حستنا جنبي قلبه
عندي بالدنيا حبه
حتقولوا علي مالي
اعمل له ايه انا بحبه

ياللى ظلمتوا الحب
وقلتوا وعدتوا عليه
قلتوا عليه مش عارف إيه
العيب فيكم
يا فى حبايبكم
أما الحب ياروحى عليه
فى الدنيا ما فيش
أبدا أبدا أحلى من الحب
نتعب نغلب نشتكى منه
لكن بنحب
ياسلام ع القلب
وتنهيده فى وصال وفراق
وشموع الشوق لما يقيدوا ليل المشتاق
يا سلام ع الدنيا
وحلاوتها فى عين العشاق

A classical tune invaded my ears.. something old classic song I used to listen to at my Grandfather’s house .. in a place beyond the ocean, in another country..in another life.

I could see the rows of men and women…men in dark suits…spectacles..cigarettes.. some in military outfits..politicians mingling with artists..posh velvet seats…peppered among them fashionable ladies in delicate dresses..mink coats if the weather is cold..bejeweled ladies…gems sparkling around their neck…in their hair…on their wrists…an ivory cigarette holder…or perhaps bone.

All the eyes are staring at the thick velvet curtains covering the stage, a few notes may escape the thick curtains.. a violin.. a cello…a guitar here or there..may be a oud.. or a sax..ears picking those strayed notes..anxious.. all waiting for the curtains to open and the flow of music to overtake them into a musical bliss.

Suddenly, the curtains open..the lady ..on a wooden chair..straight-backed.. a dark evening gown..5 strands of pearls around her neck..chandelier earrings..looking at her crowd…taking them in…gazing into their souls..reading their minds..them..obedient students under a stern headmistress.  

A wave of applause..an ocean..a tsunami..no movements on the stage.. then with a slight move from her silk scarf..the music is born..the keys unite..the notes fill the air in an orgy of instruments..systematic..precise..organised and enchanting.

The end of a 10 minutes intro..she stands up..like a lioness…bows for them…and a golden voice starts to sing..produce music..a voice box that needed no tune..smooth as silk..the crowd enchanted like that cobra swaying to the tunes of an Indian snake enchanter.