Misirlou
Encyclopedia
Misirlou is a popular Greek
song with popularity in five styles of music: Greek rebetiko
, Middle-Eastern belly dancing
, Jewish klezmer
, American surf rock, and international orchestral easy listening
(exotica
).
was first performed by the Michalis Patrinos rebetiko
band in Athens
, Greece
in 1927. As with almost all early rebetika songs (a style that originated with the Greek refugees from Asia Minor in Turkey
), the song's actual composer
has never been identified, and its ownership rested with the band leader. The melody was most likely composed collaboratively by the band, as was often the case at the time; the initial lyrics were almost certainly written by Patrinos himself. Patrinos, who originally lived in İzmir
, named the song Mısırlı or Misirlou which means an Egyptian Muslim girl, as opposed to Egyptian Christians who were referred to as (Aigyptioi) in Greek.
Initially, the song was composed as a Greek (Asia Minor) tsifteteli
dance, in the rebetiko
style of music, at a slower tempo
and a different key
than the orientalized performances that most are familiar with today. This was the style of the first known recording by Michalis Patrinos in Greece, circa 1930 (which was circulated in the United States
by Titos Dimitriadis' Orthophonic label); a second recording was made by Patrinos in New York
, in 1931.
In 1941, Nick Roubanis, a Greek-American music instructor, released a jazz
instrumental arrangement of the song, crediting himself as the composer. Since his claim was never legally challenged, he is still officially credited as the composer today worldwide, except in Greece where credit is variably given to either Roubanis or Patrinos. Subsequently Bob Russell
, Fred Wise and Milton Leeds wrote English
lyrics to the song. Roubanis is also credited with fine-tuning
the key
and the melody
, giving it the Oriental sound that it is associated with today. The song soon became an "exotica" standard among the light swing (lounge) bands of the day.
In 1943, Miriam Kressyn
wrote Yiddish lyrics to the song. In 1944, Lebanese
musician Clovis el-Hajj performed this song and called it "amal." This is the only Arabic
version of the song to date.
In 1945, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
women's musical organization asked Professor Brunhilde E. Dorsch to organize an international dance group at Duquesne University to honor America's World War II allies. She contacted Mercine Nesotas, who taught several Greek dances, including Syrtos Haniotikos (from Crete), which she called Kritikos, but for which they had no music. Because Pittsburgh's Greek-American community did not know Cretan music, Pat Mandros Kazalas, a music student, suggested the tune Misirlou, although slower, might fit the dance. The dance was first performed at a program to honor America's allies of World War II at Stephen Foster Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh on March 6, 1945. Thereafter, this new dance, which had been created by putting the Syrtos Kritikos to the slower Misirlou music, was known as "Misirlou" and spread among the Greek-American community, as well as among non-Greek U.S. folk-dance enthusiasts. The dance is also performed to instrumental versions of Never on Sunday
by Manos Hadjidakis
.
The song was rearranged as a solo instrumental guitar
piece by Dick Dale
in 1962. During a performance, Dale was bet by a young fan that he could not play a song on only one string of his guitar. Dale's father and uncles were Lebanese-American musicians, and Dale remembered seeing his uncle play "Misirlou" on one string of the oud
. He vastly increased the song's tempo to make it into rock'n'roll. It was Dale's version that introduced "Misirlou" to a wider audience in the United States
as "Miserlou."
The song's oriental melody has been so popular for so long that many people, from Morocco
to Iraq
, claim it to be a folk song from their own country. In fact, in the realm of Middle Eastern music, the song is a very simplistic one, since it is little more than going up and down the Hijaz Kar or double harmonic scale (E-F-G#-A-B-C-D#).
The Beach Boys
recorded a Dale-inspired "Miserlou" for the 1963 album Surfin' USA
, solidifying "Miserlou" as a staple of American pop culture. A wealth of surf and rock bands soon recorded versions of the song, including the Ventures
, Astronauts
, Surfaris, Trashmen
, and Bobby Fuller Four
. Hundreds of recordings have been made to date, by artists as diverse as Agent Orange
and Connie Francis
(1965).
