Search - Dania :: B.O.

No Doubt This Is The Best of Dania

Night Sky Tiger | eastish of eden | 04/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is the track listing for this CD:





1. Foug El Nakhal (1001 NIGHTSociety Remake)



2. Cou Cou (Beirut Biloma Chillout Version)



3. Leily (Transglobal Underground Mix



4. Yalla Bina (Bhangra Remix)



5. El Hilwa Di (Cou Cou)



6. Ya Dallah



7. Fiesta



8. Mustaheel (Para No Verte Mas - with La Mosca," (Tse Tse)



9. Ya Akid Akley



10. La Tehtar



11. Mafeesh Tari'a (99 Remix)



12.Bahibbak Enta Wi Bas (Cha Cha Cha)



13. Afrahou Gannouh



14. Ana Baddi



15. Private Number (with 911)



16. Listen to My Heart (Cou Cou)





If you are going to have only one Dania CD, this should definitely be it. Don't be troubled by reading that there are three versions of El Hilwa Di; each is quite different, and each stands on its own. Together on one CD, they are no less entertaining, and this song does not become monotonous. Each one will keep you moving, and the third version of it, "Listen To My Heart," which finishes the CD, is the English version, which I found to be absolutely fascinating, after having listened to it in Lebanese, for so long. This version is harder edged than the others, and it is only the original, track 5, that includes that laugh, that I always wait for. The first version of El Hilwa Di is highly synthesized, with the cou cou cou being accompanied by a synthesized bird, and the song begins with a falling warm hum of synthesized sound, that is, at least to me, a bit reminiscent of the synthesizer at the beginning of the Q Lazarrus song, "Goodbye Horses," which was heard in the memorable Buffalo Bill dress-up scene in 1989's, "Silence of the Lambs."



Like Dania's other CDs, this one features a lot of different styles of music, but the danceability of her music remains; throughout the hour or so of beatful dance songs, played on traditional and non-traditional instruments. I wasn't familiar with every one, on the first listening, but by my third, I understood why each was included in this collection. Each is highly catchy and energetic. Dania's vocals move confidently from style to style, proving herself able to make each one her own...whether it be Oriental ("Leiley)or, the Argentinean flavor of "Mustaheel (Para No Verte Mas,"

or the Mediterranean influences in one of my favorites, "La Tehtar," and those are just three of the musical influences that are woven into the very pleasing fabric of this CD.

Sometimes Dania reminds me of a young Fairuz, who I hadn't listened to in years. This brought back such pleasant memories to me, that I ordered one of Fairuz' CDs, "The Very Best of Fairuz," and it is terrific to listen to both of these women, one right after the other...and I doubt I am the only one who feels that way. Beautiful music, beautiful voices, in the beautiful language of Lebanese...to be savored.



I mentioned this in my prior review of Dania's CD, "El Hilwa Di," but it bears repeating, that she really gives a lot of importance to the production of her music, and it is a pleasure to take notice of it, so anyone with surround sound will really enjoy the time spent perched at the very center of their stereo...experiencing the definition given to each speaker. Likewise, this is terrific to pop into your car system. There is no way you will start to nod off,..although you may be inclined to slip into some serious undulations and gyrations that all those folks in other cars, listening to CCM, might find unnerving!

There is great separation between speakers and voices, with resulting clarity and movement.



From what I have read on the Internet, Dania Khatib is extremely successful and well known, throughout the Middle East and Asia, having been a VJ on an international channel, and having had her own TV music show, "Zoom,"and later having hosted the travel show,"Al Kafila," both on Abu Dhabi TV. I am not familiar with any of these broadcasts, but it is clear from Dania's music, that she is a highly likeable and appealing person. Hopefully, as America gets fed up with the hate mode it has been caught up in for the past few years, often under the guise of patriotism and religious fervor, Americans may start to listen to some of the incredibly enjoyable music from the Middle East...not to even start getting into all the other world music out there . Dania, Amina, and Khadja Nin, all add immeasurable spirit, talent, and uniqueness to my CD collection...and they are just three performers, in the wide world of terrific women, waiting for America to open its overly insular ears. If you are considering purchasing this CD, push that buy it now button."