazeera Nights.
"Mandal/Metel Il Sukkar Ala Il Shai (I Don't Know/Like The Sugar In The Tea)", or as it's known in my household, "that 8th track", is pretty much the jam of all time. It's slower than most of the other songs of his that I've heard (admittedly I've only heard less than 1/500th of his total output, which is apparently over 500 releases), but when he goes "heh-heeey!" and the booty bass drops in, holy shit.
― Come along, we shall dine at an expensive French restaurant. (Z S), Sunday, 27 June 2010 22:04 (fourteen years ago) link
bummed that extra time in the usa game yesterday kept me from seeing omar at central park. anyone see him?
― mizzell, Sunday, 27 June 2010 23:36 (fourteen years ago) link
Here's a writeup of his Chicago gig and some tour issues
http://www3.timeoutny.com/chicago/blog/out-and-about/2010/06/chicago-summerdance-omar-souleyman/
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 June 2010 23:51 (fourteen years ago) link
i was at the summerstage gig with whiney g; it was good? maybe not as good as I wanted it to be? The crowd was not sure how to handle it. world cup kept the crowd light (maybe 2500?) and they were mostly there to see what the deal was so dancing was minimal. In a club, he would've destroyed. Great voice but it was just him walking around on a giant stage with two guys on synthesizers. needed a light show... though near the end a bellydancer from queens came on and started shakin'.
― obvious and old and bannable (forksclovetofu), Monday, 28 June 2010 01:32 (fourteen years ago) link
He ruled in Detroit at the Arab American festival. Yet another reason why it's so awesome that Detroit has such a huge arab american population, beyond all the great restaurants and grocery shopping.
― filthy dylan, Monday, 28 June 2010 01:39 (fourteen years ago) link
just heard this guy for the first time a few weeks ago. Had planned to go to issue project room tonight but had family situation. friend said it was great though.
― hills like white people (Hurting 2), Monday, 28 June 2010 04:29 (fourteen years ago) link
A buddy of mine was at that festival in Detroit. Sounds like fun.
― Trip Maker, Monday, 28 June 2010 04:31 (fourteen years ago) link
he fucking ruled Chicago. but then again, he played in a little slice of Grant Park just off Michigan Avenue. Great crowd, everyone was into it and dancing, young and old. just a perfect scene all around. sucks that the New York gig apparently didn't go off so hot, oh well, that's New York right? you guys take everything for granted. Chicago fucking loved him. rapped a bit with Alvarius B, who was manning the merch. good times
― Stormy Davis, Monday, 28 June 2010 05:09 (fourteen years ago) link
While revered as a legitimate pop star in his native Syria, his bread and butter remains large wedding commissions, where, in accordance with local tradition, he extemporaneously extols the bride, the groom, and their families, usually with humor and awareness of regional current events. His recorded oeuvre is largely made up of cassette releases of these performances, financed by the family of the married couple to bring further glory to their name through cassette sales.
I actually never knew this. "Taxi driver's music" is such a great insult / compliment (delete as appropriate)!
― A prog venn diagram for you to think about (Matt #2), Monday, 28 June 2010 16:08 (fourteen years ago) link
When he play the West?
― Cool Fetus (admrl), Monday, 28 June 2010 16:10 (fourteen years ago) link
http://arabicpress.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/omar-souleymans-rise-to-indie-hipster-semifame/
Thought this was interesting, as was Alan Bishop's response in the comments.
― hills like white people (Hurting 2), Monday, 28 June 2010 16:13 (fourteen years ago) link
Wish he had done more US dates than just Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and 2 NY City shows.
http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/tour/omar2010.html
― curmudgeon, Monday, 28 June 2010 16:30 (fourteen years ago) link
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BzbVmjyhvHI/S_qhkb5sskI/AAAAAAAABVk/B4EGv5Rgp5U/s400/souleyman_T_1.JPG
― mizzell, Monday, 28 June 2010 16:39 (fourteen years ago) link
In response to this article: http://arabicpress.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/omar-souleymans-rise-to-indie-hipster-semifame/
I enjoyed the article and agreed with what it had to say, but this paragraph:
These types of statements compounded with a tendency for the “Western listener” to understand music on his/her terms and a refusal to accept that music can serve a variety of purposes in different cultures, makes me even more doubtful that music has the capacity to function as a “cultural bridge” of any sort. Listening to music for pure enjoyment is fine, but no one should claim that it brings them closer to understanding a culture.
