MovieChat Forums > OSS 117: Le Caire, nid d'espions (2008) Discussion > Song in Hotel Nightclub

Song in Hotel Nightclub

posted 12 years ago by essex9999
3 replies | jump to latest

I loved the song Hubert sang while pretending to be a "traditional" musician. It's called "Bambino." Here's the original version by Dalida, which was a huge hit in France in 1956-57 (thus slightly anachronistic for the film), although not as well known in the US:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U0NlPgvRuI&feature=related

It's so funny that OSS 117 knew no Arabic at all in one scene but a few scenes later can sing an entire pop song in Arabic. And learned hieroglyphics at a glance!

Probably not so coincidentally, Dalida was born in Egypt (although she was of Italian descent). The scene was clever on so many levels; it's one of my favorites in the movie.

[–] dainty-omelette 12 years ago

haha i had to go on this forums to see if anyone else was fascinated by this scene..

[–] sekhmetouserapis 12 years ago

In fact, I don't think he's singing in arabic.
I believe he's doing what we call "singing in yoghurt", i.e. singing sounds or syllables to create the illusion of a language ;)

[–] PierrotdeParis 12 years ago

"In fact, I don't think he's singing in arabic.
I believe he's doing what we call "singing in yoghurt", i.e. singing sounds or syllables to create the illusion of a language ;) "

No, it's real Arabic. Dujardin learned it. I don't speak Arabic myself, but that's just what he said.