While most singers like to film their music videos in fancy resorts, and exotic locations, one Egyptian pop star and hit-maker begged to differ. Hakeem went deep inside one of those Egyptian slums and filmed his music video there. To his credit, these were the folks that embraced him as an artist first. They are the kind people who work hard and tend to be loyal.
Hakim wanted to highlight their plight and show the other side of Egypt, not necessarily to shame governments but to celebrate survival.
This is a song about the hard-working and resourceful people. It's worth mentioning that the director of this music video is the same director who directed Hakim in two other songs that we have come to love "Al Salmo Alykom" and "Habooso""
the song's title is "Aam Salama" or uncle Salam, a common name. Kicking off with an Egyptian Mawal then jumping into the pop song. Hakim is not letting ho of how he was once Egypt's top go to artists for songs that are close to the streets. The song is about life and how people change. Hakim is known for these songs. It's a sobering song about how people hurt each other.
Black Theama is one amazing act to watch life. the trio vocalists who make up the band are popular among the youth who are seeking alternative music, and the old who want something authentic. The band released a new album few months ago, but unlike their previous albums, I felt the marketing has not kept up and there was little coverage about this new work.
But glad to see the video below by these artists and their band doing a live song is pretty neat as the band spends a great deal of time on the road, so they have perfected their live show. Their song Kebert is about life and about all of us. It's pretty different than your pop songs, it's also different than what Black Theama has done in the past.
The three band members are Amir Salah El-Deen Ahmed Bahr and Mohamed Abdo proud to be the bridge between the lighter skinned Egyptians and the darker ones with such a distinct music legacy.
Black Theama - Kebert (Live) | بلاك تيما - كبرت - من حفل إصدار الألبوم
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
In the Middle East and ariund the world, we know of Mother's day. But we do not really do much for Father's day. In face, not many outside the States, know it exists. Lebanese celebrities are informed about American culture, so they took on themselves to send their own father's happy wishes on their day.
Elaph caught up with few celebrities to talk to them about their dads. It's a good day to be a dad and try to give back to your little ones. Some of the celebrities interviewed have dead fathers, so it might be a bittersweet moment.
المشاهير يعايدون أباءهم عبر "إيلاف" في عيد الأبّ ٢٠١٥
She is a force for good and has dedicated her voice for God and elevating fellow humans. A graduate of the American University in Cairo and later a student in the States who studied sociology. Later, May who chose to go to South Africa and work with children. In there she worked and helped the little ones grow. But during her time over there, she had a colleague who had "misunderstandings" about Islam. That lady refused to write a comment in May's journal, which can be a shocking experience for many. May did not stop there.
She went on to work in an animal shelter for rescued animals. I came to respect May and value her insight when I've learned she actually did not like how many Muslims responded with hate and violence to the film about the prophet of Islam. May wanted to respond to that offensive film with a song and asked many folks to join her.
I really think the world is a better place with May in it. There's room in Islam for artists with big hearts like that of May's. I only wish that the producers at Awakening Records who are based in London would work with May on some music project. There's no need for her to be alone, they need her and they certainly need her message. Unless of course these London based producers think a woman is unworthy of their label. I know some Orthodox Muslims would struggle with a woman singing, but while I respect them, I think they should not be allowed to silence other Muslims. And yes, May would be the first female to join the label.
This lady makes good music with the uplifting teachings of Islam. Her vocals deliver every time and her emotions are right there on display (See Here). When she is not doing her music, you can see her collecting toys from children in Africa. She is a good will-ambassador. We do not have many like her and wish her nothing but success.
Summer is the season for ice cream which means we have to see a lot of ads for this cool treat that beats the summer's heat. In Egypt, there is an ice cream controversy than involves a Lebanese American porn star Mia Khalifa.
At first it was reported that a huge ice cream company used Mia's image to sell ice cream in Egypt. Someone shared a picture of a huge billboard in downtown Cairo for a new cone from Nestle. And you can spot Mia Khalifa on that ad.
Naturally, people got pissed (so people in Egypt do watch porn after all or at least know of Mia Khalifa) So the creators of the ad said that this was a Photoshop work and the original ad has no Mia Khalifa in it (see image below).
Nevertheless whoever created that Photoshop did a huge service for the porn star as now she is a household name among Egyptian dudes with no jobs, but plenty of bandwidth. This may have started as a joke, but with the internet it's hard to tell the good from the bad. Hold on to your cone, everyone.
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
Here's an interesting pairing of two artists. One little boy with a million dollar smile and one amazing vocalist who rarely smiles. One is at least 25 years older than the first. Ahmed Saad is a wonderful singer whose voice is in a league of its own. Four years ago he had a good song about a common man who has done so many wrongs yet he wants to do the right thing.
