More iPhone Goodness: I’ve added a new plugin that gives iPhone users a more optimized layout. That also required me to use a different plugin for the share buttons at the bottom of the posts. Let me know how it all works for you.
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I had lunch at a pita joint last week. I had the chicken schwarma sandwich and it was delicious, thanks for asking. As I was eating I realized that they had tuned their radio to the local station that was playing wall-to-wall Christmas music. I don’t particularly like Christmas music in the first place and it really annoys me to hear it two weeks before Thanksgiving. And it seemed particularly inappropriate in a pita joint. Since the walls were decorated with Middle Eastern art I would have expected that they would be playing Middle Eastern music. Since I’m dedicated to public service, here is a short playlist that any Arab/Middle Eastern restaurant can play when they’re tempted to put on the Christmas music.
Rachid Taha “Rock El Casbah” (The Clash)
In another example of mass cluelessness, this song became very popular during Gulf War I because of the line about dropping bombs between the minarets. Which is too bad because the song was really about Middle Eastern governments censoring and/or banning music.
Rachid Taha is an Algerian musician and political activist who makes music that draws from the Western rock and punk scenes as well as Middle Eastern music.
Dolapdere Big Gang “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson)
I just can’t get enough of the pulsing Turkish rhythms that the Big Gang traffics in. I was also looking for a Michael Jackson song to post since it seems that the circumstances surrounding his death have been resolved.
Brothers of the Baladi “For What It’s Worth” (Buffalo Springfield)
Brothers of the Baladi are from Portland, Oregon. Not the place I think of first when I think of hotbeds of Middle Eastern music. They use a mix of traditional Middle Eastern instruments and Western rock instruments and have recorded an amazingly varied selection of traditional Middle Eastern music, great covers, and very interesting original songs.
Hayseed Dixie “Fat Bottomed Girls” (Queen)
Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar as Farrokh Bulsara and grew up to be a famous Western rock star. You’ve gotta wonder if a kid from an Islamic East African country could pull that off these days.
Hayseed Dixie reminds me a lot of Big Daddy, in that they have their schtick and they work it very well. In the case of Hayseed Dixie it’s bluegrass covers, and every one of them is perfect.
Arab Strap “Why Can’t This Be Love” (Van Halen)
Arab Strap was a Scottish band but their name was Arab. Sort of. Probably best that the restauranteurs not know where the name comes from. At any rate, this is a really good live cover that sounds nothing like Van Halen. Which is generally a good thing.
I’m having problems with the tracks – it won’t allow me to play or download them… anyone else reporting this?
BTW – glad you are back!
First I’ve heard of a problem. What are you using to view the blog? Computer (Windows or Mac)? iPhone? Android?
Hi Steve,
I’m on a Mac. The error says “You do not have permission to access the requested resource”. If I’m the one and only, maybe a restart will do it!
Anna
Things seem badly broken with Safari, although they’ve been working the last couple of weeks. I’ve gone back to the old flash-based player and sharing plugin until I have more time to troubleshoot things. As far as I can tell it’s working now, although iPhone and iPad users won’t get the player button.
No problems here. Thanks for an interesting set. Most enjoyable
Tried Chrome and it wasn’t working, and all of a sudden it’s working in Safari! Loving the Rock El Casbah track. Thanks!
Looks like I’ve got the problems with the music player and links sorted out. Thanks everybody for your patience.
I get it ..Arab Spring -> Arab Fall.
When I visited my local Middle Eastern Mini Mart recently, the owner, a chap from Iraq, asked if I was Irish and I answered in the afirmative, as I thought he’d be none the wiser, cos kiwi or Irish, we probably all sound alike.
But now, thanks to Ancestry.com, and a daughter with a bit of time on her hands, I’ve traced my roots deep into the heart of Ireland, Co Antrim, so I can now return to the Iraq Mini Mart, Irish and proud!
When I click on the song it eventually opens and plays through i Tunes.
Sue
That version of Billy Jean is inspired!
If you like a western tune done Middle Eastern style try Boiled in Lead’s version of The Hollies Stop! Stop! Stop! from their 1989 album “From the Ladle to the Grave”