Billie Eilish stanning Arabic music should get more attention. It's wild how American pop music has borrowed from almost every other musical tradition and (with the exception of Jay-Z!) ignored the complexity and depth of the oud, Arabic-style percussion etc

Reference: Billie was on a podcast talking about how Arabic music was "like chocolate to her ears" and stanning Ajram's hit "Einta Eih," which is amazing bc it means "what are you" but the implication of is "what the f*** is your problem with me dude"

https://twitter.com/nancyajram/status/1264221494911086592?s=21 https://twitter.com/nancyajram/status/1264221494911086592

Here is Einta Eih, (pronounced Inta Ay) where Nancy Ajram sings (roughly) "What's your problem? It's not enough for you to hate me? Enough already."

Most people will recognize Abdel Halim Hafez's Khosara (which has a similar lyrical theme of "why are you torturing me," Arabic music is VERY dramatic) because Jay Z sampled it in Big Pimpin'.

It's so good! Expand your ears:

Another classic: Abdel Halim's "Ahwak." Like Billie Eilish said, you don't need to know the words. Just listen to the tune, the rich voice and the instruments.

A more recent song. You could write a whole treatise on how the insinuating, sweet sound of flutes in these songs is comparable only to the way Mozart used woodwinds

You will need to listen to Omm Kalthoum, a genius and a legend who has some songs that can run a whole hour (!!!). Here's "Look at How Far You Are From Love"

Every Abdel Halim tune is absolutely addictive

The oud is a kind of Arabic guitar/lute that is haunting and beautiful. Here's a Rahim AlHaj Tiny Desk Concert