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Ishtar, the Voice of Alabina


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I just bought the new solo album of Ishtar, the lead singer of Flamenco-Arabic fusion group Alabina. Its mostly in French, and its, well different, and eventually grows on you. It has a more r and b, disco sound, but still retains a Middle Eastern core. Check it out, but don't expect flamenco! But I can't wait for another Alabina project, plus Shakira, get on with another album already!
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Thanks to you (and Napster), I'm an Alabina convert. From your above post, I gather they're a group (I thought Alabina was the female singer's name ). I like the way the male singer chimes in with a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan-Sabri Brothers-type Quawali (or however it's spelled) sound.

 

As for Shakira, I think "Ojos Asi" is awesome! But on the other stuff I've downloaded, I can't get past the Alanis Morrisette whine in her voice (feel free to "face" me by informing me Shakira did it first ). Sounds fine on Alanis, but it bugs me on Shakira. Oh well, my loss. Can't like everyone, although I try.

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Yeah Mike, you and I are so alike, I also thought Alabina was her name! Ishtar is actually her performer name, and a nickname given by her grandmother who was a famous Egyptian Jewish singer. It is always strange to think that she is Jewish from Israel, but sings mostly in Arabic, especially these days!

 

As for Shakira, yeah, a lot of people either hate her or love her, not much neutrality. Actually Alanis and Shakira broke out about the same time, though Alanis might have been a little bit earlier. I like Alanis a lot too, and see some resemblance in the whine!

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Farsi jan if you talkin whine you are talking MARIAH CAREY.

EEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!

My impression! I hope i didnt hurt your ears...

Anyway that sounded really interesting although I have never heard this person before. Please point me in the right direction as far as websites and such go.

I think Donna Summer rocks by the way

Also, Disco and ANY R and B. Some country influences. I think that although ppl laugh at Dolly Parton for being a bit of a clown she has actually wrote ALL those songs and made millions on "I will always love you" of which Whitney Houston stole the glory. Not much of a fan of her. Reggae in particular Bob Marley. Big fan of Bob Dylan. I think they are poets, political protesters and princes of peace!

quote:
Originally posted by Half Breed:

It has a more r and b, disco sound, but still retains a Middle Eastern core. Check it out, but don't expect flamenco!


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Shakirain ban chasek!!! Mikey, you call it "whine", I call it emotion. I like the range of emotion she can project in any one song. That's part of her appeal for me. She's very human in her sound, vulnerable and angry and strong and weak and desperate and confident and humble and seductive and hypnotic and innocent and wise....all rolled into one. She's everything a woman should be
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quote:
Originally posted by Gayane:
Mikey, you call it "whine", I call it emotion.


It's really not the "whine" per se that I don't like--it just reminds me too much of Alanis. I like "Ojos Asi" SO much that I'm sure I'll end up buying a disc by her. But you know, to hell with Shakira's Whine, here's a bottle of Gayane's Wine!

http://mldebay.homestead.com/files/gayane.jpg



[This message has been edited by Pilafhead (edited December 12, 2000).]
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  • 4 weeks later...

Santa had the good taste to bring me both Alabina CDs for Christmas. Great stuff, Steve!

 

The Ishtar solo CD is next...

 

 

P.S. How's this for multi-cultural: My Chinese sister-in-law bought Shakira's latest CD for my jermag brother-in-law! Gotta love the USA!!!

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Thanks to my friend Steve, I am an Alabina fan. I listen their CD alot, and my friends have become tired of me!

I will look into Ishtar's new CD , which I hope i'll like, otherwise I'll kill Steve (heheheheh......).

 

Too much of Greek music mixed with Oriental and Semi-Latin music , will create the monster I am! ( heheheheheh....)

Ya le le li, Ya habibi, yala

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I listened to her solo album last night at Tower Records. It's a little more vanilla (i.e., plain) than the Alabina stuff, but there were a couple tracks cool enough to make it worth buying. Well, the cover alone is worth it!

 

On first pass, it seems like it was really aimed at the French mainstream pop charts.

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