This is creepy when you see a classic film that features all the big legends of Arabic cinema and songs with the voice of another young and coming vocalists. Here are old images and videos from well-known films, and a new song.
Rita is Lebanese and Sherif is Egyptian and together they made the sweetest deut I heard all year. Not sure how these two artists got together, but I am glad they did. Romantic songs are never out of style, and with voices like these, I am glad they did this song.
I am more impressed by Rita's voice here, she is certainly the new comer. Sherif is a music composer too, and a producer so he brings a lot to the table.
Sherif Hamdy & Rita Samaan - Habibi Kol Youm | شريف حمدي و ريتا سمعان - حبيبي كل يوم
He has the coolest titel among his Arab pears, he goes by "the octopus of the lute-oud" How cool is that? Abadi El Johar, also goes by another title "the ambassador of sorrow" because his brings a man closer to his tears. But his skills to play the oud is something not to ignore. He is a master in this and I love how cool his ouds tend to be. He owns 51 of them all at home and each of them serves a purpose.
Abadi El Johar is a Saudi and he has been singing, but he also likes to read old Arabic poetry and study the history. How did he decide to sing? A really personal story, his mom was being seein in hospitals in Egypt and since they spent a great deal of money on the visits to the hospitals, Abadi took an offer to sing in Egypt paying him a 1000 Egyptian pound. that allowed him to support himself while caring for his mother.
He wrote a dozne of songs and music for a list Arab pop stars among whom Asalah Nasri, Samira Said, Abbas Ibrahim, Aseel Omaran and not to forget the legendary Talal Maddah. Here is the man performing one of his songs live. No wonder he is a king-maker of Gulf music and his fane and respect has traveled outside the gulf where most of his focus has been.
The Syrian legend, the lute player, the composer, the singer, and the heart breaker who is unlike no other, Farid al-Atrash is a big deal. He is not for everyone out there, but those who truly appreciate him, know good and authnitic voice and melody when they hear it. You have to reach a certain level of zen to begin to connect with Farid. To be honest, as a young boy, I did not think the he was that great, but then a uncle of mine whom we used to work together kept playing his songs.
Years later, I am a fan. He is also an accomplished actor with box office movies that have outlived the oldest person in your family. Here' are ten of his better known songs--try hundreds of them. His stature is too big and his career is too long to condense on one YouTube video, but this is a great start that will introduce you to this hardcore Arab singer. Keep on mind, his own sister was also a singer and have had a tragic life--Asmahan.
The entire family has a royal blood, and their music has made them kings of their time. Farid al-Atrash was not too keen on getting married--he has always argued that marriage kills the art. He passed away in 1974 after struggling with his heart--for the last 30 years of his life he had issues with it. He passed away in a Lebanese hospital in Beirut--after two days from returning to London. The legend was buried in Cairo.
لمحبي فريد الأطرش، اخترت لكم 10 أغنية جميلة من فريد
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 "
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
Souad Hosny is Egyptian film actress who was one of the most influential Middle-Eastern actresses in the 1960s. She received her first movie role in the 1959 film Hassan and Na’ima.
Many spoke of her free-spirit, reflected in her natural smile, and her bashful spirit. Her reputed shyness in real life contrasted highly with her television presence, which was filled with life and vigor. Her soft beauty struck and inspired many artists.
Among her most celebrated films are Khaly Balak Men Zouzou (Take Care of Zouzou), Ala Man Natlok El Rosas (On Whom Do We Shoot Our Bullets, 1975), El Kahera 30 (Cairo 30) Al Karnak (1975) as well as many films. So what worked well for her is that she mas perfected her acting, has mastered the art of sensing and has so much energy to do live theater and shows.
The clip below will demonstrate why Soad is such a legend and an icon like no other. She puts all these attributes on display.
The Egyptian radio has a phone call on the record for Abdel Halim Hafez where he called from his hospital bed here in Washington according to the story I read. But the beloved hit-maker and romantic treasurer was undergoing treatment for Bilharzia in King's College Hospital, London.
