1. Music Styles of the Middle East
Middle Eastern Rights Association
This presentation is beneficial when introducing culture and discussing various languages and cultural themes of the region; students should be able to differentiate various sounds and also recognize musical and linguistic similarities . Pictures of the various singers are also included demonstrating genetic similarities and differences among people of the middle east. The point that one cannot always determine race or country of origin should also be applied.

2. Assyrian Debke (cultural dance – Assyrian [Iraq/Syria/Iran/Lebanon])
Juliana Jendo “Bagie”

3. Bollywood (India – Hindi)
“Channa Mereya” from the Movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
“Mahi Ve” from the movie Kal Ho Na Ho

4. Egyptian Sha3be (Arabic)
Mahmood El Lithy “Inta Ya Inta”

5. Kurdish Pop and Debke (Kurdistan-North Iraq/West Turkey)
Helly Luv “Revolution”
Jamshid “Tan’nek”

6. Lebanese Pop (Arabic) Nancy Ajram “Ah We Nos”

7. North African Rai (Arabic)
Cheb Mami with Sting “Desert Rose”
Cheb Khaled “C’est La Vie” [notice French influence]

8. Palestinian Debke (traditional dance - Arabic)
Mohammad Asaf “Ali El Koufia”

9. Persian Electronic (Farsi)
Mohsen Yegane “Sokoot”
Bahador Karazmi “Too In Zamoone”

10. Uzbek Pop (Farsi) Shahzoda “Layli va Majnoon”

11. Discussion Questions Which songs did you enjoy and why?
Had you heard any of these songs previously?
Which songs sound more similar to popular US music?
What similarities do you notice in music styles?
Do the different languages sound similar or different?
Can you tell from listening which language someone is speaking?
Can you determine what country (s)he comes from by listening to their language? by their photo?