In 1994, Dale's version of "Miserlou" was used on the soundtrack of the motion picture Pulp Fiction
, thanks to a suggestion to Quentin Tarantino
from his friend Boyd Rice
. The beginning of the song also made an appearance in the 1996 film Space Jam
, during a short scene parodying Pulp Fiction
. More recently, the song was selected by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee as one of the most influential Greek songs of all time, and was heard in venues and at the closing ceremony—it was performed by Anna Vissi
. In March 2005, Q magazine placed Dale's version at number 89 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In 2006, his version once again found popularity, this time as the basis of The Black Eyed Peas
' single "Pump It
." Also in 2006, a cover of Dale's version was included as a playable song in the rhythm game Guitar Hero II
.
Ladino
lyrics (unrelated to original Greek lyrics)
No pretendas mas que tu me amas
Ni te sforses a vartir lagrimas.
Yo ya lo supe que era por enganyar,
Este es un fakto que no puedes niegar.
Ahh, ahh, Missirlu
Es muy amargo, ah, es muy amargo el sufrir,
Ma no por este uno deve murir.
Muchos anios te speri en vanedad
Creendo ke tu amor es verdad.
Me amurcates propio con una flor
y me forsates a bivir con dolor.
Ahh, ah, ah, ahh, Missirlu,
Es muy amargo, ah es muy amargo el sufrir,
Ma no por este uno deve murir.
Algun dia sufrira tu korason
I konoseras lo que es la trahision
como yo yoro y tu yoraras,
Y konsuelo nunca toparas.
Turkish lyrics as sung by Zeki Muren (unrelated to original Greek lyrics)
Yaralı bir gönülden başka
Ne bıraktın bende hatıra
Günah değil mi yazık değil mi bana
Gel yeter artık sar beni kollarına
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Bırak bu nazı bırak bu inadı
Senin de gönlün daha dünden razı
Gidiyorum bahar gelmeden
Usanmam seni özlemekten
Hazinelerden daha değerlisin
Inan sevgilim benim gözümde sen
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Bırak bu nazı bırak bu inadı
Senin de gönlün daha dünden razı
Yaralı bir gönülden başka
Ne bıraktın bende hatıra
Günah değil mi yazık değil mi bana
Gel yeter artık sar beni kollarına
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Bırak bu nazı bırak bu inadı
Senin de gönlün daha dünden razı
French lyrics as sung by Dario Moreno
(unrelated to original Greek lyrics)
L'ombre peu à peu s'étend sur le sable,
Et les caravanes prient à genoux.
Une première étoile au ciel insondable,
Evoque en moi soudain ton amour si doux.
Ah, Misirlou !
Reine des reines, maîtresse de mon cœur,
C'est toi que j'aime, c'est toi mon seul bonheur.
Ah, Misirlou !
Le désert s'endore sous la lune calme,
La piste d'argent conduit au bonheur.
Bientôt apparaitront les altières palmes,
Où vont faire leur nid nos deux tendres cœurs.
Ah, Misirlou !
Reine des reines, maitresse de mon cœur,
C'est toi que j'aime, c'est toi mon seul bonheur.
Ah, Misirlou !
French lyrics as sung by Dario Moreno
(other version, related with greek one)
Misirlou, ton doux regard
A allumé une flamme dans mon cœur,
akh yakhabibi, akh ya leleli, akh,
Tes lèvres de miel, oyme!
Ah! Misirlou, beauté magique et enchanteresse
Je deviens fou, je ne peux plus souffrir
Ah! Je vais te voler à l'Arabie
Ma Misirlou aux yeux noirs
Un seul de tes baisés allume une flamme en moi
akh yakhabibi, un petit baisé
de tes lèvres douces, oyme!
