WATCH: Najwa Karam Sings At Ragheb Alama's Wedding

This is an old video from the Lebanese TV archive, Ragheb was on top of his career and he was the cool kid who knows what the ladies want to say. Everyone tried to copy his style, but he copied nobody and decided to have an open wedding where he invited his friend to sing for him and for his bride.

See this vintage video for the queen of Lebanese music Najwa Karam at an earlier time and simpler times. She looked different, but she sounded a 100 percent like she sounds now. Najwa rocked the party and Raghb looked so funny dancing to Najwa's song. His dance moves are funny and can only come from a  guy who has never danced or someone who is under a great deal of stress.

Ragheb Alama is now dubbed Mr. GQ and a super star, he dresses well and now has launched his line of men cologne. I hope he can look at this video and laugh about it, not feel embarrassed. Love can make us do and say goofy stuff.

نجوى كرم تغني حفل زفاف المطرب راغب علامة

Fares Karam Survives A Health Scare/ Cancels Concerts

It seems that his heart will go on. Lebanese singer and party favorite was getting ready for a benefit concert in his home Lebanon when he started feeling uneasy in his chest. He called in the doctor and called off the concert. Word on the street Fares is one of the few singers who neglect visiting with doctors, he does not exercise and probably smokes.

Fares Karam is the guy who did a song about smoking hookahs and such. Fares has been really busy lately with concerts all over Lebanon in a number of music festivals. The 37 years old have received well wishes from her peers who took on the social media to share their thoughts on Fares.

His personal guard has been making the media rounds and assuring everyone that Fares Karam is safe and recovering. He did call of few other concerts. He will submit to a number of exams to make sure his heart is stable and that he does not need any serious procedures.

I wish the story ends there, a journalist publishes a press release where he claims Fares Karam did not have any health scare, he was overheard telling his crew he is not feeling well and thus he did not want to perform in the concert--according to the Journalist. The person behind the release resides Dubai and goes by the name Waleed El Husnyah. Further people say they have spotted Fares walking out of the hospital looking fine. I am not a doctor but why did team Fares Karam released sophisticated images of the star inside the hospital. How about some privacy?    

fares karam 2010 2011 New Ritanee Nargele

Mona Amarcha In It For The Money And Here's Why

The Moroccan songstress Mona Amarcha has yet to hold a concert outside the Gulf region where her career has been transformed from a celebrity singer into a wedding singer. After taking part of the Star Academy competition years ago, she made a decision not to go back to Morocco, not to Egypt and certainly not to Lebanon. Instead she followed the money and made a home for herself in Dubai.

She is a big player in the pop scene in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and in between. She makes good music and has a great voice. But if she is not getting paid, she is not singing. That means she has yet to release a song in Egyptian or the Lebanese dialect.

She does not seem to care about branching our or at least maintaining her celebrities status outside Dubai where she does concerts and private events. She does go back to Morocco for vacation with her lovely family and friends. But the only place she works is Dubai

Again the money is great we all love it, it's just the attitude that matters. She can make a decent living doing songs by this Sheikh and that poet, but to last you need to cover your tracks and open up new markets.

منى أمرشا - وينك | Mona Amarsha - Weinak

Wael Kfoury Plays Tennis And Lunches His Tournament

Singers like sports, but very few of them excel at it. While most go to the gym and workout, one guy loves a sport so much that he launched his own tournament. Of course, I am speaking about Wael Kfoury and his love of Tennis.

Many in Lebanon know that the singer is a big fan of this game where he has practiced the game for years now. But most recently, he has kicked of the first tennis tournament that he has sponsored in Lebanon. The tournament included a number of categories including one for males, females and older than 40.

 The winner was awarded 3000 dollars. The total amounts that were awarded added up to 12 thousand US dollars. Again, this is an elitist game for the people with a lot of money, but to his credit Wael is doing his country a favor for a guy who shuns the spotlight, this is a major event.

وائل كفوري وهو يلعب التنس

Ragheb Alama Releases His Fregrance "Notes D'amour"

Ragheb Alama is a business man all around, he makes music to make a living and he appears on TV for the cash  Now comes his latest business venture "Notes D'amour". The Lebanese singer has released a new cologne for man. He has already held a huge event for it in Kuwait and he is about to go to Tunisia to launch it in that country.

