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

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

WATCH: The Lebanese Army Song By Lebanon's Finest أغنية الجيش - نوال الزغبي - نانسي - وائل كفوري - عاصي

The army is supposed to be made out of the country's finest people, but in the case of Lebanon the jury is still out on this matter. In the meantime, Lebanon's finest pop singers have joined forces to do a song for this army that has not seen a good day in a really long time. The army is proud yet they seem to get no respect around the country--singers and writers would like to think people should respect the army, but most think of them as a farce.

So the army did the next best thing to try to get its name out there, hiring a volunteer singer squad to d a song for them while dressed in army gear. Nancy Ajram singed up, so has Nawal El Zoghby, Wael Kfoury, Assi Hallani, composer Samir Sfir's name is also attached to the project. Nizar Francis wrote the lyrics

The official clip is yet to be released, but we have the audio track and some of the behind the scenes images with the artists who have taken part of this grand project. The song will be released int he Lebanese army day of celebration.

In fairness, even the American army does these kind of songs and material to promote their work, so there's no shame in doing that that. What I do not like, is how people who have never served in the army--maybe Wael did are pretending to be all tough by wearing the army gear. Najwa Karam has done a song three years a go with the help of the army where she featured some of their officers.

نانسي ونوال، عاصي ووائل: معاً لجيش لبنان


أغنية الجيش - نوال الزغبي - نانسي - وائل كفوري - عاصي NEW 2012

"بالشرق كان الليل عمرو سنين

ولبنان كان بعتمتو غرقان

إلاّ ولمع سيفك يا فخرالدين

وبديت حكاية اسمها لبنان

كان صعب العيش والناس خيفانة

صار عنا جيش والجيش لبناني

وصاروا رجال الدار جيش الحما وأهلا

وصرنا كبار صغار نهتفلن أهلاً

Najwa Karam Rocks Al Ashrafiya Festival!

So what Najwa Karam did not want to talk to annoying street journalists, so what the audio system could not handle the might voice Najwa Karam is well know for. It was still good concert that shows Najwa as a home girl proud of all things Lebanon

Najwa was the star of a local concert part of Al Ashrafiya area, a pocket of Beirut. She sang for an hour and shared the joy with her fellow Lebanese people, it was not a big deal what went wrong and those who talk about it, got nothing else to talk about.

She rocked the purples dress and did what the singer wanted to do, remind people that Lebanon is a safe place to come party at.
هل كان حفل الأشرفيَّة زلَّة قدم لنجوى كرم؟

The Hit Show "The Voice" Gets The Arab Version

or maybe it's the Lebanese version. What has been done right so far, is the judges, the management has picked 4 awesome names in Arabic music who truly can sing and have a reputation for their strong voices and their musical knowledge.  AS far as the business is concerned, the intellectual property rights of the show belong to Talpa Holding, while Sony Pictures Television (STP) Arabia- representing Talpa formats in the region - is the co-production company.

This American show is now landing in Arabia and the masses are unsure what to make of another show that will waste more of people's time to pick talents who might never make it in this world again. MBC is hosting the show in the same format, 4 judges, they hear the voice, not see the person singing and then make their call. The person who likes the voice will be a mentor for the guest.

They already had a press conference about it and people are starting to talk about this high caliber show with big names like of Assi Hallani (Lebanon), Kathem Al Saher (Iraq), Sherine (Egypt) and Saber El Robaei (Tunisia). I would not watch the show, but I will follow its news.

Following the exclusive rights to broadcast the international TV show 'The Voice' in the MENA region on MBC1, MBC Group revealed the four star “coaches” of the show:

Kadim Al Sahir, Sherine Abdel Wahab, Saber Al Roba’ei and Assi El Hellani. The program will be hosted by Egyptian actor Mohamed Karim. This is a sing of the great recession that Arabic music have been seeing since the Arab Spring started.


  #MBC1- The Voice

Talal Kontar - Doubles Down In "Yally Ma'y Sayer"

Talal Kontar is lyrical poet, music composer who is kind of a big deal in Lebanese pop. Dozens of A list singers (Fadel Shaker, Fares Karam, Raghib Alamah, UTN1,) take songs from him and he is happy to work with the best of them. But Talal is now doing a lot more singing and as we can see, we have yet another music video of his and he looks and sounds very fine.

Talal mixes really good music, and he seems to have a great influence form many Western school of music where he draws inspiration. So when he sings, you are not sure if he is being serious or if he is joking. The music video is in a bar/lounge.