You hear him say he was returning to Egypt in ten days, he sounded upbeat and excited. "I am well, and good" The call shed some light on the details of his treatment where he was getting injections at 5 Am and other treatments, he kept to the hospital and walked around. This was the day of the Eid and they called to wish him well.
اخر مكالمة لعبد الحليم حافظ قبل وفاته مع الاذاعة المصرية
مصر الجديدة - أخر مكالمة للعندليب عبد الحليم حافظ قبل وفاته ورحيل الإعلامى الكبير وجدى الحكيم
Reham Abd Elhakim just released one of her music videos unto the world. Reham, I love her might opera-quality vocals. Perhaps she might not be the cool artists you had on mind, but when it comes to singing she is tough to beat. Though I like her many songs from various movies and TV shows. It's hard to forget her song that takes issue with the many faults that comes with growing up in Egypt. A touching song that resonated with all Arabs not just the ones in Egypt.
Reham is trying to do an image makeover and appealing to the young and hip. She already has fans in many of her tuxedo wearing fans who know her from the house of opera. I like how Egyptian she is. She is your text book Egyptian female artist.
I just think she deserves a better music video, than this graphic show that seems to be at least ten years old. Not her fault, but glad to see that Mazzika is featuring her at all. Singers who are more focused on their voice and less with their image and marketing are under-represented. Rehad did play the role of a young Um Kalthoom in that hit show in 1999. Her first performance at the house of opera came at the young age of 12.
Ahla Hedeya - Reham Abd Elhakim احلى هدية - ريهام عبد الحكيم
The song is not about the Eid day but rather the eve of the Eid, the night filled with expectations and good spirit.spirit. Oum Kalthoud released this song more than fifty years ago and it has become an Arabic classic for that special day.
This time Tunisia pop diva Latifa takes the song and delivers an incredible vocal performance. She did not have to go reinvent the wheel, instead she did a cover song of this classic and that's the one song we will ever need. So celebrate this day and make the most of it with family, friends and loved ones.
Omar Sharif, the dashing, Egyptian-born actor who was one of the biggest movie stars in the world in the 1960s, with memorable roles in “Dr. Zhivago,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Funny Girl,” has died. He was 83.
Sharif suffered a heart attack on Friday afternoon in a hospital in Cairo, his agent said.
It was announced in May 2015 that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
With the global success of David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia,” starring Peter O’Toole, in 1962, Sharif became the first Arab actor to achieve worldwide fame, thanks to his charismatic presence in the epic film — and the Oscar nomination he drew because of it.
In its wake he very quickly became a busy Hollywood actor: Sharif made three films in 1964, including “Behold a Pale Horse” and “The Yellow Rolls Royce,” and three in 1965, including his first lead role in an English-language production, as the title character in Lean’s “Dr. Zhivago,” for which he won a Golden Globe.
Thanks to his gentle continental accent and dark but hard-to-place good looks, the actor was not ethnically typecast: In “Behold a Pale Horse” he played a Spaniard, in “Zhivago” a Russian, in “Genghis Khan” a Mongol, in “Funny Girl” a New York Jewish gambler and in “The Night of the Generals,” a German major during WWII.
Watch a Fascinating Interview with Omar Sharif
Nevertheless, there was no little controversy about his role in “Funny Girl”: When 1967’s Six Day War between Israel and Arab countries including Egypt occurred, Columbia execs considered replacing Sharif; later, when a still depicting a love scene between the actor and Barbra Streisand was published, the Egyptian press began a movement to revoke Sharif’s citizenship.
Other significant late-’60s films for the actor included J. Lee Thompson Western “MacKenna’s Gold,” with Gregory Peck and Telly Savalas, and tragic European political love story “Mayerling,” in which Sharif was paired with Catherine Deneuve.
During the 1970s Sharif remained busy, but there were fewer notable projects. Standouts included Blake Edwards thriller “The Tamarind Seed,” with Julie Andrew, and Richard Lester’s thriller “Juggernaut.”
Since the mid-1980s Sharif returned sporadically to Egyptian cinema, where he got his start.
