#Ya_Yumma" Brings Mohammed Assaf Back to #Palestine @MohammedAssaf89

It took Assaf three weeks to release a song for Palestine in light of the Israeli madness and policy of execution of young Palestinian men and women. Assaf is been busy lately promoting that movie that talks about his life in paces like London and Dubai.

He wore his Palestinian scarf, and got the song going. This is a song he had to make, he may found himself an unenviable position that people were expecting him to do something. He still got the voice, some remind me this might have been an old song that Assaf is covering. It mentions a number of Palestinian towns that have revolted against the occupation.

The team behind the song sound like talents from Gaza, Palestine. I am not inspired it but I am pleased Assaf has still time for Palestine. The footage used for the song show a number of things that celebrate life in Palestine and young men who still have the fire.

Then Assaf gives a talk toward the end of the song dedicating it to the people who matter. He names the city of Jerusalem and its people too. I like how his songs pays homage to mothers in Palestine as suggested in the title.

يا يمّه هادي رجالك - محمد عساف Ya Yumma - Mohammed Assaf

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Syrian Musicians Turned into Street Artists in Turkey (Video)

God help these millions of refugees. If reports are right there are more than 2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey--mostly Syrians. Many of them are exciting people who had a life before the war in Syria, and some of them are musicians. So it was only a matter of time for a Syrian band to take on the streets of Turkey and dazzle the world with their music

Music makes people feel good and heals the soul. See these shattered people but not broken do a lovely cover for one of the most memorable songs by Egyptian pop star Amr Diab. Street artists are a dignified way to earn some cash. There's not much in it, but the artists feel that they are doing their part.

I am impressed by this cover, it's well performed despite all the rage these artists must be feeling by now. It's unclear to me if they are singing for their fellow refugees or for tourists, whatever it's I admire them. There's a lot of talent in Syria and I have yet to meet a mediocre Syrian vocalist.

فرقة سوريه تغني ل عمرو دياب في تركيا

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Rabeh Sager Celebrates All The Saudi Freedoms!

Rabeh Sager is a proud Saudi who made time to record a new love song for his home. I respect that. He loves his home and he enjoys its wealth and riches--unlike many non Saudi stars who do such songs for a paycheck. Rabeh is fitly rich so he does not do things for money. He is one of these authentic Saudi voices, really in an other country his style won't fly. But in Saudi and the Khaleej he is king.

It's Saudi national day and there is celebration all over the land and it's Hajj season and Eid, so there are many happy occasions to commemorate. Rabeh had a good year in 2015, which saw the release of his much anticipated album of more than 20 tracks. It was his first in more than a decade.
 

Rabeh Sager ... Ya Wajh Al Ard | رابح صقر ... يا وجه الأرض

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The Best Songs Of Alleged Terrorist Fadel Shaker

I do not know if he killed anybody, but I know he had a lot of stupid things to say, he also posed with guns, and paled around with questionable radical elements. He also was in some capacity involved with a confrontation with the army. He also attacked a prominent political group in Lebanon and threatened to murder people and thugs.

but many of us are not ready to believe that Fadel Shaker, the soft-spoken Lebanese crooner is capable of such hate....so for all those people here's some of his finest songs, all the hits will be here in this YouTube clip.

He is Mr. sweet romance guy. He became famous in the late 90s, and kept up a good name, quality songs and fans all over the world, before he has a change of heart and start feeling sorry for his fellow brethren in Syria. One day we will hear from him, but as of right now very few people know with certainly where the man is hiding at the moment.

أجمل ما غنى فضل شاكر .....fadel shaker

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The Revolution "Coup" In #Syria Gets Another Song

She is their biggest cheerleader, and she made her stands known to the masses, then she toned it down a bit. Now she returns with a cover of an old Oum Kalthoum song in favor of revolutions. Keep on mind, the original song was performed by the legendary Egyptian songstress who has also sang for the king before he lost power and the army took over.

Assala is a super star and she has the high for the octave and whatever comes below it. She has what it takes to rock concert halls. She did not have to support the revolution in Syria, but she did and she paid dearly for that. Now comes a more intimate song by her where she sings with no music and noticeable lack of makeup.

