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

The London Olympics And Those Funny Egyptians

Egypt has won itself a silver medal so far, and their soccer team is qualifying for the next round. But it's also the holy month of Ramadan, and there are too many shows on TV. Thus very few people are actually watching the events. Which means the Egyptians in the Olympics have few fans at home.

I must admit I heart Egypt's soccer team, they really make me and the rest of the Arab world and Africa happy.

Qabila TV came up with a cool idea to out the attention back at the Olympics, they took on a busy Egyptian Square of Roxy and re-enacted some of the key sports played in the tournament. While the majority of onlookers seemed confused, this was a fun idea that has some funny moments.

While the Egyptians might not be on the lead, when it comes to creativity, and humor they will always lead.

@QabilaTv l اولمبياد لندن في ميدان روكسي

The Sheikh Who Listens To Metal Also Wants To Ban Elissa, Haifa, and Nancy

One religious Sheikh took to Twitter to attack some ladies who like to sing and made a career out of entertainment. Meet Fadel Suliman, a preacher who spreads the message of Islam took an interesting turn when he attacked three lead pop stars. (The story can be read here in Arabic)

Mr. Fadel admitted to liking Hard Metal in his youth he would go to concerts to enjoy this kind of heavy metal rock. However Heavy Metal Rock has a crappy name in Arabia as many marry it to devil worshiping. So the sheikh defended heavy metal and argued that going to concert for Elissa, Hiafa, and Nancy Ajram is closer thing to worshiping Satan.

The religious figure disagrees with people who want to ban Heavy Metal like the calls in Egypt now as some calls have been made to cancel concerts at the El Sawy Culture Wheel (more here). He defends his favorite kind of music yet attacks people for going to female concerts. Fadel belongs to the Muslim brotherhood and has made similar calls in the past about certain female singers. He has even doubled down and attacked other Lebanese songstress like Marwa and Nicole Saba.

Fafel Suliman is a Muslim preacher who comes to the United States and talks about Islam, he has authored a number of books on his religion of choice.

Why is making this case now and why is he only picking on entertainers form Lebanon are my questions.

إسلاموفوبيا - الإسلام انتشر بالسيف (بدون موسيقى)

If You Go To Bars, You Need To Watch Mixologist - Music Video

At first there was a bartender, but as affluent young people have always looked for the next big thing, some new profession emerged....mixologists. Those are glorified bartenders with attitude. They are often found in posh bars serving overpriced alcohol to richer people or people who tend to be on the pretentious side.

Mixologists of the world do strange dances with one's drinks and shake things up as they are part of some fancy show. I think it's stupid, but it's a reality most have come to embrace. Not one rapper who wanted to channel his frustration with those fancy clowns.
 
The rappers in this video have a great sense of humor, I only hope that guy who mixes drinks--not just serve them has the same virtue. The rap song does feature some stunning moments in the bar, fire and ice drinks and a lot of flavor.

Mixologist - Music Video

بابا فين Where Is Dad? The Hit Song With Arab Kids

Some goofy looking guy wears glasses and calls a number, then a group of kids answer the phone, and give him a trip. Kid stories about their world. The guy feels tired as he keeps trying to get though the the kids father.

It was a cute song and everyone was surprised by this kiddie song that was highly entertaining. The kids do a good job driving this man mad by being cute and kiddish. The song came in the early 2000, and it inspired a number of copy cats since then...Haifa Wahbe made a sequel to it few years ago--it was a good song too.

The song came from an album with a kid group called Free Baby,  it came few songs, none of them was as popular as your';s your father hit!

بابا فين

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 

حلا الترك - زهقانة | Little Rascal Hala AL Turk - Zahgana

Kids cannot get into clubs, but who to say they cannot sing to club music? Ask Hala Al Turk who might be the cutest Arab kid in the entertainment business. She has lots of fans all over the Arab world, but she is also growing fast too.

She brought another boy for the music video of hers, where they are both bored, they want to go around the world eating popcorn and drinking juice. She leaves home and travels around the world with her brother. She travles in style too.

She also sends her parents post card and gifts from the places they visited. For me, this song is a mixed bag but that does not stop it from being entertaining.

حلا الترك - زهقانة | Hala AL Turk - Zahgana

Basic "T'abla" Or Arabic Drum With Josef Attieh

It's a 6000 years old musical instrument, and it happens to be very popular around the globe, we know it as the drum in Arabic, it's T'abla "الطبلة" It's the one instruments that most Arab know how to play, even older ladies. It's all about having a beat and knowing how to count.

I know at my older brother's wedding, some old lady did a fine jump making this T'abla dance. The one she used was made out of clay and a fine piece of leather. Now, you can but them made out of metal. Most religious folks are OK with this instruments and fine with using it.

One fresh dude of Lebanese pop and romance just found himself in the zone and instead of singing like he has always done, he played the drum where did a very fine job. Darbuka is the most popular melody made out on T'abla. Josef Attieh got into it and give us a very fine Darbuka.

Good many more kids now will be inspired to pick this very basic instrument to make music, I know the drum circle that meats every Sunday on the 16th St park in DC will be jealous.

