Humam first studied music in Iraq music institute. Then he joined a folklore group there too, then joined another one and toured representing Iraqi folklore all over the map. And when he wanted to be himself, he took part of a talent content show in Lebanon "Star Club", he one the first spot.
Then Rotana picked up him for a contract and he has been recording under their label. He filmed one music video, then another all in Lebanese which brought him more name recognition, then he did a song for Iraq. He released two albums so far and works on his music by releasing singles. His composer of choice is another young Iraqi Walid Al Chami who is considered one of the top Iraqi composers and music producers.
I like Iraqi music, the passion is done right, and their lyrics have the beauty and poetry of the Gulf and the accessibility of Lebanese and Egyptian songs. Humam walks a fine line and do a great job.
Good pop songs are not easy to make, a decent pop song has to be happy with upbeat music and clever and catchy lyrics. Throwaway pop ain't hard to make, just ask Egyptian pop star Reham Helmy, the new fame of girly pop. Reham has made a song for the ladies and girls out there, they would relate to it and better understand it.
Guys do not have much emotions or at least try not to understand things women talk about. For those, here's the song by Rehamd Helmy to give them a taste of what goes inside the mind of one girl. She just made a not so whiny song, that heart and a fine music. Vocally, I think Reham can do better as she is not letting herself break free in that department.
Yousef Arafat, the nice guy who almost won Arab Idol title a year ago is making a run for his career with a song for Islam. A song that no two will disagree on...the song is about beauty of Islam. A great choice form this Jordanian super awesome dude.
While most would chose a song about romance to kick off their career in the post TV fame on Arab Idol, Yousef chose Ramadan to launch his career and he soinds very different than I remember it. I like this choice, I am sure the most conservative and lightest ones would cheer his choice. So Yousef is back to make this very hot Ramadan a bit more tolerable.
I like the behind the secnes footage of the young artist. I am sure it was a lot easier to make this song than other ones. Too many studios would welcome such a song, but romance gets no love as there are over saturation at the moment. He was Mr. nice guy and all the judges enjoyed having him part of the show. While Arafat got his name out there on Arab Idol, he now chooses to praise the religion that came to destroy all idols.
Ramadan is the time we pray, eat, sleep, pray, read the holy book, and then over eat. But in between, there are those awesome Ramadan songs talking about food and daily rituals and dishes. I like such songs, they help create an atmosphere of excitement especially for the young ones.
Ramadan is a magical time, and it is the perfect season to make memories. So, get excited the first song to ring in the holy month is in and it's by young and good looking new comer Mahmoud El Mohandes who just released his song for us all.
I like it, Ramadan is knocking at our doors and bringing all the good stuff with it, says the song. I am nostalgic now because Mahmoud's song paints the perfect Ramadan picture, with everything including the dessert.
Mahmoud ElMohandes - Ramdan By5bt | محمود المهندس - رمضان بيخبط
Naya makes good pop songs, but with one problem. Her manager is a schmuck, a jerk and classless bastard. Why? He is using Naya's talent to get back at his wife and he has always made that clear. Naya is a tented star and she need a ruthless manger to help get her gigs and songs. What Naya does not need is to get caught in a family feud.
She is a star on her own not a younger version of Nawal Al Zoghby, the divorcee of Naya's manger who I won't mention his name. Naya has a sweet voice that makes her a great candidate for breakup pop songs, but her latest do not seems o live up to Naya's earlier work (check out tizkar).
Men Eidy is a pop song made for clubs, you cannot do a sad song to a party music, it just takes away from the fine crafted lyrics. It's what it's a good song with loud music Naya - Men 2idy 2012 / نايا - من ايدي HQ
It's official, the internet is CRAZY about Zayn Malik.
One Direction's Zayn Malik is an English musician, who is currently one-fifth of the ever-popular British boyband, One Direction.Malik was born in East Bowling, Bradford. He is the member of the band who is famous for jawline, sharp look and opinions about everything. He does have a catchy phrase 'Vas Happenin?'.
Had he not made in music, he would have liked to be an English teacher. But thanks to a suggestion by Cowell, whose idea was to put Zayn and other young contestant to qualifying them for the Groups category.