Ah! Misirlou, beauté magique et enchanteresse
Je deviens fou, je ne peux plus souffrir
Ah! Je vais te voler à l'Arabie
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
song with popularity in five styles of music: Greek rebetiko
Rebetiko
Rebetiko, plural rebetika, , occasionally transliterated as Rembetiko, is a term used today to designate originally disparate kinds of urban Greek folk music which have come to be grouped together since the so-called rebetika revival, which started in the 1960s and developed further from the early...
, Middle-Eastern belly dancing
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
, Jewish klezmer
Klezmer
Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...
, American surf rock, and international orchestral easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
(exotica
Exotica
Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
).
History
The songSong
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
was first performed by the Michalis Patrinos rebetiko
Rebetiko
Rebetiko, plural rebetika, , occasionally transliterated as Rembetiko, is a term used today to designate originally disparate kinds of urban Greek folk music which have come to be grouped together since the so-called rebetika revival, which started in the 1960s and developed further from the early...
band in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1927. As with almost all early rebetika songs (a style that originated with the Greek refugees from Asia Minor in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
), the song's actual composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
has never been identified, and its ownership rested with the band leader. The melody was most likely composed collaboratively by the band, as was often the case at the time; the initial lyrics were almost certainly written by Patrinos himself. Patrinos, who originally lived in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, named the song Mısırlı or Misirlou which means an Egyptian Muslim girl, as opposed to Egyptian Christians who were referred to as (Aigyptioi) in Greek.
Initially, the song was composed as a Greek (Asia Minor) tsifteteli
Tsifteteli
The Tsifteteli , is a rhythm and dance of Anatolia and the Balkans with a rhythmic pattern of 2/4. The dance is probably of Turkish origin and in the Turkish language it means "double stringed", taken from the violin playing style that is practiced in this kind of music...
dance, in the rebetiko
Rebetiko
Rebetiko, plural rebetika, , occasionally transliterated as Rembetiko, is a term used today to designate originally disparate kinds of urban Greek folk music which have come to be grouped together since the so-called rebetika revival, which started in the 1960s and developed further from the early...
style of music, at a slower tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
and a different key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
than the orientalized performances that most are familiar with today. This was the style of the first known recording by Michalis Patrinos in Greece, circa 1930 (which was circulated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Titos Dimitriadis' Orthophonic label); a second recording was made by Patrinos in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in 1931.
In 1941, Nick Roubanis, a Greek-American music instructor, released a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
instrumental arrangement of the song, crediting himself as the composer. Since his claim was never legally challenged, he is still officially credited as the composer today worldwide, except in Greece where credit is variably given to either Roubanis or Patrinos. Subsequently Bob Russell
Bob Russell (songwriter)
Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell, was an American songwriter born in Passaic, New Jersey.In 1968, Russell along with songwriting partner Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category...
, Fred Wise and Milton Leeds wrote English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics to the song. Roubanis is also credited with fine-tuning
Musical tuning
In music, there are two common meanings for tuning:* Tuning practice, the act of tuning an instrument or voice.* Tuning systems, the various systems of pitches used to tune an instrument, and their theoretical bases.-Tuning practice:...
the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
and the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, giving it the Oriental sound that it is associated with today. The song soon became an "exotica" standard among the light swing (lounge) bands of the day.
In 1943, Miriam Kressyn
Miriam Kressyn
Miriam Kressyn , one of the "First Ladies of the Yiddish Theater", acted and sang on stage, film and radio; she wrote plays as well. -Personal life:...
wrote Yiddish lyrics to the song. In 1944, Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
musician Clovis el-Hajj performed this song and called it "amal." This is the only 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...
version of the song to date.
