SOUNDTRACK: UMM KULTHUM (أم كلثوم)-“It is Too Late” (Fit al-ma’ ad) (1967).
I picked this song because it is mentioned in the story.
I don’t really understand the song and I didn’t really understand the story, so I guess it all fits.
Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1970s. She was given the honorific title Kawkab al-Sharq (كوكب الشرق, “Star of the East”).
The version of the song that I found is 27 minutes long with three sections. I can’t find anything useful in the way of translation (even of the title) which means “It’s too late” or “The rendez-vous is over.”
There are several parts to this song, although it is so traditional it is hard for me to determine them. I also have a hard time understanding why her voice is so remarkable as she doesn’t really “do” very much. She seems to have a limited range although with a lot of stamina.
Perhaps there is a different standard of excellence in Egyptian music. Although I do understand how in the story she hears the song in the cab and calls him and he seems to take a Panadol then lays down and relaxes before turning on the radio and the song is still on.
[READ: June 1, 2019] “The Tortoise and the Hedgehog”
This is an excerpt from Sweileh’s novel Remorse Test.
It was translated from the Arabic by Jonathan Wright. The original won an award for literature in 2017.
I include this last part because I found this story really hard to follow and even harder to enjoy.
It is written from the narrator to “you” and wonders what “remorse” is. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 