In 2003 Sharif won acclaim for his role in Francois Dupeyron’s “Monsieur Ibrahim” as a Turkish Muslim shop owner who becomes an avuncular figure for a Jewish boy in Paris. Although the role was perceived as representing something of a career resurgence for the actor, he had in fact been working regularly over the previous decades in film and TV and continued to do so after “Ibrahim.”
The same year he starred in the 23-episode French anthology TV series “Petits mythes urbains,” in which he played a mysterious cab driver; he also wrote for the series.
He had a substantial role in 2004’s “Hidalgo,” with Viggo Mortensen, and appeared in ABC’s 2006 “Ten Commandments” miniseries and NBC’s 2009 “The Last Templar” miniseries. On the bigscreen he was the narrator for Roland Emmerich’s “10,000 BC.” He also worked a great deal in film and TV projects not distributed in the U.S.
Sharif was born Michel Dimitri Shalhoub in Alexandria to a Melkite Greek Catholic family from Lebanon, though he later converted to Islam. He and his wife had one son, who appeared in “Dr. Zhivago” as a young version of Sharif’s title character. The couple separated in 1966 — a year after the actor moved to Europe — and ultimately divorced; Sharif never remarried.
Sharif became interested in acting during his school years at Alexandria’s prestigious Victoria College and was given his first screen role in fellow alum Youssef Chahine’s “The Blazing Sun,” presented at Cannes in 1954. Soon thereafter he married his leading lady Faten Hamama, already a major star in Egyptian cinema (they divorced in 1974). The couple made a number of films together, including the provocative melodrama “Sleepless” (1957) and a version of “Anna Karenina” entitled “The River of Love” (1960). His roles in these films, including the five he made with leading helmer Salah Abouseif, exhibited a vibrant sensuality that complimented a marked emotional intelligence. By 1956 he was appearing in international productions, beginning with Richard Pottier’s “The Lebanese Mission,” though it wasn’t until 1962’s “Lawrence of Arabia” that he began to appear regularly in high-profile projects.
The actor was famously a world-class bridge player. In November 2005, Sharif received UNESCO’s Sergei Eisenstein Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to world film and cultural diversity.
He is survived by a son and two grandsons, Omar Sharif Jr., an actor, and Karim.
When he is not being a rock star, when he is not selling mega complex venues, when he is not recording songs or filming music videos, he is a family man. This is an assortment of pictures of Amr Diab, the most successful male pop star for the past 30 years. He has three children, and they all take on their dad, they do look a lot like him, and he seems like a goo father.
Abdullah is his boy, and then comes Kanzy and Janna....they look about the same age to me, maybe the boy is the eldest. Amr Diab is many things to different people but people tend to agree he is the biggest name out there. He has more hits than one can count, and his fans adore him.
Amr has been married more than once, but he keeps his private life private as much as he can. He is very protective of his kids! He seems like a family man who despite his obsession with his youthful look and energy on stage, he is parent.
On a serious note, how would you feel if Amr Diab was your father? Do you have to work hard? Or do you have an easy sheltered life?
Amr Diab - El Leila "English Subtitle" عمرو دياب - الليلة
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
Sabah Fakhri is no young dude, he is an old soul trapped inside the body of an old man. That old man is a rock star, and if you doubt that look him up--he has the longest concert on the record. Take that young pop stars in cool jeans, Sabah Fakhri has you beat.
He is not a local stars, he can go anywhere in the world, and have an instant sold-out concert. His fans are all over the map due to the unique traditional style combined with his mighty voice. Not sure what makes him go for a long time, but Sabah loves his craft and it shows. His concerts are like going back in time to the 1700 when music was a big deal in the Sultan's palace. Turkish, Iraqi, Moroccan and Syrian style. He knows how to make history alive again.
Sabah Fakhri remains one of the shrinking historic music figures who are still performing today. The last concert I recall for him was last year in the city of Beirut.