In 1945, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
women's musical organization asked Professor Brunhilde E. Dorsch to organize an international dance group at Duquesne University to honor America's World War II allies. She contacted Mercine Nesotas, who taught several Greek dances, including Syrtos Haniotikos (from Crete), which she called Kritikos, but for which they had no music. Because Pittsburgh's Greek-American community did not know Cretan music, Pat Mandros Kazalas, a music student, suggested the tune Misirlou, although slower, might fit the dance. The dance was first performed at a program to honor America's allies of World War II at Stephen Foster Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh on March 6, 1945. Thereafter, this new dance, which had been created by putting the Syrtos Kritikos to the slower Misirlou music, was known as "Misirlou" and spread among the Greek-American community, as well as among non-Greek U.S. folk-dance enthusiasts. The dance is also performed to instrumental versions of Never on Sunday
Never on Sunday
Never on Sunday is a 1960 Greek black-and-white film which tells the story of Ilya, a prostitute who lives in the port of Piraeus in Greece, and Homer, an American tourist from Middletown, Connecticut — a classical scholar enamored with all things Greek. Ilya is a character close to the...
by Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
.
The song was rearranged as a solo instrumental guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
piece by Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
in 1962. During a performance, Dale was bet by a young fan that he could not play a song on only one string of his guitar. Dale's father and uncles were Lebanese-American musicians, and Dale remembered seeing his uncle play "Misirlou" on one string of the oud
Oud
The 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...
. He vastly increased the song's tempo to make it into rock'n'roll. It was Dale's version that introduced "Misirlou" to a wider audience in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as "Miserlou."
The song's oriental melody has been so popular for so long that many people, from Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
to 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....
, claim it to be a folk song from their own country. In fact, in the realm of Middle Eastern music, the song is a very simplistic one, since it is little more than going up and down the Hijaz Kar or double harmonic scale (E-F-G#-A-B-C-D#).
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
recorded a Dale-inspired "Miserlou" for the 1963 album Surfin' USA
Surfin' USA
-Singles:* "Surfin' USA" b/w "Shut Down" , 4 March 1963, US #3; #34 UK-Personnel:*Brian Wilson - Vocals, bass, keyboards*Mike Love - Vocals, saxophone*Dennis Wilson - Vocals, drums...
, solidifying "Miserlou" as a staple of American pop culture. A wealth of surf and rock bands soon recorded versions of the song, including the Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
, Astronauts
The Astronauts (band)
The Astronauts were an American rock and roll band, who had a minor hit in 1963 with "Baja" and remained successful for several years, especially in Japan...
, Surfaris, Trashmen
The Trashmen
The Trashmen are a rock and roll band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1962. The group's original lineup was Tony Andreason on lead guitar and vocals, Dal Winslow on guitar and vocals, Steve Wahrer on drums and vocals, and Bob Reed on bass guitar...
, and Bobby Fuller Four
Bobby Fuller
Robert Gaston "Bobby" Fuller was an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitar player best known for his singles "I Fought the Law" and "Love's Made a Fool of You," recorded with his mid-1960s group, the Bobby Fuller Four....
. Hundreds of recordings have been made to date, by artists as diverse as Agent Orange
Agent Orange (band)
Agent Orange is an American punk rock band formed in Orange County, California in 1979. The band is one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music. They first gained attention with their song "Bloodstains" which they released on their own 7" E.P. An early demo of the song was presented to...
and Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
(1965).
In 1994, Dale's version of "Miserlou" was used on the soundtrack of the motion picture Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (film)
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
, thanks to a suggestion to Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
from his friend Boyd Rice
Boyd Rice
Boyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
. The beginning of the song also made an appearance in the 1996 film Space Jam
Space Jam
Aside from Jordan, a number of NBA players and coaches appeared in the film. Larry Bird portrays a friend of Jordan who joins him for a game of golf. When the Monstars steal the NBA players' talent, they invade a game between the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, causing the Knicks' Patrick...
, during a short scene parodying Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (film)
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
. More recently, the song was selected by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee as one of the most influential Greek songs of all time, and was heard in venues and at the closing ceremony—it was performed by Anna Vissi
Anna Vissi
Anna Vissi , known as Anna Vishy in Cypriot Greek, is a Greek-Cypriot recording artist and actress...
. In March 2005, Q magazine placed Dale's version at number 89 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In 2006, his version once again found popularity, this time as the basis of The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
' single "Pump It
Pump It
"Pump It" is a song by The Black Eyed Peas that heavily incorporates music from the Dick Dale version of the song "Misirlou"...