 جوزيف عطية يعزف على الطبلة - حصرياً

Talal Kontar - Doubles Down In "Yally Ma'y Sayer"

Talal Kontar is lyrical poet, music composer who is kind of a big deal in Lebanese pop. Dozens of A list singers (Fadel Shaker, Fares Karam, Raghib Alamah, UTN1,) take songs from him and he is happy to work with the best of them. But Talal is now doing a lot more singing and as we can see, we have yet another music video of his and he looks and sounds very fine.

Talal mixes really good music, and he seems to have a great influence form many Western school of music where he draws inspiration. So when he sings, you are not sure if he is being serious or if he is joking. The music video is in a bar/lounge.

I like the song story line, where a gorgeous girl approaches him and asks him about a girl--his sister and then he asks his sister for help. I like the ending where is feels European to me.

Talal Kontar - Yally Ma'y Sayer / طلال قنطار - ياللي معي صاير

See "Super Nancy" Come For Your Arab Kids

Lebanese director Leila Kanaan has shared with the web a sneak peak of the new Nancy Ajram look for her all kids album. The title will be Super Nancy, and that will be a character played by Nancy thought out the album and its promotional material.

It's a sad day when Arab parents let other people teach their kids good lessons. Nancy Ajram is a good mother and a great positive role model for all kids out there, but that does not mean she should replace parenting. I do not think that's her plan, but this is what most Arab parents do when they let outsiders preach to their kids for money.

Aside dorm that, this will be a fun album for all the kids out there. We have already heard a teaser for the upcoming album.

Nancy Ajram - "Super Nancy" Album All Songs (Samples)

Tamer Hosny Has A Million Twitter Followers And Other Lies

Tamer Hosny does not tweet often, and he has an unverified twitter account--unlike most celebrities who verify their twitter account to protect.

Yesterday, brother Hosny has announced he now has a million follower on Twitter! But it does not seem those are real people. No other Arab celebrity have reached the million fan rank--I think Haifa Wahbe has the most followers  and she really engaged people.

Here's the Intel on this twitter bullshit. New Egypt Consulting, a firm that does social mega bookmarking and  SEO has announced that Tamer has purchased those followers with money. In the blog post the company states if you look at the followers, they are based in the States, and only a month ago,

1. June 3rd, 2012, Tamer Twitter page has 78 thousand followers
2. July 1st, 2012, Tamer Twitter page has 240 thousand followers
3. And by July 15th, 2012, Tamer has reached the million follower mark--that's 300 percent increase?

In June has had only 18 tweets, and up to July 15th he had only 8 tweets. Plus has has not been in the news and as far as we know he did no go to Tahrir Square to cry again. 

If Tamer wanted to maintain that number, he has to pay up some serious cash, as those are rented followers. And one more thing none of these followers is going to be re-tweeting or replying to anything Tamer Hosny says, that's if he had anything to say. 

This is not the first time, Tamer Hosny has been accused of paying for love, it's a long established rumor now that most people who faint at his concerts are for hire. 

Sometimes you really cannot buy love,

Soltan Zamany - Khaled El Taib سلطان زمانى - خالد الطيب

Funky songs are back with Khaled El Taib new single. I ADORE the music for the clip, but I am not too crazy about the music video filmed in some mall in Jordan and parking lot. I look the trendy singer whose funk look and movements make him the one to keep an eye on.

I do like the flow and the beat, and the simplistic lyrics. It's hard to fake cool, so I think Khalid has made it look easy. I also like the title of his song....the Sultan of my time! I like happy, funky songs when they are well made, and I think we have one here.

Soltan Zamany - Khaled El Taib سلطان زمانى - خالد الطيب

A Plastic Nation Called Lebanon عمليات التجميل في لبنان

I have never been to Lebanon, but everyone who comes back from there tells many jokes about how this nation is observed with all things plastic surgeries. Just like Texas and California everyone makes a big deal about their bigger, younger and youthful looks.

There's no shame in that, the same kicks in when it becomes a phobia! That's when even good looking people think they are not good enough. This is not just a thing for women now, guys also wants to keep up to they go under the knife too. Show biz is a bitch and people want to stay in it for as long as it takes. As younger people break into the business, other older stars freak out and run to the nearest plastic surgeon. But it turns out even politicians seek help tucking their bellies.

I love this video where they talk about Haifa Wahbe's nose and Elissa's lips are popular. WE all know dozens of celebrities who went for plastic surgeries. I think it's something if you need it, then go for it, but it you have a choice, you better think again. It makes sense why many world known surgeons call Lebanon home--phobia pays.

عمليات التجميل في لبنان: عندما يصبح الجمال فوبيا

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

البوم ابو الليف "سوبر ليفه " - خليك فى النور يا امور "Super Leefa" From The Guy Who Needs A Shower

When Ayman Bahjat Qamar--a household name in Egyptian music wants to take a break form writing the same old songs---I love you, and your eyes have magic, he takes the time to write the lyrics for this album. Ayman loves funky and wacky Egyptian comedic singer known as Abo Leefa or Nadir Abu El Nour. He made a big success of him in their 2012 collaboration and they are back at it again for a sequel.

