Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Khalij's Finest Chick Pop Import

Nihad aba Rudy is a young talent from the Gulf whose effort to make good music has not gone unnoticed, but she needs to do more. If you Google the artists, you should be ab;e to find their picture and their bio without having to work too hard.

I cannot even find a correct way to spell her in even in Arabic. She made a dazzling song for those who like to dance. She has the voice many young Lebanese songstress would like to copy. She can also boast about the exotic look she has.

As far as the lyrics are concerned, they are not that original. The music arrangement did its job keeping the song loud.

نهاد ابارودي - الشوق جاني / فيديو كليب 2012

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

O Mohammad Operetta أوبريت هذا محمد


Light operas are meant to be huge, they are often used in Arabic to describe a song where at least three vocalists sing together. There are many of them and artists usually donate their fees to make such a huge productions possible. Arab entertainers record them, when there is something going wrong, war on Iraq/Palestine/Lebanon/Syria or somewhere else they care about.

They have also made them for religious reasons, like the one you will see below, a song in defense of prophet Muhammad. Those are the voices of some big names in the Gulf area, like Mohammad Abdu, Hussien Al Jassimi, Fayez Al Said as well as others. A large number of Munshdeen Capella singers who sing religious songs have helped with the project. The music belongs to Fayez Al Said.  

The music is kept to minimal, in order to draw in the more orthodox Muslims. It's a poem that sing praises to the Prophet peace be upon him. It reads like a poem. This is not a new song, it was recorded on February of 2012. The production is for the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

I think the song wanted to be made quickly, so no other Arab singers were invited to record along side the Khaliji artists. It tells some of the highlights in the prophet's life, his struggle and his message.

أوبريت هذا محمد أداء أسامه الصافي - حسين الجسمي وآخرون
  

Assi Hallani Sends #Egypt Some Love


The Egyptian House of Opera is the big league for Arab entertainers, most would give a leg to perform there, because of its history. Many awesome Arabic names have stood there toe to toe next to Egyptians legends of music.

I feel mediocre Egyptian names can stand on its stage, but for Arab ones they have to do something out of this world. Assi Hallani was one of those names who stood on that stage, and see her do a cover of a beloved Egyptian patriotic classic about Arab unity.

Assi Hallani is a dreamer about Arab unity and he has sang for it on his own terms, he is a proud Lebanese but he has always talked about the aspiration of the Arab people. See him channel his innter Abdel Halim in this classic about swearing by the sky and the soil of the land.

عاصي الحلاني - أغنية أحلف بسماها و بترابها - دار الأوبرا Assi El Hallani

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Fayez Al Saeed, Great Composer, Weak Singer


The UAE's most serious music talent Fayez Al Said tries to be too many things at the time time. He may be good at wearing too many hate, but the reality is far too complex. He is a busy composer--his melodies are the best thing to come out of the UAE's music scene. 6 out of 10 songs made in the Gulf, he has put his golden touches on.

With his new album out, he is pushing a new music video for that album. A lackluster pop song that falls flat and feels bland. It may be popular with some of his fans in the Gulf region, but a good song should not be limited to one region and not the other--there are many good Khaliji songs that make it out West. In the local scene  they have to come across as the conservative and traditional homeboy, but for the ones viewing them for the outside  they want to be hip and relevant.This kind of bipolar attitude complicate the marketing.

Fayez is a cool guy and he tries too hard to come across as one, but he does not really need to try that hard. We get it, he likes the club, scene he likes to dance and look good. Something about males in that part of the world, they would rather be goofy than be good. He has had better songs, but this song might be made for merely his fans.  

 فايز السعيد - دق هيوة / فيديو كليب 2013