"then I am an authentic blonde. It IS Slavic/Eastern European folk music in the style of Esma Respenova (could even be her). But it is NOT suitable for Belly Dance. It doesn't even have remotely suitable rhythms or musical patterns. The sad thing is, this set keeps reappearing every so often, like an Elvis siting, to snooker some poor beginning student (who could only be discouraged in trying to dance to this! ) I recommend checking out any of the Hossam Ramsy and the like for what is real and authentic in the world of Middle Eastern Dance. This CD is clearly a case of false advertising and intentional mis-representation to fool the uninformed."
Belly Dance- NOT- Macedonian Gypsy - YES!
Wendi Kiss | Loveland, CO USA | 05/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As other reviews state, this is definitely not belly dance music, but it is some of the catchiest macedonian gypsy music around. If this isn't Esma Redzepova, I'll eat my shalwari. Wonderful scenery-chewing vocals with a solid band that's featured in two instrumentals - Solunski Cocek and Ciganski Cocek. Most of the vocals sound to be in Macedonian with a few maybe in Rom.If you're looking for an all-night-cocek-party album - this is it! But DO NOT buy this for belly dance!"
How bizarre . . .
Caredhel | Sunnyvale, CA United States | 02/01/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I will add my "caveat emptor" here, along with the others. I bought this CD on the Laserlight label; my version has a purple feathery-paper look cover, and a "snapshot" image of a belly dancer in a red cabaret costume on the front. My CD says copyright 1993 on it, and has a note: "All songs Public Domain / Licensed from Tradition Records." The title is "Authentic Belly Dance music, with the Rom/Slavic/whatever titles for the tracks. However, when I fed it into a query of the CDDB database, the tracks came up with their original-language titles, taken from the lyrics of the songs. Now, the Legacy CD titled Belly Dance Music: Art of Seduction, 1997, has these track titles, and appears to be a reissue of the same bootleg-quality CD. If you want some nice gypsy music, feel free to listen and enjoy--but I will agree that the sound quality is poor. I'm accustomed to this, since I listen to a lot of folkloric / ethnic recordings where the recording environment is not necessarily friendly to sound engineering, so it really didn't bother me that much. I liked most of the songs, and hey, if you're into Greek style belly dance, or Eastern European or Macedonian folk dance, why not? But it definitely isn't your usual belly dancing fare, and students of Egyptian belly dance would be better served by looking for Hossam Ramzy, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Solace, or maybe one of the CDs produced by Daniel der Sahakian on the Lebanese "Voice of Stars" label."
Balkan-style social dance party
Kevin Greek | Sunnyvale, CA USA | 08/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's not music to perform belly dance cabaret style to--it's music everyone will want to get up and try to belly dance to! As other reviewers pointed out this is Macedonian Rom (Gypsy) dance music featuring rare recordings of vocalist Esma Redzepoza from so many years ago. The uncredited musicians are the Stevo Teodosievski Ensemble of Macedonia. Read the liner notes, laugh, and enjoy the music. My favorites are "Solunski Cocek" and "Ciganski Cocek."
Balkan couples often dance socially gypsy-style in a form that can be compared with belly dance. Come on belly dancer gals get your man to dance with you! Tell him they do it this way in the Balkans and it won't be lying! As named, most these pieces are coceks, a popular line dance at any Balkan party.
If you like this music and are willing to pay more than $4 try finding Esma Redzepova's "Songs of a Macedonian Gypsy" or "Queen of the Gypsies". A similar Balkan-belly dance crossover CD but with truth in advertizing is "Macedonian Bellydance." If you want music for middle eastern belly dance solos look elsewhere among any of hundreds of other titles.
"
100% Enjoyable Balkan Gypsy Music Possibly Macedonian
Erika Borsos | Gulf Coast of FL, USA | 12/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When listening, I discovered this CD is jam-packed with sensational, exciting, exhilarating, passionate Roma (Gypsy) vocals and stylizations, the lyrics sound Macedonian. Which is just what I suspected based on the titles of the tracks. Although, the instruments are not traditional: likely keyboards, an accordion, some percussion, and a clarinet. The clarinet player create extraordinairily impressive, hypnotic, winding rhythms and improvisations ... the exact reason I love Balkan music and what I hoped for when buying this CD!The CD is not what the title claims, "Authentic Belly Dance Music". Nor does it reflect what the liner notes describe as "Middle Eastern music reflects a thousand cultures, a thousand customs". Replace the words, "Middle Eastern" with the word "Roma or Gypsy" and then the description in the notes is accurate ...This CD is a treasure trove of enjoyable Balkan music. "Romano Cocek", "Sustalise Cigani", have wonderful melodies and are danceable ... "Solenslu Cocek" is familiar to me, it is often played by Greeks during festivals I have attended. "Turski Cocek" is the only "tsiftetelli" (i.e., "belly dance" number) on this CD, it definitely lends itself to undulating motions and shakes of one's torso ... This is high quality Roma music at an unbelievable price. Those who thrive on Gypsy or Balkan music will be pleased to own this CD! Erika Borsos (erikab93)"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
Jill F. from LEBANON, TN 
