Saudi Rakan (راكان) Not The Other Man

Saudi Arabia is changing, one of the faces of this change is fresh Saudi pop prince Rakan. The boyish looking singer who is ever proud of his motherland by sporting the national dress and head gear in his music videos. But he also incorporates the same music that his country has known for close to a century--the drums.

His lyrics read like a conservative love poem, so there's not major trouble with this young man who is introducing generations of Arabs to Saudi music. He does Incorporated various hip elements of dance, computer affects and CG into his music videos. He is that funky kid that has always manged to impress his fans with how cool he has manged to become.

One thing, I like about Rakan is that he does not push the envelop too far, he tries to do cool things, with a local flavor. He is the star many young people look up as he gives them more reasons to be proud of. I know I personally like his very Saudi Dance moves.

Rakan Weily weily - راكان ويلي ويلي

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

Ali Abdel Sattar Sang My All Time Favorite Gulf Song

Technically, he did not intend to make a big hit. I am learning that he made this song for his little kid, he wanted to sing it for him--"I love him and I like to hear his tales". This was the song that introduced generations to Gulf music as a hip and catchy song easy to fall in love to and music that gets you to move around. I was in Dubai at that time and his song was on every radio and in every cassette store, at that moment I know music can gap about of differences....

Ali Abdel Sttar is actually from Qatar and he is proud this way. He has a sweet voice that sounds the way it would had he not been a big name. I am trying to say he has that intimate voice, he is not the one to party, he  does a lot of business ventures on the side and as we can tell he has a loving supportive family. He does have this wide name recognition across the Arab world.

Ya Nas Ahba came in the late 80s and paved the way to Ali Abdel Star stardom. He kept at is in the 2000s, but then quit briefly once his contract with Rotana expired. I do not think he has ever made a song that rivaled his initial hit song. But in other news, his son is getting into the singing business as his father has produced that album for Naif--the son.

HD علي عبدالستار يا ناس احبه YouTube

Sizzling Palestine Summer Music Festivals

Al-Bireh, Ramallah and Birzeit are all Palestinian towns in close proximity to one another and those thriving towns have a lot in common as they all seem to enjoy life and music. Three different music festivals were held  and a number of local artists, dancers and ones with a pan-Arab recognition. Such events hope to attract tourists and signal that Palestinians are life loving people too.

I have a number of videos from each of those music events, Tony Qattan headlined one of them, Palestinians singer Mais Shalash. Keep in mind this is a news report where dancing old ladies are in the center of attention. I need to remind that those three cities are the center of the Palestinians leadership and economy, most other cities are too busy trying to make a living and coping under the Israeli occupation.

ميس شلش في ختام مهرجان البيرة الثاني


طوني قطان في افتتاح اسبوع التراث في بيرزيت


 مهرجان الرقص الشعبي الفلسطيني - وين ع رام الله 4

Men 2idy 2012 The Bad Nay 2012 / نايا - من ايدي HQ

Naya makes good pop songs, but with one problem. Her manager is a schmuck, a jerk and classless bastard. Why? He is using Naya's talent to get back at his wife and he has always made that clear. Naya is a tented star and she need a ruthless manger to help get her gigs and songs. What Naya does not need is to get caught in a family feud.

She is a star on her own not a younger version of Nawal Al Zoghby, the divorcee of Naya's manger who I won't mention his name. Naya has a sweet voice that makes her a great candidate for breakup pop songs, but her latest do not seems o live up to Naya's earlier work (check out tizkar).

Men Eidy is a pop song made for clubs, you cannot do a sad song to a party music, it just takes away from the fine crafted lyrics. It's what it's a good song with loud music
Naya - Men 2idy 2012 / نايا - من ايدي HQ

While Arabs Shame Belly Dancers, Non Arabs Dominate It

Everybody loves belly dancing, no body would want to be one. As far as Arab people go, it's a dead profession. And such belly dancer have became just another word for prostitute. So, who gives? The people around the world picked the dance and made it even sexier.

Go to any restaurant in Lebanon or a Moroccan restaurant, chances are the dancer is not Arab, but she appreciate the culture--which to her means belly dancing. Which was no surprise to me when I saw the video below about belly dancing festival in Lebanon and most of the stars were from Europe, Latin America and beyond. Few Arab belly dancers were also present.

Needless to say some mid aged bald guys with a sleazy personality showed up. Check out the belly dancers from Spain and Mexico who have been interviewed. The lady behind this event is a local belly dancer with the name of Amani.

