Hamid El Shaeri - "Hely Meli"

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Featured on the Putumayo collection "Arabic Groove."
Originally released on June 12th, 2001.

From the liner notes:

Hamid El Shaeri is Libya’s most popular musical export. He was born in the city of Benghazi but moved to Egypt in 1974 for political reasons and to find better musical opportunities. Cairo is the center of music production in the Arab world, and countless artists flock there in hopes of becoming stars. Shaeri has steadily made a name for himself on the Egyptian music front and, more recently, in the rest of the Arab world. He is recognized as a gifted songwriter and arranger. His first hit came in 1988 with the song “Lolaiki,” which was recorded with Ali Hamaida and sold a million copies. He was the arranger and music director for two of Amr Diab’s best-selling albums, Nour El Ein in 1996 and Awidoony in 1998. Shaeri’s album, Ainy, was released in 1999 and greatly increased his popularity as a singer and a star in his own right.

Shaeri is considered a leading force in popular Arabic music (known as al-jil in Egypt). He brings to his work a deep understanding of the fundamentals of traditional music. Shaeri’s years of experience in arranging and composing come through loud and clear on “Hely Meli (Come and Sway Toward Me).” Flying bass lines, punchy horns, a pounding beat with just the right amount of the warm sound of the Arabic oud and qanun (zither) all wrapped in a beautiful melody, lyrics and vocals make it a fine example of modern Arabic pop music. “We’ll tell the sorrow to leave us / Let love be our path / Step by step / Song by song / We will surround
life with our desire.”