Local Rima Banna Is The Palestinian Global Star

There's a formula that works for some great names, any name really in any culture. If they mange to find a magical way to celebrate the local folksy scene and take into new territories, they will garner fame all across the world. Bob Dylan did it in the United States, Fayrouz accomplished it in Lebanon, Mohammed Mounir did it in Egypt. In Palestine Rim Banna did just that.

She sang for he grandmother, for her farm and for her little village. And her hard work and creative ways brought her fame and a global fellowship. People seek which is different than their own, that's why Rim was able to it. She has a warm yet easy to manipulate voice, and her performances on stages all over the world are sold out to both Arabic speaking and non. She is a collector of old Palestinians texts, and stories , then she curates them into upbeat songs.

She is a savvy performer who knows how to work out an audience. The tales she sings about are timeless and for many they generate a fuzzy feeling, that's why she has been around for more than decade now. The daughter of the Palestinian city of Nazareth whose Ukrainian composer and guitar player husband whom she met in Russia while she attended the music conservatory constantly makes waves in the music scene.     

 ستي العرجه - ريم بنا the grandma with limp - Rim Banna

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

Laila Nazmi, The Ditsy Egyptian Songstress

Laila Nazmi is a little known Egyptian singer who did a number of light and catchy songs in the the late 60s and 70s. She did the cute songs played the ditsy personality so well. Her songs were humorous and supposed to be a fun dance songs. One more thing not to forget about her, she is from the great city of Alexandria. She did go to music school and graduated in 1968, so she got her education, but her music appealed to those who less education.

I am sure during her time, critics have spoke ill of her (how dare she?) But time has shown them wrong, she is a legend now and her music has been remade by just about every girl who wants to be that ditsy girl who just wants to have fun. Laila's songs are now part of the Egyptian folklore

Laila did small town songs about the girl who falls for the guy next door and tries to win him over by winning over his mother. Her second most famous song is about her not liking tea as she likes a pop instead. I know it sounds lame, but we all grew listening to those songs, and they seem to be favorites at weddings. Laila has starred in  number of movies

 ليلى نظمي أمّا نعيمة


ليلى نظمي - ماشربش الشاي

Bosy Ah Ya Donia 2012 Album البوم بوسي - اه يادنيا Street Music In Cairo

Bosy wants to be an "it" girl, street festivals and local music are common in Egypt and they have gone mainstream, they tended to be the business of males until Bosy broke the mold and started jamming with the boys, she hit it big and eventually left those circles and got her debut mini album with four track

01.Ah Ya Donia, the hit song of the album, was featured in a popular thug life movie "Al-Almany", made it big in Egypt in the anti-intellectual circles.
02.Saytra, a song stoners will relate too, a lot of shouting and local poor areas beat. Not going to be on TV, but those songs all sound the same--if it was not for the lyrics.
03.Get Ala El Garh, a sad song about life and not having a good luck in it. Poor people like cab drivers, street vendors and under-employed will find something in this song.
04.La w La, a happier song that you can play at your next wedding, a spunky song form a lady who is overjoyed by the wedding they have, telling the other folks, that they are not cool as she is.

I do think the cover art is pretty clever, what it does not do is connect the singer with her art form. She looks like a pop star in LA! Not a street artist who has to deal with a lot of shitty things.

 اغنيه بوسي اه يا دنيا - من فيلم الالماني

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

LISTEN: Black Theama - Dakhalna Hemak | بلاك تيما - دخلنا حماك

The colorful folksy Egyptian band Black Theama wants to share the Ramadan celebration with the rest of the  Muslim world, by releasing a track exclusive for this month. They are even asking you to download it free of charge--find the link in the video description box (and always do not do anything illegal)

This is a sweet track from the guys who know how to pour their emotions and keep it in check when needed. This is simple song that celebrates the month and the creator. They also take a tour to those famous Islamic sites this month. They plea with the man upstairs to accept their worship.

I like the beat, it sounds very Black Theama, a watered down musical version of course. This is the standard of those religious songs, that cannot be loud. This track is inspired by the Sufi folklore. Thus the songs comes froma long standing tradition of using sober music as an instrument of worship. 

