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

Abdel Halim Hafez, the Boy Who Made Arabic Music Accessible

At his time, he was a lightweight, but now we come to see him as a legend. Singer and actor Abdel Halim Hafez came in a time when the stage with loaded with people who make beautiful Arabic music accompanied by live orchestras and musicians who make true Arabic music unadulterated. There were also popular folksy artists who have made it big with the common man in the street and in small towns around the Arab world.

Yes, the young people were left un-catered to, they were many of them around who liked Arabic music, the music of Farid Al Atrach, Oum Kalthoum, and Abdelwahab, but none of those singers expressed the feelings the young had. The stores were not right, so to fill in that voice came a skinny guy Abdel Halim Hafez and gave the boys and girls of Arabia the songs they needed. That was his niche and his market, he was their break and butter and brought millions in revenue for everyone in in his business. 


Abdel Halim Hafez was a big hit, even the big household names watched him with amazement. He made cute movies and sang the most romantic songs riddled with passion. He has all the rights told, the charming personality, the warmth voice and the untamed emotions that wanted to get out. Or maybe he was really good at getting in character and performing for hours in stage.

Abdel Halim Hafez packed full concert halls with young and energized people who had little, but a truck load of untapped emotions. He toured all over the Arab world and collaborated with all the big names of his time--he opened to Oum Kalthoum and worked with Farid Al Attrach too. He sang for Nizar Qabbani and had Baligh Hamdi write him music. The list goes on. His movies made so many lead female stars who at their prime were the it girl.

Then all of a sudden he died...just like that. Keep on mind, songs of Abdel Halim Hafez are not your average songs, they are tales fashioned like a song. 

Here's one of his little know songs that offered a world class music that tells a story even when the singer is standing in amusement waiting for his cue.

عبد الحليم حافظ نبتدي منين الحكاية كاملة

Mahmoud El Mohandes Rings In Ramadan 2012 محمود المهندس - رمضان بيخبط

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

Good: Hisham El Hajj - Eza Allah Aatany / هشام الحاج - إذا الله أعطاني

Hisham El Hajj is one of those rare Lebanese singers who is well known for his very strong voice--the mountain side voice if you will. He roars just like most Lebanese songs require. He also strikes me as a humorous guy who like a a laugh--it really shows in his music videos. There is no reason why more Lebanese concerts do not book Hisham and bring him to more music festival, in my book he is Mr. Lebanon, in the old school sense.

In his latest he likes girl by the pool side who has an iPad with internet connection so that he can sing her a video of him doing a song for her. Then she closes her eyes and there you go, they are together on the beach doing what young couples like to do.

It's a scenic music video rich with nature and the naturally scenic voice of Hisham wraps it all together. Hisham more often than not makes great choices and thus his lyrics and his music live up to the hype. He is a B list singer with an A list talent--marketing is a bitch.

I think the couple he chose for hims music video are a perfect fit for this song. The song is for the serious guys as it means business--you want to take the big step and tie the knot not fiddle around. I like the fake moon and the violin player.

Hisham El Hajj - Eza Allah Aatany / هشام الحاج - إذا الله أعطاني

This Is What Passes For Oriental Nights In Lebanon

This is the 6th time this music festival takes place in Lebanon! They bring only Lebanese singers to party with the massive crowds who are hungry for music and good times. I find most of the music acts have to say something or sing about Lebanon--a good place.

Nawal Al Zoghby put on a good dance show--she filmed it too for promotional purposes and a music video. Assi Hallani turned the heat up with his all Lebanese style, just see the folks dancing up as he sang away. Ramy Ayach owned the night even though he performed last--his fans would wait for this handsome devil and his new single "The Apple".

It seems that each of the festival appearances had a new summer single to treat their fans to at this large music festival knows as the oriental music festival. The festival had a a young up and coming singer Sabine who was featured on the festival to lure in the younger fans. Sabine relied on her outfit and dance movies to stand out.

P.S. MTV, the Lebanese TV network is the force behind this music festival--I tend not to approve of the MTV's political agenda, but their musical one is a different story.

عاصي الحلاني كواليس مهرجان الاغنية الشرقية السادس 2012


نوال الزغبي - كواليس مهرجان الاغنية الشرقيه السادس 2012


سارا الهاني - كواليس مهرجان الاغنية الشرقيه السادس 2012


رامي عيـاش كواليس مهرجان الاغنية الشرقية السادس 2012

A Tale Of A Citizen By Noha Taha Throwback To Old School Arabic Music

No other Arab county can turn out a new and exciting vocalist every day of the week year around as much as Egypt can. When you are in a country of 90 millions, you can do that. I am always amazed by the talent pool in entertainment Egypt has to offer.

