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Oum Khaltoum

   Fri, February 15, 2008 - 2:09 AM
I am so under her spell. I don't understand arab, but what I understand is she is like a prophet. She says something that matters. She is like a seer that says to you: Now you listen and I tell you what I have seen. Because I have been far away and up high and deep down and know things that matter and I know what is going to happen, so you listen to me! And I close my eyes and she tells me the story and it is like she shows me a different world and we are travelling through this story for a long time and when it comes to an end I feel like I have been somewhere else and things are different now. So magical! It is not like emotions that come and go like with easier songs, it is deep, life-long and transcending. So I feel a freeze when she starts because I know what comes now matters really. I so understand people had dropped everything, stopped doing anything and went into a sort of mesmerized trance when she sang.



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Fri, February 15, 2008 - 1:01 PM
I love her! Have you seen Voice of Egypt?
Sat, February 16, 2008 - 10:11 AM
My friend Galatea teaches a workshop on Oum Khaltoum. Until I attended it, I did not realize the extent of her cultural and political influence. Her story is quite fascinating. But, even before knowing much about her, I was mesmerized by her singing.
 

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