Did you know that the One Direction's Zayn Malik likes girls with dark brown hair? And that he wants a girl that he can talk to all day and night?
How about those three tattoos he has? One in Arabic (name of his grandfather); one in Chinese (I was born lucky) and Ying Yang Sign! He is a big fan of Chris Brown All Black. How about the fact that he is a smoker who is trying to quite the habit?
I would tell you more about him, but why? You can just watch the videos below and comment about those facts about good old Zayn Malik.
Like father like son is creeping into the music business now. Ahmed El Haggar is the son of celebrated and iconic Egyptian singer Ali El Haggar just singed a contract to work with a new music label. They will release his debut album. I have known about Ahmed singing more than 2 years ago when I saw him in a performance alongside his old man
Ahmed performed with his father on a number of occasions and he seemed to make waves where he goes. He can sing really well and has a different set of vocals that can hold a note. Ahmed who has his fathers look, has also taken the singing talent form his father who has helped shape Egyptian culture.
The company sate with him for an interview, and they just have posted few of his songs performed live by the young singer and a lute player. I can say that the guy knows how to impress, his choice of songs is the kind that salons used to play, the deep East bound music that requires a serious listener. This is a good start, but ultimately, pop lords will have the singer knocking.
Ahmed El Haggar - Eh Enkatably
أحمد الحجار - أنا والليل Ahmed El Haggar - Ana Wo El Leil
أحمد الحجار - ايه انكتبلى Ahmed El Haggar - Eh Enkatably
Funky songs are back with Khaled El Taib new single. I ADORE the music for the clip, but I am not too crazy about the music video filmed in some mall in Jordan and parking lot. I look the trendy singer whose funk look and movements make him the one to keep an eye on.
I do like the flow and the beat, and the simplistic lyrics. It's hard to fake cool, so I think Khalid has made it look easy. I also like the title of his song....the Sultan of my time! I like happy, funky songs when they are well made, and I think we have one here.
Soltan Zamany - Khaled El Taib سلطان زمانى - خالد الطيب
Pop music is supposed to be fun, and not unintentional funny. I could not stop myself from laughing at the music video for this mediocre song by Safy. No surprise that Safy is not a name that most know. The concept of the music video--if you want to call it that is shitty.
Farmers dancing in the bushes in laughable outfits and there are cowboys and weird dancers. Camels, trucks and poor dance moves. It does feel awkward watching the clip, as I do not like to be mean, but this one makes it so easy to be so. Fame is a bitch if you have to do something that you do not feel right about. Safy might not be a pop star, but she seems like a nice person.
Safy - Leil Wara Leil / صافي - ليل ورا ليل
Another sub-par music video and song from Safy, it's catchier than the first one. It feels like it has been directed under the same ideas of the first music video but with a new look. Safy - Kaddab Zamano / صافي - كداب زمانه
I do not know who Amgad Omar is, but other than his name, I think he mostly sucks. Neither his voice nor his personality entertain. So why bother and release a music video that feels a lot like torture? While I like pop music, there has to be a threshold singers ought to have.
Amgad got nothing and his song disappoints. But to be disappointed in hims is not accurate. Because it implies that one had high expectations for the young star, when we really did not. Now the guy is young, good looking and can dance, so I would say modeling/ adverting maybe?
I am not the one to hate--only if you are Tamer Hosny, but this one was just a terrible song all around.
Pyramedia produces music in Egypt, but it seems to be only working with new comers to the game. Freshman stars enjoy working with Pyramedia that takes a chance on them. But if those make it big, I do not think they sit around and stick with Pyramedia. This might be a good business model as the stars tend to be inexpensive when they are new, but once they hit the big times, they want more.
So that's why we get to hear and see singers like Sehma Omar who has a new music video out. This teen singer who seems to like to do what other teens do is dancing and singing for your entertainment. This clip is taken form all other teen shows, something that seems natural to Seham, cars, kittens, boxing, gym...etc.