Black Theama - Dakhalna Hemak | بلاك تيما - دخلنا حماك

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

My Dad Used To Jam To Syrian Fahad Blan

When it comes to Arabic Tarab, Syria does not kid around! Syria is the place where legends of this style of music has been made for centuries. Look no further than on of those underrated Syrian legends Fahad Blan. One of Fahad's most famous hits was a song where he is explaining his condition to his loved one.

Fahd passed away in 1997 not before he has made a huge name from hims and his family that comes from a little Syrian town where they used to do menial jobs. Fahad started his career doing odd jobs one of which a bus operator assistant. The bus used to travel to Damascus a lot where he would take part of a competition doing a cover of Syrian icon Farid Al Atrach.... needless to say he made a good impression.

The atis would join the Syrian radio and sing there, then he has his won songs and the rest is history. Fahad had many marriages including Lebanese diva Sabah. Fahabd used to open and present other legends of his time. He was considered one of the top ten artists in the Arab world in his time.


فهد بلان - واشرح لها

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

Something Very Unsexy About Gulf Jalsat Music

Jalasat (جلسات وناسة) is a unique form of entertainment in the Gulf. It's a band of brothers sitting in the floor with their instruments and vocalist. They tend of be mi aged men, and it can be called a jamming session where the image does not mater as much as the voice does. One question though:

Why is there are only men in the room? The only females who perform are the vocalist and women tend to watch these things on TV as they either choose not to be present or they might not be able to join in. Jalasat are often hosted in the house of some rich person who hires big names to come jam with his boys.

This time, they have hired Marwa from Tunisia to jam with them. She is even sitting apart from them. I guess who doesn't like a pretty face? My thing is this, those men are probably the same ones who call for strict Islamic law as they preach virtue. I do not think sausages fests have made anything better.

Again, Jalasat is a proud tradition from the people in the Gulf, it does preserves the legacy of their ancestor. The art form took an interesting form when it choose to air on TV, TV required remaking it by putting sexy back in music. Morcan singer Mona Amarcha, Lebanese singers Yara and Diana Haddad are only few of the ladies that broke into this art form.
 
الفنانه مروى التونسيه - فرقة التلفزيون - برنامج القايله

The Borke Ass Arab Song By Samy Shamsy

To be poor is not something bad, to be broke might be. However, we all love a someone who is doing a song about being broke. I especially love Samy Shamsy because his song goes against all things pop. While most pop singers boast about the cool life and the clubs, he is doing the anti-pop song song. A song about his miserable finances.

He calls is chronicle poverty. Kicking off song with a solid mawal performance. Then he asks God for relief. This is a new single that will make it big with high school kids. I love the story where the girl he loves is going to get married to her cousin, since he has no money. Then he delivered the funny line, "had I had money, I would have even been able to marry her mom"

 سامي شمسي - الفقر / Samy Shamsy- Al Fokr 2012

Shafica, Egypt's Poor Man Diva الفنانه شفيقه

When you get millions of YouTube hits you are no longer anonymous. This is my answer to critics of Shafica, the Egyptian diva that appeals to the forgotten people around Egypt. She is one of the leading lady of folklore sh'abi style music. That entails singing in broken Arabic and telling sad tales about love and betrayal.

Shafica has released three albums throughout her career, they are all below with covers and track lists. I have also included two videos from popular songs of hers. She is the daughter of the sea city of Alexandria where people have their own style of pretty much every and anything. There is also that Greek Egyptian fusion that you see all around this historic city.

