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

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

The Egyptian Opera Warda Tribute With Khaled Selim

In a wonderful tribute night for the late Algerian diva Warda, the Algerian embassy and Egyptian singers planned this night to walk us through memory lane as the late singer's music came to life with the voices of a host of Arab singers who have nothing but love and respect for this diva.

One of the stars of the evening was Egyptian singer Khaled Selim who has actually appeared with Warda on a TV show few years back when they acted. Khaled spoke for a minute about what Warda means for him and then chose one of her songs to cover.

Khaled has one of the most flexible and capable voices in Egypt nowadays. He transitions from pop to classics in a heartbeat and pull a stunning act each time. This why he is one of the youngest singers to frequent the Egyptian opera--they know he won't disappoint.

Khaled Selm Layalina/ خالد سليم ليالينا

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

Best Of Walid Tawfik البوم افضل ما غنا وليد توفيق

 Turn back the clock to the 80s, 90s and the early 00s and you will find a legend for those times. Lebanese singer and composer Walid Tawfik is that legend. Few can hardly remember why they liked him, but most know him and know that he is a has been. This is not accurate entirely. Walid made Lebanese songs popular in both Egypt and the Gulf--Egypt has always been is a tough market to break into.

I like Walid Tawfik, he was the cool kid who acted in movies but also made good music that we all remember well. It's enough for him to be the guy who has the classic birthday song with his voice. But he has also other hits, and he has let us know by remixing them and doing covers of his own songs with a new twist. But Walid also was one of the first Lebanese singers to sing in three Arabic Dialects--Lebanese, Egyptian and Gulf.    

In fairness, the album doe snot have all of his hits, just the hits Rotana has produced for him. Which means you got none of the old good stuff like "Tiggy Ni'esim Al Amar", "Ya Leel"...etc. I would say the album has at least three decent songs by Walid, but none of the good stuff that you and your mom have come to love.

So, we do not forget, here's an album that has his best hits to date. Buy the album where you can. One thing to remember....Walid was the guy who made old school musit a bit hip and a bit faster. He does have Tarab talent, but his pop also lives on in our collective memory.

 01.Badry
02.Mehtajak Habibi
03.El Qessa Kelha
04.A'an El Raheel
05.Akbar Garh
06.Lamm El Shaml
07.Es-har
08.A'beer Al Ward
09.El Hal El Waheed
10.Ehtemal

 اجمل اغاني وليد توفيق The Best Of Walid Tawfik

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

Remember Helmy Abdelbaky? You Weren't On Facebook Then!

We have a guy from the 90s who is coming back to entertain us at those difficult times. He did have about three great songs about heartbreaks and breakups. He does have that really heart broken voice which allowed him to do what some might call lame songs.

Say what you say, you have a new dose for Helmy Abdelbaky, the tall guy who seems to always find the wrong girl to love. In his music video he does the same story about a hundred other Arabic music video have already done. He is a photographer whose work builds up a star and then when she makes it, she leaves him to his sorrow in a dark room.

And then things change and she wants him back....he walks away....what a gentleman. But wait, there's a twist, he did give his eyes to save her eyesight. She needed to see after the surgery...and he gave his eyes. But then she loves another guy...until she sees him and learns the tale. I do like the end that might be cheesy, but it's original.

Helmy Abdelbaky - Asa'ab Tariq / حلمي عبدالباقي - أصعب طريق

How Did Arabic Music Sounded Like In The 1920s?

Um Kalthoum recorded many songs in the 20s and early 30s. She was not a big name back then, but she was wrothy of being recorded. Frankly, we do not have many recordings Arabic music in that era. But from what we have, we can tell that the music was a little bit different.

The music wasn't the show, it was playing back up to the singers voice, it sounds shy and at times boring. There was no big name composers in that era. The music they had all sounds too similar because they used molds, these molds were the orthodox approach, you could not do something that would stray from that school of music.
 
The one guy who changed all that was Egyptian composer Mohammed Qasabji, he had it in him to try different notes and even borrow from Classical European music at the time. Listen to this song where Qasabji putt he music. He was doing the music of the 20s , then. Later in his career he would try doing something different. Other early one composers was El Sheikh Abu El Ola, he composed many songs for Um Kalthoum early on her career.
  