." Also in 2006, a cover of Dale's version was included as a playable song in the rhythm game Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
.
Lyrics
| Greek | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|
Μισιρλού μου, η γλυκιά σου η ματιά Φλόγα μου 'χει ανάψει μες στην καρδιά. Αχ, για χαμπίμπι, αχ, για λε-λέλι, αχ, Τα δυο σου χείλη στάζουνε μέλι, αχ. Αχ, Μισιρλού, μαγική, ξωτική ομορφιά. Τρέλα θα μου 'ρθει, δεν υποφέρω πια. Αχ, θα σε κλέψω μέσ' απ' την Αραπιά. Μαυρομάτα Μισιρλού μου τρελή, Η ζωή μου αλλάζει μ' ένα φιλί. Αχ, για χαμπίμπι ενα φιλάκι, άχ Απ' το γλυκό σου το στοματάκι, αχ. |
Misirloú mou, i glykiá sou i matiá Flóga mou 'khei anápsei mes stin kardiá. Akh, ya khabíbi, akh ya le-léli, akh, Ta dyo sou kheíli stázoune méli, akh. Akh, Misirloú, magikí, ksotikí omorfiá. Tréla tha mou 'rthei den ipoféro pia. Akh, tha se klépso més' ap' tin Arapiá. Mavromáta Misirloú mou trelí, I zoí mou allázei m' éna filí. Akh, ya khabíbi ena filáki, ah Ap' to glykó sou to stomatáki, ah. |
My Misirlou (Egyptian girl), your sweet glance Has lit a flame in my heart. Ah, ya habibi, ah, ya le-leli, ah Your two lips are dripping honey, ah. Ah, Misirlou, magical, exotic beauty. Madness will overcome me, I can't endure [this] any more. Ah, I'll steal you away from the Arab land. My black-eyed, my wild Misirlou, My life changes with one kiss Ah, ya habibi, one little kiss, ah From your sweet little lips, ah. |
Ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
lyrics (unrelated to original Greek lyrics)
No pretendas mas que tu me amas
Ni te sforses a vartir lagrimas.
Yo ya lo supe que era por enganyar,
Este es un fakto que no puedes niegar.
Ahh, ahh, Missirlu
Es muy amargo, ah, es muy amargo el sufrir,
Ma no por este uno deve murir.
Muchos anios te speri en vanedad
Creendo ke tu amor es verdad.
Me amurcates propio con una flor
y me forsates a bivir con dolor.
Ahh, ah, ah, ahh, Missirlu,
Es muy amargo, ah es muy amargo el sufrir,
Ma no por este uno deve murir.
Algun dia sufrira tu korason
I konoseras lo que es la trahision
como yo yoro y tu yoraras,
Y konsuelo nunca toparas.
Turkish lyrics as sung by Zeki Muren (unrelated to original Greek lyrics)
Yaralı bir gönülden başka
Ne bıraktın bende hatıra
Günah değil mi yazık değil mi bana
Gel yeter artık sar beni kollarına
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Bırak bu nazı bırak bu inadı
Senin de gönlün daha dünden razı
Gidiyorum bahar gelmeden
Usanmam seni özlemekten
Hazinelerden daha değerlisin
Inan sevgilim benim gözümde sen
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Bırak bu nazı bırak bu inadı
Senin de gönlün daha dünden razı
Yaralı bir gönülden başka
Ne bıraktın bende hatıra
Günah değil mi yazık değil mi bana
Gel yeter artık sar beni kollarına
Ah bu acı bu keder ne zaman biter
Bırak bu nazı bırak bu inadı
Senin de gönlün daha dünden razı
French lyrics as sung by Dario Moreno
Darío Moreno
Darío Moreno was a Turkish polyglot singer of Jewish origin, as well as an accomplished composer, lyricist and guitarist, who was born in Aydın, Turkey, in 1921, and who attained fame and made a remarkable career centered in France which also included films, during the fifties and the...