One of the new voices I just stumped upon is named Noha Taha, a female vocalist with a voice that should be wrapped in gold. Noha composed and wrote the lyrics for the song she is performing, a tale of a citizen living under the emergency rule--it has just been lifted. Noha has also taken part of some activism as Egypt undergoes change.

I like the music and I love Eastern feel the song features. This is a song that sounds identical to songs they played in the radios during the 60s and 70s. Noha comes from a Jazz background. For more of her songs please visit here She started her career by writing poetry and she is the daughter of Alexandria-the city by the sea. She is will studied in Arabic, English and French literature. And currently she takes part of two bands. Scorpionism a tribute for scorpions, and S.M.S band that is a mixture between art and life experience.

 حكاية مواطن - نهى طه A Tale Of A Citizen - Noha Taha

Speechless! Teenage Dream Cover By Marwan Anwer - Katy Perry

Teenage Dream is a global hit song that brought many fans and dollars to American songstress Katy Perry. Many did covers of this super catchy pop song, one cover rendered me speechless. It was done with a lute. It took a young Egyptian to bring this video to life.

Marwan Anwer is born in Egypt family from a Turkish origin. Marwan was taught the piano at age five. Later his old man taught him to play the lute. By age 12 he was good at both instruments. By 16 he has started to work with other instruments.

Marwan has appeared in a number of concerts along with his band at Abdul Moneim Al Sawi's culture wheel. His band is ‘EL MA7ATTAH BAND’--the station. Mawran plays the piano, violin and ney (flute) player. Enjoy this super awesome video....

Teenage Dream Cover By Marwan Anwer - Katy Perry

Epic Song On Friendship And Betrayal

Friendship means different things to different people. Rich people look at it in a different way that most poor people. By the same token Arabs have a completely different expectations from friendship than Western ones. Friendship is about us most of them time.

Enough about that, there are so many decent songs about friends and how they are awesome. But in reality most of those songs are about how friends often tend to betray you by stealing your girl. Like this song by Iraqi composer and singer Kathem Al Saher. Musically speaking this is one epic of a song, it offers the live orchestra and smashing composition.

The song kicks off by saying it's too late for regrets...they have wronged me and brought tears to my eyes. It's close to 50 minutes of live goodness. The lyrcis play like a poem, but they are in the spoke language.

لا ياصديقي & كاظم الساهر & كاملة

Salah Alzadjali Delivers A Hit After Another

The country of Oman never had a pop star, and they could have never imagined having one of their own doing pop songs or any kind of songs at all. But then all of a sudden a young, charismatic and good looking guy started to sing. And then all dreams came true. Salah Alzadjali conquered the hearts of that Gulf nation and moved beyond his songs were embraced by the entire gulf region and they started to dance to his beat.

What makes Salah different is his charm, he comes across as a funny guy an everyday man of sort who as lived a life before and is ready to put it in words. Now that's exciting and refreshing in the Gulf as most put lyrics before beat and simple language, you rarely get a catchy tune.

Salah is not just singer, he also composes some of his songs where he records in Oman at his studio. Salah is unafraid to use everyday language to express his mood, that's one of the reasons he connects with the young and hip. One little secret, Salah does have the look of these popular Bollywood stars so that might bring in the ladies who adore such films.

 يخرب بيت الهوى - صلاح الزدجالي

Ali Bader Is Another Reason Why Iraqi Music Rocks

I would like to thank my Iraqis out there, they have plenty to be proud of. They have one of the greatest and most refined cultures in the Arab world. They must be doing something right to be able to produce so many high class entertainers who sing from the heart and lead the way in the Blues.

Take for example, Ali Bader, a young and a talented singer /composer who has figured out a way to get the most out of his vocals and his sentiments. This is the first reason people cite for their love of Iraqi music, they sound sincere. Their voices are great add well written lyrics and pour a load of  genuine emotions, you get your triumph song. I think this kind of emotions can only exist once an individuals has seen so much suffering and pain around them. Something you cannot manufactur or even fake.  

 عليكم جذب - علي بدر.

The World's Best Arab Guitar Teacher Is Jad Azkoul

I do not think Jad Azkoul will love me calling him, the best Arab guitarist in the world, he is so much more than that, but at the end of day, he and I have a common ground that I am proud of, we are both come from the same heritage. I do appreciate that Jad is maintaining the Arab connection to the guitar, as Arabs have had a history impact on this instruments during their time in Spain.

