 
By:
Paul Harding
Not
much Middle Eastern popular music gets released in the states,
but when it does, it often makes a refreshing treat. The new
album by Arabic star Warda is no exception. Her popularity has
been understandably expanding for over 30 years, especially
in Egypt.
Warda
grew up in Paris above her father's Arabic night club, sneaking
downstairs to listen to the bands and singing to herself. At
the age of eleven she was discovered and put on French radio.
Later she lived and performed in Lebanon, Egypt and eventually
back to her father's home of Algeria.
Warda's
self titled release is a collection of some of her works from
the first half of the nineties. Her passionate vocals work as
perfectly with the soaring orchestral strings as they do with
upbeat synthesized accompaniment, between which the album carries
a delicate balance. Known as "The Rose of Algeria," Warda at
the same time coaxes emotions with her voice and compels physical
response with her Arabic dance rhythms.
By:
Tim Sheridan
You
may well have heard Warda (born Warda Al Jazairia) as background
noise in some Middle-Eastern restaurant and not thought twice.
But a closer listen to this heady mix of Eastern rhythms and
Western contemporary pop just might put your head in a spin.
Warda's
sultry voice is set against a background of lush strings, finger
cymbals and assorted exotica. All the tunes here run an average
of eight minutes, but if you decide to explore something a little
different, you may just thank yourself.
By: A music fan
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
The
music on this CD is beautifully orchestrated and is completely
capitvating. The quality of the recording is excellent and sounds
great even on a portable CD player. With energetic and upbeat
tempos, it makes a great music companion for working out, rehearsing
and/or performing. This CD is a definite "must have" for any
belly dancer.
By: WardaRules@go.com
from the United States
This
cd is really good. It has a nice eastern beat to it. I have
to admit that one of her songs sounds a bit weird, but Nar El
Gheira is by far the best song on the cd. It is very up-beat
and it makes you want to dance all day long.
By: : A music fan
from Canada
Warda
has a Great voice but the music is so poor.
By: : A music fan
from SHIRLEY MA
THIS
IS A GOOD CD. WARDA IS UP BEAT.THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REALLY
GOOD SONGS,I FIND IT HARD TO KEEP STILL WHEN I HERE THEM.THERE
IS NOT ALOT OF WAILING.SHE HAS SOFTEND HER VOICE TO BLEND PERFECT
WITH THE MUSIC.
By: : A music fan
from Baile Nua na hArda, Ireland
This
is totally amazing - although i was initially daunted by the
14 minute long songs, I soon settled into their sweeping, melodramatic
and slightly mesmerising structures and found myself under the
spell of Warda's alluring voice. This is a very accessible way
into non-Raï Arab music and is very dancable. The underlying
beat of songs like Hobak Wesl Madah and Ya Saeedy is infectuous
and combines really well with the string section. Warda, or,
the Rose of Algeria, has a more Mediterranean sound to the other
greats of the Cairo circuit and this funky intro is perfect
for the, as yet, uninitiated.
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