TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS

TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS

The afternoon has now slowly turning into evening.  A great and joyous picnic has just ended. The sun will shortly go down over the Hajjar mountain range. John Denver’s vibrant voice in ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ is playing on my Mazda station wagon’s cassette tape-recorder. A huge hit for John Denver, singing ‘Country Road’ was not missed out any party, dance, picnic or get-together. Heading north by north-west from Fujeirah towards Sharjah, it will be a long drive ahead and our mini-convoy of cars will shortly disappear into the sunset over Masafi, as we hope to safely make it home, before eight o’clock - lest we forget, it is still Friday – as we simply cannot afford to miss out on one of the greatest and longest series of the time that delighted us all, and that’s none other ‘Dallas’ and the conniving ways of JR!

Circa 1980.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN86d0CdgHQ

MALAIKA - Life in the Emirates

When everyone sang 'Malaika'

'Dubai Creek 1970'

Oil painting by Tony Fernandes

Size 3ft x 2ft

View of Bur Dubai across the Creek from Ras Deira
Dubai - United Arab Emirates

MALAIKA

Grand New Year’s Eve Ball, Intercon Dubai. Circa 1976. After a short break, the dance band on stage strikes up a few distinct initial bars of a familiar song. It is quite evident what the song choice has been. It is a slow piece. Couples rise and gently walk to the floor and begin dancing as the lights dim. The band’s crooner sings the song – none other than the famous Kenyan singer/composer Fadhili William’s  famous Swahili song ‘Malaika’ popularized by Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Boney M and Sal Davis. The couples on the dance floor appear to lip-sync “Malaika, nakupenda Malaika…Nashindwa na mali sina we…”.

Everybody seemed to know the lyrics even if they did not speak Swahili! Wow! All I knew was the meaning of the song 'Malaika' which means 'Angel'. I remember watching an English version sung by Sal Davis from Kenya on Dubai TV. He also sang "Back in Dubai' when he visited Dubai.

No dance gala was ever complete then, nor is complete even now without ‘Malaika’ at any Goan function held across the world. A great song indeed and a beautiful catchy tune.

Please click on the link below to listen to a beautiful rendition in a duet arrangement by Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba. Malaika is a Swahili song written by Tanzanian musician Adam Salim in 1945. This song is possibly the most famous of all Swahili love songs in Tanzania, Kenya and the entire East Africa, as well as being one of the most widely known of all Swahili songs in the world. 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8jxALtWGVQ

THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND!

DUBAI CREEK

1967

Line Artwork Drawing

by Tony Fernandes 

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Before the days of FM Radio Transmission in the UAE, the pionering expatriate folks who worked and lived there relied on western music reception from the ARAMCO oilfields base in Saudi Arabia. The definitive 3 FM radio stations were Light Music on 100, Classical on 96 and Popular on 88 MHz. The only other radio program that broadcast on FM radio was station in Sharjah which began in the early 1970's after the British Royal Air Force Base closed down its programs of western music on Medium Wave radio.

One of my favourite hit songs of that era was 'Those were the days' sung by Welsh singer Mary Hopkin which was aired on a regular basis by these radio stations of another era. As I reminisce today those were the days indeed. Please click on the link below to listen to a fabulous song of those days. Those days, which were the days then, are the days even now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KODZtjOIPg

WHEN EVERYBODY WENT 'PATA PATA'

WHEN EVERYBODY WENT 'Pata Pata'

Dubai - September 1967. A very popular song by South African singer Miriam Makeba. The song - a signature song for her - became an instant hit all over the world, and almost everybody in Dubai too, was going 'Pata Pata'. Dubai did not have an English language radio station then. However there was a British Royal Air Force Base Radio Station that transmitted on Medium Wave from Sharjah until 1971. The song, a favourite among the expatriate community was covered by most bands in Dubai nightclubs and hotels. The only department store was 'Jashanmal' where one could buy records - LP's and 45's and 8-track cartridges. Those were the days. Dubai, a British protectorate, was one of the sheikhdoms that formed Trucial States of Oman until 1971, when it was independent and the seven sheikhdoms came to be known as the United Arab Emirates, one of the fastest growing and modernized nations in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrbw1A0pLw

LIFE IN THE EMIRATES - HALA MARHABA

'LIFE IN THE EMIRATES'

A popular song in the expatriate community, 'Life in the Emirates', is a warm tribute to life in the United Arab Emirates. The song was written and recorded in 1979 by two Irish men Patrick Terence Brady and Michael Kiely. It proved to be an instant hit. It was provided airplay by Capitol Radio in Abu Dhabi and by FM 92 Radio in Dubai.

It has been sung in numerous hotels and other events throughout the U.A.E. It is the most famous song in English about the UAE, and it still strikes a sentimental chord even after the first batch of adventurers have left the country on completion  of their tenure.

I still have fond and cherished memories of this song along with the wonderful and memorable years that I spent in this great country. The song is still played by music groups who originally made their debut in Dubai at the time, and who perhaps share similar sentiments in their hearts.

"LIFE IN THE EMIRATES" is a sincere yet light-hearted song of praise to the wonderful country - the United Arab Emirates. The words speak for themselves.

Please click on the link below to watch the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjYGl3coO6g

BACK IN DUBAI

BACK IN DUBAI

Sal Davies was a entertainer from Mombasa who often visited Dubai in the 1980's. His song 'Back in Dubai' was quite popular then with the expatriate community. Often broadcast on TV and radio, Sal Davies' another popular song was 'Malaika'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vQgB6wLksY

'FAREWELL' - A Tribute to the UAE

'Waltzing with the Cars'

Dubai - U.A.E.

Time Lapse Exposure

Photographed by Tony Fernandes 1996

Far in the distance: the majestic Dubai World Trade Centre.

Left: the Indian High School & India Club.

Right: Al Nasr Club.

Foreground: Vacant lot used as parking space & old go-kart race track.

FAREWELL

A long time ago did I set sail,

While I prayed my venture never to fail,

Boarded a steamer for a distant shore,

Unaware what destiny had for me in store.

On my voyage when I woke up at sunrise,

Saw silhouettes on the horizon

Of many a highrise, was finally let in

For a great surprise, Oh! Skyscrapers! I thought

But they in fact were beautiful wind towers in disguise.

Time here I spent for more than a generation,

Saw the rise of this great nation,

But if I have ever the chance to live again,

Never would refrain to submit another application.

This land I shall always remember,

And wish good times to prevail forever,

For it taught me never to surrender,

To work hard and still think of others who hunger.

Have seen days without the "air-con",

And nights without any 'hotel intercon',

In the twilight trodding home, would wait in earnest

For another day to come, at the break of dawn.

Now that the time has come to depart,

From this wonderful land where I made a start.

Home away from home, 

From my first I've so long been apart,

From my second I will cherish fond memories in my heart.

Memories I will forever cherish,

My host brethren never will I forget,

Their pride and hospitality I will always admire,

And having sighed a modest praise I shall retire.

First published in Gulf News Magazine, 25th October 1996

Lightning in Dubai, UAE, 1997

This is not trick photography!
 It is a time lapse exposure - 18 lightning bolts on a single frame.
 Kodak film. Camera: Nikon 401X
Lens: Vivitar 2.8/21mm - October 1997.

First published on the First Page of Gulf News.