For some reason something unfortunate always happens to me after listening to any variation of the Folia (meaning "madness" in Spanish). Last time I listened it after meeting a certain girl. I have never met her again, but I did think a lot about her for some time later. It resulted in studying being harder, which resulted in me losing my scholarship. Not to mention the two deaths that happened earlier after I had listened to Vivaldi's variation, and one close call. This song is cursed!
Such a nice move of me to make you listen to it, no?
PS: Some time ago I made a description of the feelings this theme gives me, for a friend of mine:
A heavy layer of grey clouds that is amassing above roof tiles covered with moss, of the houses from which one would always smell the odour of fried lard. Clouds which would sometimes, only sometimes, be clement enough to let a thin ray of sunlight through, whose touch resembled the touch of Her fingertips. Like when hope lethally lances through despair. That is la Folía. Madness, in translation. Human randomness. The freedom of movement of a small bug -- but only under its rock. Freedom with a pearl earring, from the perspective of a prison cell. It allures me with its pearl eyes, which gleam like the devil's when he calls with his index finger, sporting a grin that is hallmark to himself and to commercials.
Hell. Madness. Narcotic. If you want to try out what I have taken, listen to la Folía.
(Maybe it's important to mention that the definition of hell is "the best thing in the world, just out of your reach". That is how I felt when I met the girl who I thought was the One, but couldn't meet her again. This theme works like a flavour enhancer for the feeling)
The sand of Marrakesh and the gold of Tenochtitlan. Soaked with blood, alighted with passion. Under the tornado of rampart dance.
Royal pride. Holding the hand of the thief running down the alley on the cover with one hand, and her dress with the other. Holding her hijab with nothing. The smile seized itself free.
A wandering melody. A musical Will-o-the-Wisp. "Üsküdara gider iken", "משה חבושה עזרני אל חי", "Από ξένο τόπο", "Ήχασα μαντήλι", "Selanik entero", "Ој девојче", "Anadolka", "Zašto suza u mom oku", "Русе косе цуро имаш", "Ясен месец", "طالما اشكو غرامي" ,"يا بنات اسكندرية", "শুকনো পাতার নুপূর পায়ে" and "Rasputin" by Boney M. All of these songs use the melody. That is why Fel Shara is in multiple languages.
Ave, Maria, maiden mild
Oh listen to a maiden’s prayer
For thou canst hear tho' from the wild
And Thou canst save amid despair
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care
Tho' banish'd outcast and reviled
Oh, Maiden hear a maiden’s prayer
Oh Mother, bear a suppliant child
Ave Maria
Ave, Maria, undefiled
The flinty couch we now must share
Shall seem with down of eider piled
If Thy protection hover there
The murky cavern’s heavy air
Shall breath of Balm if thou hast smiled
Then, Maiden hear a maiden’s prayer
Oh Mother, hear a suppliant child
Ave Maria
Ave, Maria, stainless-styled
Foul demons of the earth and air
From this their wonted haunt exiled
Shall flee before thy presence fair
We bow us to our lot of care
Beneath Thy guidance reconciled
Hear for a maid a maiden’s prayer
And for a father bear a child
Ave Maria
O Fortune,
like the moon
you are changeable,
ever waxing
and waning
hateful life
first oppresses
and then soothes
as fancy takes it
poverty
and power
it melts them like ice.
Fate – monstrous
and empty,
you whirling wheel,
you are malevolent,
well-being is vain
and always fades to nothing,
shadowed
and veiled
you plague me too
now through the game
I bring my bare back
to your villainy.
Fate is against me
in health
and virtue,
driven on
and weighted down,
always enslaved.
So at this hour
without delay
pluck the vibrating strings
since Fate
strikes down the strong man,
everyone weep with me