...seems a little off, especially considering when he played the Arab American fest here, there were huge circles of all sorts of middle eastern people mixed with all sorts of hipsters all dancing together. I don't know if everyone was coming closer to understanding each other's culture, but it still seemed to have more power than this author gives creedence.
― filthy dylan, Monday, 28 June 2010 16:45 (fourteen years ago) link
both the article & the responses make for really good & interesting reading
― get your bucket of free wings (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Monday, 28 June 2010 17:16 (fourteen years ago) link
Was at both Central Park and Issue shows. Issue (BK) show was best for me because he played in a small courtyard where the reverb made everything sound like it was coming out of minaret loudspeakers. Kind of fuzzy and slightly distorted but amazing sounding. Plus there was a nice crowd dancing thruout the show right in front of the stage so the energy level was kept up. Central Park crowd by the stage seemed to dig the awful opening jam band much more and were mostly confused it seemed.
― ¿Can Your Gato Do the Perro? (Capitaine Jay Vee), Monday, 28 June 2010 17:28 (fourteen years ago) link
agreed. Before the European tour last year, Omar & his band had never left the region.
― sarahel, Monday, 28 June 2010 19:23 (fourteen years ago) link
One thing that is great about Omar Souleymann is how full on his music is... for all that the indie hipsters are supposedly embracing him, he is more like a Syrian Scooter than a Syrian [insert name of currently kewl hipster band].
― The New Dirty Vicar, Wednesday, 4 August 2010 09:50 (fourteen years ago) link
Also, YELLA!
Thinking about hitting the London gig on the 28th. Apparently he will be "Performing both a rare Mawal set and a Dabke/Choubi set". I have the first Sublime Frequencies records but apart from that am pretty ignorant; Dabke/Choubi is what SF have put out, right? The best idea I've found of what Mawal would be is this Youtube; people in the know, is this representative?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDWceu3n9w
― seandalai, Friday, 20 August 2010 15:10 (fourteen years ago) link
I think the frenetic stuff on the Omar Souleyman records is dabke. I am a bit vaguer on what Choubi music is - the wonderful SF compilation "Choubi Choubi" suggests that it is mainly women saying "Choubi" over a less frenetic Arabic/synthy musical accompaniment. Mawal, no idea, but I am sure it will be awesome.
― The New Dirty Vicar, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 12:19 (fourteen years ago) link
Saw him last night with Dengue Fever (they played first and Omar and his keyboard player did one song with that Cambodian/Los Angeles group) in W. DC. Souleyman's keyboard player manages to sample and play all kinds of instruments featured in dabke and whatever Arabic dancemusic and disco beats out of his two keyboards, while Souleyman sang, chanted and did his little fist-moving dance movements.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 June 2012 14:13 (twelve years ago) link
that's pretty much what happens, yes.
― “Argh!” I cry. But I really don’t care. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 7 June 2012 14:42 (twelve years ago) link
he was best in the first four songs of an open rainstorm; that was a series of songs to remember.
― “Argh!” I cry. But I really don’t care. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 7 June 2012 14:43 (twelve years ago) link
DC gig was not too crowded. Indie-rock club 930 did not try to reach out to DC's Arabic-speaking community. Some were there though
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 June 2012 15:42 (twelve years ago) link
Was there an NYC date already and I missed it?
― Guess what? They crucified him. (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 7 June 2012 16:10 (twelve years ago) link
Google seems to suggest Souleyman and Dengue Fever were at Webster hall Monday June 4. Don't see any reviews.
