Iraq's National Anthem And Their Soccer Team

Iraq is having a rough road ahead as politicians are not murdering their people and turning in one another. They are also failing to deliver security to their people and have not manged to find a workable solution for their personal differences. Each group seems to seek help from a foreign government. There are those who get a boost from Iran, others get in from the United States, and some look toward Turkey and Saudi Arabia. In the meantime people are dying for no reason, bombs go off and people go to waste.

But there's still some hope at least for those who like soccer and good music. The national anthem--written by a Palestinian who loves all his follow Arabs. See Shatha Hassoun joins the Iraqi soccer team in performing the Iraqi National Anthem in a giant stadium. I adore the little Iraqi girl who makes me hopeful for a better future.  

موطني - النشيد الوطني العراقي مع المنتخب

Ramy Essam Promotes Literacy At Home In Egypt

When your songs have tackled dictators, military rulers, religious extremists, sexual predator you always strive to find other topic to bring attention to. For Ramy Essam, he has found a topic to add to the list of subjects he sings about--Literacy.

Egypt has millions of people who cannot read nor write. Ramy has chosen an international day to combat illiteracy to release a video project. He calls upon volunteers to join an effort to teach at least one person. I salute the singer and his effort to spread awareness through his music and activism. He is right literacy is great for international peace.

What do you guys think of his new look? He kinda looks like Mado now--another indie singer.

Literacy and Peace رسالة رامى عصام فى اليوم العالمى لمحو الامية

Best Of Mohamed Mounir "Voice Of Egypt" Live Concert

If you ever wanted a rock star personality, then you will find it with colorful Egyptian. He is the guy who take local music and makes it international with simple formula, make the music faster, but maintain the local flavor. For more than 20 years and this rock star has been in the business and has claimed a center stage. No one can make concerts as big as he can, that's why the biggest companies chase him down to sponsor his events. Yet he still has the fan's love and appreciation.

He loves the motherland--it's easy when you have been called the Voice of Egypt. He knows Egypt inside out like no other musicians ever could. His Ultras has uploaded a number of his songs which he has performed in his Marina concert--he took a nationalist tone as he declared "My Full Time Job is Egyptian", I can never move to another country, he concluded.

For some reason Mohammed Mounir seems the only star in Egypt who has no problem getting permits for his mega concerts--Amr Diab seems to have trouble doing that. Mounir keeps his cool like when his fans ran a game to see who can guess what color pants the singer will wear--they thought orange or red....he rocked the white pairs.

 محمد منير : أنا بشتغل مصرى


محمد منير - الليله يا سمره - حفلة مارينا 2012
 

محمد منير - يا حمام - مارينا



 محمد منير - رمـان - حفلة مارينا

FUNNY: Mohamed Abu Hamid Sings Politics أغنية ابو حامد

He is no singer, he is a politician who has one agenda for him, bring an end to the rule of Muslim parties in Egypt. He has no love for them and he has befriended those who despise them. There are rumors that he has traveled to Lebanon to seek advise on how to combat them.

He is a guy that most of Egypt hates, and few love him, but those who love him are mad about him and would stand behind them to chant and fight off thugs who do not like their ideas or their methods.
Mohamed Abu Hamid is being bullied in some circles, and when he shows up to a protest, some men appear from nowhere and try to intimidate him.

I like some of his opinions, but he must realize that some out there are using him as a tool. The guy loves Egypt for sure, but things are changing rapidly, and he might be some collateral damage--something I hate to see. He is speaking his mind.

See him lead the chant against the brotherhood and their elders. I think they should be free to speak up without fear, they should also give the new president a chance to implement his reform.
أغنية ابو حامد ضد مرشد الاخوان والشاطر 

Love Your Johnny! A Butterfly Vs. A Tank In Egypt

The delicate souls of Egypt had to put up with violence, live ammunition and tear gas because they wanted change and they would not fudge. That might be the inspiration behind new comer Johnny, a new pop singer form Egypt who have just released his song a Tanks and a Butterfly.