The song has turned into a fashion show, I could count at least seven outfits. This song might be a great hit with the youth., I found parts of it to be Yawn-worthy. Seham Omar - Ezzay Ya'ny / سهام عمر - إزاي يعني
There's a dialect in the Arabic language that is close to the one spoken by the Bedouin tribes, it's to be found in the Levant. Sometimes this dialect is called the white dialect. I love this dialect because it's close to mine and because it feels real. Unlike other Arabic dialects and accents, the white dialect doe snot scream "I am sophisticated" It's not just the right balance between keeping it real and sounding smart.
Emad Hawi is a new singer on my radar who makes his songs using the backdrops of this dialect. He has mastered it and for the kind of songs--mostly sad ones his vocal strength and his accent are just about right. It's I am heart broken and have been wronged in love kind of song, but it's not whiny. He is asking her to take back the letters and photos they have exchanged.
Emad does have the good looks, and charm too. Singers of this genera tend not to be that attractive, but Emad offers more to the song than most. I think the music video could have been better, but if you listen to the song without any other media, you might connect better.
Emad Hawi - Enta Ma Khalleit / عماد حاوي - إنت ما خليت
Ahmed Shady is celebrating the breeze of freedom in Egypt today. His song is all about freedom, the positive kind, the post death and chaos freedom. He is a young up and coming talent. I am completely in love with the gorgeous images his music videos open up with. I am serious whose are amazing shots of Egyptian places that are breath taking.
I think, I am a fan of this new singer, his voice expresses the lyrics of his songs and brings out the power of imagery. There's a shot with two young boys standing and behind them the Palestinian flag, then an image goes to Southern Egypt where a sailor notices he is on camera and smiles. The song is for Egypt, but the message is far more reaching than that-it's a pan Arab song where freedom is our destination.
Not to forget that Ahmed also composed the lovely music you hear. أحمد شادي - حــــرية - نسخة اصلية
To be poor is not something bad, to be broke might be. However, we all love a someone who is doing a song about being broke. I especially love Samy Shamsy because his song goes against all things pop. While most pop singers boast about the cool life and the clubs, he is doing the anti-pop song song. A song about his miserable finances.
He calls is chronicle poverty. Kicking off song with a solid mawal performance. Then he asks God for relief. This is a new single that will make it big with high school kids. I love the story where the girl he loves is going to get married to her cousin, since he has no money. Then he delivered the funny line, "had I had money, I would have even been able to marry her mom"
If your wife dumps you and moves on, what do you do? Well for one music executive who was fired by his wife and she manged to divorce him (Lebanese church weddings are hard to navigate), you go on a hunt and find a younger version of your wide, same color of hair and similar voice then go on offense. The pathatic husband spoke to many media outlets and declared that Naya is his way to get back at his wife. He even called the young singer "more talented" than the mother of his children.
Not upset yet? How about the title of Naya's album "Ma Andam" a popular hit by the producer's ex! Not classy at all. I think there are two issues here:
Naya is a talented young singer with a great potential to be the next big thing, and the producer who is a jerk with a long track record to proof it. This is an album with 9 tracks, some of the songs are made for the Gulf market to bring in the concerts and the people who buy CDs! Others are lovely Lebanese hits.
I did not see much fanfare for this album not too many spoke about it. Arabica music is in the distribution side and as far as I can tell, they are not on top of their game or connections. On other news, do not the cover picture makes Naya look like another Lebanese pop singer? I won't give any names.
01.Men Eidy, happy song where one dances to a bittersweet song. The music is a mush and so are the lyrics 02.Wakhedny Hawak, pop song meant for Egyptian consumption and young spirits who want to jam. 03.Mandam, mean for the folks in the Gulf, a darker feel with good music, not sure how the Gulf will like it 04.Leih Bahebak, Spanish guitar can make everything sounds better...a girl--not a woman song to her man 05.Bel Zouq, A Nancy Ajram clone, and I like it. Will be a big hit in Egypt and with fans of light happy pop 06.Mama Ya Mama, If you like Lebanese mawal you will like this family friendly song about love and mothers, love the dance beat. This is a good track that allows Naya to show off. 07.Tezkar, the winner on this album and we have heard it months ago with heartache causing by Naya 08.Batmanna, your average gillie pop song sin Arabic, not much to be gleeful about 09.Gheerah, another song we have heard months ago, an instant hit and a delightful song that blends pop with good lyrcis from the Gulf.
