Friday, April 13, 2012

Morocco Needs Jobs Not Cafes



Rotana's idea of stimulating the Moroccan economy is laughable, open yet another cafe. In the country of a million cafe, the last thing they need is another one--even if it was a Rotana Cafe! Rotana Cafe is a place where stars working under the Rotana label can hold press conferences, sign and sell CDs.

It's a place of business where the young and affluent can go and shell some dollars. Rotana cafes are to be found in many places, the most famous one is in Beirut. I think Morocco is an gorgeous country and its people know as much. But their economy is in trouble, and their youth have tried just about everything to take their minds off the worries....music might be the solution. But Rotana cafe is not a place for the poor.

إعلان موعد حفل أفتتاح روتانا كافية كازابلانكا - المغرب

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I Would Buy Fayrouz Karawya's 2012 Album



Girls cannot make the kind of album Egyptian singer Fayrouz Karaywa has just released. Only a full grown woman can. This experimental album delivers one knockout song after another and you do not even notice that the tracks are changing. It's like a really compelling story that draws you in. The album took 6 years to make, so the artist has not been in a hurry to release it.

A soul exploration albums are not so common in mainstream Arabic entertainment, they are all too common in Western Music. I am currently enjoying the album and learning few things about Fayrouz and what she thinks of both men, boys and girls. She sounds like an honest person telling a story....Girls we are crazy sometimes when we do not maky any sense. Then she turned around and tells a judgmental male in her life to stop acting like he owns her.

This is just a test of what this album offers, I wish more people would tune in and enjoy this fresh take on Arabic music in both the melody, and the lyrics. Finaly, if you are looking for some wisdom in music, this is a very wise album to check out, at times I think Fayrouz sounds like a sage.


01.El Wshosh
02.Barra Menny
03.Mangam 7ob
04.7aga Wa7da
05.Bataly El Mesaly
06.Yekon Fema3lomak
07.Garrabt
08.3ashe2
09.Ba3ady El Share3
10.Ya Nina
11.Banat
12.Baft7
13.Qahwa


Fayrouz Karawya - Alb El Woshoush


Fayrouz Karawya - Mangam Hob

Monday, April 9, 2012

This Egyptian Belly Dancer Keep It Real



Everyone likes to look at belly dancers, few will admit it. The world has become fond of belly dancers, they have come to represent the Middle East and you can thank orientalists for that. To say you are a belly dancers in the Arab world, is like saying you are a prostitute in progress.

This is not true, dancers are not bad people, the people who affiliate themselves with dancers are the evil ones--dirty old men. However, professional Arab belly dancers have become something of a rare sighting. Most belly dancers you see out here are not Arabs. However, if you go to some pockets in Egypt, they dancers are alive and well.

About 10 years ago, some female students at my college, started a club for belly dancing--they called it the 100 percent modest belly dancing club, many were offended it for the name others were offended that belly dancing that has been sexualized makes an appearance on this conservative campus.

See this reel of some dance moves on original Arabic music, not that kind that you have become sick of. For all I know the energy and the excitement has Arab written all over it.

كعب الغزال من ناصر الفنان.wmv

The Godfather of Arabic Self-Pity Romance



When it comes to falling in love, many find is easy. But when it comes to surviving a damaged relationship, few can say it was easy. For those folks, there has always been an Arab voice who has been around for the past 40 years, rocking the romance worlds with his self pity songs. His name is Hani Shaker.

His formula is easy. I loved you, I was crazy about you, then something bad happened and now I no longer have you! This mantra that stops many world's and undermines people trying to live their life to the fullest. Self-pity is very unattractive, but this guys actually makes you look forward to the dark hours.

Do a quick YouTube search, and you will see the many user generated songs slideshow with this man's songs. While it's true that most people in Arabia listen to Hani, few would admit it....he has become a guilty pleasure. Sure some of his songs can be cheesy at times, which is ideal for self-pity, only those who are feeling it, can understand it and them alone.

I have put three clips for some of his saddest songs...

Hani Shaker Garhi Ana هاني شاكر - جرحي انا


هانى شاكر - غلطة ندمان عليها - على منتديات ذهبيات


يا رتني - هاني شاكر - ya retni - hani chaker