"Revolutionaries" is the title of that song and as a song Assala knock it out of the park....I do not get the politics of the Syrian revolution, I know this murder and thugs in Syria have to be stopped.

أصاله تغني للثورة السورية .. أغنية أم كلثوم " ثوار "

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New Song By The Iconic Iraqi Singer Kadim Al Sahir Salutes Iraq's Youth (Video)

Kadem Al Saher used to be an idealist singer. He is no longer that way. how could you be positive, upbeat when the only news form Iraqi is heartbreaking. But while the country has been in turmoil for decades, Kadem has a new on for the youth in Iraq.

He is calling on them to raise up and build and not to give up home. The chorus for this song seems to be no short on legends. The song plays like a typical national anthem, Kadem chose to go for the casual look here. He sounds at his finest since 2009. It's a very good song from an Iraqi who loves that land despite the chaos and bloodbath.

Not sure what inspires this song, the timing is interesting. Maybe it has to do with the calls for change in Iraq who revolted against their rotten government and really brought about change without unleashing a civil war.
 

كاظم الساهر شباب العراق

كاظم الساهر شباب العراق ، أغنية وطنية ، عرضت للمرة الأولى يوم الجمعة 28-8-2015

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Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners Get Music Support

For many Palestinian and their allies and supporters around the world Israel is a gangster state. They see it as a big bully who somehow managed to be above the law. As thousands of Palestinian prisoners struggle for freedom, many in the outside world are backing them up and telling their stories.

While tens of prisoners are on hunger strikes in protest for Israel's liberal administrative detention policies. Many of these prisoners were abducted from their homes by Israeli forces. One prisoner is almost dead and yet the Israelis have nothing to charge him with yet they still keep him in prison. Mohammed Allan has been on an aggressive hunger strike for more than two months and he is right now in a comma shackled to his bed. Also Allan is a lawyer! 

Indie artists in Palestine recorded  a song to spread awareness of the plight of the thousands of prisoners. This is a short song about a timely topic. It remains unclear what will happen with Mr. Allan, but the Israelis know they have screwed up and luckily the internet won't let them get away with it without suffering some PR damage.
  

ناموا الأغنيات... إلى أسرانا الفلسطينيين المضربين عن الطعام... نشيد ل:أحمد داري ويوسف زايد

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Arab Idol Ahmed Gamal Celebrates The Sham New Suez Canal

Ahmed Gamal did great things on Arab Idol, he was the runner up for Mohammed Assaf on the program. People loved him and appreciated his talent. Even those who voted Assaf, could see the quality man Ahmed Gamal is.

But two years later and Gamal is still trying to find his own voice. He did couple of songs for TV dramas and a music video for a decent single he released. But now comes his new challenge. A song he recorded for the new Suez canal. The song makes two countries out of Egypt. One for violent general Sisi minions and another for everyone else--he calls them traitors.

This is a political porn as the song's music is the work of Amr Moustafa who still thinks Mubarak is God's gift to mankind and hates the January 25th revolution. Not sure what Ahmed Gamal is doing by pairing himself with that useless idiot. Perhaps he wants to get paid and get access too.

Enjoy the new canal, dictators love celebrations and fake landmarks. I hope when this is all over, those who brown nose dictators will find a place to take them.

أحمد جمال - بسم الله | Ahmed Gamal - Bism Allah

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Mount Lebanon Song By The Proud Lebanese Musician Salim Assaf

The people of Lebanon are forever proud of their Mount Lebanon. It's a place that gave birth to too many brilliant men and women who have contributed so much for the world. Salim Assaf wanted to sing to this place, region, monument and show his pride.

So he wrote a song about the place he grew up. Salim does not stop there, he counts few places within the mount and their virtues. It's a party song that will blaze the summer in that country. Salim does the song justice and the topic seems to be one close to his heart.  

