A thread for pop with Arabic influences from the Balkans, Transcaucasia, North Africa and the Middle East

Balti - Ya Lili feat. Hamouda (Tunisia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJHPpTYtIqk

I remember this being a crossover hit a few years ago.

“Sekret” by Ronela Hajati, this year’s Albanian Eurovision entry, is more than worth a thread revive. There’s several different versions to choose from - I can’t, so here’s all three of them:

the original all-Albanian version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NczxScmhajw

live performance in the national final, partly in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuLIDqZ3waQ

the brand new revamped international video version, English + Albanian and featuring some strategically interspersed Spanish elements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMu47raqbcc

^I love this! Prefer the Albanian version.

Also, this one from Cyprus, which I think is fitting for the thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM8CY08UT6I

Eurovision strikes again:

Albania always a favourite of mine, but this year it looked like they botched it with a mess of a song [update: that was the live version] - but lo and behold, they dusted it off and remixed it, and now it sounds awesome, love the drill bass (!) that's in there at some points, just a fabulous melange of modern and traditional sounds and instruments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp8OG4ApocI
Albina & Familja Kelmendi • Duje