A-WA's Timeless Yemeni-Jewish Traditional Songs Meet Arabic Pop

Soundcheck | Jul 11, 2019

The Israeli band called A-WA had a huge hit on its very first attempt when their song "Habib Galbi" (“Love of My Heart”) – which blended traditional Yemenite folk music with modern dance beats – became the first Arabic-language song to ever become the #1 song in Israel. It was also a viral hit throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Even Pitbull got into the act, featuring on a remix of the song.  A-WA is led by a trio of sisters from a Yemeni Jewish family who sing in Arabic and English. Their most recent album Bayti Fi Rasi, is Yemenite traditional music mixed with hip-hop, reggae, and electronic music is called and they’re here to play some of it for us, in-studio. - John Schaefer

 

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