Leysh Nat' Arak
Encyclopedia
"Leysh Nat' Arak" is a world music
song performed by Belgian
singer Natacha Atlas
. The song was written by Atlas, Count Dubulah, Hamid ManTu and Attiah Ahlan and produced by Transglobal Underground
for the Atlas' debut album Diaspora
(1995).
It was released as a single
in 1995. The song was re-recorded and included on the 2005 compilation, The Best of Natacha Atlas
.
and religious
conflicts in Israel
, Palestine
, Iraq
, and Yugoslavia
. Written in Arabic
, the song calls for peace and unity between Jews, Muslim
s, and Christian
s in the Middle East
. Furthermore, it addresses Atlas' yearning to understand how and why her family emigrated from the Middle East to Belgium.
CD single
(NAT40CD; Released 1995)
12-inch single
(NR40T; Released 1995)
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
song performed by Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
singer Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas is a Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western electronic music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "cha'abi moderne" . Her music has been influenced by many styles including Arabic, hip hop, drum 'n' bass and reggae.Atlas began her career as part of...
. The song was written by Atlas, Count Dubulah, Hamid ManTu and Attiah Ahlan and produced by Transglobal Underground
Transglobal underground
Transglobal Underground is a London-based music collective who specialise in a fusion of western, oriental and African music styles...
for the Atlas' debut album Diaspora
Diaspora (album)
Diaspora is the debut album by Belgian singer Natacha Atlas. It was released by Nation Records in March 1995.-Track listing:All tracks written and composed by Natacha Atlas, Count Dubulah, Hamid ManTu and Attiah Ahlan, except where stated....
(1995).
It was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1995. The song was re-recorded and included on the 2005 compilation, The Best of Natacha Atlas
The Best of Natacha Atlas
The Best of Natacha Atlas is a compilation album by Belgian singer Natacha Atlas. It was released by Mantra Recordings on 23 May 2005. The album contains previously released and re-recorded material, unreleased remixes, and cover songs.- Track listing :...
.
Background and meaning
"Leysh Nat' Arak" was inspired by ethnicEthnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
and religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
conflicts in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. Written in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, the song calls for peace and unity between Jews, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s, and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Furthermore, it addresses Atlas' yearning to understand how and why her family emigrated from the Middle East to Belgium.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Leysh Nat' Arak".CD single
(NAT40CD; Released 1995)
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (Radio edit) – 4:11
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (Nueba mix) – 7:08
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (FDM mix) – 6:50
- "Duden" – 6:38
12-inch single
(NR40T; Released 1995)
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (Radio edit) – 4:11
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (Nueba mix) – 7:08
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (FDM mix) – 6:50
- "Leysh Nat' Arak" (Amenophis mix) – 6:38
Personnel
The following people contributed to "Leysh Nat' Arak":- Natacha Atlas – lead vocals
- Neil Sparkes – goblet drumGoblet drumThe goblet drum is a hand drum with a goblet shape used mostly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe....
- Rafiq Rouissi – goblet drum, riqRiqThe riq is a type of tambourine used as a traditional instrument in Arabic music. It is an important instrument in both folk and classical music throughout the Arabic-speaking world...
- Essam Rashad – oudOudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
- Larry Whelan – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
- Simon Walker – stringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...