Helwa ya balady

Helwa ya balady (Arabic: حلوة يا بلدي; English: Sweet, O country of mine) is a 1979 song by Egyptian-born singer Dalida.

Background and significance

The song is an hommage to Egypt, Dalida's birthplace, and is typical of the nationalistic pride felt by many Egyptians for their country since the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. This is reflected in two popular uploads on YouTube,[1][2] which feature photo slideshows of various aspects of Egyptian culture and history, including Ancient Egypt, mosques, Coptic churches, colonial-era Cairo, modern Cairo, the Red Sea Riviera and the Mediterranean coast, set to the music of Helwa ya balady.

The song is composed in the key of C minor, although the chorus is in F minor.

References

  1. ↑ Dalida "Helwa Ya Balady" - for egypt at YouTube.com. Retrieved 11 November 2008
  2. ↑ Helwa Ya Balady - Dalida (Egypt My Beautiful Home Land) at YouTube.com. Retrieved 11 November 2008.