Omar Souleyman -- 2012 Tour Dates6/4 Webster Hall New York, NY*6/5 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA*6/6 9:30 Club Washington, DC*9/1-3 Bumbershoot Seattle, WA9/5-9 MusicFestNW Portland, OR9/9 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA w/ Hot Chip and Passion Pit* - w/ Dengue Fever
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 June 2012 16:21 (twelve years ago) link
Mahmoud Harbi is a long-time collaborator and the man responsible for much of the poetry sung by Souleyman. Together, they commonly perform the "Ataba," a traditional form of folk poetry used in Dabke. On stage, Harbi chain smokes cigarettes while standing shoulder to shoulder with Souleyman, periodically leaning over to whisper the material into his ear.
No Harbi onstage in W. DC
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 June 2012 16:36 (twelve years ago) link
highway to hassake is spectacular. i love the frenetic dabke stuff but the slower sadder songs sung in ataba style, (or "ataaba"?), e.g. "Jalsat Ataba," are really wonderful. i don't know really anything about syrian music though, what are some other artists to explore if i like souleyman and some of the various styles he performs?
― marcos, Wednesday, 26 June 2013 13:37 (eleven years ago) link
other artists or collections, albums, etc.
― marcos, Wednesday, 26 June 2013 13:39 (eleven years ago) link
Can't really help with Syrian debka along these lines (maybe Ali Aldik's 2004 album with "Aloush" would be close?), but you might like this. The sounds get slightly trippier later in the performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCjeLyqlBI0
(Really biting my tongue here, to tell you the truth.)
― Did anybody tell you that your voice is like Abd Al Halim's? (_Rudipherous_), Wednesday, 26 June 2013 15:45 (eleven years ago) link
New album "Wenu Wenu," produced by Fourtet, is cool:http://www.npr.org/2013/10/13/230176762/first-listen-omar-souleyman-wenu-wenu
― Michael F Gill, Sunday, 20 October 2013 20:16 (ten years ago) link
was worried it might be downtempo but so far this bangs. little bit clean-sounding for me, maybe.
― chimped the keeper (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 20 October 2013 20:42 (ten years ago) link
ok this is excellent, need to hear it properly i guess before i judge the sound
― chimped the keeper (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 20 October 2013 20:57 (ten years ago) link
some minor intrigue at the bottom of this thread:S/D : Sublime Frequencies
― gotta lol geir (NickB), Sunday, 20 October 2013 22:30 (ten years ago) link
looks like somebody agrees with me re: the production
― chimped the keeper (Noodle Vague), Monday, 21 October 2013 06:17 (ten years ago) link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24571762
― stirmonster, Monday, 21 October 2013 12:48 (ten years ago) link
wonder what it is about omar souleyman in particular. the hype totally passed me by, but i heard one of his songs on some international music radio show and it definitely caught my ear.
― Spectrum, Monday, 21 October 2013 13:07 (ten years ago) link
really good article from earlier in the year:
http://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/syria-on-the-cusp-of-hipness-then-fading
― festival culture (Jordan), Monday, 21 October 2013 13:52 (ten years ago) link
I've spoken to a couple of Middle Eastern people who are a bit annoyed by his success and the kind of exoticism they detect behind it because he's, they say, just a wedding singer like any other. I dunno what to think about that other than that Middle Eastern weddings must be pretty cool.
― Merdeyeux, Monday, 21 October 2013 13:54 (ten years ago) link
free show at millennium park in chicago this monday-- stoked!!!!!
― °ㅇ๐ْ ° (gr8080), Friday, 6 June 2014 15:40 (ten years ago) link
oh shit
― goole, Friday, 6 June 2014 16:15 (ten years ago) link
you are gonna wenu like crazy i bet
damn i've never listened to jazeera nights before, it's outstanding
― marcos, Wednesday, 11 June 2014 20:39 (ten years ago) link
"nahy" from wenu wenu is such a jam
― marcos, Thursday, 26 March 2015 14:12 (nine years ago) link
also new track, new album coming, and a tour
http://pitchfork.com/news/58990-omar-souleyman-teams-with-four-tet-modeselektor-black-lips-for-new-album-bahdeni-nami
03-26 Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival03-27 Athens, GA - Slingshot Festival03-28 Knoxville, TN - Big Ears Festival05-21 Halifax, Nova Scotia - Obey Convention 805-22 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge05-23 Los Angeles, CA - Jewels Catch One05-30 Bristol, England - Colston Hall06-06 Copenhagen, Denmark - Distortion Festival06-12 Toronto, Ontario - Bestival Toronto06-26 Beuningen, Netherlands - Down The Rabbit Hole07-11 Trencin, Slovakia - Pohoda Festival07-16 Dour, Belgium - Dour Festival /
― marcos, Thursday, 26 March 2015 14:25 (nine years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/monkeytownrecords/omar-souleyman-enssa-el-aatab-prod-by-modeselektor/s-ghd5W guess it is not super new, came out a few weeks ago, it is very good imo
worth traveling up to NY to see him? srsly debating it now.
