"Misirlou" (Greek "Egyptian girl") is a Greek folk song from 1927, influenced by Middle Eastern music.
"Misirlou" (Greek "Egyptian girl") is a Greek folk song from 1927, influenced by Middle Eastern music. The song then gained popularity among Middle Eastern audiences through Arabic (belly dancing), Jewish (klezmer) and Turkish versions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misirlou
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misirlou#Later_versions

In 1941, Nick Roubanis, a Greek-American music instructor, released a jazz instrumental arrangement of the song, crediting himself as the composer. Since his claim was never legally challenged, he is still officially credited as the composer today worldwide, except in Greece where credit is variably given to either Roubanis or Patrinos. Subsequently Bob Russell, Fred Wise and Milton Leeds wrote English lyrics to the song. Roubanis is also credited with fine-tuning the key and the melody, giving it the Oriental sound that it is associated with today. The song soon became an "exotica" standard among the light swing (lounge) bands of the day.

In 1943, Miriam Kressyn wrote Yiddish lyrics to the song, which  is often performed at weddings (Misirlou Jubilee Klezmer Ensemble Celebration on the River), and has been recorded by Klezmer Conservatory Band on their CD "Dancing in the Aisles" (1997).

In 1962, Dick Dale (1937-present, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dale) rearranged the song, as a solo instrumental surf rock and roll guitar piece with a vastly increased tempo. During a performance, Dale was bet by a young fan that he could not play a song on only one string of his guitar (Dale remembered seeing his Lebanese uncle play "Misirlou" on one string of the oud, Paganini отдыхает).

Dick Dale & The Del Tones "Misirlou" 1963

It was Dale's version that introduced "Misirlou" to a wider audience in the United States and the world.  Various versions have since been recorded, including other surf and rock versions by bands such as The Beach Boys Surfin' USA (1963, Beach Boys - Surfin Usa HD). Dick Dale's surf rock version later gained renewed popularity through its use in the Quentin Tarantino (1963-present)  film "Pulp Fiction" (1994) .

Pulp Fiction - Soundtrack - Track 4 - Misirlou
Trailer - Pulp Fiction - Official Trailer HD (1994)

The song was selected by the Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee as one of the most influential Greek songs of all time, was performed in venues and at the closing ceremony by Anna Vissi.

Hans Zimmer's "Walk Don't Rango" from score of "Rango" (2011, Walk Don't Rango-Los Lobos & Arturo Sandoval)

NPR -- 'Misirlou,' from Klezmer to Surf Guitar (many performances)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5134530

Yiddish lyrics:
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=797765
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Oo-pIa_xY

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