Music is my first love, so I guess this blog is going to be mostly music related although I might stray into other areas occasionally!

I grew up in a house filled with music of all types. My father loved trad jazz, while my mother listened to a combination of Arabic music, jazz, lounge, swing and rock 'n' roll. By the time I hit my early teens, rebellion was in the air and I turned my back on the music of my parents, gravitating instead to the world of glam and heavy rock. I suspect my mother was secretly pleased, although outwardly she appeared shocked and quietly put away her Arabic LP's, preferring instead the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Elvis.

It was another 20 years before I voluntarily picked up another Arabic record, and only then because of the French film The Hairdresser's Husband. A wonderful tale about a man's obsession with female hairdressers and Arabic music. Towards the end of the film, the hero is dancing with his young wife to a song straight out my my childhood. The first time I watched it I sat there transfixed as the familiar voice of Fairuz wafted out of the TV. That film marked my slow return to the wonderful world of Middle Eastern music. Now, 15 or so years after that magic moment, I have nearly as many Middle Eastern CDs in my collection as I do rock albums, and my Greek music collection is catching up fast.

Music, as with all art forms, is subjective and it's beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder, or in this case the ear of the listener. Music should grab you and make you feel something emotionally. Personally, I love the kind of music that gets your toes tapping and uplifts your spirit. Whether it's an AC/DC guitar riff or Madonna's Ray of Light, it really doesn't matter just so long as you're captured by the moment. I have to confess that I have a problem with ballads, particularly ones sung in a foreign language. This is an aversion left over from childhood, where I would often flee the room with my hands over my ears as a strange man (it was always a man, don't ask me why) started droning on about his lost love in a rather painful way. I'm a lot better with foreign language male vocalist ballads now, but often hit the skip button on my mp3 player if I'm not in the mood.

Over the next few months I'll be going through my music and DVD collection to select items for review. Some will be new and some will be old, but I think that if you're new to the world of Middle Eastern music and dance, a good music CD is a good music CD and a good belly dance DVD is a good belly dance DVD, irrespective of when it was first released.

I'll probably be glossing over the ballads, so if your a ballad lover or disagree completely with my reviews, why not write your own? If you'd like to, please contact the Administrator who will guide you through the process. Alternatively, register and add your own comments to the reviews, stating why you agree or disagree with them. The more comments received, the rounder and more objective the review will becomes.

Reviews don't have to be limited to music CDs or belly dance DVDs either. Perhaps you'd like to review a book, film, concert or restaurant for the site. Anything you think would be of help and interest to other users would be welcome. Now is your chance to unleash the critic within!