Over the past 50 years of fame and popularity as a singer, Mr. Sabah Fakhri modified and popularized the then-fading form of traditional Arabic music,Muwashahat and Koodood Halabiya. He is well known for his exceptionally strong vocals, impeccable execution of Maqamat and harmony, as well as charismatic performances. Luckily, he still has that fire in the belly and we feel it too.
Aseel Abou Bakr's father is legendary Saudi/Yemeni singer Abu Baker Salim. Naturally the song would gravitate toward music just like his old man. I first came across this amazing artists back in college when one of my best pals is form Oman and he would play his music in his Mustang. I recall being blown away with this man's tangy voice and the way he pronounces words.
Luckily for us, Aseel is still making music and he is now with Rotana. Two weeks ago he released a new album and it's such a delight. The man picks winners and his songs are so flawless and so perfect for the mass audience who like sweet and pure songs. I like how he makes the songs feel, it does not feel that he is singing to millions but rather like he is leaving a bittersweet voicemail to someone whom loves despite being wronged.
Take the song below and see how it's been put together, I love the production value here, it adds to Aseel's larger than life talent. This is one artists that I would love to meet and talk to. He has made life a lot better with his talent and grace. Not to be overlooked is his music compositions where he made so many memorable songs for many A list singers.
Aseel Abou Bakr … Helw Sowtek | اصيل ابو بكر … حلو صوتك
Find more songs form this album below...
Aseel Abou Bakr … Ibn Adam | اصيل ابو بكر … إبن ادم
Haitham Khalaily is a talented young man with a strong voice and a good style. He also have a huge fan base that showers him with love and support. They are so proud of him and his songs, they should be. Haitham is also cursed as he tries to tell people he is not Assaf and Assaf is not him. So do not compare him.
If you had your own doubts about Haitham's skills, watch this live video from one of his concerts on his US and Canada tour. Haitham went with one of the hardest Arabic songs to fake, an old classic by the legendary one and the only Um Kalthoum. Al Atalal or the ruins, a song about a past romance. It's like taking a stroll down memory lane that's riddled with ruins of the past.
Haitham feels like an old soul coming from the golden years of Arabic Tarab music to remind us of the good times. He also comes package in a hip fashion that makes the social media falls in love with him as he makes out his path.
I think he brings a rich texture to the Palestinian voice. Haitham comes from an unconventional background to win the hearts and minds of the Arab community. We need a bit of good news to face the flood of bad news coming from the area, Haitham's arrival to our shores may offer that breath of fresh air that reminds it, home can also brings smiles to our faces.
Will he stop in Washington, DC, I know I would love to interview him and see him perform live.
Haitham khalaily - هيثم خلايلة /Al Atlal -الاطلال/Arab Idol 2015 Canada and U.S.A Tour
It's not everyday that Legendary diva Fayrouz sings. It's a truly rare opportunity to see her rehearse with her band. This is for her upcoming concert celebrating Land Day for Palestine. For me this is a treat, not only that I like music, I love Fayrouz, but I also happen to come from the Palestinian persuasions.
Fayrouz had many songs for Palestine, she sang for peace, struggle and war. Next to Lebanon, Palestine is important to her and it shows. Amazing work by the orchestra and the choir. Keep on mind, in the most recent concerts for Fayrouz, phones are not permitted and so recording. All that makes this videos nice surprise.
فيديو نادر للسيدة فيروز في تمارين احتفال يوم الأرض | Fayrouz
The Lebanese government (don't laugh, they have one) has decided to turn an old home for the legendary diva Fayrouz into a national museum. This is so cool, the diva deserves more than a museum. She is a Lebanese icon like no other. To make this decree a reality, the local Beirut municipality was instructed to acquire the building and start the process the making of making her old residence into a Fairouz Museum.
It only took them six years since the building was classified as a preserved national monument. If you want to see the house, then you need to watch this report by Sky News on this national treasure's home. This is a neat old building that needs restoration, right now it feels abandoned and it need some major TLC.
If the government is unable to act, perhaps one of the million Lebanese expats or businessmen can take this project on and treat it as an investment that gives back to Lebanon, its people and one of its legendary entertainers. Or would they not mind a Saudi prince putting in his money to protect something that's clearly Lebanese.