(unrelated to original Greek lyrics)
L'ombre peu à peu s'étend sur le sable,
Et les caravanes prient à genoux.
Une première étoile au ciel insondable,
Evoque en moi soudain ton amour si doux.
Ah, Misirlou !
Reine des reines, maîtresse de mon cœur,
C'est toi que j'aime, c'est toi mon seul bonheur.
Ah, Misirlou !
Le désert s'endore sous la lune calme,
La piste d'argent conduit au bonheur.
Bientôt apparaitront les altières palmes,
Où vont faire leur nid nos deux tendres cœurs.
Ah, Misirlou !
Reine des reines, maitresse de mon cœur,
C'est toi que j'aime, c'est toi mon seul bonheur.
Ah, Misirlou !
French lyrics as sung by Dario Moreno
Darío Moreno
Darío Moreno was a Turkish polyglot singer of Jewish origin, as well as an accomplished composer, lyricist and guitarist, who was born in Aydın, Turkey, in 1921, and who attained fame and made a remarkable career centered in France which also included films, during the fifties and the...
(other version, related with greek one)
Misirlou, ton doux regard
A allumé une flamme dans mon cœur,
akh yakhabibi, akh ya leleli, akh,
Tes lèvres de miel, oyme!
Ah! Misirlou, beauté magique et enchanteresse
Je deviens fou, je ne peux plus souffrir
Ah! Je vais te voler à l'Arabie
Ma Misirlou aux yeux noirs
Un seul de tes baisés allume une flamme en moi
akh yakhabibi, un petit baisé
de tes lèvres douces, oyme!
Ah! Misirlou, beauté magique et enchanteresse
Je deviens fou, je ne peux plus souffrir
Ah! Je vais te voler à l'Arabie
Other notable recordings
- Xavier CugatXavier CugatXavier Cugat was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman...
recorded the song in 1944. - Korla PanditKorla PanditKorla Pandit , born John Roland Redd in St. Louis, Missouri, was a musician, composer, pianist, organist and television pioneer. He was known as the Godfather of Exotica.-Early career:...
performed the song in 1951 for Snader TelescriptionsSnader TelescriptionsSnader Telescriptions, produced for television in 1951 and 1952, were film versions of popular and classical music performances. Singers, dancers, orchestras, and novelty acts appeared in the Snader musicals. They were produced by Louis D...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ytSC8rz84 - The Beach BoysThe Beach BoysThe Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
recorded the song for the album Surfin' USASurfin' USA-Singles:* "Surfin' USA" b/w "Shut Down" , 4 March 1963, US #3; #34 UK-Personnel:*Brian Wilson - Vocals, bass, keyboards*Mike Love - Vocals, saxophone*Dennis Wilson - Vocals, drums...
from 1963. - Martin DennyMartin DennyMartin Denny was an American piano-player and composer best known as the "father of exotica." In a long career that saw him performing well into his 80s, he toured the world popularizing his brand of lounge music which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and...
and Arthur LymanArthur LymanArthur Lyman was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His group popularized a style of faux-Polynesian music during the 1950s and 1960s which later became known as exotica...
, founding fathers of TikiTikiTiki refers to large wood and stone carvings of humanoid forms in Central Eastern Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Ocean. The term is also used in Māori mythology where Tiki is the first man, created by either Tūmatauenga or Tāne. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond – she seduced him...
and ExoticaExoticaExotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
music, recorded two covers of the song. - A Serbian version of this song titled Vranjanka (The Girl from VranjeVranjeVranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
) was created by Serbian singer Staniša StošićStaniša StošićStaniša Stošić was a Serbian folk musician known for singing beautiful melodies from Vranje region which earned him the nickname of "Serbian Pavarotti" and "Father of the southern melodies"...
