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

Feel Free To Hate That Shithead Tamer Hosny

I cannot help it, but I still cannot stomach this guy anymore. He might have recorded some big songs--in his world, but he is still a tiny little guy. He traveled to Hollywood trying to get the attention of people around the Arab World, no body seemed to tune in.

Now he has a concert in Morocco, where he saw a big and warm reception. I will not argue with that, he is a star but those who got no education and those who are glued to their TV screens. He did hold a pres conference while there. Remember the old Tamer would never talk to anybody and he would never take questions. He now has to blame the humble boy game.

He danced on the stage and tried to pretend everything is ok. Here's the sad reality, he will not sell a big concert in Egypt. He won't, he might pack it with his buddies and friends for free, but few would pay a dime to see him. His concert was free for the masses in Morocco. He even went to Jordan for another concert and spoke to the pres.

It looks like the uni-brows are back this summer. Some journalist actually said something pretty cool. "I wish you have not made your movies" Tamer tried to play it cool and saying he made money! This is not about art anymore, he is all about the money, little misguided teenagers and zombies.     

تامر حسني: أعذر من يشكِّك بمحبِّة النَّاس لي

Massari Or Shitty Losers Who Make It Big In Lebanon

Sari Abboud or as you know him Massari is a Lebanese Canadian R&B, pop, and hip hop singer who grew up in Canada. Massari means "money" in colloquial Arabic. I do not know one thing about him until Arab entertainers started talking about him like they would about Michael Jackson. For some reasons, desperate Arab singers wanted to inject some pizzazz into their careers by using the name of an unknown singer and playing him up. Here's what one commentator had to say about the Canadian savior of Lebanese music

.i hate everything about him his style his stupid songs his looks !!

I don't really like Massari,his music isn't my type

Massari has found some traction in Lebanon where he organizes concerts and now he is bringing a Canadian treat to share the stage with him Mia Martina. I do not like their style of music and I feel it's at least 5 years behind that on the American music. One last thing, I am proud of Arabs who do well and succeed, I just do not think we should worship people who are not worthy of that attention. ماساري لـ"إيلاف": تِرشرش أغنيتني اللبنانيَّة المفضَّلة

Massari - Body Body [ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ]

Weird Al Of Arabia Back With Super Leefa خليك في النور يا أمور - البوم أبو الليف

Canadian singer Weird Al has been entertaining the masses with humor and pop songs, he does it by writting simple songs that lampoons other popular songs with a humorous twist. Just look the pictures of the singer above and you cannot not see the weirdness and contradictions in it.

Egypt has met its own version of Weird Al in 2009, with a guy so weird that most had no idea how to classify him. At first he worked under the name Abu Leefa, but then he changes his name to Abu El Rish, and nobody seems to know what to call him anymore. He has become a household name and has appeared in a number of talk shows.

Here's what we can know about him

He is Egyptian singer-songwriter, music producer, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist.Abe El leef is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. But he also does original songs about how fake people can be and how messy families are. When he is not mocking other songs, he can really make song heartfelt songs. 


Abu El Leef will be releasing his new album later this week, and we only have a teaser that's only few seconds long. The music sounds like a rap song--something like those of 50 center and Lil Wayne. This is an album that will give us laughter and little wisdom at the same time. The same team that was behind the hit album of 2009 are back for the 2012 dose.

There is a duet with Egyptian pop throwback Hisham Abbas
 خليك في النور يا أمور - البوم أبو الليف الجديد كاملة

اغنية ابو الليف وهشام عباس - هتفرج علينا | 2012

Is Myriam Faris The Arab Jennifer Lopez?

Before you get upset, hold one a second and read my argument

• Both are wildly successful
• Bot endorse produces and help companies sell stuff including but not limited to beauty products.
• Both are viewed as sex symbols by their fans and observers alike.   
• Both can sing a pop song and bring your energy to a maximum level.
• Both are amazing dancers and recognized and creative dance moves
• Both are bold and both are stylish.
• Both are adored by the guys and copied and celebrated by females.
• Both have done acting roles in movies.
• They both hire world famous choreographer to help them come up with stunning dance moves.
• Both are being attacked by younger pop stars who want their stardom-Myraim is younger than Jenny. 
• And most of all both are strong opinionated  

This conclusion hit me when I saw the dance portion (skip to minute 3:20 if you do not want to see the ego trip) You really cannot help but see how similar they are and how well choreographed their dance moves. She really danced her tail off at the Murex D'or awards where she one the title of the biggest name recognition in Arabia and best in show.

