Lullabies from the Axis of Evil - Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
release date: Tue Oct 26 2004
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Track Listing
- Sad sol – YOU'RE MY DESTINY Mahsa Vahdat, Iran / Sarah Jane Morris, England
- Dilelol – SLEEP, MY CHILD Amel Kthyer and Halla Bassam, Iraq / Eva Dahlgren, Sweden
- Lalolalo - DON'T YOU WORRY, MY CHILD Kulsoom Syed Ghulam, Afghanistan / Lila Downs, Mexico/USA (MP3)
- Ya Lel Ma Atwalak– THIS NEVER ENDING NIGHT Rim Banna, Palestine / Kari Bremnes, Norway
- Luna, Luna- LUNA, LUNA LITTLE DOLL Mayada Killisly Baghdadi, Syria / Mimi, USA
- Peace song Halla Bassam, Iraq / Sevara Nazarkhan, Uzbekistan (MP3)
- Aruru– LULLABY, SWEET BABY Martha Lorenzo, Cuba / Nina Hagen, Germany
- Stars are rising Sun Ju Lee, North Korea / Eddi Reader, Scotland (MP3)
- Nami - ANGEL Viva Killisly Chachati, Syria / Katia Cardenal, Nicaragua
- Lalalala Gohle Laleh Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat, Iran
- Garidbe - WATCHING OVER ME Halla Bassam, Iraq / Rickie Lee Jones, USA
- Nami ya la’ aubi – SLEEP, MY DOLL Rim Banna, Palestine / Annisette, Denmark
- Gohlelale - MY TULIP, MY PEARL Pari Zanganeh, IranThe Washington National Cathedral Girls Choristers, USA Elana Fremerman, USA
- Nami - LAMENT Jawaher Shofani, Palestine
- Mazar – SOME DAY, MY BOY Fanzya and Razya Khan Ali, Afghanistan / Elana Fremerman, USA
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"In his 2002 `Axis of Evil' speech, George W. Bush Singled out Iran, Iraq and North Korea, along with their allies, as the enemies of democracy. Enlisting world support for his war on terrorism, Bush pointed a finger and drew the line between us and them. But Bush forgot one thing. These enemy states are filled with mothers and children. Producer Erik Hillestad took up the challenge in reminding us with Lullabies from the Axis of Evil. Hillestad proves `our enemies' possess a remarkable capacity for love and warmth in a tradition of lullabies that spans generations of sense and memory. Hillestad pairs singers from around the world singing in English with the traditional lullabies sung by a host of singers from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, Cuba and North Korea. Pleasantly devoid of Stereotypical lullaby arrangements and overproduction, the collection of lullabies on this CD shuns the saccharin and keeps the compositions spare and focused on the song. The CD opens with "You, My Destiny," pairing Iran's Mahsa Vahdat and Sarah Jane Morris from England. The pair exchanges verses in this heartbreakingly lovely lullaby.
Vahdat charms the listener first and Morris's husky voice joins leaving the listener helpless to resist..
Palestinian Rim Banna and Norway's Kari Bremnes trade verses in "This Never Ending Night," a lullaby
from Palestine that speaks to the current situation of the Palestinians. The song expresses the sadness of
the Palestinian people without the hateful rhetoric we are so accustomed to seeing in the news. It is a
gentle and hopeful wish for a child, something the conflict is in desperate need of. There is also "Peace
Song," a popular song from Iraq sung by Halla Bassam and Sevara Nazarkhan from Uzbekistan. "Stars Are
Rising" sung by Sun Ju Lee from North Korea and Eddi Reader from Scotland is a just one of those charming
lullabies. A traditional lullaby from North Korea, the combination of the voices of Lee and Reader, with
just a tang of the Asian sound, are sure to lull the most reluctant baby to sleep. The CD gets more upbeat
with "Angel" sung by Syrian Viva Killisly Chachati and Nicaraguan Katia Cardenal and certainly my favorite.
It's the type of song one would hope that every mother everywhere sings to their child and has a sort of pop,
feel-good feel to it. It expresses the love we wish for all children. "Sleep, My Doll," another song from
Palestine sung by Rim Banna and Annisette from Denmark. Like all the songs on this CD, it is the perfect
fusion of traditional and modern. The blending of the two voices in two different languages along with a
Middle Eastern rhythm in this simple song is soothing and precious. Let me also mention composer Knut
Reiersrud on guitars, bass, keyboards, ud and lap steel; Paolo Vinacci on percussion; David Wallumrød on
piano and clavinet and Adun Erlien on bass, keyboards and guitars who added to the beauty of this project.
Listeners will also appreciate the liner notes and Erik Hillestad's journey of putting this CD together and his
impressions as he met and recorded these remarkable women. I can't think of a better way to express the
care and love in that fundamental communication between parent and child everywhere." An additional lullabye,
recorded by Rickie Lee Jones, will be added to this release. It will only be available on the U.S. version.
-World Music Central
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