''Seret El Hob'' () is an

Egyptian Arabic Egyptian Arabic, locally known as Colloquial Egyptian, or simply as Masri, is the most widely spoken vernacular Arabic variety in Egypt. It is part of the Afro-Asiatic language family, and originated in the Nile Delta in Lower Egypt. The esti ...

song performed by the Egyptian singer

Umm Kulthum Umm Kulthum (; 31 December 1898 – 3 February 1975) was an Egyptians, Egyptian singer and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1970s. She was given the honorific title (). Immensely popular throughout the Middle East and beyond, Umm Kul ...

. The song was written by Morsi Gamil, and composed by

Baligh Hamdi Baligh Hamdi ( ; 7 October 1931 – 12 September 1993) was an Egyptian composer who created and composed many hit songs for several singers in the Arab world, especially during the 1960s and 1970s. He composed Warda's most famous songs, and ...

. It was released in 1964, and it remains one of Umm Kulthum's most celebrated and iconic works. It was presented for the first time on December 3, 1964, at the Qasr El Nil Theater. It is considered the first collaboration between Umm Kulthum, Morsi Gamil, and

them after agreeing on three songs (''Seret El Hob'', '' Fat El Ma'ad'', and '' Alf Leila Wa Leila'').

Composition

"Seret Al-Hob" was composed by the prominent Egyptian composer

, with lyrics written by the Egyptian poet and lyricist Morsi Gamil. The first songs of Mursi Gamal Aziz with the Star of the East were initially met with some apprehension from Aziz, who was initially hesitant to work with Umm Kulthum. However, after several sessions with her, he agreed. He provided her with three openings for the trilogy "''Seret El Hob''," "'' Fat El Ma'ad''," and "'' Alf Leila Wa Leila''" (One Thousand and One Nights). It was initially intended to be composed by Mohamed Al-Mougy, but after some issues, it was composed by Baligh Hamdi. Baligh, renowned for his innovative contributions to

Arabic music Arabic music () is the music of the Arab world with all its diverse List of music styles, music styles and genres. Arabic countries have many rich and varied styles of music and also many linguistic Varieties of Arabic, dialects, with each countr ...

, employed a mix of traditional Arabic instruments and orchestral arrangements to create a rich and immersive soundscape. The composition features a blend of classical and modern elements, which was characteristic of Hamdi's style during this period. Regarding the song: It is considered one of the most important romantic songs performed by the Lady of Arabic Singing. There are specific sections of the song that the audience still repeats to this day. Poet

Salah Jahin Muhammad Salah Eldin Bahgat Ahmad Helmy (, ), known as Salah Jaheen ( ; December 25, 1930 – April 21, 1986) was a leading Egyptian poet, lyricist, playwright and cartoonist. Life and career Jaheen was born in Shobra district, Cairo in 1930 ...

commented on it in one of his interviews, saying: "Seret Al-Hob is the teenage daughter of the song '

Inta Omri "Inta Omri" (; also transliterated as , , or ) is a popular Egyptian song by Umm Kulthum. It was released in March 1965 by ''Sono Cairo Records''. Composition and legacy The song (literally "You Are My Life") was composed by prominent Egypti ...

' written by Ahmed Shafiq Kamel and composed by

Mohammed Abdel Wahab Mohamed Abdel Wahab (), also transliterated ''Mehammad Abdelwehab'', (March 13, 1902 – May 4, 1991), was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer, actor, and composer. He is best known for his Romantic and Egyptian patriotic songs. He ...

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Seret Al-Hob" explore the profound experiences and emotions associated with love. The title itself, which translates to "The Tale of Love," reflects the narrative quality of the song. The song's verses describe the various facets of love, from its initial enchantment to the enduring commitment that follows. The poetic nature of the lyrics, combined with Umm Kulthum's expressive vocal delivery, contributes to the song's emotional impact.

Concerts

This is a list of Umm Kulthum's performances of the song: * Qasr El-Nil - December 3, 1964 * Azbakeya Garden - January 7, 1965 *

Cairo University Cairo University () is Egypt's premier public university. Its main campus is in Giza, immediately across the Nile from Cairo. It was founded on 21 December 1908;"Brief history and development of Cairo University." Cairo University Faculty of En ...

- January 25, 1965 * Azbakeya Garden - February 4, 1965 * Azbakeya Garden - May 6, 1965 * Qasr El-Nil - May 3, 1965 * Bisan Al-Alya - August 8, 1965 * Azbakeya Garden - February 3, 1966 *

Baalbeck International Festival The Baalbeck International Festival (; ) is a cultural event in Lebanon. Since 1955, people from around the world have gone to the city of Baalbek in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon to attend the annual festival. Classical music, dance, theater, opera, ...

(Baalbek Theater) - July 17, 1966

References

{{Reflist Egyptian songs Umm Kulthum songs 1964 songs