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

Best Of Walid Tawfik البوم افضل ما غنا وليد توفيق

 Turn back the clock to the 80s, 90s and the early 00s and you will find a legend for those times. Lebanese singer and composer Walid Tawfik is that legend. Few can hardly remember why they liked him, but most know him and know that he is a has been. This is not accurate entirely. Walid made Lebanese songs popular in both Egypt and the Gulf--Egypt has always been is a tough market to break into.

I like Walid Tawfik, he was the cool kid who acted in movies but also made good music that we all remember well. It's enough for him to be the guy who has the classic birthday song with his voice. But he has also other hits, and he has let us know by remixing them and doing covers of his own songs with a new twist. But Walid also was one of the first Lebanese singers to sing in three Arabic Dialects--Lebanese, Egyptian and Gulf.    

In fairness, the album doe snot have all of his hits, just the hits Rotana has produced for him. Which means you got none of the old good stuff like "Tiggy Ni'esim Al Amar", "Ya Leel"...etc. I would say the album has at least three decent songs by Walid, but none of the good stuff that you and your mom have come to love.

So, we do not forget, here's an album that has his best hits to date. Buy the album where you can. One thing to remember....Walid was the guy who made old school musit a bit hip and a bit faster. He does have Tarab talent, but his pop also lives on in our collective memory.

 01.Badry
02.Mehtajak Habibi
03.El Qessa Kelha
04.A'an El Raheel
05.Akbar Garh
06.Lamm El Shaml
07.Es-har
08.A'beer Al Ward
09.El Hal El Waheed
10.Ehtemal

 اجمل اغاني وليد توفيق The Best Of Walid Tawfik

My Dad Used To Jam To Syrian Fahad Blan

When it comes to Arabic Tarab, Syria does not kid around! Syria is the place where legends of this style of music has been made for centuries. Look no further than on of those underrated Syrian legends Fahad Blan. One of Fahad's most famous hits was a song where he is explaining his condition to his loved one.

Fahd passed away in 1997 not before he has made a huge name from hims and his family that comes from a little Syrian town where they used to do menial jobs. Fahad started his career doing odd jobs one of which a bus operator assistant. The bus used to travel to Damascus a lot where he would take part of a competition doing a cover of Syrian icon Farid Al Atrach.... needless to say he made a good impression.

The atis would join the Syrian radio and sing there, then he has his won songs and the rest is history. Fahad had many marriages including Lebanese diva Sabah. Fahabd used to open and present other legends of his time. He was considered one of the top ten artists in the Arab world in his time.


فهد بلان - واشرح لها

Tony Qattan 2012 Song About Stupid Old Arabs

The cool thing, if a group or a delegation of old Arab men comes to any given home, and refuse to drink the coffee served until their request has been honored. Most if not all people accept such offer because of the hospitality tradition rooted in the desert culture. So when a family wants to ask the hand of a woman in marriage they send the old and respectable men in the family to do the asking.

This is cool, but what if the woman says no? Will those old men go back and eat their word? so here's a scenario....they host family says, sure whatever you ask we will give you. These guests ask for the girl's hand in marriage. She might say no! While most will honor her wish, and go back on their word--this is something Islam is keen on by the way. But then the families might want to get the girl to change her mind.

Lecture aside, here's a song about the very same story, but Jordanian Palestinian singer Tony Qattan where he says "your coffee will be drunk!" And the girl will be your girl now, so congratulation. This is a happy song and shows that the singer is well raised and knows the tradition well. My thing is this, old men do not always know the right things....they are only assumed to have such knowledge.

As for this song I like the beat and the energy is brings. And yes the cool old school instruments incorporated.
 جديد طوني قطان - قهوتكو مشروبة 2012

Remember Helmy Abdelbaky? You Weren't On Facebook Then!

We have a guy from the 90s who is coming back to entertain us at those difficult times. He did have about three great songs about heartbreaks and breakups. He does have that really heart broken voice which allowed him to do what some might call lame songs.

Say what you say, you have a new dose for Helmy Abdelbaky, the tall guy who seems to always find the wrong girl to love. In his music video he does the same story about a hundred other Arabic music video have already done. He is a photographer whose work builds up a star and then when she makes it, she leaves him to his sorrow in a dark room.

