“My host family likes to play this song [“Ghazali“] on the TV every night and sing and dance along.” -Sydney Ward (Fez, Morocco)
In Summer 2018, University of Washington Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) fellows studied seventeen languages in eighteen different countries on four continents. This post includes songs contributed by CGS FLAS fellows and International Studies BA/MA students which capture summer moments from across the world. This post features Iran, Turkey, Morocco and Jordan.
Sydney Ward, at a Spanish mosque overlooking the city of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Sydney Ward (BA International Studies, Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, FLAS: Global Studies, Arabic) writes from Fez, where she is studying at ALIF:
A popular song in Morocco this summer is “Ghazali” by Saad Lamjarred. This pop song is about love and meeting a beautiful woman. In the music video, the singer Saad meets a beautiful woman and falls in love with her at an extravagant party that he is hosting. This artist, Saad Lamjarred, is very popular in Morocco and every time he releases a new song, it hits the top charts. My host family likes to play this song on the TV every night and sing and dance along. I also hear it on the radio when I take taxis around Fez.
Hannah Grossblatt (MA International Studies, FLAS: West Europe, Turkish) writes from Istanbul where she is studying Turkish at Boğaziçi University:
“Yalnız Çiçek (The Lonely Flower)” is all over Turkey right now! It’s actually a remake of a song from the 90’s. Both versions have very interesting music videos!
Henry Milander
Henry Milander (BA Business, International Studies and Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, FLAS: West Europe, Arabic) first heard “Ya Lilli” by Balti when his Arabic teacher at the Qasid Institute played it while they were making food for a class dinner. He’s heard it many times since then, filtering through his apartment window in Amman, as well as on the streets as cars drive by blasting it loudly.
FLAS Fellowships are funded by the International and Foreign Language Education Office of the U.S. Department of Education. FLAS fellowships support undergraduate, graduate and professional students in acquiring modern foreign languages and area or international studies competencies. Students from all UW departments and professional schools are encouraged to apply. Find out more about the FLAS Fellowship here.