2010 Highlights from the Arabic Music Scene
- About a 100 Arabic music albums were released in 2010 "mostly pop", varying in styles, lyrics, and success.
- A number of big names and A list Arab singers released albums this year.
- Wael Jassar Fi Hadrit Al Mahbob (فى حضرة المحبوب) album took the gold with his phenomenal album of religious themed songs Wael Jassar revitalized the music market as his album sold better than hot cakes.
- First big album of the year was Elissa tisda'a bemiin "تصدق بمين" which was the album of the year and a milestone in Elissa's career. Her vocals and musical choices keep improving.
The first stellar album of the year was for Carol Samah "Hodoody Al Sama" "حدودى السما", Carol's 4th album that featured more hits than a boxing match at the MGM. The music videos from it were also as good and as telling as you would expect from Carol and her creative team.- Egypt's Angham deserves to be dubbed the most prolific artist of the year. Releasing two albums that generated sales and pleasant reviews. "الحكاية محمدية" , "محدش يحاسبنى" the first offered religion and history, the other offered funk dance music.
- Hany Shaker, Egypt's legendary singer came back with fanfare for his album Ba'adak Maleesh "بعدك ماليش". He has also had a rough year with the recovery of his ill daughter.
- Nancy Ajram had lots of ups and downs but the queen of Arabic pop released her 7th album to nothing but praises, her style and songs vary and she was generous with more than 16 songs on her album, each one offers something fresh and each one screams, Nancy will be around for a while and I hardly object.
- Young Egyptian singers Khaled Sleim "Da Ana" and Mohammad Hamaki "Haga Mosh Tab'yah" had two albums that energized their fan base as hits from those two albums were DJs. favorites. Those two singers proof that they take their music seriously and Amr Diab is not the only upbeat pop singer. Khaled Sleim had an English and a Spanish songs on his album that he delivered them both well.
A comeback for some of the better voices also took place during this year Walid Toufic returned with his album "La Ta'adny 'Alyk" "لا تعودنى عليك". Raghb Alama also came back with Sineen Rayha "سنين رايحة" featuring a duet with Shakira. Egyptian star Mohammad Foad released Been Edeek "بين إيديك" to great reviews and had music production companies lined up to sign him up. Asalah after four years of self imposed exile, released her much anticipated album, Qanon Kifik "قانون كيفك", an all Gulf dialect album. while Asalah's album was good, the album gone unnoticed for many listeners. Latifah the Tunisian iconic singer had the same dilemma. Although Latifah is well-known throughout the Arab world failed to get noticed with her delightful all Gulf dialect themed album Athada "أتحدى"
The most anticipated event in 2010 was the release of the Lebanese diva Fayrouz, who released an original album Eeh Fi Amal "إيه فى أمل" her first album in 7 years, an eternity in this age. Music stores in the middle East, Europe and America moving millions of copies. Her son composer Ziad brought this album to life as he took charge of it from A to Z.
- Egypt's dark knight, Mohammad Mounir was awarded a platinum award from Universal Studios for Yasmina which he performed with ich ich, the German band lead by Adel Al Tawil. That record sold 700 thousand copies, great to hear in today's pirate infested world.
Most Underrated album of the year goes to the Egyptian Black Theama's album, Bahar which has no hype whatsoever and plenty of original music, heartfelt words, and the pulse of the streets of Egypt. Stories on the metro, the homeless, corruption, shattered dreams as well as too many real life tales were higlighted by the Black Theama's music..- Most overrated album of the year goes to Tamer Hosny's, the Egyptian mega star and box office sensation. "Ekhrtart Sa'h", The album was good, but it offered little substance, and little originality compared with the star previous two records. One thing thought, Tamer continues to be the Lady Gaga of Arabia, he knows who to be the talk of town.
- Abu El Leef "أبو الليف" emerged on the scene of Egyptian music and got everyone talking about his style. Abu El Leef is what you will get if Adam Sandlers sang in Arabic. Slang, fun and witty sentences that speak to the heart because they come from there. Elitists and purists accuse Abu El Leef of ruining the public taste, begs to differ.
Not very successful albums also happened in 2010, the biggest names in music had disappointing sales and sometimes weak reviews.For example, Egyptian pop star Mostafa Amar was one of those. The Lebanese macho man Assi Hillani had disappointing sales this year too. WAMA, the all boy band had a good album, but few cared to purchase it. Same is true with Samo Zain, the Syrian pop and R&B singer
Maybe because that pop music sounds all the same now, maybe it's because the lyrics do not add anything new. Lack of originality is hard to miss in Arabic pop. Also this year saw a high number of stolen musicals notes. Many songs released this year sounded all too similar. Here are few samples of those disputed lyrics, judge for yourself.
Samira Said vs. Raghib Alamahسميرة سعيد 2004 - راغب علامة 2010 / ?? تشابه في الالحان
the video is here
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