سليم عساف - الجَبَل / Salim Assaf - Al Jabal

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I Love You @azizelshaf3i But Don't Cry For The Wrong Reason! @NjMusicProduct

I never liked propaganda songs because one they do not feel "real" and often times they are done in a rush as in a knee-jerk reaction to some appalling event. And in any country where there is a dictatorship, the artists behind such songs are doing them either rout of fear or hoping to get access to the tough men ruling the streets.

It's not secret that I admire Aziz El Sahfei, one of the coolest singers and producers in Egypt. He is a composer and he is also an active supporter of an Egyptian soccer club--he released an album about how much he loves his team. Aziz did many songs for the love of Egypt in the past and many of them were good.

This time it's different as his latest songs are made in reaction to the attacks on Egyptian army officers who were killed in an ISIS attack in the Sinai desert. These are heroes should be celebrated, they are foot soldiers. But should not the song also talk about the dozens of causalities inflicted by the army in retaliation of these attacks--seriously some children got killed there too. You really do not have to wear a uniform to be celebrated.

Aziz and many of his friends joined for this group song to chime in. There are five singers who participated in performing this song led by Aziz El Shafei (lyrics and music too), Sharif Ismail, Mostafa Hagag, Fakharany, and the exciting new comer Saif Magdy. Sure the song does not change anything, but it might give some people closure.

Why are they choosing death? The song says, I would rather die? Why should that be a choice? People should live for country not die for it. The army is bragging here about their power, good luck bullying your own people.

As for the song, I love each artists who appeared in the music video, I am a real fan of theirs but unlike them I see all deaths tragic not just those for the ones I love.

 

اوبريت ما تتهزميش - Opret Ma-Tethzmesh

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Classical Song "Egypt Is on My Mind" And A Sham Election

Decades ago the only and only Umm Kalthoum has a patriotic song for Egypt "Egypt is on my mind" Now, this was a song that was cool back then, and now it feels relevant again as people of Egypt scramble to save their own country--they are their own worst enemy.

Shahinaz quit the show business years ago, but she did not stop singing, and now she did a wuick cover of this song during an interview with some local Egyptian station...I include both. It's like a love competition who loves Egypt the most. And that's the song and too the reality of the political landscape one power hungry general who poses as morally superior fellow, and the rest of the 51 of Egypt.

Shahinaz - Misr Ellaty Fi Khatery


أم كلثوم - صوت الوطن (مصر التي في خاطري) Om Kolthoum - Voice of Egypt

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The Satan Of Egyptian Makes A Cameo In Black Theama New Song

Not many bands in Egypt are as cool or as talented as Black Theama is. Also when it comes to Soul, these three guys have plenty of it. This band which is made up of three dudes who come from three unlikely places from Southern Egypt. A land rich with music diversity and appreciation for all things that has soul.

Here's the latest release from the band, a song that asks of us all to do soul-searching. The band puts the question, "Why have we arrived at this?" This has a lot to do with Egypt in post the army coup on the democratic president--who they have now sentenced to death. No one feels safe in Egypt as citizens feel as guests in their own land as if the army is letting them live in it, but it they break the rules, they will pay.

This can also be a social song about how society has progressed or regressed, the media has changed the country and the social media have caused a lot of changes. Posing the question, why do we only smile when we are divided? Is it our own fault? I must say this is a bold song without making waves, it poses serious questions without hating on anyone. Egypt has a lot of questions to answer....I love the line why parted away with Satan because we become him. The song is not about politics or government, but rather about people who run it.
 

Black Theama - Leh Weselna Le Keda | بلاك تيما - لية وصلنا لكدة

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Stupid Nicole Saba And Her Funny Bodyguards @NicoleSabaaa

If the leaders--forgive me I do not know what else to call them- of Egypt maintain their country is safe and the army is making it such a nice place then why would a B list entertainer feel force to surround herself by an entire unit of bodyguards who looks like straight from a movie about Backwater mercenaries in Iraq.

If things are cool and clam why would such a security company exist in the first place? Now, why would Nicole hire so many bodyguards? Is this part of the show? Why do these silly men have to wear facemasks? Are they in some Banana Republic?  Can you imagine being at a mall minding your own business only to find yourself surrounded by massive fat guys dressed like the cast of the expandable? Seriously Nicole you went to the mall to promote a brand that's paying you to do so, and you ended up messing the event up and turning the conversation about your funny looking bodyguards?