I have yet to put my hands on the fragrance, but form the picture is seems to be from the fresh and verde school. Ragheb has posed for the poster of his "Notes D'amour" in the fashion of many of those Hollywood personalities doing the same thing--I still think he could have put on a watch.

Ragheb had plans to launch his cologne in Lebanon but due to the instability there he went on Twitter and blasted the situation over there. So far he has deferred the launch in Beirut. I think selling such products is a smart thing--women celebrities in Arabia have been doing that for some time. Now comes the man's turn in the grooming section.

Nancy Afyouni, Making Lebanon Hotter Since 2007

Nancy Afyouni is a gorgeous babe from the land of a million beautiful people--Lebanon. She dubbed herself as a hot Pop Singer\Miss Intercontinental and a successful business woman. She is a celebrity all around. She shot to fame in 2007 when she won the title for Ms. Intercontinental, a beauty pageant.

While good looks tend to pay, they rarely make a career, that's why Nancy went with a singing career to bring her more fame and more cash. She sounds like a young women with a clear view of the world of entertainment. She must be doing something right as the internet seems to be busy with contents on Nancy Afyouni.

It's clear to me that Nancy is going for sexy image than the cute one, which is fine because men are pigs for the most part. I do not think it's right for men to criticize her and her clothes in public while in private they leer at them. I do not think I have heard any of her songs, I will take that back, she has already made a terrible song My Meow a really gross song in English. It was so bad that the comments on the video have been disabled.

Nancy Afiouny - My Meow


 ملكة جمال القارات 2007 نانسي افيوني

The Most Famous Arab Celebrities' Scandals أشهر فضائح لفنانين وفنانات العرب

In American they have sex tapes, recorded voices messages, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. They also have one star who likes to steal things, and there are many who go to rehab to address problems with drugs, alcohol, and exhaustion.

Let's visit Arabia and see what the Arab stars have for us in store, it seems that with the spotlight, so many Arab stars get caught in scandals or trouble with the press.

1. A leaked video of Nancy Ajram at a beauty shop where her privates where being taken care of by a professionals. This was bad and we still love Nancy... 
2. Egyptian dancer turned actress, had a leaked sex tape with her husband--on papers, not a real marriage. They were in the bedroom doing the nasty and it was a vivid video that shocked the Arab press for which Dina wore the head cover for a while.
3. Lebanese TV personality, singer and actress, Rozan Al Moghraby was the star of a privet video where she was around a lot of beer and performing sexual acts on some dude while joking and teasing. This has torpedoed her career.  
4. Lebanese super star and media darling had pictures of her in bikini by the pool side leaked to the internet and off course who does not want a little peak? 
5. Egyptian actress Ziena, was a guest of a TV show when her dress got tangled and her dress came off a bit revealing her bra for everyone to see.
6. Syrian singer and TV personality was a guest of Star academy, doing a song when her tight jeans got ripped from the front in the middle of her segment, revealing a prime real estate.  
7. Egyptian actress trying to be singer Mena Fadaly had a birthday party and it was a crazy party attended by so many celebrities, Mena's pictures leaked to the press and the pictures revealed too much, and humiliated the singer and most of her parting guests. That was a big deal.
8. Kuwaiti singer Jawad Al Ali cannot catch a break, while a guest on a live she, come dude called in and called him gay and asked him to perform an act of sexual nature. Poor Jawad, that must have been an awkward exchange.   
9. Moroccan singer, Laila Ghofran--an other wise great vocalists was the star of a video where she was doing a steamy dance bit and sitting on her boyfriend (friend who is a boy) feet.
10. Lebanese singer/actress Marwa was doing an appearance at a primer of one of her movies, and the fans outnumbered what her guards can handle and it was reported she was harassed--some stupid people out there blame the dress she was wearing.
11. Again Lebanese Marwa was the star of a leaked footage from one of her movies where she was almost naked in the shower--this was a big deal later year. It seemed that the director leaked it and since then Marwa has been cleared.  
12. Egyptian actress Hanan Turk was caught in the middle of a scandal with prostitution and all that,  I think she served jail time, then it turned out she was innocent and the whole ordeal was a set up.
13. Tamer Hosny sang for Egypt and how much he loved it, then it turned out he forged documents to get out of the military service. He cliams innocence and that he was tricked into doing that. He did a jail time and since then he has been a tool for the armed forced in Egypt.
14. TV host Hala Sarhan had guests on her show who claimed to be prostitutes in Egypt and they have given so much details. The segment was a big hit and upset a lot of people. WE are told later that Hala hired some actress to pose as hookers. Hala would flee to Dubai and stays there until the Mubarak regime fell apart
15. Egyptian actor and activist Khalid Abu El Naga was the star of a video where he was marrying one of his lady friends on the beach--I do not know what this one is a scandal.
16. Libyan singer Ali Hamida was arrested for molesting a little boy in Egypt and he served time in jail, he would be a nobody after he once was the hottest boy of Arab pop in the 80s. He certainly had the coolest hair. 
17. Star Academy and its participants had a lot of scandals about footage for females changing clothes and males and females getting cozy with one another. See the video below. 

