Ben Aindi Habibi – Mary Fahl By Aurora Moreno, Esteban Valdivieso Released 2003
It’s the voice. The song: https://youtu.be/yu8OubuAALY . It was released in 2003, on Mary’s album “The Other Side of Time”. Mary Fahl was the lead singer of October Project, a group that got some but not enough airplay in the 1990s. Then she went solo, and has released several solo albums. If you like Mary’s sound, check out her other works, and October Project’s self-titled album released in 1993. If you think her voice might be the result of studio tricks and production, then check out some of her live recordings. I say you will be convinced otherwise. Here she is singing Ben Aindi Habibi at a house concert in 2009, accompanied only by her own acoustic guitar. https://youtu.be/I0jC19eFx5c Mary was born and raised in New York.
Here is an English translation of the ‘Ben Aindi Habibi’ lyrics:
Come to my house, my beloved,
If you leave, this betrayal
Will bring misery.
Come to our passionate rendezvous.
Mercy, my beloved!
You’ll make me desolate if you go!
Good man, kiss my little mouth
And don’t leave me just yet.
(Source: https://www.lyrics.com/track/6286953/Mary+Fahl/Ben+Aindi+Habibi ) This song pick came from a category I created of songs not in the English language. Among other contenders I considered for this pick were, in no particular order, Eres Tu by Mocedades, Soleil Soleil by Nana Mouskouri, Dominique by Sœur Sourire/Jeanne Deckers aka The Singing Nun, and La Bamba by Ritchie Valens. Each of these was way more popular than Mary Fahl’s song, but Mary’s voice wins my pick.
slicethelife 
very unusual and interesting selection, thanks for bringing her to our attention.
My pleasure!
Her voice is making my scalp tingle which means it’s tapping into something ancient. She sounds similar to Lisa Gerrard but a deeper tone. I bet those two singing together would be out of this world (even more than this one!) I love the musical instrumentation as well. Loreena McKennitt support musicians come to mind as well. Wonderful selection, Diana.
Something about this makes me think of Loreena McKennitt too. Different voices, but both have songs that seem to emanate from another place and time. Thank you!
You’re very welcome 🙂
I totally agree. This is beautiful.
I am a big Loreena McKennitt fan. Lisa Gerrard sounds familiar.
Vic I think Gerrard may have sung on The Gladiator soundtrack. Not 100% sure…
This is enchanting, and Mary’s vocals and guitar work are thoroughly captivating. A lovely selection for the draft, Diana.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
This is good . Really like the intro. Something Celtic about it.
Glad you liked it. Thank you.
It does sound really good. Her voice sounds old like it could have been done long ago. I like it…never heard this before.
Thank you. I agree somewhat about her voice. The sound almost seems incongruous to me, if that makes sense.
Old isn’t the right word…it’s like it shouldn’t fit but it does! It caught my attention right away. Was this played on the Brit radio station you listen to?
Right! No, this didn’t come from the UK radio station, although just about everything else I ‘discover’ these days does! I had a friend share an October Project song with me several years ago, and I went exploring their music from there.
I’m going to check more out tonight while I work some more. Thanks!
Great! And, I hope your work has eased up a bit!
I see light now…around a week more to go until it might end.
I like that there’s more non-English stuff – I’d never heard of her before. Nice voice.
Thanks! I had those several non-English songs in my long list of ‘maybes’ for the draft, and wasn’t sure, but as the draft has progressed, this seemed right.
This is really beautiful Diana Thanks for sharing it. I like the slight roughness to her voice and the power underneath it. The live version is crazy – looks like someone’s living room. Once she starts singing it’s like holy crap!
Great description of the power in her voice. It’s like what Grace Slick and Pat Benatar have. She could sing rock and roll or any other kind of music and wow the audience I think. Thank you.
I have the October Project CDs and Mary Fahl’s solo CDs. Such an excellent and unique singer.