And then things change and she wants him back....he walks away....what a gentleman. But wait, there's a twist, he did give his eyes to save her eyesight. She needed to see after the surgery...and he gave his eyes. But then she loves another guy...until she sees him and learns the tale. I do like the end that might be cheesy, but it's original.

Helmy Abdelbaky - Asa'ab Tariq / حلمي عبدالباقي - أصعب طريق

How Did Arabic Music Sounded Like In The 1920s?

Um Kalthoum recorded many songs in the 20s and early 30s. She was not a big name back then, but she was wrothy of being recorded. Frankly, we do not have many recordings Arabic music in that era. But from what we have, we can tell that the music was a little bit different.

The music wasn't the show, it was playing back up to the singers voice, it sounds shy and at times boring. There was no big name composers in that era. The music they had all sounds too similar because they used molds, these molds were the orthodox approach, you could not do something that would stray from that school of music.
 
The one guy who changed all that was Egyptian composer Mohammed Qasabji, he had it in him to try different notes and even borrow from Classical European music at the time. Listen to this song where Qasabji putt he music. He was doing the music of the 20s , then. Later in his career he would try doing something different. Other early one composers was El Sheikh Abu El Ola, he composed many songs for Um Kalthoum early on her career.
  
ام كلثوم ... سكت والدمع تكلم


أم كلثوم - قل للبخيلة - 1928

Moustafa Amar Best Pop Song Ever Is "سكة العاشقين "

Or the Path of Lovers. It might be the most special and most personal song of this Egyptian singer's entire career. To begin understanding this song, Moustafa started his career as a composer, he was that hip kid everyone wanted to work with him. Then naturally, he started to sing and he made a lot of good choices in light pop songs that lived on and told us about this young, charming and good looking Alexandria boy.

Early on his career, he has found a song that will cement his career. It was a pop song unlike any other. For starter, it's close to 8 minutes long, so it's a story, not just two notes and chorus. The length of the music video allows us to watch back story for the music video about people falling in love.

I was listening to this song this morning, and I noted how the mood changes and so does the energy and the musical notes. This is a feature of American songs more so than Arabic pop ones. It plays like a guy talking to himself or thinking out loud about something and with that comes ups and downs. The story of a romance that can go bitter, but then things get sorted out. You will laugh, you will dance and you might tear up while this song plays.

Look at Moustafa and his youth, he had it back then and this song was every man's song...all the cool kids were singing it.

سكة العاشقين

Sherihan شريهان The One And The Only!

Last year, big news were made out of entertainer Sherihan's visit to Tahrir, she camped out with the protesters and stood against the regime. This was big news because Sherihan now shuns the news and keeps to her private life.  Here's something about this true legend.

Sherihan is a natural born actor and dancer, she was the queen of the show business. She has appeared in scores of movies, but her fame was built on one thing....her her starring and fascinating role in the Fawazeer. This show is like a quick show with dances and glamour. She did that, she introduced the Arab world to this show. Her energy on camera brings life and smiles to far too many people

As a young girl she was a ballet dancer. She also did theater at a young age and made name for herself. She came to fame in the height of the disco era Her first movie role was in 1978 and her last film was in 2001, she quit the business due her illness and recover. Sherihan has been linked to Ala'a Mubarak, the song of former president Mubarak. Reumors spoke that he damaged her career once she refused to be with him.

Two decades later and no other female star has manged to take on the roles Sherihan used to play on TV. As of two days ago, she has given an interview that was well received by many of her fans.

 شهريهان تالق فى الفن الاستعراضى

Vintage Videos: Najwa Karam Folklore 1986

People who know what Mawal is, tend to enjoy life. It's essentially a showcase of a singer's vocals where she makes everything longer and louder without major help form music as he or she lead the song. Men and women have performed songs of this nature. The prelude for a song is often Mawal that introduces the song.

Lebanese have mastered this art and so have the Syrians. It's the one element that can show who is a real singer and who is a faker. Najwa Karam, the voice of the mount of Lebanon has perfected this art, we all know this now, but see back in 198 Najawa was nobody outside of Lebanon, she only made is big in the early 90s.

