Liberal Arts Blog — Indonesia, “Bengawan Solo,” Philippines, “Dahil Sa Iyo,” Turkey, “Ali Baba ‘nin Ciftligi”
Liberal Arts Blog — Thursday is the Joy of Music Day
Today’s Topic: Next up: Indonesia, “Bengawan Solo,” Philippines, “Dahil Sa Iyo,” Turkey, “Ali Baba ‘nin Ciftligi”
Whenever I meet a student at Harvard or a tourist at the North Bridge in Concord (or anywhere else for that matter) from a country whose language I don’t know, I ask: what is your most beloved song? My goal is to learn three new songs per year until I croak. I’m up to roughly 40 (7 Asian, 4 Middle Eastern, 5 African, and the rest European). Next up: Indonesian, Tagalog, and Turkish. Today a few random notes on the only songs suggested so far by students or tourists. Are there better ones? Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
BENGAWAN SOLO — “River of my dreams, tonight I will call to you” (first line)
1. The Bengawan Solo, a river, is to the Indonesian island of Java what the Nile is to Egypt, the Ganges to India, or the Mississippi to the United States. Java is the world’s most populous island with 145 million people. Indonesia’s total population is 270 million.
2. Composed by Gesang Martohartono (1917–2010) in 1940 during the Japanese occupation. “I had dreamt since my childhood about writing a song of praise for the immortal Solo River.”
3. The song’s appeal cut across cultural lines becoming extremely popular in Japan and China as well as Indonesia.
NB: “Take me back to your mountain view, caressing your clear cool streams.” (second line)
Bengawan Solo — Indonesian Folk song
BULE NYANYI BENGAWAN SOLO COVER by WayangTokek (Hak penciptaan dari Gesang Martohartono)
DAHIL SA YO — “Its popularity in the Philippines is such that some think it ought to replace the current national anthem”
1. A classic love song written in Tagalog in 1938 by Mike Velarde, for the film “Bituing Marikit.” Originally sung by matinee idol Rogelio de la Rosa who later became a Philippine diplomat and politician.
2. One of the most famous recordings is by Nat King Cole in 1961.
3. “Because of you there is a joy in living…I never lived before…”
“Dahil Sa Iyo” (Because of You) Original English/Tagalog Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHI2RypmtmI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahil_sa_Iyo
Dahil Sa’yo — Inigo Pascual (Lyrics)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahil_sa_Iyo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahil_Sa%27yo
ALI BABANIN — the Turkish Equivalent of Old McDonald Had a Farm
1. “Ali Baba has a big farm, in his farm there are roosters, cock-a-doodle-doo they go in Ali Baba’s big farm.”
2. “Ali Baba has a big farm, in his farm there are lambs, baa, baa they go in Ali Baba’s big farm.”
3. “Ali Baba has a big farm, in his farm there are dogs, Woof, woof they go in Ali Bab’s big farm.”
Let’s Sing in Turkish! Ali Baba’nin Çiftligi (Ali Baba’s Farm) Part 2
En Popüler 5 ALİ BABANIN ÇİFTLİĞİ Çocuk Şarkısı | Sevimli Dostlar Çizgi Film Bebek Şarkıları
Last three years of posts organized thematically:
PDF with headlines — Google Drive
YOUR TURN
Time to share the coolest thing you learned in the last week related to music. Or the coolest thing you learned in your life related to music. Say your favorite song or songs. Or your favorite tips for breathing, posture, or relaxation. Or some insight into the history of music….Or just something random about music… like a joke about drummers. jazz, rock….or share an episode or chapter in your musical autobiography.
This is your chance to make some one else’s day. And perhaps to cement in your memory something important you would otherwise forget. Or to think more deeply than you otherwise would about something that matters to you.