If I was that company, I would ask you to apologize and ask form a refund...if I was the short man running Egypt I would ask Nicole to apologize for scaring people at the mall and making Egypt look like a war zone. Why do you not feel safe around your fans? Why do you need half a dozen bodyguards when if you walked in the mall la by yourself, people may not even recognize you? You are meant to entertain people not scare them, you are a celebrity who is supposed to pose with fans not with your little army. Shame on you!

 

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"#Syria, I Love You" In Indie and Pop Music Sham is the Name

It was not easy for me to pick a Syrian flag, there are two right now. Each of these symbols makes a political statement. My love for Syria and it's very innovative people is bigger than politics, because politics teaches you to resent others--I cannot find anyone in Syria to hate. Obviously criminals are criminals, but Syria is a big story and a big deal for many Arabs.

Here are two different songs, one life from an indie artists and intellect Samih Choukeir was the first singer to take stands against the Syrian military in places like Daraa. The other is from mainstream pop star Rouida Attieh whose political stands are vague to me. Both love Syria (Sham) no doubt. Both long to the day when they can see Syrian strong again.

I like both artists and what they have to offer--both claim to be singing for all Syrians and I hope they keep true to that.

إشتقنا للشام، سميح شقير، Samih Choukeir, Ishtaqna Li Sham


تحية لسوريا يا شام

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"Al Samer" Is A Palestinian Dance That Is Older Than Israel Itself

In the West Bank and some parts of Jordan men at weddings have been celebrating happy occasions with this dance known as Sahjat Al Samer a traditional dance done in weddings with men dancing and singing in a group.

the dance has a cool story behind it like this video from Northern Ramallah, it utilizes story-telling, taking pride in family and country. There is also flirting, this is cool and families want to make sure to do this dance that represents folks who lived in Palestine centuries ago.

There is a leader for the dance who everyone follows to make sure things sync, according to the spokesperson he dishes on the history and how fathers teach their kids. I like how there are different styles that blends real stories with fictional ones that keep this an entertaining.  

سحجة السامر في بلدة سنجل شمال رام الله - هارون عمايرة

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The Secret Syrian Army Song By The Sweet And Talented Hussam Jneid

Syrian song is in season and artists from that country are a lot more superior to their Arab peers at least on the vocal side. One of those artists who are dominating the airwaves is none but the talented and handsome Hussam Jneid whose voice is made perfect with the Syrian Mawal (mellow and slow music with spelled out verses.)

I was surprised by the tile of his new song released this year as he wishes to be a member of the army or in the army camp to sit on the checkpoint near his loved one's home so that he can grab her ID. The song is great, yet the music video is strange. In the music video Hussam Jneid is a prisoner and his love interest is a sexy police officer / guard at his prion.

It's a well-known fact that Syrian radios are now playing more songs from home and less songs from their neighbors to the South. I love the song and think it's pretty much the coolest thing ever and the music lives up to the expectations from Hussam Jneid whose career in very short years bloomed in places like Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan,

There is one line in the song that I am not sure if I love or hate, I do think it's a sweet line but might be a bit graphic. Hussam wishes he would make her a dress it's fabric made out of his own veins. I like the analogy.  

كليب حسام جنيد - ياريتني عسكري 2015 HD

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She is Dead! Thank You #Egypt, Elderly Palestinian Woman Passes Away in Rafah Crossing!

The government of Egypt hates Gaza, freedom, democracy, and human rights. Since 2015 started, the Rafah crossings was open only five days and each of these days the computers at the Crossings have issues which cause delay.

This week the military ruling Egypt decided to open the crossings one way to allow Palestinian from Gaza who are stuck in Egypt to return home. Hundreds stranded of sick people, elderly, families and children were waiting for weeks and months to get back into Gaza.