So on Mother's day we got to hear of a new artists that goes by the name Seif Magdy who was part of a trio. Now, the two has gotten together and re-recorded the song and the product feels like a wonderful harmony. Glad to see the chemistry between these two Egyptian talents.
Welcome guys, a good song is made better by the right arrangement and production. It's a human song about someone who has wronged so many people yet he still sees the human and he feels wrong about his life choices.
Duet Seif Magdy - Ahmed Saad - Ana Ensan | دويتو سيف مجدي - أحمد سعد " انا انسان "
It's a fact that YouTube has changed the music industry. One old-school music company was quick to embrace the technology and run with it. It was Mazzika who found an opportunity and was quick to utilizes it--unlike many other Arabic music companies.
Checkout this video for the employees celebrating those ten years of YouTube and letting the world know that they are grateful for this tool that helped bring us so many pop stars we would have not seen otherwise.
Mazzika celebrating #10YearsofYouTube - مزيكا تحتفل بمرور 10 سنوات على يوتيوب
Here's a new voice that's trying to occupy a space already occupied by so many artists. The song is about drug abuse, party, and binge drinking young people who think they are invincible. Being unemployed comes with many risks and being politically frustrated will ruin one's soul.
Meet Mohammed Alaa who seems to like to party and the the company for young ladies. The title is the last moment in one's life. Going from doing drugs to reading holy scriptures seems like an extreme. Just live your life in balance Mohamed Alaa.
I like the message, and i think a lot more people need to be as honest as Alaa here. This is a real song about a real problem facing many throughout the world in today's world. Alaa is an attorney of law by training with a smooth voice and a look of Tamer Hosny.
This is a responsible song from a young artist who knows the lifestyle he is talking about. I like it and I hope many will get its message before it's too late. There has been many anti drug abuse songs, this one tells the story better and puts on a convincing case.
Mohamed Alaa - Akher Lahza | محمد علاء - أخر لحظة
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Wael Jassar seems like a bored guy in his latest song. The song is part of an upcoming TV drama with some of the biggest names in acting. It's an Egyptian show, the song written by Ayman Bahgat Amar--the biggest name in lyrics and the music is the work of the hip Maydyan.
I have no doubt in mind that this will be a huge show, I like the actors I see, the song is average. The title of the song is gripping--the end is the same. The lyrics are nice, the music might be a let down. the song is rich with meaning about life and people. I know having the best people behind one's song is great, maybe I am just not in love with Wael as much as I used to.
Wael Jassar - El Nehaya Wahda 2015 Lyrics: Ayman Bahgat Amar Composer: Madyan Music Arrangement: Adel Haky Produced By: Arabica Music
وائل جسار - النهاية واحدة - Wael Jassar - El Nehaya Wahda
Lebanese entertainer (singer, composer, lyricist, and actor) channeled his charm into a new single about love. His previous single was in the Gulf dialect and he shot into a music video, but this time he feels like his old self.
For a good looking guy who is also a well-dressed man he tried hard to show his emotions through his music. He also wrote a number of songs--most famously for Elissa. The guy's new song is about how love can take over hate, and making good with other humans. This song is about life, and perhaps about all this crazy violence that he sees around at home and nearby. It's a shot song, but it has a lot to offer about the most overlooked sentiment.
Nader Nour is best known for his music where he composes scores of hit pop songs in Arabia. Years ago, he took on singing and it worked well for him. Nader is back with a new single about the good people who do the right thing. It sounds like a decent hit to usher in the last leg of the summer.
The song is catchy and Nader sounds comfortable with the song. It's entertaining and feels like a song that have legs to go places. In the past songs like this have done well and Nour bests himself with this release and allows more people to get to know him better.
This song is a first promo from Nader Nour's upcoming album, which should land fairly soon. In other news Nour got married in November of last year and it was a very private event.
Nader Nour_El Nas El Ged3an - نادر نور _ الناس الجدعان
Production: EWE Music Production
Lyrics: Ahmed Alaa El Deen
Composed By: Nader Nour
Arranged and Mixed By: Ahmed Ibrahim
Master: Mohamed Sakr
Guitar: Rocket
Bass Guitar: Ahmed Ragab
Tabla: Ahmed Ayadi
Rek: Hesham El Araby
Violin: Saeed Kamal
Accordion: Wael El Nagar
Nay: Reda Bedair
Clarenat: Hamouso
Syrian pop stars are going mainstream with every passing day. It seems ten years into the internet thing and social media, and the music industry exes of this very important music have finally nailed the marketing down. They are sure talented....
Now, let's give Houssam Madanieh a listen. A young, hip, stylish pop stars is born every minute. yet Houssam seems to have done well before his name got out of town. He did appear on Super Star, a decade ago where he got his big break. Sure, the country is in crisis, it might be that the revolution is helping us get to know more pop stars form Syria. It might be that there are way too many Syrians around the world who bring with them their favorite music. This also allows for the local artists to go have concerts in more place....