This time they have more money, more support and most of all bigger market. The music market in Egypt is hungry for this album as everything seems so serious and so gloomy. Humor is in order and Abu Leefa knows how to humor us while he delivers one line after another. Making many of his songs superstitious about bad spirits and people while jinx everything.

The "Super Leefa" features better music and higher production value, a variety of musical styles form the old Oriental beat to the hip hop style. Abu El Leef did mange to be super secretive about his album, and when it was announced it was a treat no one saw coming. Aside form the humor, there are songs that offer wisdom about this life and people in it. I like his title song where he sounds like a 1930 singer tackling a current day issue--secret marriages.

Before he was singer Abu El Leef was broke and did a number of odd jobs so you know he has a lot ob bitter stories to tell about his family who did not come to his help, but when he made it big, they all lined up--think of those rapper who rap about such matters. He has another song about those who attack the arts and he is taking them to task.

01 - A3ozo Bellah
02 - Bent El-Nass
03 - Hatofrag 3alena
04 - Ta2 To2et El-Fan
05 - Ba2ena Be Zambalek
06 - El-Tawoos
07 - Taxi 2
08 - TaTa TaTa
09 - Nena How
10 - Gedo
11 - Khaleek Fe El-Nour
12 - El-Tawoos (Remix)

 أبو الليف Feat هشام عباس - هتفرج علينا

Weird Al Of Arabia Back With Super Leefa خليك في النور يا أمور - البوم أبو الليف

Canadian singer Weird Al has been entertaining the masses with humor and pop songs, he does it by writting simple songs that lampoons other popular songs with a humorous twist. Just look the pictures of the singer above and you cannot not see the weirdness and contradictions in it.

Egypt has met its own version of Weird Al in 2009, with a guy so weird that most had no idea how to classify him. At first he worked under the name Abu Leefa, but then he changes his name to Abu El Rish, and nobody seems to know what to call him anymore. He has become a household name and has appeared in a number of talk shows.

Here's what we can know about him

He is Egyptian singer-songwriter, music producer, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist.Abe El leef is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. But he also does original songs about how fake people can be and how messy families are. When he is not mocking other songs, he can really make song heartfelt songs. 


Abu El Leef will be releasing his new album later this week, and we only have a teaser that's only few seconds long. The music sounds like a rap song--something like those of 50 center and Lil Wayne. This is an album that will give us laughter and little wisdom at the same time. The same team that was behind the hit album of 2009 are back for the 2012 dose.

There is a duet with Egyptian pop throwback Hisham Abbas
 خليك في النور يا أمور - البوم أبو الليف الجديد كاملة

اغنية ابو الليف وهشام عباس - هتفرج علينا | 2012

Motorcycles And Men With Small Private Parts

Men obsessed about things that cover for their mistakes and shortcoming. In Lebanon the fever of bikes and models have gained traction as a local dealer tries to get the locals excited about the bikes, so what's a better idea than hiring models with top line fashions riding on the back of a bike with a leather sporting dude

The dealers of Harley Davidson hired fashion designer Ronald Abdallah to put on a good show and bring horny men to buy some bikes. Needless to say, this event caters to men with some cash and those who think bikes can make them stand out.

The dealers opened the show with a 2.5 million dollar cash investment.

نعومة الأزياء تلتقي مع درَّاجات الهارلي ديفدسون

Fares Karam Says "Don't Lie To Your Wife"

Few Arabs can fire up a party like Lebanese singer Fares Karam can. His uniquely Lebanese style combined with Debka beat and a very loud voice brings on the good times. Fares does not do deep songs and heavy topics. He focuses on simplified lyrics that speaks to the man on the streets.

He races in his songs, he always seems to rushing to the next line, so you are prompting to keep up with him as you move to the dance floor. His news single is about a man who cheats on his wife, and not giving her time. He won't listen to her, and he comes back with perfume all over his clothes.

I cannot relate to such stories I was not raised up on those new age values where man can have attractive ladies as their friends. Maybe such values are a produce of the metropolitan communities. It's a real song, plays like a soap opera we have seen countless times.

do not cheat on your spouse or Fares Karam might have to come to your place and beat the hell out of you.

Fares Karam - Elli Byekzob 3a Marto / فارس كرم - اللي بيكذب عَ مرتو

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

This Song Lampoon The Brotherhood In Egypt

The song was supposed to market a movie, but someone thought the lyrics go well to explain to the common man the issue many have with the brotherhood or the Ikhwan. I am not one of those who fear them, I do not particularly care for them either.

I do think that they should do a better job explaining themselves and the things they can do for the country. Instead, they get caught in side fights about religious outfits and women matters. Anyhow, I think the song is funny and I think it speaks about all things Egyptian at the moment.

Love it or hate it, it's all about humor. People who have a sense of humor are the ones that matter, those who do not lugh, do not tend to live long. Hisham Abbas might not like that his video is bring used for this end, but something tells me, he would not be rooting for the brotherhood.

حقيقة الاخوان في اغنية هشام عباس متتهورش Hisham Abbas Matethawarsh