للنشر: طوني خليفة يعرض فضائح ستار اكاديمي 1

TV Host Nishan Should Shut His Face!

When you host a prime time TV show, you must know that there are kids out there watching your show. When your show films in Ramadan, you must at least show some respect at you ask questions form your guests. But clearly popular TV personality Nishan did not get the memo.

As he interviewed one of the most provocative pop songstresses  Myriam Faris, the TV host got comfortable and thought he was sitting in a bar and in a private session, not on TV. So the might Nishan fires up a question to Myriam....here's the question?

"Are you comfortable with people looking at your ass (buttocks)? as they are always impressed by it" "They always try to sneak a peace at your moneymaker, how do you feel?" To proof that he is an idiot the host wishes his viewers a happy Ramadan as he talks about butts. This is the kind of shitty mentality that men come up to and sadly few women play along out of fear or not being cool.

Not sure what was on his mind, to ask such a question. But again when you invite guests like that, you will not be talking about Mozart or global warming. The guest did not seem bothered by the question and seems to enjoy acting like she is tired, she seems overjoyed to talk about that part of hers. What talents does he really have? Great hair, check! A Smile, Check! A brain? We will get back to you on that one

Watch the exchange below as Nishan almost gets to blow some steam as he talks up the rare bit. Nishan should explain his question and apologize to his viewers--I am not one of them and never will.

نيشان يسال ميريام فارس عن سر جمال خلفيتها - انا والعسل

WATCH: Elissa Concert أجواء حفل إليسا بنادي استاد الهوكي Par Ouailitto

So Elissa goes to Egypt, and headlines a massive concert where she brought her best hits to the country of 90 millions.  She appeared in that country's hockey stadium (an attachment to the Cairo staduim), people were dazzled, and the Lebanese diva is marking a great comeback concert that follows her smashing successful concert in her home--Lebanon

Elissa wore a modest yet gorgeous dress, orange dress! The stage seems to have been made just right for this mega concert where the fans finished the songs of Elissa before she started them. The concert was well organized and seems to have been a lot of fun where the songstress gave the concert goers a great time.

This is Elissa's first concert in post Mubarak Egypt, the venue fits 30 thousand people, three police units were in charge of protecting Elissa in addition of her personal guards who had to fight off many fans and admirers. Fun facts, Elissa lost one of her diamond earning as she was performing--she did not realize it till later. Some fan messed around with a laser pointer something that Elissa asked him to stop doing--she cut off the song to do that. Elissa was also caught off guard reading the lyrics to one of her songs on stage.

elissa أجواء حفل إليسا بنادي استاد الهوكي par ouailitto

Why I Think #MBCTheVoice Will Suck So Bad

Sure, they hired some of the finest voices in Arabia (Egyptian, Iraqi, Tunisian, and Lebanese), they are a huge network with many viewers and advertisers to pick them up.

Kathem is a good judge of character, but he is a nice guy, he would not deliver the bad news. He has not made a stunning record since 2009, but he knows the business.

Assi shouts a lot and talks even more, he looks strange after what seems to be going under the knife.

Sherine, is a hot head, she gets upset very quick and has highs and lows. Sherine has some personal issues and trying to figure out the business side. The actor turned TV host lacks charisma and charm.