My first instinct, this guy is pretty cool. While his voice and style is different than most singers I have heard, I am detecting an influence by Mohamed Mounir style--just a hint. This is meant as a compliment, writing a love song in those circumstance is tough, but I really like the take on the subject.

This is a love story about a couple caught in the midst of violence. The song is about looking forward and dreaming of the day they will get a girl. "Instead of flowers, they gift guns loaded with nightmares." I also approve of the music choice. I hope you find this song something to cheer and that we will welcome a new Egyptian star with the unusual name Johnny....Go Johnny.  
 
Johnny - Farasha Wo Dabbaba / جوني - فراشة ودبابة

In The Aftermath Of The Rafah Massacre, Gaza Sends Egypt Some Love

While many in Egypt are upset with the people in Palestine and in Gaza particularly, most of Gaza has stayed mum on the matter. They oped funeral homes to commiserate with the people of Egypt, they have called the fallen men heroes--a rightful title.  

Few things to remember, people in Gaza are also Egyptians at least 20 percent of them are citizens of that land. While the people who murdered the soldiers are Egyptians--unless we know otherwise. The false and extreme theology they subscribe to is resented in Gaza. The same ideas that allow those thugs to murder follow Muslims, allowed them to terrorize people in Gaza.

Fact, many in Egypt want to embarrass the current government and they can only do that if they claim that the attackers are from Gaza. This way, they can tell their people, we are all Egyptians, and those bad Palestinians need to stop. Fact, they have desecrated the Palestinian flag and the Kuffyah in Egypt.

Yes, most Palestinians have chosen not to react in hate, you do not win over hateful people with more hate.
A group of young Gazans made this video and sported the Egyptian flag and showed love, and appreciation for that country---they have also condemned those crimes in Rafah.        

رسالة من غزة إلى مصر

Watch London Olympics Egypt Theme Song

The London Olympics are upon us this summer, while the event is mostly for sports and marketing, music has its place--there's always place for music it seems. So for the Egypt  athletes competing for the Gold, Silver and such, they can boast about a new song that speaks to them....about not letting anything stop them from reaching for the gold

Nisma Mahjoub is the voice, naturally one needs an upbeat song for this topic and in that regard, the song delivers the energy. The music video features a number of Egypt's brightest athletes doing their thing. This song serves Nisma well as she gives us a glimpse of a stronger voice of hers that can hold a breath like a seasoned diver tries to.

The song is not exclusive to Egypt, all Arabs can relate to it and use it to pump them up. The song might as well double as a promo song for those beverage companies.

متخليش حاجة توقفك نسمة محجوب

Palestine Undivided-Rap Song احنا - فلسطين لواحد

The old ones might not care enough to take a stand, Palestine is one. The young ones might be idealistic enough to take a stand in which they say the truth...there's only one Palestine. There's no Gaza and there's no Ramallah. There's just one place called Palestine to which the folks are aspiring to build.

I like this tune, it sounds too simplistic and it sounds scrappy as it has been recorded in some basement....with no money but with a lot of passion. I have enjoyed the different voices who tell different stories that makes up the Palestinian tapestry.

 احنا - فلسطين لواحد - Falsten la Wa7d

Lebanese Saad Ramadan Performs In Algeria's Music Festivals

The lovely country of Algeria is busy celebrating their independence this year with music festivals all over the Republic. To make the occasion extra special, they brought in who is who in Arabic entertainment. The most recent addition of stars who have performed in Algeria is the hot Lebanese singer Saad Ramadan. Saad took his romantic and heartache songs to Africa.

This is a new territory for Saad whose songs have made it all across the universe, and now he is ready for prime time. He performed not in one concert but in three different music festivals (مهرجان قذيف ومهرجان الجميلة ومهرجان قسنطينة). Saad made sure to compliment the late Warda and how she will be missed.