I like the song story line, where a gorgeous girl approaches him and asks him about a girl--his sister and then he asks his sister for help. I like the ending where is feels European to me.

Talal Kontar - Yally Ma'y Sayer / طلال قنطار - ياللي معي صاير

Salah Kurdi And The Sexy Piano Moment

Wael Jassar, Fadel Shaker, Saad Ramadan Saber El Robaei, Reda, and a dozen other Lebanese singers do the same song that Salah Kurdi just released about the places where he used to frequent with now his ex. The lyrcis are good and the Lebanese dialect works for this song.

He is talking about the past and his regrets...he is the one left alone. We need to get a new mantra in the Arab world, there's always another fish in the sea, so stop the whinging and get out there. The song won;t fix anything, in reality it might make you feel worse of.

 I do not think this is a music video that will win awards. It was filmed here in the states (Flordia and New Yorkj) As a vocal performance, Salah Kurdi has all the right tools. He is an accomplished composer who is dabbling into singing after his work has made many famous. Elissa, Adam, Saber El Robaei, Ayman Zabib and Saad Ramadan have all taken songs from Salah.

Salah Kurdi - Nafs El MaTareh / صلاح كردي - نفس المطارح

A Different Maya Nehme - Enta Ana مايا نعمة - أنت أنا

Maya Nehme known how to dance, and knows how to start up the party. Her performances in Beirut clubs and events are well known. With so much energy, it becomes so hard to find a sober song that allows the singer to exhibit her vocal strength. A nostalgic song about the always good yet distant past.

Something tells me she is trying to do that in her latest single Enta Ana "You Are Me" A love song done in a French style about a lady that loves her man. I do like the music, it's lounge music at best. Maya tries to make the song work to her advantage. I do not know if I am ready for this song, I am not used to Maya being all calm.

But to her credit, she has tried to give the song a different flavor of her voice.

Maya Nehme - Enta Ana مايا نعمة - أنت أنا

The Lebanese Dalida And Her Magic Ring

Let's get one thing off my chest, Dalida is a good looking lady. She does have a a good enough voice to carry a pop song, and her music video is pretty cool if you ask me. I like the funky and bright colors it has. I love the TV bars affect and the way the music video came together.

I do not love the song, but I am fine with it. Many comments on the video come from chauvinistic pigs who are calling this clip soft core porn. I beg to differ. This is a Lebanese singer who is doing a song in the Gulf Dialect and thus she tends to get gigs to perform in concerts in places like Kuwait.  

 Dalida - Khatem Sehry / داليدا - خاتم سحري

A Composer, A Manly Man And The Lady Known As The Sun

Najwa Karam and Melhim Barakat might be linked romantically, but their collaboration goes deep in history. They both have so much love and passion to give, and they both adore every inch of their home, Lebanon. So they got together with another Lebanese dude who has sang fro everything and everyone in Lebanon.

Together they performed this song live and the fans went crazy as those three legends know how to fire up the crowds best. This an older clip when we barely knew some of the people in it, but looking back at it, it was one of the most memorable live experiences in Lebanon.

Each of those singers brings something to this song, they personal and the voices are about even. Lebanese are proud people and they have done their country proud in every corner of the world. It's time to watch this clip and think how beautiful life can be.

عاصي الحلاني و نجوي كرم و ملحم بركات - لبنان يا بلدنا

When Wael Kfoury Was Cool Not Pathetic

Remember the 90s? If your answer is Yes, then you will know a cool kid from that not so distant past...Wael Kfoury was the invincible kid of Arabic pop. He was everywhere and he was the guy to listen to from Morocco to Dubai from Syria to Sudan he was on every radio. And we loved him for it because his songs made us happy.

But do you remember a happy and dancey Wael Kfoury hit song in the past 10 years? I do not think that would be easy. He has cornered himself in doing lame romantic songs--some of them are good. But such songs have turned Wael the cool happy singer with passion into a zombie whose fans are limited to older women nostalgic to better times.

He has not released an album in a really long time, and he has found trouble finding a company that wants his album--maybe he asks for too much money. I miss the cool Wael who did happy songs and sounded like a fighter in the ring seeking glory. Wael does not talk to the media and his bodyguards rough up photographers in concerts and there's a talk about his non-secret secret marriage.

the song below was one of his better known songs when every concert and party in Arabia played it at weddings, guys and girls found it a hit. It's not too late for Wael Kfoury to make a song of this magnitude, I just do not feel that he wants to anymore.
وائل كفوري - ما وعدتك بنجوم الليل

Guys In Beirut Too Gay Says Mohamed Eskander محمد إسكندر - ضد العنف

God loves a man like Mohamed Eskander, he is a whistle blower on all gross things he sees. In his first hit, he professed his love, in the second one he spoke of gross bosses who harass female employees, then he spoke ill of those plastic surgeries and beauty fads.