It might be that before the revolution the regime tried to contain what folks can access and gave them a slow internet connection. Now all bests are off and more artists are finding new ways to market themselves away form the State sponsored channels that only select few. There are also more stories, and darker themes to sing about. All of a sudden music from Syria became the next big thing among other Arabs who wanted to hear something different.
First he told people he and his wife are having problems, then divorce was came up, then George told us he has a song for his wife--whom he loves very much. Below you will find the song that make news even before it was released. George El Rassi is a superior artist, he is an artist that other artists listens to. A guy who shot to fame in the 90s and a promise to be the next George Wassouf.
He did well and sang in so many places and released good music videos. He is a famous name, but only because he has been around for so long, not because he has released any recent hits. The song is pretty good, and works for the artists' style.
جورج الراسي | رح خبر كل الناس | 2015
اغنية جورج الراسي - رح خبر كل الناس 2015 | النسخة الاصلية
Laith Abu Joda appeared on Star Academy's last season and he was a big deal form those who still follow this slowly dying program. Laith got special visitors during his time on the program including a delegation from the Palestine embassy in Lebanon.
I am detecting that Laith is one of the thousands od Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon at the moment. This is not a feel good song, in fact the song puts folks to shame for not feeling the pain and agony of the little ones. Though the artist is Palestinian, the song applies to more countries. I see it working well for Syria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen and so on.
It's a humanitarian song that hopes to get people to care and act. I commend this young artist for choosing to cover such a complicated and dark topic. The song seeks forgiveness for those who wrong people. It's not about hate. I love the theme. The song ends with the singer wanting to take his own life, but then something happens. Great Lebanese team stood behind the young artist is a wonderful sign.
Laith Abu Joda (Allah Ysamhna) - ليث أبو جودة ) الله يسامحنا )
There are many great Arabic songs for mothers (Mothers' day is on March 21 each year) We have a log history of good songs celebrating motherhood. This year, a new song gets a release and I like it a lot more because it's performed by teens who sound so cute singing to their moms.
Two male vocalists and one promising female vocalist deliver a sweet homage to mothers in a very Egyptian fashion. I love the young voices, the smiles and the energy. It's heartwarming to see grateful teens who are not glued to their social media profiles.
NJ Music Production did a fine job here and I am so happy to see them approach music differently. Mirna, the girl is a big star project waiting to happen and so is Saif Majdy. This is a good trio, and the future is green.
"Masa'a El-Fol"/"Various" l "مساء الفل"/"المجموعة"
Rekaz is a new kind of not for profit working to instill good virtue in people. With the help of Maher Zain, they are getting some headlines. It's volunteer driven and they seem to want to do good things. For their initiative Maher Zain has supporting them with a new single, about the acts of kindness that we do and people will remember us by them.
It's based in Saudi Arabia, and it seems it's focused on males, not women. At least, the people who appear on their websites are males. So you know they have good intentions but also working with limitations. Sure, guys are evil, and they need help. In general, I like these organizations that teach good virtues without going into religion. I know the youth of the Middle East are troubled but they have different challenges. Youth of Palestine want freedom and something to do. The ones in Saudi Arabia, have too much free time/internet and little interest in starting a career.
Maher Zain is a global star and he is a good choice for this campaign. I wish them well and I come to enjoy the song and its message about our short time here so we need to leave a legacy all of us do. I hate for this to be some ploy by holier than though religious figures who want an audience by doing stunts like this. I hope to be mistaken.
I like songs that honor mothers, I mean that. There's nothing with songs that celebrate motherhood and the sacrifices they make for all of us. None of us would have been here had it not been for a mother or mother figure delivering us and caring for us. This is the truth. So March is upon us, the month that has a day when Arabs honor their moms.
So expect to hear few more new mother's day songs. This is why Naji Osta, one of my favorite hot voices from Lebanon released his new single. I love it, and think it's a great song from a guy whose voice deserves great things. He is a loving voice that melts' one's heart. His new single is the lyrics of Fares Iskandar, another hot commodity in Lebanese pop. The two made a wonderful song that celebrates moms of the world.
Now, I do take issue with the songs pitting two ladies against one another. The showdown of mothers vs. daughter in laws. While the song does mothers justice, I feel it's unfair to spouses. Not all spouses do not get along with their mothers' in law. There's no need to compare the two relationships. I know the song is trying to put mothers in a high place, but this should not be at the expenses of putting down's one's spouse. I like the song, I do not appreciate how Naji sounds like he is issuing a threat to his wife, I will erase you from the existence if you picker with my mother. Not nice, and mean.
Aside from that I love the song, it's sincere, passionate and easy on the soul.
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