Hoda Bandaq collaborates with Muslim and Ahmed Abdo for ‘Happy Block.’ The lyricist duo, Calowsha Elgokar and Ramy Elmasry, drafts a story of inner turmoil, while the same pair creates a haunting melody. The song dives into the struggle of wearing a mask of happiness while carrying deep emotional wounds.
Released: February 11, 2021
هابي بلوك (feat. Muslim & Ahmed Abdo)
حودة بندق
هابي بلوك (feat. Muslim & Ahmed Abdo) Lyrics English Translation by حودة بندق
The lyrics describe a man who feels like a ‘breathless corpse,’ barely holding on to life. Hoda Bandaq sings, ‘My heart carries so much pain, I’m the one who’s buying, but I’m the one being sold.’ This line captures the weight of emotional betrayal and the exhaustion of pretending to be okay.
إنسان بدون إحساسA man without feelings,
جثمان قاطع أنفاسa breathless corpse.
والروح يدوب عايشةAnd my soul is barely alive,
تشيل في جراحjust carrying its wounds.
والروح يدوب عايشةMy soul is barely hanging on,
تشيل في جراحjust shouldering its wounds.
قلبي شايل أوجاعMy heart carries so much pain,
شاري لكن بتباعI’m the one who’s buying, but I’m the one being sold.
اغماء حالة فقدانA blackout, a state of loss,
والعمر راحand my life is gone.
اغماء حالة فقدانA blackout, a state of loss,
والعمر راحand my life has vanished.
بقيت بعزف بيانو الموتI’ve started playing death’s piano,
وبطلع سلمو بخفةand I climb its scales with ease.
وبنده بس من غير صوتI call out, but without a voice,
وبنزل من نومي بلفةand I drift from sleep in a daze.
وواقف وسط خلق يهودI’m standing in a crowd of strangers,
وناسي وأهلي مش شايفةand my own family doesn’t see me.
ميزان الفرح بقى ميلانThe scale of joy is tipped against me,
مع إني أنا ماسك الكفةeven though I’m the one holding it down.
وأصبحت أنا الموسيقارAnd so I’ve become the musician,
وأوتار حزني في دميwith the strings of my sorrow in my veins.
ويا ضحكة بتيجي بكامHey laughter, what’s your price?
أنا فيا جراح وآلامI’m just filled with wounds and pain.
والحب ده كان ياما كانAnd love is just a ‘once upon a time’,
بنشوفو في الأحلامsomething we only see in our dreams.
أحلى هابي بلوكThis is the best ‘happy block’,
هقفل قلبي وهسكتI’ll lock my heart and just be silent.
أصل إنتي كنتي فترة راحت خلاصBecause you were just a phase that’s already gone.
أصل إنتي كنتي فتره راحت خلاصYou were just a moment that’s over and done.
بمثل ان انا مبسوطI pretend that I’m happy,
وكل الناس بتتفرجwhile everyone just watches the show.
وليا كاريزما أوي وحضورI’ve got so much charisma and a strong presence,
وعلي حالي ما بستغربso I’m not surprised by my own state.
أنا الكومبارس أنا المبدعI’m the background actor and I’m the creator,
وفلمي مني متسربand my own life’s movie has been leaked.
وحاطني علي الفرحةThey’ve cast me in a happy role,
وأنا منها بقيت بهربbut I just keep running from it.
عشان فرحتي دي خدعهBecause this joy of mine is a trick,
بداري بيها أنا هميit’s how I hide my own sorrow.
بشعر شعوري غيبانI feel like my feelings are absent,
كل استوريهاتي أحزانall my ‘stories’ are filled with sadness.
وليه فيديو الفرح مالوش مكانSo why is there no place for a happy video?
وليه فيديو الفرح مالوش مكانWhy is there no space for a video of joy?
أضواء فجاءة اتطفتThe spotlights suddenly went out,
أنوار عمري اختفتthe lights of my life have vanished.
واليوم صبح يمر بألف يومThe day now drags on like a thousand days,
حتي ملامح وشي اتشتتتeven the features on my face have become a blur.
حرقتي كنت نار نيكوتينMy burning was a nicotine fire,
من الخنقة أنا ماليتI’ve had enough of this suffocation.
وعندي نهاري هو الليلFor me, my daytime is the night,
وللنجوم حكيت وشكيتand I’ve told my complaints to the stars.
وعايش بس همي تقيلI’m living, but my burden is heavy,
ومنو بجد أنا استكفيتand I’ve truly had enough of it.
مغني وعاشق المواويلI’m a singer, a lover of traditional ‘mawwawil’,
وليكم حالي أنا غنيتand I’ve sung my state of affairs for you all.
ولكن ممنوع أنا من العرضBut I’m banned from the performance,
وأغنيتي مهش كاملةand my song isn’t even complete.
أشجار بفروع خشبThey’re trees with branches of dead wood,
فاكرنها طرحت دهبthat everyone thought would bear gold.
علشان البذرة فاسدة ده السببBecause the seed was rotten, that’s the reason.
علشان البذرة فاسدة ده السببThe seed was corrupt, and that’s the only cause.
وهتقدر تشوف تقديرYou’re going to see what respect looks like,
هتعوجها عليك إنتbut if you cross the line, that’s on you.
دي البلقوطية مقامها كبيرThe ‘Balqoutia’ crew holds a high status,
فالحضرة البحرية اتقلتin ‘Hadra Bahria’ their word carries weight.
من يومو فعلو بيتكلمFrom day one, his actions do the talking,
وعن نفسو ده مبيحكيشhe doesn’t need to speak for himself.
الفارس توتي البلقوطيThe knight, Toti Al-Balqouti,
ده غير فالصح مابيمشيشhe only ever walks the right path.
إخوات بالجد بتسندلWe’re real brothers who have your back,
وكلو قصادنا مش متشافand anyone who stands against us becomes invisible.
بإسم العمدة كريم عباسIn the name of the ‘Omda’ Karim Abbas,
القلب ميت عمرو مخافhis heart is fearless, he has never known fear.
عالإنتج محمود ميلانOn production, Mahmoud Milan,
على طول ثابت في مكانوhe’s always holding his ground.
وأحلى شركة دي استور ميورليAnd a shout-out to the best company, ‘Estor Meorly’,
دي الترندات يابا عنوانمthey’re the ones who own the trends, man.
تحية للشعب المغربيA greeting to the people of Morocco,
هنا أخونا حمادة سلطانour brother Hamada Sultan is here.
هابي بلوك (feat. Muslim & Ahmed Abdo) Music Video
‘Happy Block’ is about the hidden sorrow behind a smiling facade. Hoda Bandaq, with Muslim and Ahmed Abdo, delivers a poignant reflection on pain and resilience in Arabic lyrics.