I do not think she was a big hit in 2012, she has not released an album, but she kept in the news and kept herself busy.  

Myriam Fares Best Show Star and The most popular of 2011 - Murex D'or awards 2012

I Just Danced To This Song...For My Wife

Essam Karika knows how to put out a party song, he has given the world of Arabic pop a while library of happy and dance inducing hits. He just did last year when he composed this song to Algerian singer Fella who is trying to reach out to Egypt.

The song pays a tribute to all things Egypt and all things tourists like about this massive country.  It was a hit, but it could have been bigger had it been allowed to air to the public in Egypt and not just remain online.

Anyhow, on a slow night, I got this jam stuck in my head, so I opened up the laptop hooked up the speakers and told my wife to watch....I danced for the duration of the song and it felt good. My wife did not complain.

It's a pop song that gets your hear racing.
Fella - Wahshany Ya Masr / فلة - وحشاني يا مصر

This Song Lampoon The Brotherhood In Egypt

The song was supposed to market a movie, but someone thought the lyrics go well to explain to the common man the issue many have with the brotherhood or the Ikhwan. I am not one of those who fear them, I do not particularly care for them either.

I do think that they should do a better job explaining themselves and the things they can do for the country. Instead, they get caught in side fights about religious outfits and women matters. Anyhow, I think the song is funny and I think it speaks about all things Egyptian at the moment.

Love it or hate it, it's all about humor. People who have a sense of humor are the ones that matter, those who do not lugh, do not tend to live long. Hisham Abbas might not like that his video is bring used for this end, but something tells me, he would not be rooting for the brotherhood.

حقيقة الاخوان في اغنية هشام عباس متتهورش Hisham Abbas Matethawarsh

"Men Rights" By Nicolas El Osta 2012 / حقوق الرجال - نقولا الاسطا 2012

Ladies are up an arms against Lebanese singer Nicola El Osta who is a fixture of Lebanese parties in the United States. They are upset with his new song called "Men Rights"! Let's get the story straight, Nicola has played Jesus once before on stage in 2010 so he has to be Mr. nice guy.

Nicola is on hot water not for anything religious, but rather something social. He is complaining that women have too much rights now, and he sees that men need an association to defend their rights. In his song he calls ladies the sweet ones calm down please!" I am sure feminists won't be too happy. Some went as far as calling the song a feminist parody.

Nicola argues that women now dominate TV screens, and all sorts of jobs and that yet to date women have to be satisfied. It's a Lebanese beat made for Debka dance. To his credit, Nicola calls women the man's other half and shies away from being chauvinistic like these songs can often become. It's what it's, so you either love or or hate it. I know the song does not interest me too much.

H2ou2 El Rejjal - Nicolas El Osta 2012 / حقوق الرجال - نقولا الاسطا 2012

72ou2 El Rejjal 2012 - A Feminist Parody

Songs Of War: Torturing Prisoners With Music

I know sometimes, I joke about some music feeling like torture to me. But in reality some government have been using noise of music to break down terrorists. This sounds like a soft form of torture that might give people a giggle. I know the US likes to go to wars with regimes that torture, or at least that's what they say. Torture is wrong.

Word on the street that the US has been using music to torture some of its prisoners of war or suspected terrorists. I have read about this before during the Bush years, and now Aljazeera English has a good report on it, tracking reports that go back to 2003. Sometimes they would let them put headphones one and tie them into a chair making them listen to loud music. Aljazeera interviewed a former guard who cites rock music being used to bug prisoners. Sometimes, they would play two different songs at the same time an dyes, they are English songs.