Look at this video and see that little has changed, she had the same stage mannerism now, and the same style, but she has that funny 80s look and hair. This was taken for a live performance at home with a packed hall, keep in mind, Lebanon was still dealing with the civil war.

najwa karam folklore 1986

The Greatest Song About Eyelashes "علي رمش عيونها"

I grew up listening to many things, the song below is one of my earliest ones. This song was that cool song that I used to listen to as a boy with my parents driving the car and the radio or cassette tape playing this tune. The video below is a cover for this song, it has seen many covers throughout the history of Arabic music, but the guy that first made this song famous was Rabei El Khooly.

The original version was by Wadie El Safi's voice, a hit maker and a legend form Lebanon who continues to release his work even though he is in his 90s. Rabeh has quit his career and abandoned this world to become a priest at a Lebanese perish.

What song were you nostalgic too? I know everyone has to have one..so share with us.

محمد متولي - علي رمش عيونها

هانى شاكر + امال ماهر+ وائل جسار . . على رمش عيونها

Rabi3 El Khawli - 3ala Rimsh 3younha / ربيع الخولي - على رمش عيونها

وديع الصافي على رمش عيونها

Relax With Michel Fadel - Aal Lebneni- Enta Omri

Michel Fadel knows a good melody when he hears it, so he recreated one that we already love, he made it a bit cooler or perhaps more up to date in our crowded and speed obsessed world. The Lebanese pianist poured his attention to a classic song composed by Abdel Wahab and made famous be Oum Kalthoum's singing. Inta Omri, or you are my life!

Michel has masters degree in classical piano from the Higher National Conservatory of Beirut. He ended chasing his dream all the way to France where he studied composition and orchestration at the Bologna Conservatory. He is great because he has become the main pianist for the three best Lebanese divas and one legend Fairuz, Majida El Roumy & Julia Boutros. But he has also worked with top players like Wael Kfoury, Assala, Elissa,Saber El Rebaii, Hussein El Jasmi among others

What a soothing musical piece be this handsome young and talented music producer and arranger. He titled it Lebanese but made it a worthy tribute to this timeless Egyptian musical piece. Michel does hold concerts in Lebanon and often celebrities are the first to purchase tickets to see this man in action.

Michel Fadel - Aal Lebneni- Enta Omri

Aida Al Ayoubi, Arabic Eighties Music

Aida Al Ayoubi is now retired, that means she might be done with music, but music is never done with her. This late 80s and 90s singer has released a duet with a hip band more than a year ago, we loved her vocals and her choice of songs. She had a single last year for Egypt. Aida has always been a dreamer, and for many Arabs 2011 was the year when dreams came true.

The music of the eighties music have a certain magic to many of us who are older than 25 and younger than 40. Thus they will always be that different music that we come to love. Here's an Arabic song that keeps it loyal to the tradition of the 80s. The song is a about a garden rose, but in reality, the song is about more than just a pretty rose.

Aida remains one of the most successful pop singers from that era. Something about her voice carrying more than a song with it, her vocals bring excitement and cheers where ever it goes. Not too many singes can boast about that. Aida uses to chorus of young children in many of her songs

 عايدة الأيوبي - وردة في جنينة Aida Al Ayoubi - Warda

Khaleny Fe Balak - Marwa Which One Please?

I am not able to keep track of all the pop star one hit wonders, I have the most hard time with one names Marwa. Do you know, there has to be at least 7 female singers with that name. So, it would be really hard to do research on someone who just goes by the name Marwa.

Here's one who seems Egyptian, her voice is across between Asalah and Amal Maher, a liter version of both . She kind of looks like Amal Hijazi a bit. One thing for sure, her music is prety good. Courtesy of that little piano guy you see at the opening, he is the composer turned singer Mohammad Dia Al Deen. The music video feels busy and there are too man things going on at the same time.

The footage came form a concert,  the song changes moods really fast from classy to pop in seconds
Khaleny Fe Balak - Marwa خلينى فى بالك - مروه

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

Anoushka: the 80s and 90s Hot Exotic Arab Chick

Where has Egyptian pop singer Anooshka gone? I bet she has left the business and leads a happy marriage. I know my older sisters were crazy about this lady. Anoshka had an Armenia heritage, but she was born in Egypt. Anoshka took part of many music festivals in Europe and around the globe, her last album came in 2001. She sang on behalf of Egypt as the ministry of tourism wanted to bring in tourists from all over. She has also sang in sporting events as well. 