There are good songs about martyrs and there are so many lames ones. In Palestine, we had so many of them, but none of them seems to speak on behalf of the fallen. Ever since the Arab Spring started, and many young and old people started to die, many singers felt the urge to do songs about them martyrs.
The latest to join the party is Egyptian pop star Mohamed El Kammah. I do not know Mohamed, but I know he is promising young voice, I did enjoy his album released last year too. I just think this song of his about a message from the fallen might not come across as a sincere one. He is not the first singer to sing for the fallen or release a song in which he speaks in their tongue.
Essentially, the song is frustrated with what he sees in Egypt--what does he want? Mohammed does not tell. It's a laundry list for all the things that martyrs might want. In one line, he asks for their rights and justice in the other he asks for taking it easy and not protesting. I do not know which is better, I just know it sends mixed messages just like the political ground in Egypt.
Zade was given the royal attention in the country of Jordan early on. With their help and his own unique talent he went on to become one of the most celebrated young piniest / composers in that country and beyond. In a one night engagement last year the young pianist accompanied by a world class orchestra to transform the historic venue into something magical.
Have you ever seen movie where the soundtrack blew you away? This is what feels like to watch and hear Zade's play the piano. He create an atmosphere where he can control people's mood with is careful strokes on the piano. His youth and good looks do help a great deal make him into a young star that he deserves to be. I do enjoy his confidence on stage without being too cocky.
Jean Marie Riachi, the phenomenal Lebanese music producer was behind the scenes as the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was right there next to Zade taking us on this odyssey.
Zade Dirani - Haya - Music / زيد ديراني - هايا - موسيقى
When you are young, you like what young people like. But in Egypt the young people are into politics and activism, so you do that now. Sara, Adel released one of those super mature songs on behalf of Egypt. The song that made it by for Sara is Ana Masrya....I am Egyptian but that was some time ago.
Sara followed her hit song with a new song also for the homeland, the song is about the fears of many Egyptians have at the moment. The honeydew sweet voice--I detect a bit of Assalah style- delivers this song with a broken heart. It's a prayer asking for the difficulty to pass and how much she loves Egypt.
This is an assuring song from apolitical voice who puts Egypt ahead of all. K music did well by signing up Sara Adel to their label.
Sara Adel - Ya Masr Batammen Khoufek - ساره عادل - يا مصر بطمن خوفك
Zayn Malik appeared on the X Factor in 2010 and got all Yes answer from the judges on the panel. To his credit he was good, sounded good and looked like a star. And he might have just been dumped over text message, he is still the most promising young star from the UK. You may know of his band One Direction’s where they have a concert tour generating millions and creating buzz in the business. Their US tour kicks off next week and the young fans can hardly wait. The total 62-show tour sold out completely
The 19 year old singing sensation is one of the hottest music talents in the world's stage and he has reached this level without losing his since of humor or many of his good boy nature. Zayn who does have a Muslim heritage was born and raised in England, East Bowling, Bradford. The One Direction Band was something they had to form so they can qualify for the X Factor's group category, after failing to qualify for the Boys category. The band might have been an accident but it's one of those best accidents ever.
One bizarre twist in the One Direction career, April 2012 they were sued for name infringement by a California band that goes by the same name. The lawsuit will go to court after efforts to revolve the dispute outside the legal system have failed. This might be a good sign as the band now seems to have made it and those who want to earn easy money are turning up now.
To make a hit out of any Lebanese song you need to do one of three things, be sweet, exciting and have a strong voice. Ahmed Shhede sounds like a sweet voice, not strong, jury is out on the existing part. This song of his is about Lebanon's soccer team who seems one of the rare things the entire people of Lebanon agree on.
Ahmed is a new name, he picked a safe topic to sing about. I am not sure what he can do about his voice, it has to be a bit stronger. He can do breakup songs and might do well if the lyrics and the music are done right. Not a memorable song and the lyrics are not that fresh--you have to be able to do better than calling soccer players heroes--when everyone is a champion no one is.
أحمد شحادة - حي ابطالك لبنان / Ahmad Shhede- 7ayyi Abtalak Lebnan