 01.Garrabt El Hob Marra 02.El Mashrabeyya 03.Kan Zaman 04.Ma'oula Di 05.Gably El E'nab 06.Daq El  Hawa


 

01.Mouch Rah Ansa 02.Wehyat El Qalb 03.Ya Metdalaa' 04.Ma'oula Di 05.Gably El E'nab 06.Daq El Hawa


 

01.Ghaltet Meen 02.Hatedfa' El Taman 03.Ahl El Hawa 04.A'lemouni Einek 05.Salemly A'al Habayeb 06.Lessa El Zamman Zammani

غلطة مين؟ من أروع أغانى الفنانه شفيقه

شفيقه متشوقه

Menaem Sings For The Egyptian Quarter

One Egyptian pound is not a lot of money, and they often fly from my hand when I visit that country. But for one singer, and one resident in that country's pockets a quarter of one Egyptian pound can make all the difference. It's an OK tipping amount! But one guy is fed up of it as he travels the streets and plays music.

Apparently it's no longer enough. So Menaem wrote a song about it where he dances in the streets dressed like a million dollar. His like, Can somebody tells me why did they put a hole in the quarter? Funny really, and the beat is a 100 percent Egyptian. It's the song to which the dudes dance and be all cool and manly.

The Egyptian quarter used to be paper money, now no more. If you want a random song that reminds you of all the bizarre Egyptian humor, play this one.

Roba Gneih - Menaem ربع جنيه - منعم

Vintage Videos: Najwa Karam Folklore 1986

People who know what Mawal is, tend to enjoy life. It's essentially a showcase of a singer's vocals where she makes everything longer and louder without major help form music as he or she lead the song. Men and women have performed songs of this nature. The prelude for a song is often Mawal that introduces the song.

Lebanese have mastered this art and so have the Syrians. It's the one element that can show who is a real singer and who is a faker. Najwa Karam, the voice of the mount of Lebanon has perfected this art, we all know this now, but see back in 198 Najawa was nobody outside of Lebanon, she only made is big in the early 90s.

Look at this video and see that little has changed, she had the same stage mannerism now, and the same style, but she has that funny 80s look and hair. This was taken for a live performance at home with a packed hall, keep in mind, Lebanon was still dealing with the civil war.

najwa karam folklore 1986

The Local Singer Meets Local Girl "حسام جنيد"

Hussam Jineed chose the Syrian beat and Bedouin lyrics to launch his career, I must say those were too good choices. The Syrian singer knows how to party how not and he is the night of the party in those Syrian villages and towns. Most young dudes in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan adore this style of music. It's very youthful and dancey. The lyrics are catchy and the Hussam's voice is energizing.

The music videos for those songs tend to be made by someone who is anew comer to the director chair. So, you never know what one gets. But for a local singer to film a music video it means he has gone mainstream which entails a larger paycheck at the local parties and weddings. I find myself enjoying such songs because I feel they are part of the folklore songs, it connects us with the past. It might offer a modern twist on folklore songs, but I know this the lyrics and at least one musical instrument tend to be from that era.    
 حسام جنيد دق الماني

Music of The Poor And Misfortunate In Egypt

The poor of any given nation have their own from of arts, music takes a different purpose, making them feel good about themselves and the terrible circumstances they are living under. Local singers do not have to bring any new music, they use demos and other tunes. What they offer is rich lyrics that condemn the injustice and all the wrongs in their life.

One of those voices who is cashing in on this genera--not a new one by any mean, is Abd El Hady El Agooz whose album had many victimization songs. Check out the track below, called the message. About a guy who seeks commiseration with anybody he sees. Patience gets sick of them because such people are too patient. Such language makes people feel like heroes.

I like the topic raised by the song, where the strong robs the weak, and where the orphans do not have anyone stepping up to take care of them. Again this is a very long track more than 8 minutes, it's about broken dreams and hope. I have to confess that Abd El Hady El Agooz's voice is pretty good. I have heard so many terrible voices before, but El Agooz delivers a solid track. It might be helped by the high quality production of the album and the chorus. El Agooz is a local celebrity as he appears in many street festivals, block parties and weddings where the pay is adequate.  

Abd El Hady El Agooz - Ressalah / عبد الهادي العجوز - رسالة

Mahmoud El Gohary, The First Hit Is Much Easier

Love songs are a dime a dozen, good love songs tend to stick around, the rest at are throwaway songs. One of the downsides of new technologies is that anyone with a camera and a computer can make a music video and post it online. Sometimes this is great, and sometimes it's a disaster.

