Brand new video from Sudanese born Alsarah and her band The Nubatones. Born in Sudan and now residing in Brooklyn, Alsarah and The Nubatones released Silt earlier this year to critical acclaim and is now releasing Silt Remixed tomorrow which enlists some of her favorite producers to remix certain tracks from the original release.
Today, enjoy the official music video for the song “Habibi Taal.” Taken from the original Silt album, the video was entirely shot in Cairo, Egypt. Alsarah offers her two cents about the song as well as the English translation to the lyrics:
This is a traditional song from central Sudan that is a part of the women’s musical tradition, Aghani Albanat, performed at weddings and other social gatherings. Traditionally these songs are written and performed by women and are one of the few spaces that allow women to publicly express their feelings towards a romantic interest. And so, they have a tendency to be very simple flirty love songs with the sole purpose of making you dance. I think its very important to honor the simplicity of these lyrics and these songs because they express an important section of Sudanese society that is often ignored by practitioners of ‘high brow art’ (which tends to be Arab, male, and muslim-centered) deeming it artistically lacking.
English Translation:
My love come lets be one
so long as love has mixed in with the blood,
where is the fault, how could they blame me
oh my love
my love is like mangos and apples,
my love is honey, all else are bland
my love is honey, all else are bland
I would migrate just to be with you
oh my love
I will wait for you by the sea
where the birds have migrated and traveled to
that place where the birds have migrated and traveled to
are you from here, or from Saturn
oh my love
my love come lets quench our longing
and live up high in the sky-towers of london
lets live up high in the sky-towers of london
for the sake of love and decorum
oh my love
I’ll wait for you on Elgash road
my love is gold, the others are copper
my love is gold, the others are copper
love should be like this or not at all
love should be like this or not at all
love should be like this or not at all
love should be like this or not at all