But his next song, music video is his boldest yet. Gay men in Beirut will bring the end to humanity says the song. Boys playing with dolls and makeup, then they are wearing their mothers shoes. Years later, they are checking themselves out in the mirror in self love. So, here's the takeaway, let your boy play with other boys in the street.

Using lotion and moisturizing. The results are creepy, guys do not look at women anymore. and leave them alone on the dance floor to go have an encounter in the restroom with some other dude. He has the looks of a guy, but the gestures and manners of a women...says the song. Gyms do not help either.

I do not think, this song is anti gay, it's about manning up a little. Beirut can use a bit of that, everything has become so PC and guys are told to be cool and not jealous. Watch the clip and let me know your thoughts. On a personal side, I had a lot of American women tell me about soft Arab men in Beirut and in closet gay Arab men.
    
I don't know why Eskander keeps tackling big social issues in his songs, but he sure seems undeterred.  It might be a blessing that most of his songs are written by his own song, Fares. Farie is a well known lyricists in Lebanon whose work is celebrated by the A list entertainers.  On a clever note, titling the song "Against Violence" might curb some attacks on this song. No one is calling for violence against anymore, this is an issue of great importance for many people.

 Mohamed Eskandar - Dodd Al Ounf / محمد إسكندر - ضد العنف

Joe Ashkar 015 2012 Album With 15 Tracks

Lebanese pop ain't dude, it's the opposite. Just ask Lebanon's hardest working party show business guru Joe Ashkar. Joe has released a 15 track album which he has cleverly titled 015. He remains one of the sharpest dresser, and the man most men want to copy, he has a signature style with the slim fit suites. He has has a venue in Lebanon's biggest concert venue....at a Casino where he hold weekly concerts that bring the best of the shoebiz.

His album is about romance, fights, breakups and everything in between. I do like Joe's music, he seems to take it seriously, not just a DJ making music for his songs. The mixing and the mastering seems top notch.

The album is made for female consumption, but males who are helpless romantics will find it interesting to listen to and try to copy some of its lines. Frankly, the album is for the grown up romantic. The song who has seen love up close and personal, not  freshman romantic who might not relate to its lyrics.

Romance for the refined soul is what Joe is going for and he does a really good job at it. He also has few playful songs where he has released as singles in the span of three years.  Like his   Dakhel El Ghannouj that has a music video worthy of stations like the European MTV. On that note, Joe has actually received an ward from the Euro MTV.


This Lebanese super star is doing a favor to his other countrymen as he leads the way in pop music and his music video who are both bold and visionary keep things interesting at home and abroad. Joe Ashkar might not appeal to everyone, but he has always shown to be capable of picking new fans and claiming resepct.  With his 15 track songs, you know the album will change moods and beats, which ensures a musical experience for all tastes out there.   

 01.Ta’ai
02.Keda Keda
03.Men Qal
04.Dakhel El Ghannouj
05.El Shab El Arabi
06.Habibet Albe
07.Kezzabi
08.Sayerlou
09.Akh Ya Bouy
10.Yesa’ad Ayamak
11.Ya Oumi
12.Ta’ai [Shear Wa Ghouna]
13.Rjehtella
14.Mili Mili
15.Aa'l Youma

Joe Ashkar - Dakhel El Ghannouj / جو أشقر - داخل الغنوج


Joe Ashkar - Ta3ee جو أشقر - تعي

A Plastic Nation Called Lebanon عمليات التجميل في لبنان

I have never been to Lebanon, but everyone who comes back from there tells many jokes about how this nation is observed with all things plastic surgeries. Just like Texas and California everyone makes a big deal about their bigger, younger and youthful looks.

There's no shame in that, the same kicks in when it becomes a phobia! That's when even good looking people think they are not good enough. This is not just a thing for women now, guys also wants to keep up to they go under the knife too. Show biz is a bitch and people want to stay in it for as long as it takes. As younger people break into the business, other older stars freak out and run to the nearest plastic surgeon. But it turns out even politicians seek help tucking their bellies.

I love this video where they talk about Haifa Wahbe's nose and Elissa's lips are popular. WE all know dozens of celebrities who went for plastic surgeries. I think it's something if you need it, then go for it, but it you have a choice, you better think again. It makes sense why many world known surgeons call Lebanon home--phobia pays.