Take Mahmoud El Gohary, a young Egyptian dude who likes gel to much. He hires some girl to moonlight as a model while he sings. But what he really needs to do is get a shave and stop acting such as a weirdo. He is a local singer that might be popular with the kids on his block who dub him as an artist. But it takes more than some weird gestures and a nice pair of jeans

El Gohoary made is big few years ago with his hit song "El Donia Zay El Morjeeha", life is like a swing--up and down. But as of this moment it seems so much harder to get a second hit.
 Mahmoud El Gohary - Ze'elTo Leih / محمود الجوهري - زعلتوا لية

Mounir, The Egyptian Hit-Maker And Superstar

Mohammed Mounir is a legend, there's nothing that will change that. When did I really love this guy? I mean he has always been around since I landed on plenty earth. But then, he has many hit songs that speak volumes of his musical taste and choices. But in all honest, the one song that reminded me of Mounir's super powers was this song below.

My heart is a housing project. A modern day tale of a person who lives in one of those low income housing, and goes to one of those popular schools yet he still can love everything around him. The song came in 2001 from his album with the same title. The song sort of introduced him to the internet age, 2001 was when many started log into the internet, msn messenger and file sharing websites boomed.

The music here is pretty fresh for an Arabic songs, the lyrics are as creative and as real as they come. They tell a story about people who rarely get to speak up. Keep that in mind as you enjoy his 2012 album which is a very nice one indeed. Simply put Mounir doe snot make any bad songs, we just have to mature enough to like some of them. Having said that, we all like different things, but a hit is a hit my friend.


 4 - قلبي مساكن شعبيه - مساكن شعبيه - محمد منير

محمد منير(قلبي مساكن شعبية)حفلة القوات المسلحة

The Only Sabah Fakhri, The Legend From Syria

Sabah Fakhri's music is where you separate the boys from the men and girls from the women. That means you are not born liking the kind of music he sings, you acquire the taste for it. This heavy eastern melodies that blends the best of Spain, Damascus and Iraq music. His kind of music that older people have the taste for. He is for sure the radio voice.

Syrian legend Sabah Fakhri is an icon of heavy tarab music where you sit in one place for hours just listening, and taking in all those lyrics he spits out. The son of Aleppo who has enjoyed 50 years of fame and popularity. Simply put, there are no other singers who can match his vocal strength and the level of harmony of music.

You listen to Sabah if you want authentic unadulterated Arabic music. He has toured the world and the world has loved him back. He has been credited for singing the longest concert ever on the record. Sabah did something no other Arab star has done--he kept away from Cairo. His fame is all based on his work from Home. One of his earliest performances was in 1948 at the Presidential Palace in Damascus. Think about the fat lady at the opera....he is our fat lady and then some.

Sabah has been given every award on the books, his music often credits God, Wine, and other supernatural acts. He does not talk to the press, nor does he try to promote himself, his work is his best agent.  He sings for beauty as he seems to be on quest. Enjoy the best songs of his as suggest by one YouTube user.

أجمل ما غنى الفنان صباح فخري

On Iraq and Immigrants By Hatem El Iraqi

Sweet yet dramatic are the two words that describe Iraqi music best. One of the fixtures of Iraqi music, the young generation at least is Hatem El Iraqi. Hatem is a big name in Iraqi entertainment. This Iraqi entertainer and composer grew up listening to Iraqi folklore songs with his mom's milk.

Hatem remains one of the most loyal voices to the Iraqi tradition of blues. The sorrow is hard to express, most people would choke up if they were to utter the words that make Iraqi blues the best there is to have.

Nostalgia keeps people going even in the darkest hour, people do not forget the good times easily even if those good times have ended in heartache. Hatem knows best how to capture those emotions and reflect them in his music.

Luckily for us, unlike its Lebanese counterpart, the Iraqi music is not based on image and style...it's based on two things...the strong voice and the ballads one can tell. Most Iraqi singers are decent looking, but few of them can be described as handsome.

اشوفك وين يا مهاجر-حاتم العراقي