. This version is widely sung across the territory of the former Yugoslavia; when Pulp FictionPulp Fiction (film)Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
appeared, to many it was a surprise to find out that the song was indeed Greek. - The influential British Fingerstyle guitarist Davey GrahamDavey GrahamDavid Michael Gordon "Davey" Graham, originally spelled Davy Graham, , was a British guitarist and one of the most influential figures in the 1960s British folk revival...
plays a fingerstyle guitar version on his albums Live at St Andrews' Folk Club 1966 and After Hours: Live at Hull University 1967. On the St Andrews' recording Graham introduces the song: 'I was in Greece last year, and I saw that the Greeks dance alone, which I thought was a bit queer at first; this is a tune, a song really, about a girl called Miserlou'. - The song was covered by the Red ElvisesRed ElvisesThe Red Elvises are a Russian-American band that performs rock & roll, surf, rockabilly, reggae, lounge and traditional Russian styles of music...
for the film Six String Samurai. - French-Algerian rock star Rachid TahaRachid TahaRachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
recorded an Arabic, drum'n'bass-inspired version, titled "Jungle Fiction". - American ethnomusicologist Harry SmithHarry Everett SmithHarry Everett Smith was an American archivist, ethnomusicologist, student of anthropology, record collector, experimental filmmaker, artist, bohemian and mystic...
made several recordings of Naftali Zvi Margolies Abulafia, a prominent Jewish orthodox rabbi who lived on New York's Lower East Side as he sang and told stories in Yiddish. On January 1, 2006, NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
presented a story on the efforts of his grandson Lionel ZiprinLionel ZiprinLionel Ziprin was a poet who lived on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He was also a grandson of the renowned Orthodox rabbi Nuftali Zvi Margolies Abulafia, who recorded a 15-LP set of Jewish liturgical music in a neighborhood yeshiva during the 1950s with noted ethnomusicologist Harry...
to preserve these recordings and played some of them in their story. One of the pieces sounds identical to the melody of "Misirlou". (The melody can be heard, beginning at 4:13.) NPR: A Grandson's Quest To Preserve His Jewish Heritage - A version with Yiddish lyrics is often performed at weddings, and has been recorded by Klezmer Conservatory BandKlezmer Conservatory BandThe Klezmer Conservatory Band is an Boston-based group which performs traditional klezmer music; it was formed by Hankus Netsky of the New England Conservatory of Music in 1980. Originally formed for a single concert, they have gone on to release eleven albums....
on their CD Dancing in the Aisles. The style is a hybrid of Ashkenazic Klezmer and Mizrahi (Jewish songs set to Arab melodies). - The United States Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
holds two recordings created in 1939, each sung a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
by a different woman. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/flwpabib:@field(TITLE+@od1(Misirlou)) - The Trashmen on their debut album, Surfin' BirdSurfin' Bird"Surfin' Bird" is a song performed by the American surf rock band The Trashmen; it is also the name of the album that featured this hit single. It was released in 1963 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100...
, in 1964. - The song was sampled in The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
song "Pump ItPump It"Pump It" is a song by The Black Eyed Peas that heavily incorporates music from the Dick Dale version of the song "Misirlou"...
." - American Thrash metalThrash metalThrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Dark AngelDark Angel (band)Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style earned them the nickname "the L.A...
did a short rendition of "Misirlou" on their song Psychosexuality off of their 1991 album Time Does Not HealTime Does Not HealTime Does Not Heal is the fourth and final album by Dark Angel, which was released in 1991. When released it had a sticker reading "9 songs, 67 minutes, 246 riffs!".-Track listing:-Credits:*Ron Rinehart - Vocals*Eric Meyer - Guitars...
. - Australian string group Deep BlueDeep BlueDeep Blue was a chess-playing computer developed by IBM. On May 11, 1997, the machine won a six-game match by two wins to one with three draws against world champion Garry Kasparov. Kasparov accused IBM of cheating and demanded a rematch, but IBM refused and dismantled Deep Blue...
rearranged the piece for string orchestra - In 2011, 2Cellos2Cellos2Cellos is a cello duo consisting of Croatian cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. Signed to Sony Masterworks since 12 April 2011, the two were discovered after uploading a music video of their cello-only cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" to YouTube.-Background:Šulić, born in...
covered this song, played as classical music. They are a cello duo consisting of Croatian cellists Luka ŠulićLuka ŠulićLuka Šulić is a Croatian Slovenian cellist.Šulić was born in Maribor, Slovenia. He comes from a Dubrovnik musical family, his father Božo is also a cellist, and many members of his family are associated with music....
and Stjepan HauserStjepan Hauser- Early life and musical training :Hauser was born in Pula to a musical family, where he began his musical education. He has a sister who is a journalist in Pula. Hauser finished secondary school in Rijeka...
