From Hallelujah to Ya Ilahi
Leonard Cohen came with a beautiful song, years ago. Hallelujah. According to him a tribute to the imperfection of life.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJTiXoMCppw]
And then came Jeff Buckley. And sort of ruined it for everyone trying to cover the song. He redefined Cohen’s tribute in a song of desperation and loss:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiVtVMU09Hc]
And now we have Muhammad Husayn, again redefining the song as a nashid and, with new lyrics, making it into a tribute to Allah and a song of gratitude, regrets and redemption:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVs3HYlpFek]I don’t know if there are more examples of songs that are being translated and reworked from English into Arab or the other way around. There are several artists using Arab styles and phrases in their songs. One my of all time favorites is Mano Negra’s Sidi’h Bibi:
Mano Negra : Sidi'h bibi live door tartenpion333
And Kadhaf Ahmad Pilo from Malawi did the same song in Chichewa by translating the Arabic version.
http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/33513185