Anoshka was a trend-setter on TV when we used to get like 10 channels. So one would really watch one show till the end without having to search for a show for 30 minutes in order to catch five minutes of it. Now here's an old duet for Anoshka with the king of funky and pop Mohammed Mounir. The song is about upper Egypt, the two singers are counting the virtues of that land.

 
محمد منير و انوشكا - بلاد طيبه -Ultras MouniRian-

Big Egyptian Dorks By Hussein And Moody Imam

They were young, charismatic and it was the 80s. Egypt was a fertile ground for experimental pop. Bands were a thing of the 80s Egypt, but ever since Mubarak has exited, they are making a comeback.

Moody and Hussein Imam were part of pop band, and their outfits are bright and now dorky. However, for the time they were a hot ticket. While They are still around in the entertainment business, they do not make music no more. One does act and he has a decent career.

This clip was part of the celebration new year party, the lyrics are lame and I am sure the artists would conquer.
عصام عبد الله واغنية وماله لحسين ومودى الامام

America Has Invented The Phone, We Arabs Sing About It

Shadya has authored many hits in her long career of movie making and singing. She can be considered the first Arabic pop star who offered light entertainment and catchy songs that has good and original music. Shadya has made good art popular on TV, radio and movie theaters. She did not want to be an idol like so many women before her. But that has not stopped the fans from adoring her and her music. She has retired now and walked away form it all, but before then she made us love Arabic music.

Known as the first actress that can sing and the first singer that can actually act. One of her little known songs by the young souls, is a duet she made with Abdel Halim Hafiz el telephone. A love story mouse and cat game where they the couple do not call one another and the second think,s they should initiate the call. This is a universal mindset that most who have ever cared for another person have experienced.

On a side note, it's a fact that most Arab business that make money nowadays are cellphone companies because Arabs talk to much and take a long time to get to the point--other cultures deals with that too. But I do not know of many famous songs about telephones. I know this, I like this duet.   

 النليفون شادية .

Wael Jassar As A Boy Singer Years Ago

I did not know much about the history of Lebanese romance pop singer Wael Jassar prior to his hit song of 1998. I thought he came from nowhere, but the reality, he has been singing long before that song hit the airwaves.

Wael Jassar Official has just shared with its subscribers an old album of this then young singer. He sound nothing like he sound now. He did sound good in his all Lebanese music style, like that of the late 80s and so on. Most of the songs in the album are Lebanese folklore songs. Which reminds me of another young boy who did those kind og songs George Wassouf.

Do not miss the vintage look the album cover has.... those are classy songs that live on, not because of a particular performer, but because they are timeless gems preserved by live music.

Wael Jassar - Ya Ome Ahqan / وائل جسار - يا امي عشقان

Wael Jassar - Kalmet Wad3 / وائل جسار - كلمة وداع

Where Has Pop Star Fares Gone?

Fares made half a dozne of decent pop songs with romance, but then he is not anywhere to be seen? Could it behe has retired? I rememebr liking this guy in the early 200, but I know he has been around even before then. Accroding to the internet has has released an album this year.

Do not know much about his background and with his name, you can be certain, it will be hard to find any info on him online. For all it is wroth, here's one of his little known songs. He is the dreamy voice from Egypt with a subtle handsome look.
Etkalem - Fares إتكلم - فارس

Bashar Al-Sheikh Brings Back The All Palestinian "Yooya"

He is Jordanian and he cares for Palestine! But what is intriguing about this young singer his deep knowledge of old Palestinian classics. Yooya, is an All Palestinian song kids in the camps used to sing it as far as I can remember and as far my late parents can remember. It's a song about pride and about resilience.

This is a song that means so much to me than it will mean to others who have not lived the Palestinian story. The song is about living and holding tight to your ground, fighting for what's rightfully yours. Bashar brought back this song in time for the Arab spring and the talk of freedom and wanting to live free.

The artist dedicated the song for Palestine including Gaza and the rest of the Arab revolts like in Syria and the rest. This song will help push Bashar's young career.
Bashar Al-Sheikh - Yooya "Remix Version"\بشار الشيخ - "يويا" يا ولاد حارتنا