George Wassouf came out of retirement last year and did a mega concert for the new year. The beloved and sometimes controversial Syrian music legend has suffered a number of health setbacks and received medical attention in few countries. His fan base gave him a cult fellowship. and he is right to be an idol for so many of us. his fan base is made up of cab drivers, professors, old school music fans, young folks, the fun bunch and the negative bunch. He is an idol for men and women, everyone knows who he is, and they appreciate his music as well.
Now Rotana has just released a collection album for some of his finest hits that he sang while on their lable. All these songs come from the past decade. They are hits and tell different stories about romance and about life. but most of all George's music is always about people and doing the right thing. To me his songs are what would your grandpa would teach you about life--don't give a shit and do not try to change who you are.
Here are the fourteen tracks, you will know them and have memorized them by now. the new album is brilliantly titled "We've Missed You" While we await new songs, the old ones are always there to offer nostalgia.
01 - Allah Karim
02 - El Sabri Tayib
03 - Salaf W Dayn
04 - Asaab Fourak
05 - Heya El Ayam
06 - Shoukran
07 - Etakhart Ktear
08 - Kesert Koul El Nass
09 - Saber W Radi
10 - Aalem Albi El Shok
11 - Benfakkar Bel Nass
12 - Khadney El Hanean
13 - Min Hena We Rayeh
14 - Bastana Bel Youm Wel Youmen
So one of the iconic voices of Lebanese and Arabic song passed away last year, but no one of us is ready to give up on this legend who deserves much better from his country that could not organize an official state funereal for him. The man of charm and mountain voice will always be around for generations to come. His voice has shaped and defined Lebanese music culture.
He did not stop singing, even in his last days he kept his smile, and stayed sharp--he wrote music and sang along other younger voices who adore the sight of him. Here's one of his classic songs, where he is pleading with his loved one to come back. He is praying for his first, last and every love he has ever known.
وديع الصافي - على الله تعود (نسخة صافية)
على الله تعود على الله يا ضايع في ديار الله من بعدك أنت يا غالي ما لي أحباب غير الله *** يلي مرمرت زماني كانك بطلت تهواني *** يا أبو الأحباب لاقيني من بعد غياب هنيني حاجي من دموعي تسقيني نشفت دموعي اي والله ***
على الله تعود بهجتنا والفراح وتغمر دارنا البسمة والفراح قضينا العمر ولف ضل وولف راح وضاع العمر هجران وغياب
*** لو جاني يوم مرسالك و طمني يوم عن حالك لطرب الفؤاد كرمالك واسجد على أبواب الله
To me this was a mystery song that I fell in love with, without knowing who is behind it. The song came in the early 2000 and it was on every CD and in every car and on every playlist on those primal MP3 players.
I could not find any info on the artists behind the song, I only new it was called Far Away. But I just learned it has the voice of the now late Greek singer Demis Roussos. Hasna from Morocco is the female voice and boy did they make a hit song?
Demis Roussos, a Greek singer whose often high-pitched pop serenades won him household recognition in the 1970s and 1980s across Europe and beyond and who sold more than 60 million records, died Jan. 25 at a hospital in Athens. He was 68. The hospital said the singer died following a lengthy hospitalization, but did not give a cause of death.
Hasna has not spoken or performed much lately but she did have a good run up to 2005. I am certain she is proud of this collaboration. I do not know how it came about, but it was like a fireworks. See this music video for the song where I imagine, you do not see neither artists.
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Hot Arabic Music - Middle East Artists & Entertainment Daily News Hub. Celebrities, indie music news and TV shows promos. I love Arabic music and music of interest to Arab people. Arab Stars Tours, and music festivals updates. Muslim rock stars and beyond. Arab, Idol, X Factor, The Voice, Arabs Got Talent, you name it! Amr Diab/Mohammad Assaf/Nancy Ajram/Tamer Hosny/Haifa Wehbe/Maya Diab And other celebrities. Bands/Solo Arabic Music is here. Do You have music, concerts, CD to promote?