ام كلثوم ... سكت والدمع تكلم


أم كلثوم - قل للبخيلة - 1928

Moustafa Amar Best Pop Song Ever Is "سكة العاشقين "

Or the Path of Lovers. It might be the most special and most personal song of this Egyptian singer's entire career. To begin understanding this song, Moustafa started his career as a composer, he was that hip kid everyone wanted to work with him. Then naturally, he started to sing and he made a lot of good choices in light pop songs that lived on and told us about this young, charming and good looking Alexandria boy.

Early on his career, he has found a song that will cement his career. It was a pop song unlike any other. For starter, it's close to 8 minutes long, so it's a story, not just two notes and chorus. The length of the music video allows us to watch back story for the music video about people falling in love.

I was listening to this song this morning, and I noted how the mood changes and so does the energy and the musical notes. This is a feature of American songs more so than Arabic pop ones. It plays like a guy talking to himself or thinking out loud about something and with that comes ups and downs. The story of a romance that can go bitter, but then things get sorted out. You will laugh, you will dance and you might tear up while this song plays.

Look at Moustafa and his youth, he had it back then and this song was every man's song...all the cool kids were singing it.

سكة العاشقين

Sherihan شريهان The One And The Only!

Last year, big news were made out of entertainer Sherihan's visit to Tahrir, she camped out with the protesters and stood against the regime. This was big news because Sherihan now shuns the news and keeps to her private life.  Here's something about this true legend.

Sherihan is a natural born actor and dancer, she was the queen of the show business. She has appeared in scores of movies, but her fame was built on one thing....her her starring and fascinating role in the Fawazeer. This show is like a quick show with dances and glamour. She did that, she introduced the Arab world to this show. Her energy on camera brings life and smiles to far too many people

As a young girl she was a ballet dancer. She also did theater at a young age and made name for herself. She came to fame in the height of the disco era Her first movie role was in 1978 and her last film was in 2001, she quit the business due her illness and recover. Sherihan has been linked to Ala'a Mubarak, the song of former president Mubarak. Reumors spoke that he damaged her career once she refused to be with him.

Two decades later and no other female star has manged to take on the roles Sherihan used to play on TV. As of two days ago, she has given an interview that was well received by many of her fans.

 شهريهان تالق فى الفن الاستعراضى

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 Greatest Song About Eyelashes "علي رمش عيونها"

I grew up listening to many things, the song below is one of my earliest ones. This song was that cool song that I used to listen to as a boy with my parents driving the car and the radio or cassette tape playing this tune. The video below is a cover for this song, it has seen many covers throughout the history of Arabic music, but the guy that first made this song famous was Rabei El Khooly.

The original version was by Wadie El Safi's voice, a hit maker and a legend form Lebanon who continues to release his work even though he is in his 90s. Rabeh has quit his career and abandoned this world to become a priest at a Lebanese perish.

What song were you nostalgic too? I know everyone has to have one..so share with us.

محمد متولي - علي رمش عيونها

هانى شاكر + امال ماهر+ وائل جسار . . على رمش عيونها

Rabi3 El Khawli - 3ala Rimsh 3younha / ربيع الخولي - على رمش عيونها

وديع الصافي على رمش عيونها

Relax With Michel Fadel - Aal Lebneni- Enta Omri

Michel Fadel knows a good melody when he hears it, so he recreated one that we already love, he made it a bit cooler or perhaps more up to date in our crowded and speed obsessed world. The Lebanese pianist poured his attention to a classic song composed by Abdel Wahab and made famous be Oum Kalthoum's singing. Inta Omri, or you are my life!

Michel has masters degree in classical piano from the Higher National Conservatory of Beirut. He ended chasing his dream all the way to France where he studied composition and orchestration at the Bologna Conservatory. He is great because he has become the main pianist for the three best Lebanese divas and one legend Fairuz, Majida El Roumy & Julia Boutros. But he has also worked with top players like Wael Kfoury, Assala, Elissa,Saber El Rebaii, Hussein El Jasmi among others

What a soothing musical piece be this handsome young and talented music producer and arranger. He titled it Lebanese but made it a worthy tribute to this timeless Egyptian musical piece. Michel does hold concerts in Lebanon and often celebrities are the first to purchase tickets to see this man in action.