عمليات التجميل في لبنان: عندما يصبح الجمال فوبيا

اغنية نانسى عجرم - سكك البنات | Check Out Nancy Ajram - Sekak El Banat

The cute song of this season is out and it has one name on it, Nancy Ajram gave her seal to yet another song that will make gold by being a golden pop song. A cute song about being a girl and being excited about getting flowers and small gifts.

The music is happy and will bring you to the dance floor....take note everyone, here's how you make a good pop song. It just radiates happiness, joy and young romance. People always like that because it reminds them of the time of their innocent days and the time when lie was simple.

Nancy manages to bring songs that express so well that time and her voice is the best fit for good nature songs about the youthfulness of that neverland. This is the song is the song a girl would play as she looks into the mirror and dances away as she styles her hair. The song might be ideal for the young souls, but the message is fit for all females.

اغنية نانسى عجرم - سكك البنات 

Some Pop Songs Are Nothing But Audio Porn

While pop songs are meant to be happy and catchy, some singers mistake pop songs for something else. Singers singing and using that seducing voice and making all those noises associated with sexual acts. I have first heard those songs here in the States. But such have been crossing over to other parts of the world including Arabia.

It starts when a untalented singer (a lazy artist with no ideas also) and a horny consumer. Such songs exist in both Lebanon and Egypt and both males and females have used them. But in general, female Lebanese singers and Egyptian male singers have song such songs. I do not care to name names, but those songs are all around us. I have a dozen names of artists who have dabbled into songs of this nature, where there are sexually suggestive language.

I find Lebanese pop filled with such songs, and Egyptian Sha'abi music as well. The artist is not the only one to blame, listeners should also get the blame. But ultimately, it's the fault of the company and the network that promotes such flits that can only comes form lazy and people who have expired artistically.

enta ba2a (dance crew) "master team"
  

Dina & Saad | دلع يا دلع - دينا و سعد الصغير



Haaya- Shway Sexy | هايا - شوي سكسي

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

Myriam Atallah, The Syrian Pop Princess

Syrian pop sensation Myriam Atallah is keeping a busy schedule as she stays in Lebanon to be near the media center. She has been doing a lot more interviews lately and with those comes a song or two. This blogs like Myriam and have followed her career with passion. That's why we present one of her recent songs produced for LBC.

A single is the most we can wish for giving those troubling times. Not sure if the dance moves work well for the song, but this sounds like a decent pop song from the Syrian songstress. I do not think this song was recorded live, it does not look like it form the video. I like the camera work, but I wish if there was an audience to make the song sound better instead of making this slightly awkwardness.

I think Myriam can do better, at this point it does not seem that any Arab star is delivering the good stuff they once could--things are shaky.  

   بعيد عني جديد ميريام عطا الله 2012 جودة عالية / حصريا من Lbc

Rubi: The Arab's Awesome Response To Turkish Soap Operas

Ruby or Roubi is an Egyptian Lebanese production with dozens of episodes. This is the first serious Arabic production that wants to reclaim TV dramas after those dubbed Turkish shows made millions on Arab networks. Egyptian, Syrian and Lebanese nationals worked on this show to being it in a fine light. 95 episodes. The show came the Lebanese dialect, making it a real alternative to the more common Egyptian one.  So they picked an exotic looking Lebanese singer/actress Cyrine Abdel Nour. And then we learned aside for dashing looks, Cyrine is a top talent.

the show is about rich people caught in conflicted emotions and tough choices. Two other things needed to give a worthy response to Turkish Dramas, exotic locations with natural scenes. And amazing outfits that makes people want to do wonders to purchase such wardrobe. The show ended with the lead getting a divorce from her husband and also leaving her love interest. Needless to say all the three leads were played by gorgeous people.

This work has been adapted from a world famous Mexican soap opera and made fit for the Arab world.

So as the show warped up, there was a surprise song voiced by the winner of the Arab Star Academy latest season. The song is about not being understood. While I did not follow the show, I know well that the show was a big hit with the public and was a healthy response to the invasion of those Turkish dramas.

كليب نسمة لأغنية لازم تتغير في مسلسل روبي لازم تتغير نسمة محجوب مسلسل روبي جودة عالية

سيناريو وحوار كلوديا مرشليان، إخراج رامي حنَّا، وبطولة سيرين عبدالنور، مكسيم خليل، أمير كرارة، ديامان بوعبود، تقلا شمعون، فادي إبراهيم، أسعد حطاب، شادي حدَّاد، بياريت القطريب