From Hallelujah to Ya Ilahi

Posted on May 13th, 2011 by martijn.
Categories: Arts & culture.

Leonard Cohen came with a beautiful song, years ago. Hallelujah. According to him a tribute to the imperfection of life.
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

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:
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

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:

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

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

0 comments.