Morocco's Very Own Tahra Hmamich Releases Two Ramadan Supplications

Tahra Hmimich worked very hard to reboot her music career and she is making a good run for religions songs/supplications. The young Moroccan songstress with a very fine set of vocal chords and a warm personality released two different tracks. Pause, the music label she is working with released them to the masses and they seem to have attracted thousands of viewers online.

The tracks are about having all the right intentions and making sins, asking for forgiveness and a chance for redemption. The second offers optimism and a bright light. I do appreciate the art work accommodating both tracks. You can also detect a Moroccan flavor on at least one of the prayers.

A for effort and A for being young non Egyptian and thinking of making such work

Tahra Hmimich - Allah Ya 3alem / طاهرة حماميش - الله يا عالم


Tahra Hmimich - Sho3a3 Men Nour / طاهرة حماميش - شعاع من نور

Baloona, Yet Another Lebanese Summer Music Festival

Why not? Nothing beats the heat like the outdoors can, so why not bring the party together and hire local talents to bring it all together and excite the crowd about your town or about your event.

In Baloona, a village in Lebanon, brought together two different singers. Michaella, one female that will attract the young an dthe energized, and  Melhim Barakat, the guy who speaks his mind, but also makes very fine music. She partied with people as she sang. She even gave interviews and spoke about her latest work and events where she will appear.

The moody Melhim Barakat asked people to turn off their cameras and he has banned the singers form filming his performance. And yes, no one has footage of Melhim Barakat.

في بلونة... ميكاييلا تتألَّق وملحم بركات يمنع التصوير

Ayman Zabib Sings For The Lonely And Broke

The sings of a singer who sings unrealistic love songs are many. Had he, or the one who wrote the song even been in a relationship, they would know better. This is why many of the best songwriters tend to be single, it's like any other job. 


Ayman Zabib was the Lebanese man of the year last year, he was on fire and his concerts were all over the Arab world. He has this nice boy looks who has passion and charisma on stage. He also does not seem to have a huge ego either. Thus he tends to open for other singers  or appear next to them--if you prefer.


Here's a song of his where he does a love song, he got nothing but love to give and he cares about little in the world other than his gal. Ayman can now brag about his many fans, he really worked hard on getting them and keeping them happy--no one gave him extra help.

I do like his second song, where is has a realist tone about a guy who cannot afford to get married and have a family and he tells it the way it is. This is our homeland and this is how things work out here. He sounds sweet and seems to take in the song in before he lets it out.

أيمن زبيب - بحبك والله


ايمن زبيب - شو بعملك النسخة الاصلية بدون حقوق

Can "Arab Booking" Revitalize Entertainment Business in Lebanon?

Booking agencies are all over the states, they maintain a large database of talented entertainers, speakers and such who can be hired for a fee. So a Lebanese guy wanted to bring all these stars under one roof....it's not a new idea. But it seems that the guy behind the company means business. He invited a number of A list Lebanese entertainers for a dinner.

For the look of it, it seems they event was very exclusive. It's no secret that entertainers are unable to get gigs in those conditions. So they want all the help they can get...this is why Arab Booking--the name of the company will be a tool for them. Lebanese singers young, old hip and not so all accepted the invitation and joined the ranks.

Weddings, companies and private parties can all hire one of the entertainers to appear at their concert. Let's get real, I think you can get 90 percent of the /Arab stars for under 10 thousand dollars. You just need to be serious and pay up. It seems at this event stars turned out and enjoyed the dinner. Elaph caught up with them and spoke about their plans and their upcoming projects.

I wish Arab Booking the best of luck, if they can make it a success, why not? I do want to applaud the founder of the company for speaking about the high fees stars ask in exchange for their participation in an event. He said, most of the time, such stars give high fees because they really do not want to take part of an event.

Here's what I would do.....

a short video by each of the company's entertainers trying to sell his act. This video would not be public, but rather a promotional material sent to entities considering booking an entertainer. This has to be a business model, not a game. The company needs to make its mark on the business by not getting in the production business but rather the marketing business. Not o be tempted to sing any talent, but also not to let A list celebrities poison the company by claiming some privileged status. This is important in a world with a lot fo egos, each one has to know they are valuable asset.

 نجوم لبنان و العالم العربي في قبضة Arab Booking ElaphVideo

Ramy Sabry Ramadan Track - Yarab / رامي صبري - يارب

Ramy Sabry strikes me as someone who is not a big fan of the Egyptian revolution, he has criticized it and spoke well of some of its opponents. But this Ramadan--like every one he released a Ramadan track, a supplication for sure.

About fasting the month with good intentions and doing all the rituals. I am a fan of Ramy's music not his politics. He is smart composer and a gifted singer who knows how to make a good song and he carried himself well.

I am going to say when it comes to heartfelt pop songs, Ramy comes really close to the Amr Diab school. I am glad he continues to make music  and happy that he has gotten married now to focus on good music gone better.
Ramy Sabry - Yarab / رامي صبري - يارب 

Basic "T'abla" Or Arabic Drum With Josef Attieh

It's a 6000 years old musical instrument, and it happens to be very popular around the globe, we know it as the drum in Arabic, it's T'abla "الطبلة" It's the one instruments that most Arab know how to play, even older ladies. It's all about having a beat and knowing how to count.

I know at my older brother's wedding, some old lady did a fine jump making this T'abla dance. The one she used was made out of clay and a fine piece of leather. Now, you can but them made out of metal. Most religious folks are OK with this instruments and fine with using it.

One fresh dude of Lebanese pop and romance just found himself in the zone and instead of singing like he has always done, he played the drum where did a very fine job. Darbuka is the most popular melody made out on T'abla. Josef Attieh got into it and give us a very fine Darbuka.

Good many more kids now will be inspired to pick this very basic instrument to make music, I know the drum circle that meats every Sunday on the 16th St park in DC will be jealous.

 جوزيف عطية يعزف على الطبلة - حصرياً

LISTEN: Black Theama - Dakhalna Hemak | بلاك تيما - دخلنا حماك

The colorful folksy Egyptian band Black Theama wants to share the Ramadan celebration with the rest of the  Muslim world, by releasing a track exclusive for this month. They are even asking you to download it free of charge--find the link in the video description box (and always do not do anything illegal)

This is a sweet track from the guys who know how to pour their emotions and keep it in check when needed. This is simple song that celebrates the month and the creator. They also take a tour to those famous Islamic sites this month. They plea with the man upstairs to accept their worship.

I like the beat, it sounds very Black Theama, a watered down musical version of course. This is the standard of those religious songs, that cannot be loud. This track is inspired by the Sufi folklore. Thus the songs comes froma long standing tradition of using sober music as an instrument of worship. 

Black Theama - Dakhalna Hemak | بلاك تيما - دخلنا حماك