   مهرجان الرَّقص الشَّرقي في بيروت يجذب الأجنبيَّات

Egypt's Taxi Driver Will Love Mohammed Abd Elmonim 2012 Album

 Mohammed Abd Elmonim is a homeboy and he is the guy you would want to appear in your movie if your movie has a block party and belly dancer. This young composer and charming singer knows how to kick off a street party. In his title song he swears by the name of the Lord about how excited he is about this girl.

Mohammed might be the next best thing to happen to this Sha'abi music or as it has now been called festivals. Saad Al Soghyar is getting too old for this and Mohammed seems to be a protegee of that singer as he has appeared along his side in a recent movie. So if you are tourist in Egypt, you might want to get familiar with such taste of music because I know your cabbies will be playing it on your ride.

God and women is how poor people live, Mohammed brings the best of both worlds and put it all on a nice soundtrack for everyone to see and hear. The good news is as follows, Abd Elmonim is a decent looking guy--unlike most of singers in the Sh'abi circles. So, here is his new album, I dub it as the party album where we now have a physical proof how poor people like to party it up.

So if you are a guy you would love the songs, and if your a women whose sole concern is men interest and looking good, you will also like this song. But if you want more out of life, this song might not be meant for you.

 النسخة الأصلية لألبوم محمد عبد المنعم وربنا المعبود 01.

01. Kol Ma Aghamad Einaya
02.Wrabena Elmaboud
03.Amlt Elly Alya
04.Ana Mo'gab Beek
05.Taiheen Dai'een
06.Keed El Nessa
07.Men Youm Ma Sebtk
08.Elly Ma Shafsh El Dounya


 09.Foash محمد عبد المنعم - وربنا المعبود


محمد عبد المنعم - وربنا المعبود

Safy, When Pop Disappoints And A Song Goes Unnoticed

Pop music is supposed to be fun, and not unintentional funny. I could not stop myself from laughing at the music video for this mediocre song by Safy. No surprise that Safy is not a name that most know. The concept of the music video--if you want to call it that is shitty.

 Farmers dancing in the bushes in laughable outfits and there are cowboys and weird dancers. Camels, trucks and poor dance moves. It does feel awkward watching the clip, as I do not like to be mean, but this one makes it so easy to be so. Fame is a bitch if you have to do something that you do not feel right about. Safy might not be a pop star, but she seems like a nice person.

 Safy - Leil Wara Leil / صافي - ليل ورا ليل

Another sub-par music video and song from Safy, it's catchier than the first one. It feels like it has been directed under the same ideas of the first music video but with a new look.
Safy - Kaddab Zamano / صافي - كداب زمانه

Tony Qattan 2012 Song About Stupid Old Arabs

The cool thing, if a group or a delegation of old Arab men comes to any given home, and refuse to drink the coffee served until their request has been honored. Most if not all people accept such offer because of the hospitality tradition rooted in the desert culture. So when a family wants to ask the hand of a woman in marriage they send the old and respectable men in the family to do the asking.

This is cool, but what if the woman says no? Will those old men go back and eat their word? so here's a scenario....they host family says, sure whatever you ask we will give you. These guests ask for the girl's hand in marriage. She might say no! While most will honor her wish, and go back on their word--this is something Islam is keen on by the way. But then the families might want to get the girl to change her mind.

Lecture aside, here's a song about the very same story, but Jordanian Palestinian singer Tony Qattan where he says "your coffee will be drunk!" And the girl will be your girl now, so congratulation. This is a happy song and shows that the singer is well raised and knows the tradition well. My thing is this, old men do not always know the right things....they are only assumed to have such knowledge.

As for this song I like the beat and the energy is brings. And yes the cool old school instruments incorporated.
 جديد طوني قطان - قهوتكو مشروبة 2012

How To Let Your Music Video Director To Ruin It?

Simple, let them apply all the ideas they have on your music video. This way they would make your music video a lab rat, a testing ground for all and any of their untested ideas. This way they will surely give you one shitty music video that looks like an overflowing salad bowel loaded with salad dressing and none of the fresh produce.

I guess what my analogy is trying to say, you should be the judge and in the driver seat, don't let some guy with a fancey press release sell you one something that doe snot feel right. You want an example of what I am talking about, look no further than the video below. While the song is hip, the music video disappoints and confuses one's soul.

This is a pop song by Rahma Riad, it was supposed to be a treat, now I feel bad for the star who has shown so much promise. The pictures,m they tried to pain fall flat and the looks do not necessary work well for Raham (what's up with the all black dancers?). And what's sup with that eye mask look? Some bold hair cuts too! Why stop there? Bring the disco ball too!


