Review And Covers Of Magda El Roumi "Ghazal" 2012 Album

Magida El Roumi just took the best thing about Western music and made is purely Arabic. By doing so even the people who resent or indifferent to Arabic music are rendered helpless in the power of such addictive album that offers plenty of wow moments! Keep on mind Magida composed many of the songs for this album.

Magida does not make pop music, she makes modern day classics that will be kicking around our world for some time, she makes music that the 80 year old can enjoy and the 20 year can claim refined credit for knowing. As those songs age, so does our love and appreciation to each one of them.

Magida has always been known by many names, in my book I just added another title for this diva, a hit-maker. Let's review her 2012 album that took almost seven years to produce.

01 W Btetghayar El-Da'aye'. an epic song that might as well be the most perfect rendition of classical Arabic music. the lyrics are nothing short of fresh and magical. Magida hits all the right notes and leaves no stone  unturned to bring out this intoxicating gem.

02 Wa'adtouka, the most intimate song on this track, a sweet and creamy song so smooth coming from a woman who has helped many of us define love. The lyrics are the creation of a poet and the song is performed by someone who can make anything into a gorgeous tale. Kathem Al Saher crafted the music to tjhis track--no one has sang more peoms for Nizar than this man.

03 Bass Ellak Habibi, a confession from a woman are hard to come by, and when they come the world of someone gets rocked. How about Magida doing the same thing for each one of us at the same time? Do not take my word, tune in and you will understand why this song is a masterpiece. Think of the music they play at the Oscars, this one should give the Oscars producers an idea about making good music better.

04 Metghayar W Mhayarni, the coolest song on the album, feel free to dance to this captivating jazz that will get your hear racing. Yes, it's like a time machine where we are taken on a ride to the 20s and the good times that were made then. A clear winner where all the right elements came together. A surprise hit that was composed by Abdel El Rab Idris, a composer know for very tradition Arabic music makes the most foreing sounding Arabic melody.

05 El-Alam Elna, the ballroom dance scenes are always glamours, and the music to which people dance helps create such an emotional experience where good music is in a perfect harmony with the happy. Magida sounds so capable of flexing her vocal muscles to transcend with this song and create joy for the world. You need to make time and enjoy this song, it's like a therapy to one's soul

06 Ablani Hayk,  this is a song that Magida have become known for, the dreamy girl who sees his man as the perfect and most handsome on this planet. Love the lyrics and the imagery we almost can touch, butterflies and red roses 


07 Al-Tayrou Taraban Yougharidou, a song both adults and kids would appreciate, something you can sing to your kids and also your loved one. This is the music you play when the princess walks down the sitars or the aisle and all eyes will be on her. The song also flirts with the subject of the song, a love the creative style in music and simple yet fitting lyrics.  And by the way, the spring just found it's official anthem.

08 Salawna, a duet from a time other than our time, sounds like something you would hear in Paris or NY Jazz clubs in the 20s where music is the attraction, but where a good vocalists can seal the deal. I love the way the song changes pace with highs and lows. I do not know how team Magida manged to give us a snapshot of a time where imagination was not so expensive. Both singers brings a flavor to this track that helps make so accessible. Composed by her own father and  with lyrics put forth by the Rahbani brothers.

09 La Ma T'illi Habbayna, the music sounds very East, a funny song where a woman tells a man that he is delusional, a cute song with create production and music that pumps your heart. It's made for concerts mean to bring the energy up a bit. I am a fan of such songs, and I like a proud woman who can stand up and school a man. Magida moves into a happy mood in a heartbeat and manages to capitalize on her energy and channel all of that to the listener.


10 Ala Albi Malak, this sounds like an Egyptian baladi melody, (the kind you can belly dance to) it feels like the first song one hears from Magia, she made this kind of song sin the 80s and we were fond of them. Magida outdoes herself again and channels the high moment sin her career and brings them back 30 years later with might and passion. I like the mini stories in the song, Magida is made for ballads. Not to forget the cleave play on words in Malak (owner) and Malak (angel)

11 La Ma Rah Ez'al A'chi, it does not feel like an Arabic song, the music sounds a bit European to my ears, a lot darker than other songs. It does resembles some of Fayrouz's songs which is always good. It might be a song about a modern day prophet who wanted to spread the good word--he cannot give up and he cannot be broken. I have to listen to it few times to get a good grip on it. Marwan Khoury composed the music and it feels like he has left his comfort zone to come up with something fresh.

12 Law Ta'ref, another confessional song where the female cannot speak her mind and confess her love because if she did, she would undervalue herself. This is the mature side of Magida where real life experiences come to play. he selfish and nothing worries him, he is in love with himself making him self satisfied. I think the best part of the song is how Madiga moves from the angry frustrated lady to the sweet and lowdown one

13 Bladi Ana, Things are looking scary in some parts and promising in others. It's a song for Lebanon with some Spanish flavor (some foreign language too, I think Italian) Lebanon is a country of love says Magida, no place for hatred. There's a subtle message where some voices in Lebanon call for looking out for the the interests of some Arab nation at the expense of the people of the land.

14. Nashid El-Shohada, You cannot skip the Arab Spring and Lebanon at the moment, Magida dedicates a song to all the fallen men and women which fought for freedom all across the Arab world. It's a song she sends to the families of such heroes. Magida takes no sides, she just urges everyone to find ways to make peace. I welcome the song and the very fine balance Magia has to keep. After all she is a star that almost all of us agree to honor and respect, yet the uprising in the Arab world have many voices. As a song, you might get shivers when the chorus and Magida voices meet.


Note on album cover ماجدة الرومي كفرات البوم, Magida El Roumi came from a proud home where her father was a well known composer Halim El Roumi, it's only fair for her to boast about the talented home she comes form. 


ماجدة الرومي وعدتك Majida El Roumi 2012