Saber lacks flavor, do not hear much of him in interviews and such. Saber is a sweet guy who does romantic songs, and has not challenged himself enough, not lately.

Those 4 judges are older than 35, nobody in that age group knows anything about twitter, Facebook, so none of the new fans will tune in online. I think they needed a young 25 artists who has a track record. The show pitches that they will make stars, but in reality we live in a time where even stars do not make a living anymore--thanks to the internet and the Arab revolts.

Why would people tune in? Half to these people shin the spotlight and tend not to make waves, they are diplomats. Ratings do matter, and if people have a reason to watch, they will. Watching the excitement about this show, I cannot see if real. It's all about the MBC team trying to shock people into caring about their big show.  

But in between, Star Academy, Arabs Got Talent and Arab Idol, there is so much noise and so little star making. Too many empty suits and too few real artists.

I am sure people will watch the show, but it might be very difficult to sustain this success post season one.

#MBC1 - #MBCTheVoice قريبا

Misho or Michel Azzi Has A Catchy Debka Wedding Song

Michel Azzi wants to part with us this summer, so he releases a cool dance/summer song for fans of the Lebanese song. It's catchy, and his voice works well for this choice. I like and  have enjoyed this wedding song from the new comer/ local celebrity. His passionate love song about wanting to scare all the otehrs from thinking about making a move.

Does not Michel look very familiar, he does look like another young, Lebanese singer who does a similar style. Can you name his look alike?

جديد ميشال قزى (وصلت لحدا ) +الكلمات woslit la 7adda michel azzi

Michel Fadel, Lebanon's Hottest Pianist Pays Homage To Warda

Michel is an artist popular among those who like classical music--both Western and Eastern ones. Michel is loved by the majority of Lebanon's pop and romance singers because he gives them his heart through his music. Elissa loved the guy and shows up to his concerts and so does many other celebrities.

In his latest concert the pianist composer paid tribute to the late Algerian iconic diva Warda. In the piano he played some of her most famous songs. Michel makes grownup concerts embraced by the elite and the intelligentsia.

He was later joined by a celebrated violinist Dana Dabbous, together they made one wonderful live musical experience. Not sure hoe common is the writing on the piano, most classical artists do not decorate their pianos, but Michel did it to promote his beloved country as its name is all over the instrument.

Tribute to Warda - Michel Fadel Concert 3al Lebneneh in Beirut Holidays 2012

Dana Dabbous performing with Michel Fadel in A3yad Beirut 2012

كليب علاء الدين - شذى حسون - OFFICIAL VIDEO - Clip Alaa Eldeen Shatha Hassoun

OK, the music video that we have talked about for two months now, finally gets released and it's below. Shatha Hassoun outdoes herself here and raises to the occasion to tell a story, a true story. She is not trying to be cool or cute, she found a good team for this song and she gave them all she has.

The storyboard gores, a celebrity gets sick of the spotlight and exists through the back door leaving it all for love. I love Dubai and the outlandish outfits the Iraqi diva sports around. She has this sexy look that makes anything look stunning.

We got to see an iPad, contact lenses, a middle aged guy with earnings, a white guy who is trying to seduce Shatha. Shatha Hassoun is a much coveted entertainer. She has enough and walks out on a crowded highway. I am not going to spoil the ending for you, but I do love the bird.

Looking at the behind the scene this music video is a big production, lots of green screen and wires action. They had to have tens of people on set to make this music video the stunning experiences it has turned out to be

 كليب علاء الدين - شذى حسون - OFFICIAL VIDEO - Clip Alaa Eldeen Shatha Hassoun

Saad Ramadan Sings Like A Star, Talks Like A Drug Junkie

I like his music but I love to hate the way he talks. It might be the Lebanese thing, why do people like Saad Ramadan talk like they have been given some kind of drug? The guy is hot, the guy is smart, and he makes good music. He had half a dozen of concerts this summer and his biggest were in Algeria--a country he did not know he was known in.

So he sat down with Elaph and talk about his success and his hard work. I do not like the bit when he talks about his plans and activities, he should stick to music and romance. His talking pattern might alienate some people. His new album should be dropping by soon.