Jad has been described as the one who makes the guitar sing, something far more important than the skill to whip out thousands of notes and tents of melodies. Many people can make their guitar do wonders, but only a handful can make it a stand alone instrument. Jad's talent does that to the world of Guitars, he seems to have discovered the essence of the guitar and manged to team up with the instrument in a stunning collaboration. And it seems he is passing his musical genius to his song Julian

Jad is a world renowned guitar master who plays the guitar so well, yet he choose to put his skills to a better cause, he teaches. Jad Azkoul has been teaching at the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique, Danse et Théàtre (CPMDT) in Geneva since 1984. However, he has left the school twice before. Two notable absences were when he lived and taught in Washington DC from 1991 to 1996, and when he was in London on sabbatical leave (2010-2011). In fact since 2010 he has also been on the music faculty at the London College of Music. (per Wikipedia)

Jad had thought music at the American University in Beirut and continues to maintain his connection to his home Lebanon.

Jad Azkoul: Villa-Lobos Prelude 4


Guitar-school. (A. Piazzolla - Primavera portena) Part 1

The Only Sabah Fakhri, The Legend From Syria

Sabah Fakhri's music is where you separate the boys from the men and girls from the women. That means you are not born liking the kind of music he sings, you acquire the taste for it. This heavy eastern melodies that blends the best of Spain, Damascus and Iraq music. His kind of music that older people have the taste for. He is for sure the radio voice.

Syrian legend Sabah Fakhri is an icon of heavy tarab music where you sit in one place for hours just listening, and taking in all those lyrics he spits out. The son of Aleppo who has enjoyed 50 years of fame and popularity. Simply put, there are no other singers who can match his vocal strength and the level of harmony of music.

You listen to Sabah if you want authentic unadulterated Arabic music. He has toured the world and the world has loved him back. He has been credited for singing the longest concert ever on the record. Sabah did something no other Arab star has done--he kept away from Cairo. His fame is all based on his work from Home. One of his earliest performances was in 1948 at the Presidential Palace in Damascus. Think about the fat lady at the opera....he is our fat lady and then some.

Sabah has been given every award on the books, his music often credits God, Wine, and other supernatural acts. He does not talk to the press, nor does he try to promote himself, his work is his best agent.  He sings for beauty as he seems to be on quest. Enjoy the best songs of his as suggest by one YouTube user.

أجمل ما غنى الفنان صباح فخري

فرقة يوركا في الساقية Eureka Of Egypt Live and Living

In DC we have a place called the Busboy and Poet, a place with a stage. It's a restaurant, a bookstore, a bar and a coffeehouse. Thus activists and people who like to mingle gather there. In Egypt, they have a similar place, but with a larger stage. Al Sawy Cultural Wheel. By luck and planning the place has become a hub for musicians and activists.

Their stage is one of the busiest stages in Egypt where indie and pop stars bands and individuals perform to their fans. One of the latest bands to appeal live on their stage is Yorka, a hip band that makes good music where Eastern melodies meets Western ones. In the clip below they do not sing, instead they let their music speak up.  

The band was founded by composer Abdel Menim Said and they have become known for classical and Andalusia music. They did perform on the Egyptian opera once.
فرقة يوركا في الساقية Yorka Live

Nancy Ajram Cover Of A Classic نانسي عجرم مستنياك

When your last name is Ajram, when you have conquered the world of Arabic pop and when your favorability is as high as the sky, you cannot afford to take risks. everything you do music be calculated. But more than 4 years ago, Nancy Ajram wanted to tell her critics to "suck it". They have been taunting Nancy that she can only do pop songs, and that her voice only works for light catch songs.

So that means cover of old classics is out of the window, glamour and opera houses are out of the question. Nancy got a live orchestra to accompany her and she choose a favorite classic of beloved Moroccan singer Azizza Jalal---Mistanyak I am awaiting you.

A touching song about a lover who is waiting for their other half. Nancy owned the song in her live performance, the song was emotionally satisfying, and pleasing to the air. In an instant, older people saw a new side of Nancy's. She brought back a classic and made them love it again. Staying loyal to the original song and singing it as its original artist did, is the best way to handle covers. The critics were surprised and pleased at the same time. All of sudden Nancy was once again the it girl. Here's the song that told a story.
 قناة نورة ♥ اغنية كاملة ★ نانسي عجرم مستنياك ★ Nancy Ajram

Hey Guy! Will You Teach Me How To Debke Please?

Lebanese, Syrians, Palestinians, Iraq including Arabs and Kurd all love this group dance, it's our river dance! Locking hands together and swinging one's feet in the air and on the floor. This energizing dance that often brings more Arabs to the dance floor than any other dance. It might be the only group dance we know.

Folklore dance and troupes manged to preserve this art and even the most sophisticated person can take part of this village dance. It took two young persons to make this rap about someone who wanted to learn the way lf the debka. The rap is pretty amateurish but funny in bad way.

Now, you really want to learn Deba, the second video will show you how to do it with Laila who got all the moves you need. Laila did this video for the Arab American museum in Dearborn Michigan where Debke is a hit with the local populace..

