Sidi Mansour (song)
Encyclopedia
"'Sidi Mansour" is a hugely successful pan-Arab
song originally a traditional Tunisia
n folkloric tune.
There were a number of versions of the song for a few decades. An adaptation of the song was also the basis for the Boney M. hit "Ma Baker
". But the song was made very famous in 2000 when the Tunisian
artist Saber Rebaï
(in Arabic
صابر الرباعي) released his version. Since then, "Sidi Mansour" has been subject to many covers in Arabic and many other languages.
Rebaï's "Sidi Mansour" song should not however be confused with "Sidi Mansour" by Algerian rai
artist Cheikha Rimitti
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAxnUuOhYo Her rendition is another "Sidi Mansour" not related to the Rebaï song.
محمّد الجراري) in his audio cassette Folklore tunisien (in Arabic
فولكلور تونسي ) as "Sidi Mansour Baba Bahri" ( Arabic
سيدي منصور بابا بحري).
A version was recorded in 1975 by Mohamed Hanesh (in Arabic
محمد الحنش).
when he recorded it in his same titled album Sidi Mansour
released in 2000. The music is a popular tune from Tunisian traditional folklore and the lyrics were written by Sameh al Ajami. The record was produced by Hamid al Sha'iri and the very popular music video is directed by Fadi Kenaan. The song is also known as "Allah Allah, ya baba", "Sidi Mansour (ya baba)", expressions used many times in the lyrics.
Most notably, it became the basis for the Boney M. hit "Ma Baker
" in 1977 largely based on the 1975 hit by Mohamed Hanesh.
Parts of the song have also been sampled many times in other released songs in Arabic and other languages.
"Σε πήρα σοβαρά" meaning I took you seriously) is a 2004 bilingual
song in Greek
and Arabic
by the Greek-Cypriot and Lebanese origin artist Sarbel
based on Tunisian pan-Arab singer Saber Rebaï's Arabic song "Sidi Mansour" and became highly successful in Greece
, Cyprus
and throughout the Middle East
. The song is the debut single by Sarbel taken from his debut album Parakseno sinesthima
(in Greek
Παράξενο συναίσθημα).
The song features Greek songstress Irini Merkouri, who first introduced the young singer Sarbel to fans in Greece, but also across the Middle East. The song "Se pira sovara" was also shot as a music video.
The album also contains a remixed version entitled "Se pira sovara (Diva) (Sidi Mansour) - Sfera mix" by Nikos Nikolakopoulos.
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
song originally a traditional Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n folkloric tune.
There were a number of versions of the song for a few decades. An adaptation of the song was also the basis for the Boney M. hit "Ma Baker
Ma Baker
"Ma Baker" is a 1977 disco hit single by German disco band Boney M. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany and their best yet placing in the UK, peaking at #2 although only a minor single in the US .-The song:Frank Farian's...
". But the song was made very famous in 2000 when the Tunisian
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
artist Saber Rebaï
Saber Rebaï
Saber Rebaï , born in Sfax, Tunisia is an award winning Tunisian pan-Arab singer and composer that enjoys popularity throughout the Arab World and internationally with concerts in Europe, the Americas and Asia. He is mostly known for his song "Sidi Mansour". Some albums carry the variant...
(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...
صابر الرباعي) released his version. Since then, "Sidi Mansour" has been subject to many covers in Arabic and many other languages.
Rebaï's "Sidi Mansour" song should not however be confused with "Sidi Mansour" by Algerian rai
Rai
Rai may refer to:Acronyms*RAI, radioactive iodine, in the medical context of the treatment of thyroid problems*RAI, Radiotelevisione Italiana, Italian public broadcasting*Praia International Airport in Cape Verde, IATA airport code...
artist Cheikha Rimitti
Cheikha Rimitti
Cheikha Rimitti Cheikha Rimitti Cheikha Rimitti (born سعدية الغيزانية Saadia El Ghizania, (8 May 1923, Tessala, Algeria – d. 15 May 2006, Paris, France) was a popular Algerian raï female singer.-Early life:...
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAxnUuOhYo Her rendition is another "Sidi Mansour" not related to the Rebaï song.
Versions prior to Saber Rebaï
The song was recorded by Mohammed Jarrari (in ArabicArabic 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...
محمّد الجراري) in his audio cassette Folklore tunisien (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...
فولكلور تونسي ) as "Sidi Mansour Baba Bahri" ( 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...
سيدي منصور بابا بحري).
A version was recorded in 1975 by Mohamed Hanesh (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...
محمد الحنش).