Christopher Cerf, creator of the children’s program The Electric Company and an award-winning composer who produced the theme song to Sesame Street, told a reporter recently that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) “perverted” his music “to serve evil” by using his most famous composition to torture prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Documents made public in 2010 revealed that ten specific torture techniques wererecommended by Bush administration attorneys, although the CIA had proposed 12. Among those rejected were mock burials and prolonged diapering, but among the legal tactics, loud music, threatening prisoners with power drills or guns, physical abuse, simulated drowning and sensory deprivation were all commonly deployed.

In a documentary aired Wednesday, Al Jazeera World

Aljazeera World Songs of War

The Poor Sudanese Man's Music Video

I have known many Sudanese in my life and have come to appreciate them and their sense of humor. Contrary to what the norm says, they are among the most educated and brightest Arabs you will meet, some of them work all the way in NASA and make world class surgeons in various European capitals.

But this is about the other Sudanese, the ones who like to have fun, even if they are poor and have little talent. A song about a Sudanese who wants to get married because he sees everyone with a wife. The son cries to his father so that he can have a wife. He tried to clam him down.

This is one popular music video that went viral for obvious reasons.
فيديو كليب سوداني

Industrial Music Helps Keep Bats Away In Australia

When The Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens learned that have a huge colony of fruit bats that required the city to take drastic measures. Using Music and noises seemed to work as many of those bats have been seen evacuating the gardens. Just look at the picture to realize how creepy bats can be.

It has been reported that the 5000 of those large creepy creatures were hanging in the trees. I know we have read about music being used as torture, now they use noisy music to fend off attacks form uninvited guests. It's too bad because some folks seems to enjoy the site of gigantic bats.

Over the past 20 years, the bats, also known as flying foxes, have caused extensive damage in the gardens, with more than 28 trees and 30 palms already lost and several hundred more trees and plants damaged, 60 critically. Yeah, hope Sydney is now feeling safe and their trees are better for this music.

What Arabic music would you use to accomplish the same thing? Can you think of one song that could scare the bats away? 

Jordan Is Ahead Of The Curve With Fads

Beat Box or human jukebox are hot in certain parts of town. But it seems that we are no longer amazed by the combination of strange and cool talent that many young men and women have started to boast about. Jordan got a big group of hip human jukebox and told them to compete against one another in a festival that brought so many young people in one place.

Needless to say there was break dancers too and a lot of bros in saggy clothes. I am guessing if the purpose to make instruments out of a job, then these guys fail. But I am feeling it's something young people do to impress others in their age group.

So all the hip kids from Jordan...20 talents took part of this event between the ages of 16 and 25 years old. Some of those who have been interviewed spoke how people look down on them and mock them. The problem people did not know what to expect and tended to belittle the beat boxers. Lips, tongues, and mouth!

لأوَّل مرَّة في الأردن: مسابقة لعازفي البيت بوكس

The Awkward Rendition of The Lebanese National Anthem

Assi Hallani thinks he is a hero, a knight, a leader and a fighter. But above all he loves his homeland Lebanon and adores its army. Now Assi is a smart business guy, he has managed to survive in today's crowded music scene. In one of his million appearance for an interview on a Cleanser TV, he broke into character and started singing and humming the Lebanese national anthem.

Assi made it awkward as he broke into the anthem sitting down, only seconds later, he stood up and confused the TV present who played along with this unprovoked rendition...like he has gotten himself the holy spirit. What's intersting though, how simmilar all Arab national anthems are, I do appreciate the Lebanese anthem as it does not speak of a certain leader or king...just the country that we all agree to love and honor.
عاصي الحلاني يغني النشيد الوطني اللبناني

Madonna To Auction Off Her Memorabilia In Dubai

Madonna to auction her belongings in Dubai. Why not and the world's sleaziest tax dodgers call it home. Making Dubai a very fine city a capital for white collar criminals and people who lack a culture of their own so they go on and buy themselves one.

Madonna has so many concerts and she does them often, but if you want more of her, there are 50 items that Madonna has wore or used during her reign of world's pop of 3o years. As you can tell, the items are being sold by some American or British company who figured they can make some money in Dubai selling some celebrities trash. The English speakers who gave the interview seem to know what they will do....$2000 and $600,000 a piece.

Keep in mind Madonna who is a die hard fan of the state of Israel and a supporter of that state will have a concert in Dubai and most concert goers will overlook that little details about this diva's political stands on a state that has brought so much pain to the Arab people, a state that has assassinated people in Dubai itself..