Saad was impressed by his first visit to Algeria, and its people whom he called heroic and people who appreciate and memorize good songs. He wished them well on their 50th anniversary of independence. I am very surprised by the success of those festivals in Algeria, they have manged to secure the biggest names of Arabic pop and beyond.

Saad Ramadan - Msabbe3 El Karat {Original}

About The Shooting Of Egyptian Officers In Rafah

Shooting in Rafah border, and the death of more than 15 Egyptian officers, I do not know who is behind this. Certainly most Palestinians would have no clear MOTIVE committing this senseless act of murder. I am now hearing and seeing more rage in Egypt that has been directed toward Gaza Strip and the Palestinians, some even want to see Egypt bomb Gaza.

I certainly understand the rage in Egypt, those fallen men are hero even in Palestine. And most people who work in the border are both Egyptians and Palestinians. The reality is, we do not knows many things, I happen to believe five things to be true:

1. Egypt has ignored the Sinai desert--as they are also limited to what they can do due to the Camp David treaty.  
2. In marginalized communities, extremists Muslims group (Jihad, Qaeda) thrive. And there are Palestinians reside in Egypt's border areas. 
3. The current government of Egypt is Gaza's best friend in the world--they promise to east the siege and allow for freedom of movement. Why would Gaza want to crap where they eat? Plus, the government in Gaza and the one in Egypt stem from the same theological schools
4. Israel/certain political groups in Egypt are not too happy about the government of Egypt acts of kindness toward Gaza.  
5. The underground tunnels between Gaza and Egypt need to be demolished, there is simply no need for them and they have served their purpose until the siege was made lighter late last year. Now, they are used for greed and people who bring in weird people and illegal merchandise.

Having said that, I stand firmly behind the government to f Egypt as they try to figure out what really happened and wish people would just refrain from jumping to conclusions. I would also ask the government in Gaza not to give the one in Egypt a hug of death. They are not in office to make Gaza a better place, they cannot do that until Egypt is back to speed.

May the officers now rest in peace

Sham (Syria) Gets Some Love From Indie Music

Eskenderlla is busy this Ramadan season with concerts as they had a night of music on August 4th and they sang for Syria or Sham. I love this style of songs, you get a poem performed by one vocalist and then the music joins in and pick up the speed.

Not sure where this style originates from, but it might have come from Egypt or the Sufi school of music. It's nice that one of the most popular indie bands in post Mubarak Egypt would sing for Syria and the resilience of its people.

أسكندريلا - حيوا أهل الشام

Najwa Karam, A Rare Lebanese Patriot جديد نجوى كرم - اسرج بالليل حصانك

Najwa Karam has always spoken about her pride of her home country. She is so proud that she would not sing in any other dialect but her own. She would not kiss up to other Arabs, she views them as peers. She always speaks her mind and when she has problems with her producers, she teaches them a lesson and they apologize to her.

She always says yes to any concert and function at home, she is the gal that's happy to sing in any music festival in Lebanon--big or small. She has sang to Lebanon in many occasions, she celebrates the army and incorporates them in some of her music videos. What makes her different than most other Lebanese celebrities is her faith in her country. She is ALWAYS Lebanese. She does not give u on her country even when the times are hard and the spirits are low. 

She walks tall and her heart beats Lebanon all the way. Many thought she would be part of the song supporting the army--a giant music video, but she wasn't. Instead to celebrate the army, she has her won song. To be honest her song is much better than that other one. It has more pride and it has more energy.

Hear it our, and I am sure, you will think, Najwa still got it. She is the rocking star of Arabic music. A song tells of a love story of a women who has a crush on her solider. She just wants to see him back victorious. She is so PROUD! The song makes me want to enlist this minute.

