"Salma Ya Salama" ( arz, سالمة يا سلامة) is an Egyptian Folk song by

Dalida Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti (; 17 January 1933 – 3 May 1987), professionally known as Dalida, was an Italian-French singer and actress born in Egypt. She sang in eleven languages and sold millions of records internationally. Her best known son ...

from 1976. The track became one of the singer's biggest hits and over the years has sold 4 million units on disc. It was among the first Ethnic fusion hits in the world, recorded in five languages (

Egyptian Arabic Egyptian Arabic, locally known as Colloquial Egyptian ( ar, العامية المصرية, ), or simply Masri (also Masry) (), is the most widely spoken vernacular Arabic dialect in Egypt. It is part of the Afro-Asiatic language family, and o ...

, French,

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, and

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

: ''"Uomo di sabbia"'' and Spanish). The French version speaks of a man wandering in the desert and sees a mirage of a garden paradise.

Release and reception

First recorded in

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

for audiences in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

, it achieved big success upon its release thus it was translated to French and released in France in 1977. Both versions are featured on eponymous album by Dalida released the same year, which contains several other hits. The 45 rpm single was released in two different pressings - The French version (IS 45730) coupled with "Ti amo" (originally by

Umberto Tozzi Umberto Antonio Tozzi (; born 4 March 1952) is an Italian pop and rock singer and composer. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 70 million records in different languages internationally, and his biggest international hits are: "Stel ...

) and the Egyptian version (IS 45731) coupled with the instrumental version. The disc was distributed by "Sonopresse". When Dalida signed with "Carrere" in 1978, a third 45 rpm pressing (CA 49354) was made. The song was then translated into

and

. ;Dalida remixes In 1995,

Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...

(brother of Dalida, producer and French record label owner) released two completely re-orchestrated versions of the "Salma Ya Salama" in its album release ''Comme si j'étais là...'' one in French and the other in an Egyptian version (both offered as a bonus). The song was remixed again in late 1996 for the Dalida album ''L'an 2005'' and as a CD single. This version, released in May 1997, was certified silver having reached the French Top 20 chart. A clip was made for the occasion.

Charts

Other versions

The song "Salma Ya Salama" has been performed by other artists, such as

Haifa Wehbe Haifa Wehbe ( ar, هيفاء وهبي ) is a Lebanese people, Lebanese-Egyptians, Egyptian singer and actress. She has released seven studio albums, and made her acting debut in the 2008 Pepsi-produced film ''Sea of Stars''. In 2006, Wehbe was ...

Alabina Alabina is a French-based group that performs a mix of world music: Middle Eastern, Arabic, French, Hebrew, and Spanish Gypsy music. Alabina consists of lead singer Ishtar, who does the female vocals, and the band Los Niños de Sara, who provi ...

Chantal Chamandy Chantal Chamandy (born about 1972) is a Canadian singer and entertainer based in Montreal, Quebec. She previously performed under the names Chantal Condor and Chantal. Early life Chamandy was born in Alexandria, Egypt. Her father was Greek and Egy ...

Jean Michel Jarre Jean-Michel André Jarre (; born 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer and record producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and new-age genres, and is known for organising outdoor spectacles featuring his music, accompanie ...

Giota Lydia Giota Lydia (Yiota Lydia)( el, Γιώτα Λύδια)( Panagiota Mandaraki( el, Παναγιώτα Μανταράκη), 24 February 1934 in Nea Ionia, Greece) is a Greek Laïko Laïko or laïkó ( el, λαϊκό �ραγούδιlaïkó 't ...

Ziynet Sali Ziynet Sali Safter (born 29 April 1975) is a Turkish-Cypriot singer who also holds British citizenship. Her later works contain pop elements while her earlier works also had rebetiko and classical Turkish music themes. Sali was born in Nicosi ...

Krum Krum ( bg, Крум, el, Κροῦμος/Kroumos), often referred to as Krum the Fearsome ( bg, Крум Страшни) was the Khan of Bulgaria from sometime between 796 and 803 until his death in 814. During his reign the Bulgarian territor ...

& Miro,

Mika Mika is a given name, a nickname and a surname. Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: People known just as Mika * Mika (singer) (born 1983), Lebanese-born British singer-songwriter Michael Penniman, Jr. * Mika (footbal ...

, WAMA and

Tiziana Rivale Tiziana Rivale (born Letizia Oliva on 13 August 1958) is an Italian singer primarily associated with the Italo disco style. In 1983, she won the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Sarà quel che sarà". Life and career Letizia Olivia was b ...

. It was also sung by Atilla Taş as "Sallana Sallana" at his debut album, "Kırmızılım" ("My red" in Turkish) in 1998. A version of it has also been performed by the Greek singer Marinella with the name Pali Berdeftika.

Appearances

The song is used in the soundtrack of 1996 French film ''

Pédale douce ''Pédale douce'' (Soft Pedal) is a 1996 French comedy film directed by Gabriel Aghion. Fanny Ardant won the 1997 César Award for Best Actress for her performance as Eva. Plot Adrien works in an advertising agency in the day and at night he b ...

'' directed by Gabriel Aghion.

References

* ''L'argus Dalida: Discographie mondiale et cotations'', by Daniel Lesueur, Éditions Alternatives, 2004. and .

External links

Dalida official website
"Discography" section Dalida songs Egyptian songs Egyptian patriotic songs Songs about nostalgia Songs in Egyptian dialect (Masry) of Arabic {{Egypt-stub