 كليب رحمه رياض الا اقللهم 2012

Ramy Ayach Stays Healthy With His Tefaha

Iraqis had a hit song about oranges few in the mid 2000--the guy behind the song just passed away this year. But the Syrian Farid Al Atrach sang for the lemon a long time ago in the 60s maybe? Then 2012, Ramy Ayach wanted to do a song of this nature so he asked Mr. Salim Assaf to write up a song about an apple. The apple would be a reference to the woman.

Ramy talks about summer apples that tends to be fresh...and he is using humor maybe to try to drown the critics of this song. I have heard him say, the apple is healthy, and then he says some like it green. all are funny, but not sure how women would think about being likened to a fruit? Is this is proper in this day and age?

I have to admit that I like the song, it's pretty cool and dance inducing, Ramy sounds really excited as he performs the song. He has been talking to the media whom he invited to his home about this song. The team behind the song have used their own voices as chorus. I like the baladi beat and the throwback the song brings.

In other news, Ramy was in Morocco for a wedding where he sang....he says the audience were in upward of 1800 attendees.

 Ramy Tefeha

One More Shitty Egyptian Song Won't Hurt

I do not know who Amgad Omar is, but other than his name, I think he mostly sucks. Neither his voice nor his personality entertain. So why bother and release a music video that feels a lot like torture? While I like pop music, there has to be a threshold singers ought to have. 

Amgad got nothing and his song disappoints. But to be disappointed in hims is not accurate. Because it implies that one had high expectations for the young star, when we really did not. Now the guy is young, good looking and can dance, so I would say modeling/ adverting maybe?

I am not the one to hate--only if you are Tamer Hosny, but this one was just a terrible song all around.

. Amgad Omar - Arrabny Mennak / أمجد عمر - قربني منك

Said El Marouk And Maya Diab To Make Sexy Clips

There's a new pop diva in Lebanon, and her name is Maya Diab. Think of her as the dark horse of Arabic pop who dances, sings and show more skin than most would. She has at least two different TV shows, and now she is hot for concerts where she open for other acts.

The news story reads, she is to released three singles and collaborate with one of the boldest--some can say kinkiest music video directors in Lebanon. Maya has been know for her sexy legs and babe personality. Few years ago she was just a cool chick on TV, now it seems she is building an empire. Well whatever it takes to keep those dollars rolling in.

Just see how she dances and the dudes seem to dig it. I think she should stick to pop and sexy stuff and leave the classics untouched by her.

مايا دياب تتعاون مع الماروق وتطلق ثلاث أغانٍ جديدةٍ

Ramy Ayach Really Likes Apples رامي عياش - تفاحة

Ramy Ayach invited dozens of journalists into his home to talk to them about his latest song...which he has given an odd title....the apple....or Tefa'ha a song which he dubs as a summer song. There have been a song in the past about an orange.....

I do not want to call this song lame, but I feel is will suck....however, the audio at the liver performance might have caused the song to lose some of its apple flavor. Let's look pass the title and enjoy this song for a minute...it's a song in which a girl is referred to as an apple....something really fresh.

Ramy Ayach can get away with such things, all the ladies are crazy about him....checkout the part where he is asking the apple to give him a kiss and the ladies go wild.

On second thought, this is a light dance song timely for the summer, from the boy who knows how to fire up the party. Roa just told me she LOVES the beat, so that settles....I am with whatever Roa says.

Ramy Ayach - Tefa7a / رامي عياش - تفاحة


Live

Ramy Ayach 2012 - Tefa7a / رامي عياش - تفاحة

Elissar Or As The Lebanses Queen of The Dance

The prelude to the music video is so cheesy and so forced, what follows may disappoint some. But when it comes to belly dancers in Lebanon, Elissar is the go to belly dancer of the stars. She does dance in private clubs in some of those artist (shady) parts of town.

Elissar who was born in Lebanon, spent a great deal of her life living in the UK and the USa due to the civil war at home. Elissar's father did not want her to get into dancing, but she did anyway. She dances to Western and Arabic music with the same level of excitement and energy. Elissar is making a bold move at a career many Arab women have little interest in anymore.

I do like the effort of building a theme for the music video where the dancer moving along and the actors appear to be from a distant era. The cheap graphic in the background takes away from the experience, but overall watching the clip I am left with one question: what do they put in Elissar's coffee to get her to move with such energy?