Najwa Karam - Isrouj Bil Lail 7sanak جديد نجوى كرم - اسرج بالليل حصانك

اوبريت - جيش لبنان / WATCH: Operetta - Lebanon Army 2012

The music video that kept the Lebanese army for weeks is finally out and it seems all the actors and singers involved in the project feel strongly about it and about its production. This is not the first music video made for/by the army, but it might be the biggest project to memory as it comes at a critical moment when Lebanese troops are being shot in the streets of Beirut by thugs.

I think this is a good PR job needed by the army now. I salut to the biggest names who have joined the lineup for this song, Nawal Zoghby, Wael Kfoury, Assi Hallani, Nancy Ajram and Sameer Sfier--composing and singing. This is an all Lebanese song--with the mawal and everything. Not sure wha the reviews are, but a good song is a good song.

There are half dozen well known actors also appear in the project. This is a clip that well make the army once again buy few patriots who wanted to make this project out of good faith. I know most armies accomplish things before they can enter the PR game, I am not aware of any major accomplishment for this particular army.

For the record, it's not the army that made Lebanon a great nation, the people have with their can do attitude and top notch customer service skills--culinary skills and fashion are a bonus

P.S. By the way, why is Nishan is part of this music video? Nawal and Assi need to dial it down with all the botox.

 اوبريت - جيش لبنان / Operetta - Lebanon Army 2012

Operate Jaysh Lebnan Original Copy - أوبريت جيش لبنان النسخة الأصلية

Naughty Or Nice? Palestinian President Attends Wedding

President Mahmoud Abbas took the time to attend a local wedding, he brought his band, and his groupies with him for this big bash. I like the idea of politicians pandering to local people and I think that people of Silwad wanted to be there, he seems likes a nice guy.

But I would do away with the guy brown nosing the president. I do not like the tradition of sucking up to the politicians, if I like a guy then he earns my silence and occasional cheers. I like the old ladies bit when the are doing old school Palestinian Zaghal or Hahe.

 I do not know if I live in this world or not, but I think I mixed on this, I think it's good and I also can see how it can be also used for something bad. I love the fact that his wife was there with the ladies--she is no politician.

 مشاركة السيد الرئيس ابو مازن اهالي سلواد العرس الجماعي

WATCH: The Lebanese Army Song By Lebanon's Finest أغنية الجيش - نوال الزغبي - نانسي - وائل كفوري - عاصي

The army is supposed to be made out of the country's finest people, but in the case of Lebanon the jury is still out on this matter. In the meantime, Lebanon's finest pop singers have joined forces to do a song for this army that has not seen a good day in a really long time. The army is proud yet they seem to get no respect around the country--singers and writers would like to think people should respect the army, but most think of them as a farce.

So the army did the next best thing to try to get its name out there, hiring a volunteer singer squad to d a song for them while dressed in army gear. Nancy Ajram singed up, so has Nawal El Zoghby, Wael Kfoury, Assi Hallani, composer Samir Sfir's name is also attached to the project. Nizar Francis wrote the lyrics

The official clip is yet to be released, but we have the audio track and some of the behind the scenes images with the artists who have taken part of this grand project. The song will be released int he Lebanese army day of celebration.

In fairness, even the American army does these kind of songs and material to promote their work, so there's no shame in doing that that. What I do not like, is how people who have never served in the army--maybe Wael did are pretending to be all tough by wearing the army gear. Najwa Karam has done a song three years a go with the help of the army where she featured some of their officers.

نانسي ونوال، عاصي ووائل: معاً لجيش لبنان


أغنية الجيش - نوال الزغبي - نانسي - وائل كفوري - عاصي NEW 2012



نجوم لبنانيون يؤكِّدون: الجيش خط أحمر وضمانة للشعب

"بالشرق كان الليل عمرو سنين

ولبنان كان بعتمتو غرقان

إلاّ ولمع سيفك يا فخرالدين

وبديت حكاية اسمها لبنان

كان صعب العيش والناس خيفانة

صار عنا جيش والجيش لبناني

وصاروا رجال الدار جيش الحما وأهلا

وصرنا كبار صغار نهتفلن أهلاً

050 Band - Aywa Ana Intentionally Funny Song

050 Band delivers great live performances where they show an apatite to get better, they have always gotten better as they get more gigs. They came to the spotlight more than a year ago and have manged to retain a large fan base.  Now they are back with yet another humorous song of theirs.