Saber Rebaï version
The song was made famous by Saber RebaïSaber Rebaï
Saber Rebaï , born in Sfax, Tunisia is an award winning Tunisian pan-Arab singer and composer that enjoys popularity throughout the Arab World and internationally with concerts in Europe, the Americas and Asia. He is mostly known for his song "Sidi Mansour". Some albums carry the variant...
when he recorded it in his same titled album Sidi Mansour
Sidi Mansour (album)
Sidi Mansour is a successful 2000 album by Tunisia-n pan-Arab singer Saber Rebaï that contains his hit song "Sidi Mansour", a massive pan-Arab hit.-Tracklist:#Sidi Mansour #Awel Alb...
released in 2000. The music is a popular tune from Tunisian traditional folklore and the lyrics were written by Sameh al Ajami. The record was produced by Hamid al Sha'iri and the very popular music video is directed by Fadi Kenaan. The song is also known as "Allah Allah, ya baba", "Sidi Mansour (ya baba)", expressions used many times in the lyrics.
Other versions and samplings
The song has been subject to a huge number of interpretations by Arab and international artists and remixes by many DJs in original Arabic version and in other languages.Most notably, it became the basis for the Boney M. hit "Ma Baker
Ma Baker
"Ma Baker" is a 1977 disco hit single by German disco band Boney M. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany and their best yet placing in the UK, peaking at #2 although only a minor single in the US .-The song:Frank Farian's...
" in 1977 largely based on the 1975 hit by Mohamed Hanesh.
Parts of the song have also been sampled many times in other released songs in Arabic and other languages.
- Arabic versions were done by Bled Runner featuring Dida Brother (in album The Rough Guide To Arabesque), by Cheb Rayan featuring Rima and a mix by Malik Adouane
- Instrumental versions were done by Omar KhorshidOmar KhorshidOmar Khorshid . Movie star and famed guitarist of the Middle east, he composed the music for thirteen films...
- Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
performed "Sidi Mansour" with Juldeh Camara performed at World of Music, Arts and DanceWorld of Music, Arts and DanceWOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
(WOMAD) in Abu DhabiAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
. - "Se Pira Sovara", is a very notable language version recorded in GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
in 2004 by SarbelSarbelSarbel Michael known professionally as Sarbel, is a Greek Cypriot pop singer of partial Cypriot and Lebanese ancestry. He is well known in Cyprus, Greece and parts of the Arab world for his debut single, "Se pira sovara", and his subsequent albums Parakseno sinesthima, Sahara and Kati san esena...
and was a big hit for him in Greece. - "Mariš li" (in SerbianSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
Мариш ли) is a Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
song sung by Viki MiljkovićViki MiljkovicVioleta "Viki" Miljković is a singer who is popular in the former Yugoslav republics....
using the music of "Sidi Mansour" taken from her 2003 album of same name. - "Mavişim" is a Turkish languageTurkish languageTurkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
song sung by İbrahim Tatlısesİbrahim Tatlıses-References:...
using the music of "Sidi Mansour". It is found on his album Yetmez mi. - "Za Yam Maghror Laila" with the music of Sidi Mansour is a Pakistani song sung by various artists in Urdu / Pashto.
- Mario PiùMario PiùMario Più is a professional disc jockey from Livorno, Italy.His 1999 single, "Communication", also known as "The Communication Song", is notable for being mainly constructed from the interference caused on improperly shielded audio equipment when a GSM mobile telephone rings...
& Mauro PicottoMauro PicottoMauro Picotto is an Italian electronic music musician. Previously a member of the Italian rave outfit, Cappella. He became well-known as a solo artist with techno-trance tracks including "Komodo" , "Pulsar" and most famously for "Lizard"...
released the song "Arabian Pleasures" in 1999 which uses the melody of "Sidi Mansour". A vocal version was later contributed by Egyptian/Algerian singer Amal Wahby.
Se Pira Sovara
"Se Pira Sovara" (in GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
"Σε πήρα σοβαρά" meaning I took you seriously) is a 2004 bilingual
Multilingualism
Multilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
song in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and 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...
by the Greek-Cypriot and Lebanese origin artist Sarbel
Sarbel
Sarbel Michael known professionally as Sarbel, is a Greek Cypriot pop singer of partial Cypriot and Lebanese ancestry. He is well known in Cyprus, Greece and parts of the Arab world for his debut single, "Se pira sovara", and his subsequent albums Parakseno sinesthima, Sahara and Kati san esena...
based on Tunisian pan-Arab singer Saber Rebaï's Arabic song "Sidi Mansour" and became highly successful in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and throughout 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...
. The song is the debut single by Sarbel taken from his debut album Parakseno sinesthima
Parakseno sinesthima
Parakseno Sinesthima is the 2005 debut album of Greek singer of Cypriot/Lebanese origin Sarbel released in Greek language and released on Sony BMG label...
(in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
Παράξενο συναίσθημα).
The song features Greek songstress Irini Merkouri, who first introduced the young singer Sarbel to fans in Greece, but also across the Middle East. The song "Se pira sovara" was also shot as a music video.
The album also contains a remixed version entitled "Se pira sovara (Diva) (Sidi Mansour) - Sfera mix" by Nikos Nikolakopoulos.