Teach Me How To Debke

Learn to Debkeh

This is Awesome! Ghassan Rahabani And Ahmad-Hawil­i

They are both Lebanese, he is versatile musician composer. The other is a knockout singer who little fame, but loads of talent. One thing they love is their homeland. So they came up with this epic song when these Ghassan led the orchestra. What they did not know, that they will be making a piece of art. Once, I saw the clip, I raved as a hard to come by song. Ahmed Hawili sounds so good here. Ghassan did the music and led the orchestra which brings back memories of a time when music was made on the spot, not through a computer CPU. The song highlights the good given beauty of the homeland. احمد حويلي سجد 2012

Listen This Christian Hymns in Arabic

This one is about the calcification of Jesus according to most Christian faith. This one comes from Palestine too. The hymn is read in a church and it sounds so good. This is an art that has been around for ages in the land where the entire journey has started.

In America, it's not uncommon for mainstream singers to start their career in the church's choir. Not too many Arabic singers I know have started from this route.
Today Was Hung... (In Arabic) اليوم علِّق على خشبة

MJK Teaser! The Pop That Only Haifa Can Make

Haifa is a cool cat, and that has served her well, but she is no dummy. She has shown that she is a smart business women with a lot of strong opinions, but as an artist she has an image and that image works well for her. She makes it look effortless and the fans--young and old appreciate that about her. Her new album, titles MJK abbreviation in Arabic for Malikat Jamal Alkoon--Miss Universe. Something about glamor, youth and dazzle that attracts Haifa to this business, it's a creative title.

 It brings back memories with the queen of Arab pop, she is good at what she does, and her team is mindful of who she is and what style first her best. Haifa was largely missing last year, but it seems the sabbatical has helped her refocus and regroup. Now comes her big album that offers a Haifa style entertainment. The pop with gillie feel to it, there's an art that Haifa has mastered which is make songs that appeal to both kids and grownups. Sure there are those who think they can see through her, but that never stops half a dozen of other wannabe Haifas out there form copying her style or trying too.

I have liked songs in the past from Haifa, the are the light ones that can be easily classified as cute songs, that way they are light, catchy and hot. She has released dozens of those songs and those are always popular in her concerts. Say what you say about Haifa, but she is no elitist, she comes across as the girl next door. She answers when people call her Hiafa, she doe snot want to be a diva, it's enough that she is popular and adored.

 Haifa MJK Teaser #3 - Bokra Bfarjik / هيفا وهبي - بكرا بفرجيك

Ring Tones Is The Music Industry's Best Hope

Music industries are playing catch up with hackers and illegal file sharing. They believe it robs them from millions. So they have come up with a scheme to make up for some of their losses, selling their new songs and old ones for phone users in ring tones. It was huge in America too, but once iTune came, it has slowed down and few people use it. Smartphone also make ringtone a thing of the past.

Any some can be a ringtone with smartphone, no need for fancy software or any other complications. But luckily, Arabia still has a room for growth in this market of ring tones. So right before a new album is about to get released, marketing kicks in to try to sell the hard core fans the ring tones for the songs from the albums they really want to check out.

I wish, there's a popular iTune options for Arabic music, most Arabic music is listed on iTunes, but to be frank, few Arabs have means for paying for those songs or connecting to the internet. So the phone payment system still works...you want to buy something, they charge the money that you have already loaded up using your phone card credit as a line of credit.

كول تون البوم فيروز كراويه Call tones Fayrouz Karawya's album

البوم محمد منير - يا اهل العرب والطرب The Golden Album of 2012

Buy this and do not think twice about it, the best Arabic music musically, production wise and lyrical is the one Mohammed Mounir. This Egyptian pop rock star gone for folklore delivers his much anticipated album.

Aw some, golden, speechless, I am. This kind of album comes one every five years. Every track of those 15 songs is worth every penny you pay. My ealry favorite is the title song. This is one album that has to bring people together...the people of Egypt and Arabia will cheer.

01.3oyoun
02.Ya Zaman
03.Ya Ahl El-Arab W El-Tarb
04.Albi Maishbhnesh
05.Hara El-Saqueen
06.El-Bo3d Naar
07.Ya Abu El-Ta2ya Sobaky
08.Fe 3eneki 3'rba
09.Layaly1
10.Eliia
11.Belady Ya Arab
12.Efta7o Ya Hamam - El-Salam
13.Amgad Ya Arab - Yegy Zaman
14.Ya Hamam
15.Layaly2

Mohammed Mounir 2012 album محمد منير - ابو الطاقيه الشبيكه

Mohammed Mounir 2012 محمد منير - افتحوا يا حمام - اهل العرب و الطرب