― Mordy, Thursday, 26 March 2015 14:35 (nine years ago) link
I would!
― sleeve, Thursday, 26 March 2015 14:45 (nine years ago) link
I am really digging this new tune
― marcos, Thursday, 26 March 2015 14:56 (nine years ago) link
ehhhhh tbh seeing him live was pretty underwhelming
although i did see him at a huge free late afternoon outdoor show, i would be willing to see him a 2nd time in a club setting
― gr8080, Thursday, 26 March 2015 15:06 (nine years ago) link
i've seen him three times and all of them at large outdoor spaces; i think his energy would be GREATLY improved at a small club like Poisson Rouge. I bet that'll be rocking
― Maybe in 100 years someone will say damn Dawn was dope. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 26 March 2015 15:43 (nine years ago) link
When I went to see him last year I hoped/expected to be able to see Rizan Sa'id do his magic on the synthesizer (as my friend did when he saw him a couple of years earlier) but it turned out there was 'just' someone who controlled a laptop from which the music was generated/streamed. Bit of a bummer, really. He's a great performer though.
― willem, Thursday, 26 March 2015 16:31 (nine years ago) link
Rizan was at the gig i attended, but both were both dwarfed by the enormous stage they came nowhere near occupying
― gr8080, Thursday, 26 March 2015 17:09 (nine years ago) link
i missed him in Chicago last year but finally saw him at Big Ears last week and the crowd was so into it. it was a smallish space (not an outdoor festival) and everyone was dancing. like every single person except for the man next to me so i gently elbowed him away
my question: will someone please recommend me more music that sounds like "atabat"? iirc he didn't play any slow songs live because it probably would have killed the mood or caused someone to spontaneously combust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESh_qPZFLiI
― groundless round (La Lechera), Tuesday, 7 April 2015 14:05 (nine years ago) link
Wow, this new album. Can't put my finger on it but it's both super familiar yet a lot better than Wenu Wenu
― StanM, Sunday, 24 May 2015 20:28 (nine years ago) link
oh I didn't realise he had a new one, cool!
― xelab, Sunday, 24 May 2015 23:22 (nine years ago) link
what do you all think of bahdeni nemi?
― marcos, Tuesday, 11 August 2015 17:06 (nine years ago) link
seems less urgent than wenu wenu and especially the SF releases but i am enjoying it
who's heard the new one?
― frogbs, Monday, 12 June 2017 21:48 (seven years ago) link
"Atabat" from the first one came on in the car today, I'd forgotten what a jam that one is.
― blue light or electric light (the table is the table), Friday, 3 January 2020 20:42 (four years ago) link
hmmhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/syrian-musician-omar-souleyman-held-on-terrorism-charges-in-turkey
― StanM, Friday, 19 November 2021 08:35 (two years ago) link
Terrible. Free Omar!
― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 November 2021 12:22 (two years ago) link
yes
― When Young Sheldon began to rap (forksclovetofu), Friday, 19 November 2021 12:34 (two years ago) link
update! he's free - after being sent to "a detention center for people due to be deported"
https://ra.co/news/76422
― StanM, Friday, 19 November 2021 17:03 (two years ago) link
now thats the news we wanted to hear!
also this:
He has lived in Turkey since the onset of the Syrian civil war, running, among other things, a free bakery in Urfa.
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Friday, 19 November 2021 17:12 (two years ago) link
Still, just like in China, you can't become too popular without getting your chains rattled by the government every now and then, apparently. :-/
― StanM, Friday, 19 November 2021 17:19 (two years ago) link