Elissar - The Queen of The Dance

With "Fekra" Aziza Reinvents Arabic Pop

I have found a truly fresh sounding beat for a song everyone seems to hate on YouTube. The beat is a new old one as it seems to come from an old Arab tune inspired by the great Egyptian maser composer Abdel Wahab. Only to have some guys with new fancy computers affects to give it a hip makeover that will draw more listeners. Yes the song takes fusion seriously and bring the beach music with an Eastern twist as she incorporates the drum.

Thus comes to the stage a different kind of star unfit for that other time and perfect for our new age--in the age of Lady Gaga and MIA, Katy Perry, we ought to find something more colorful and bolder with their ideas, outfits and flexible on that thing some call comfort zone. Aziza is a very old school name, it's amazing that someone with that name can be this hip.

I think aside form being cool, Aziza is gifted and she has the vocal strength to do a very good pop song--whatever that means now. She has many things going right for her, the persona is one of them. I think she takes a fresh approach as wardrobe. She does more than one look and each one of them is a world apart from the other--a creative way to launch a career and start the debate

Aziza - Fekra / عزيزه - فكره

فيلم الالماني All Songs From Thug Life "El Almany"

Egyptian cinema is raving about a movie with the title El-Almany which means the German. A movie that chronicles the life of a street thug in Egypt. If you have not noticed, there are many street thugs in Egypt at the moment. And those people all have stories, they steal things, intimidate people, hurt people and sometimes kill them. Chaos brings out the worst in humanity.

To market the movie, the producers have hired a drove of popular folksy singer to sing for the movie. Those songs are in the Sha'abi style. The music of the poor people and the places where the call home. The same places are also the home of many of those thugs.

All commentators are not too happy about thugs, but most are not too pleased with this kind of music either. To be frank, the movie needs to sell and make money. I think this will be establishing the lead actor in the film, Mohammed Ramadan as a box officer sensation.

Enjoy the street festivals, and the music.

شحتة كاريكا حارة عجيبة | من فيلم الالماني " توزيع فيجو "

اغنية سمسم شهاب - تاعب روحى | من فيلم الالمانى

اغنيه بوسي اه يا دنيا - من فيلم الالماني

Stupid Guys Song By A Passionate Lebanese

The guy is asking his girl to be proud as she walks in the streets. Why does he wants her to do that? He wants her to tell the folks she is with him and thus she must be proud. If this is not obnoxious, I do not know what is. Walk tall, hold my hand and do not be bothered by your family or anybody, we are together.

Sijal is his name...Sijal in Arabic means a fight. Maybe that's why he is feeling testy in his single. I do like the part where he tells her not to sweat the small stuff. So he is asking her to ignore her family--the ones who raise her and only pay attention to him and what he wants her to do.

I do like the beat, and I think Sijal Hachem has what it takes vocally to do weddings and concerts in Lebanon, he can get people excited and ready to party. I think the lyrics might be well recived by some, I might have been living away from home so some time.

 سجال هاشم- ارفعي راسك / Sijal Hachem- Rfa3i Rasik 2012

I Just Danced To This Song...For My Wife

Essam Karika knows how to put out a party song, he has given the world of Arabic pop a while library of happy and dance inducing hits. He just did last year when he composed this song to Algerian singer Fella who is trying to reach out to Egypt.

The song pays a tribute to all things Egypt and all things tourists like about this massive country.  It was a hit, but it could have been bigger had it been allowed to air to the public in Egypt and not just remain online.

Anyhow, on a slow night, I got this jam stuck in my head, so I opened up the laptop hooked up the speakers and told my wife to watch....I danced for the duration of the song and it felt good. My wife did not complain.

It's a pop song that gets your hear racing.
Fella - Wahshany Ya Masr / فلة - وحشاني يا مصر

Saad Soghayar: The Jackass Meets The Talentless

Ammar or Qamar, is a Lebanese B list singer who does not have a good name in the business--she tried to accuse a rich guy of fathering her out of wedlock baby. He is not even a man, he does not move like one for sure and he sleeps with anything that walks or so is his reputation.

Here's what passes for a duet nowadays, a singer and another one she danced and sings and so does he. The song does not matter, because it really sucks. She is there to look good and show some skin, he got nothing that resembles decency. This is like a PG-13 rated strip club scene.

This clip comes to promote a movie that so far has failed to make anything back to its investors. A movie that  have not seen and do not plan to. So far they have featured at least 4 songs from the movie. They even use a little girl to carry an adult language--a sleazy kind.

كليب سعد الصغير و قمر - قمر 14