سعد رمضان نجاح ممتد من الجزائر الى الجنوب اللبناني

WATCH: Nicole Saba "Hafdal Ahlam" - "نيكول سابا "هفضل أحلم

Nicole Saba just released her must see music video of the year--she released one last year too. An effect rich music video, with an incredible cinematography. I am serious, this music video is so well made that you would think some major Hollywood studio stands behind it.

I feels like an Amy Lee music video, there's just too much to process and too much to take in at the same time. The makeup work is dazzling, and Nicole's voice is astonishing. she stares into the camera and one gets the feeling she is gazing into one's soul.

The music sounds like your favorite club mix, I do not get the masks and the wood yet. I know Nicole is a proud women with a lot of femensit opinions about lberty and not oweing anyone anything. I love the last bit on the beach and breaking free from all things. Like the song suggests, it does get better

Nicole Saba "Hafdal Ahlam" - "نيكول سابا "هفضل أحلم

Again Saudi MBC Prostitutes Lebanon During Ramadan

I have one question for people appearing on this video....this is a Ramadan function on a station owned by Saudis, a network that claims to have the biggest and most watched TV show, namely about the second Muslim Caliph "Omar", I m ready to say that the guy who is talking about the show has no idea who Omar is and thus he has the IQ of a bag of hammer.

back to my question, if the people who appear on this video are Muslims they ought to be ashamed of themselves for their revealing clothes during the holy month. Why would the Saudis hold such parties in Lebanon, would they ever allow similar events at home? Not in a million year

If they are Christians, that's fine and dandy, but would they ever wear such clothes to a church function? Not in a million year they would. This is what you wear to a cheap night club, not at some social function. And yes there are tons of kisses, hugs and smooches.

Why would they then show up to a Sahour meal--the meal Muslims eat before starting their fast at the break of down. These people have no class, nor they should be celebrated for being so insensitive to one Muslims and two to their viewers.

You see there were few guys dressed in the Saudi national dress-the white spotless dress and red head cover, and this guy is hanging out with the ladies dressed so provocatively in the holy month. I do not really care what they wear, this is where I differ with most critics, I only want them to be respectful of the holy month if they are as an Ramadan event sponsored by a network that claims to be moderate. What qualifies this network to air shows talking about the virtues of Islam when it comes to their own life--they are hardly Muslims.

Again MBC misses the mark with unprecedented ignorance and elitist mindset.

MBC تقيم سحوراً بحضور نخبة من النجوم

EXCLUSIVE Nahwa - Lansob Kheima / نهوى - لانصب خيمة

2012 should be the year Arabia has met the reincarnation of one of its music legends. I am speaking of the legend of the singer Samira Tawfik. The singer who has that honor of being compared to Samira is a new lady that goes by the name Nahwa. She is performing under the Rotana music label and they just have let her new single out and I could not help by make that Samira Tawfik reference 

I am hardly the first one to draw that conclusion, Lebanese singer Wissam Al Ameer seems to agree with me. Among Nahwa's fans is another music mogul Tarek Abu Judeh--the man behind many of Yara's hits. The video below shows how popular is young Lebanese singer as she has a New Year concert at home where it was packed.

I do not know much about her thick eyebrows, but it might be a nice throwback to that era. The genre of music is the Bedouin style and dialect, something that has really been missing for the past decade. Enjoy the music and appreciate.

EXCLUSIVE Nahwa - Lansob Kheima / نهوى - لانصب خيمة


Nahwa @ New Year 's Eve 2011 | 2012 نهوى في حفل ليلة رأس السنة

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

Baloona, Yet Another Lebanese Summer Music Festival

Why not? Nothing beats the heat like the outdoors can, so why not bring the party together and hire local talents to bring it all together and excite the crowd about your town or about your event.

In Baloona, a village in Lebanon, brought together two different singers. Michaella, one female that will attract the young an dthe energized, and  Melhim Barakat, the guy who speaks his mind, but also makes very fine music. She partied with people as she sang. She even gave interviews and spoke about her latest work and events where she will appear.

The moody Melhim Barakat asked people to turn off their cameras and he has banned the singers form filming his performance. And yes, no one has footage of Melhim Barakat.

في بلونة... ميكاييلا تتألَّق وملحم بركات يمنع التصوير