In "Aywa Ana" it's me, the one wearing funny things, eating American things and wearing cool sneakers. This is an funny response to the many voices in Egypt who accuse the activists of being foreign imports. Yes, I have no shame nor was I raised up well....I am the one who causes the crash of the crash.

hope you like it...I know I liked the message and the guitar does not hurt.
050 Band - Aywa Ana / زيروخمسين - أيوا أنا من برنامج البسطه

A Composer, A Manly Man And The Lady Known As The Sun

Najwa Karam and Melhim Barakat might be linked romantically, but their collaboration goes deep in history. They both have so much love and passion to give, and they both adore every inch of their home, Lebanon. So they got together with another Lebanese dude who has sang fro everything and everyone in Lebanon.

Together they performed this song live and the fans went crazy as those three legends know how to fire up the crowds best. This an older clip when we barely knew some of the people in it, but looking back at it, it was one of the most memorable live experiences in Lebanon.

Each of those singers brings something to this song, they personal and the voices are about even. Lebanese are proud people and they have done their country proud in every corner of the world. It's time to watch this clip and think how beautiful life can be.

عاصي الحلاني و نجوي كرم و ملحم بركات - لبنان يا بلدنا

Mado Annoys The Military Establishment in Egypt

He comes across as a singer who has little fear, and he was one of the early voices that has criticized the military and its actions in Egypt. He is no fan of the SCAF and its old school generals with those outdated ideas. So Mado has been making music that many realize only now is timely.

That's the makeup of a visionary. While Mado has little to lose, the army tried to divide and conquer approach. While in general just about every Egyptian has deep rooted respect for their army--most are skeptical of the army's intention and actions.

I am sure the Egyptian army is one awesome army that loves the homeland, but at this point, I am afraid its leadership has been dragging them into the mud and with it most of Egypt. So Mado makes takes one shot after another and he has been increasingly bold.

I think some of the young activists also need to cool it too. However, this thing is not going to be over soon. No one gives away power unless they are forced to.

ya 3askar efham (piano) Mado يا عسكر افهم -بيانو- .. مادو

نفسى.. وائل عامر ومحمد عبد العال (مادو) وسونى (رحاله)

Two Egyptian Dudes Duet عمرو قطامش ووائل عامر

Wael Amer and Amr Katamish teamed up to send a message to the next president of Egypt. Two different guys with two different interests joined forces on this song. One is a stand up comic with funny yet poetic lines and the other is a natural born activist who has been right more than one on the SCAF. I did not see this song coming and did not know that neither of these guys would work together.

But here we are and the two using one another to access the fan base of the other entertainer. Their message is clear, justice is the foundation of governance. You have a people and for those people there are squares--where they can protest. This is meant to be half funny half serious song.

I like this creative effort...Wael brings the mesmerizing vocals and Amr brings humor and a deep voice sprinkled with stylish flow.
 
رساله الى الرئيس القادم..عمرو قطامش ووائل عامر

اغنية تاكى ام تى ام - سياسى | On Politics Takki MTM - Seyasy

The all Egyptian rapper strikes once again with a song about the fools who pretend to know about political and dabble into talking on the subject. While I disagree and I think all people should be able to entitled to their opinions, I did enjoy the song.

Takki is a popular rapper who has stayed out of the spotlight for some time now, until he released his latest rap song about politicians and politics in Egypt at the moment. Takki is still a member of the MTM band and he is working on a music video for this song of his.

Takki wrote the lyrics and the music himself and as I can tell, many in the virtual world loved have expressed love for this song prompting Takki to make a music video for his single.

 اغنية تاكى ام تى ام - سياسى | Takki MTM - Seyasy