مقتنيات مادونا للبيع في دبي

Qatar Denies Lebanese Singer Melhim Zain A Visa

The charming Lebanese singer Melhim Zain just got denied entry into Qatar. Melhim has performed many times in Qatar before where he has many fans in that country. Here's here it gets weird, Qatar has granted all his band members visas to Qatar, but they denied the lead singer Melhim a visa.

The reasons for denying Melhim his visa were political. How so?

Melhim is well known for his support to Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian president. Melhim has said so in a number of interviews he has given and you can conclude he is vocal about this support. Now, Qatar hates president Assad and have been leading the fight against him in the Arab League, the United Nation and most recently with arming rebels. Therefore, Melhim's opinion are not too popular with Qatar. Meanwhile Fadel Shaker, the singer who defied Assad gets to live in a nice home in Doha.

Melhem Zein - Baddi Hebbik / ملحم زين - بدي حبك
   

Strange Dances Are All What Arabs Got Talent Have

The Arab world has changed so much folks. Dancers have taken over the Arab airwaves and the blogs have taken notice. The popular TV show Arabs Got Talent is back for their second season. I have been seeing a lot more dance talents being featured on their show.

I have three dance performances just form last week. From the strange, to the weird and to the ridiculous. I do not know what to think anymore, I want all talents be able to vent out their energy and earn people's attention, but some of those things are not fit for prime time appearance. #ArabsGotTalent - S2 - Ep5 - ماهر الشيخ #ArabsGotTalent - S2 - Ep5 - سليم حنينه #ArabsGotTalent - S2 - Ep5 - Toni Crew

You Will Like Medieval Times Show, I Know I Did

I know it's not exactly music, but music is often timeless and so is certain things that happened in the past. For those who like the good old days and like to be part of something fun and different, I recommend the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. A Dinner show in the King's court where knights battle one another foor your entertainment.

The company has 8 castles in North America, Washington DC/Baltimore, South Carolina, Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, New Jersey and one castle in Ontarihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifo. The concept is simple, you are in the court of the King of Spain in the 11th century. This is a show that has nothing but positive reviews online by both adult and children attendees.

There are horses, knights and food under one roof that will take you back in time while entertaining you and allowing you to reflect on the simple things of life that many take for granted. I have been to many shows where dinner is also served, in Las Vegas, Florida, New York and many other places, this one if different as you feel the excitement all over the place. And yes, it's OK to be rowdy.

The food they serve is also good worthy of Kings and those he allows into his court. As you thrill to a rousing, two-hour live jousting tournament, marvel at awe-inspiring horsemanship and falconry. The castle runs three shows a day and offer special deals for groups and school. For more info, please visit their website and you can thank me later.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament - Behind the Scenes

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

Esam Karika, Egyptian Sleaze Seeking To Please

Esam Karika is fine with you not loving him. Karika is the Egyptian answer to rap music, but with local twist. He likes loose clothes, he also likes to surround himself with plenty of women and when he sings, he works hard to make sure you do not understand what the hell he is talking about.

I have embedded a music video of his where the outfits, the dancers make up the bulk of the music video, not the song. He titled his song, high heels in reference to women wearing them and seducing him--or his little mind. In Karika's world, women dance on top of his cars, and try to get his attention. His music video tend to offer some humor and some sleaze, but no originality.

El Kaab El Aali - Esam Karika الكعب العالى - عصام كاريكا

Arabs Got Talent - S2 - Ep2 - Haspop

Arabs got talent even, if they do not speak Arabic like the case of their latest guest show. He dances like a robot in a way that's unknown to many Arabs. He is a father of two cute kids who support their father in his appearance on the talent show.

Hassan lived in France, but he is Moroccan, he seems comfortable with English. His urban dance is popular in many capitals.

This handsome Arab had to stand for judgement in there after he delivered a stunning dance segment. Never mind that at least two of the three judges strike me as to have never danced in their lives. These guys were kind to him and has given him all thumbs up to allow more of us to see his stunning dance.

Arabs Got Talent - S2 - Ep2 - Haspop