While Arabs Shame Belly Dancers, Non Arabs Dominate It

Everybody loves belly dancing, no body would want to be one. As far as Arab people go, it's a dead profession. And such belly dancer have became just another word for prostitute. So, who gives? The people around the world picked the dance and made it even sexier.

Go to any restaurant in Lebanon or a Moroccan restaurant, chances are the dancer is not Arab, but she appreciate the culture--which to her means belly dancing. Which was no surprise to me when I saw the video below about belly dancing festival in Lebanon and most of the stars were from Europe, Latin America and beyond. Few Arab belly dancers were also present.

Needless to say some mid aged bald guys with a sleazy personality showed up. Check out the belly dancers from Spain and Mexico who have been interviewed. The lady behind this event is a local belly dancer with the name of Amani.

   مهرجان الرَّقص الشَّرقي في بيروت يجذب الأجنبيَّات

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

Girls Tales by Nancy Ajram نانسي عجرم - أغنية سكك البنات من مسلسل حكايات البنات

This Ramadan there,s a show that will take everyone by storm, a lighthearted comedy about being a girl. Who knows best than Nancy Ajram, a young singer who made it big when she was younger than 20, she is the mother of two girls and the daughter of a strong and young at hear woman.

Nancy has made it cool to be a girl, perhaps less awkward maybe. The spunky years are important and it seems Nancy is happy to always be a young girl in the inside and outside. That's why she was the voice for the new comedy about girls. She has sang the main song for the show and so far it seems to be a great choice.

People now want to tune in to this show as the great Nancy who is a Huge star and has the highest likability rating in Arabic pop. I might not like the show because it seems to be going for "Friends" or any other American show. It seems to be about being a city girl who likes to think she is modern and stuff. The sad part, it was a guy who wrote the lyrics, not a woman. As far as we can tell the lyricist likes women too. 

But as for the song, its spot on cute, and accurate too. So take notes guys, do not screw up and if you do, there's a right way to handle it and a wrong one...Nancy Ajram will show you the way. 

نانسي عجرم - أغنية سكك البنات من مسلسل حكايات البنات 

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

Will One Direction Malik Zayn Be Fasting This Ramadan?

I was wondering being a Muslim, will the One Direction band member and super awesome dude Malik Zayn (Zayn Jaweed Malik) be observing the Muslim Month of Ramadan. I mean will be be fasting? If not because of his faith, it might be due to his respect to his heritage.

The net seems to be going crazy about his faith, some American loon have even accused him of "pimping Islam". I think people like that and others who do not thing he is a good Muslim miss the point.

He is a British Pakistani But, give me a break, here's what online commentarot had to say about Malik's being a lousy Muslim:

He is by name but he doesn't follow the guidelines of Islam. Islam prohibits smoking, drinking, dating and such and he has, unfortunately, strayed and gone and done those things. It's sad to see such a good person go off like that but it is what it is. May Allah guide him and show him the Light.

Zayn Malik is a Muslim British Pakistani and he is proud of his religion view. Malik once tweeted ""La ila ha ill allaho muhammed door rasoolalah" which means he believes in Allah and Muhammad.

In Ramadan of 2011, he was reported to have fasted. He has a good personality as a muslim. In the first day of Ramadhan he tweeted in his Twitter account "First day, who's fasting?". Those are evidances that Zayn Malik is Muslim, not that he has anything to proof to anyone. Religion should not be put on public display.

For skeptics of Malik's faith, here are few things to consider:

1. Malik Zayn is young, and full of life
2. He has an image to protect. His business image does not have to his personal life.
3. He is the son of a different culture, so his practice does not have to be a carbon cop of what some guy in Pakistan calls "proper Islam"
4. Some of his fans, don't care about his religion and in exchange he should not try to preach to them about his personal life and his faith.

Malik is not famous because of his religion, but because of his music and personality. So, I say keep on keeping on...and your religion is your business.

Zayn Malik with family in BRADFORD [ @zaynmalikarmy ]