I have been to the crossings many times, it's gross and painful. But the news from yesterday was horrible, an elderly Palestinian woman died as she awaited to be allowed into Gaza. She could not take the long wait and the heat and the mistreatment. So thank you Egypt for killing one more defenseless person.

Keep on mind the Rafah Crossings is the only point where Palestinians are allowed to connect with the outside world and it has been closed for three months.

Jerusalem based artists Ahmed Dari put together this tribute video for the elderly lady.

P.S. I have read reports that the army took the lady in and sent her to the hospital--I question this account largely because the website that reported it is paid with favors to pain a flattening image of the Egyptian regime.
    

ماتت، معبر رفح، Elle est morte, She is dead. frontière,Border ,RAFAH

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Fresh! Jerusalem Is On My Mind By Moeen Shreif - Ya #Quds

Moeen Shreif is a well-known pop star and a celebrated musician. As a Lebanese he feels for Palestine and he chose to do a song for Jerusalem--a holy place for all. Any time is a good time to sing for the old city and in order to create a good and authentic experience, Moeen Shreif went to film his music video inside one of the many Palestinian refugee camps.

There he was welcomed into the camp, and shown around, he was also given a lot of assistance and there was a lot of energy There are footage by a drone and an old cemetery and stock images from the many Israeli atrocities against both Palestinians and Lebanese. . .

I like the idea behind the music video, Moeen Shreif shouts Jerusalem and people abandon all things behind them and come for the city. The song highlights Muslim and Christian (natives) unity over the city. I love the song and salute the artist for doing this song. Jesus gets a shout out here too and so the oldest standing church.

I do not dismiss these songs easily, I think it comes from a good place and offers a good message reminding Arabs not to forget about Palestine as many of them face local troubles. Moeen Shreif had a lot to lose by doing this song yet people liked it and welcomed his timely call. I must say I am proud to see the many friends for the Palestinian cause.    

Moeen Shreif - Ya Quds [Music Video] 2015 / معين شريف - يا قدس

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The Mean World Laughs at Elissa's Embarrassing Pronunciation! #Mawtini

Elissa has never done a serious song about anything but love. Last week she felt the urge to do a patriotic song from a well-known Palestinian poem written in the 30s! I admire her well and celebrated her choice of songs.

It seems I was in the minority here as many people took issue with the Lebanese diva pronunciation of the song's main word (Mawtini) The jokes started pouring in. The hard T vs. the sexier softer t. It seems Elissa could not do the hard T or was unwilling to go the distance. I did not think it was a big deal, but it seems I was wrong.

I like the official music video is shows ISIS types, Al-Qaeda and Israeli violence against Arab people. The song also showcases Lebanon and Egypt and few Gulf images to live up to feel good theme about the motherland. I think the right thing to do is re-record this song since Elissa is such a big player and I would hate for this song to be messed up for the generations.

Now in other news,  a young Palestian artists did the same song last year and he earned praises form the internet. Murad Swaity is now charging Elissa to have copied/stolen the same musical arrangement from his song (you be the judge) I like both artists, but Elissa is the bigger name here and so far she has refused to comment on those allegations. I think this song should bring us together and not divide us.
 

Elissa - Mawtini [Official Music Video] (2015) / اليسا - موطني


موطني مراد السويطي

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Najwa Karam Sides With Lebanon In A New Patriotic Song

The first lady of Lebanese pop Najwa Karam has spoken and when she speaks, we hear it loud and clear. This time she is not singing for the sake of romance, but this once she goes with Lebanon and its people. The song is written by her usual team Nizar Francis and Wissam Ameer did the music.

Najwa Karam is a proud lady from a proud people and this time, she sings for the state. She has sang many times before for the nation's army. I do not know if there's some national holiday in Lebanon, but the song comes now. Maybe since the government has not been working fully or that they have yet to have a president.

But none of that matters to Najwa as Lebanon soars high despite the lack of functioning government. The song came with a dedication to each citizen and person who puts his/her country first. This song is pretty safe for Najwa, but for those who like her in broader topics, she may left them behind with this one.
 

Najwa Karam - Kelmit 7a22 (Official Lyric Video) / نجوى كرم - كلمة حق

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