.
Use in soundtracks
- In the opening scene of Pulp FictionPulp Fiction (film)Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
, a modified version of "Misirlou" by surf guitarist Dick DaleDick DaleDick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
was used. - In the soundtrack of the video game Red AlertCommand & Conquer: Red AlertCommand & Conquer: Red Alert is a real-time strategy computer game of the Command & Conquer franchise, produced by Westwood Studios and released by Virgin Interactive in...
, Frank KlepackiFrank KlepackiFrank Klepacki is an American musician, video game music composer and sound director best known for his work on the Command & Conquer series. Having learned to play drums as a child, he joined Westwood Studios as a composer when he was only 17 years old...
adapted an earlier song from the game series to the style of the Misirlou, as a tribute to it. - A version of the song was used in the opening scene of the French film TaxiTaxi (1998 film)Taxi is a 1998 French action-comedy film starring Samy Naceri, written by Luc Besson, and directed by Gérard Pirès.- Plot :The film takes place in Marseille, France, and involves an aspiring racecar driver named Daniel , who initially works as a pizza delivery boy, but changes jobs to become a taxi...
. And different versions in all three sequels, too. The fourth part used the version from The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
. - A version of the song cover by The Red Elvises was used in the soundtrack of the cult filmCult filmA cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
Six String Samurai. - "Misirlou" has been featured in the video game Guitar Hero IIGuitar Hero IIGuitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
as well as KonamiKonamiis a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
's Guitar Freaks and DrummaniaDrumManiais a music video game series produced by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., where colored notes travel down the screen which correspond with color coded parts of an electronic drum set...
games. - The Dick Dale version is used in the opening credits of the TV series Kitchen NightmaresKitchen NightmaresKitchen Nightmares is an American reality television series broadcast on the Fox network, in which Chef Gordon Ramsay spends a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business. It is based on the British show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. The show is produced by ITV Studios...
. - "Misirlou" is featured in the 2006 video game Rayman Raving RabbidsRayman Raving RabbidsRayman Raving Rabbids, known in French as , is a spinoff in the Rayman series released by the French company Ubisoft as a Wii launch title. The game consists of over 70 minigames...
. - A slower tempo version of it was used in a scene near a swimming pool in Season 2 episode of Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, titled "Jet Set". - It was used in the unrated trailer for the 2009 film The HangoverThe Hangover (film)The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha and Jeffrey Tambor...
. - The song Walk Don't Rango on the soundtrack of the RangoRango (2011 film)Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western Comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Graham King. In the film, a chameleon named Rango accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, an outpost that is in desperate need of a new sheriff...
is a reference to Dick DaleDick DaleDick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
's surf rendition of "Misirlou". - In the opening and closing scenes of The Ruthless Four (Italian: Ognuno per sé), a 1968 Italian Western film directed by Giorgio Capitani and starring Van Heflin
External links
- Original (MP3) versions of Greek Song Misirlou
- Dick Dale's Extensive Explanation (with guitar tabs and standard notation)
- Yiddish lyrics for Misirlou with English translation
- Misirlou, from Klezmer to Surf Guitar (NPR Weekend Edition Sunday, January 8, 2006). (It should be noted that the program makes some patently incorrect statements - Rembetiko is not "a slow circle dance"; it does not have origins in ThrakiThraceThrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
; the Jews of Constantinople were Sephardim, not Askenazi, etc.) - Playlist of a KGNU broadcast listing 25 performances of Misirlou.
- U.S. Library of Congress recordings.