Michel Fadel - Aal Lebneni- Enta Omri

Aida Al Ayoubi, Arabic Eighties Music

Aida Al Ayoubi is now retired, that means she might be done with music, but music is never done with her. This late 80s and 90s singer has released a duet with a hip band more than a year ago, we loved her vocals and her choice of songs. She had a single last year for Egypt. Aida has always been a dreamer, and for many Arabs 2011 was the year when dreams came true.

The music of the eighties music have a certain magic to many of us who are older than 25 and younger than 40. Thus they will always be that different music that we come to love. Here's an Arabic song that keeps it loyal to the tradition of the 80s. The song is a about a garden rose, but in reality, the song is about more than just a pretty rose.

Aida remains one of the most successful pop singers from that era. Something about her voice carrying more than a song with it, her vocals bring excitement and cheers where ever it goes. Not too many singes can boast about that. Aida uses to chorus of young children in many of her songs

 عايدة الأيوبي - وردة في جنينة Aida Al Ayoubi - Warda

Watch: Kazim Al Saher In 1987 Video

This is cheesy, outdated, and it's a blast from the past. An old music video from Iraqi composer and now the czar of Arabic music. Back when he was just another skinny Iraqi kid. He has a lady playing the piano. It was the phase of Iraqi music. Kathem was lucky to have his songs play on the Iraqi national TV, now big Arab and global networks chase him to feature his work.

Kathem remains away from home, just like every other Iraqi singer--home is too much to handel at this moment. This was not the last Iraqi song, he broke out into bigger markets with an Iraqi song....can you name it? In the comment section please. This song of his traveled the Arab world and he traveled with it performing it.

كاظم الساهر - الساعة متأخرة ( الفيديو الأصلي )

This Song Made Kathem Al Saher Famous

Call it his lucky charm, before this song he was just another cool Iraqi singer who does delightful Iraqi songs. But then this song came and told us he is more than that. This song made Kathem Al Saher the boy of romance who came form nowhere.

Showing one's emotions is tricky. You want to be a dude, but you also you are a human being. Kathem took the stigma out of being a manly man who can express his feelings so well and tell his loved one that he is crazy about her without every coming across as a cheesy. He was so skinny back then, so young and so hungry. He has earned it all and did so by making few if any enemies.

Salamtak in Aah, came out in my high school years and all the cool kids were singing it and trying to look cool doing it. Right after this song, Kathem started doing more of those romantic songs and less of the Iraqi ones. Lucky for us, we have come to love them both.
سلامتك من الاه - كاظم الساهر

A Yemeni Pop Star Who Rocked In 1985

Her name is Joori, and she is form Yemen. Few know about her now, and those who know about her might not be on the web. She was a pop star starting out in the mid 80s and crossed paths with Hamid El Shari, the music producer and arranger who always seeks new talents to work with.

Thus, they have worked together on this slow song that fits the 80s, think Tom Cruise and Keven Bacon rocking to it on a bike. The song is about leaving the homeland and living away. 26 Years later another Yemeni comes to the scene by winning the Noble Peace Prize
حميد الشاعري -- سافرلبعيد -- بصوت الفنانة اليمنية جوري

Rola Saad Sabah 2012 Cover Album رولا تغنى صباح

Rola loves to sing and to do cover of Sabah's songs. The Lebanses diva Sabah whose life has been the subject of a TV drama last year loves Rola back and have shared the stage with her more than once. Sabah filmed two music videos with Rola and Rola have appreciated the love of Sabah. Now, comes the Rola's turn to do awesome of covers of most of the popular classics for Sabah from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

I think Rola has a good voice, and she tried to play up her chick girly side in her music, that comes in handy when you singer Sabah's old songs. Frankly, this was a disappointing album, it sounds like a karaoke one, not one from a professional singer. Some of the songs sound awful and butcher the originals. Don't buy.


01-Intro
02-Ashka We Ghalbana
03-Zay El Asal
04-Le Mejawaz Allah Yezeedo
05-Zakfe Zakfe Ya Shabab
06-Happy Birthday
07-Dakhl Eyounek Hakeena
08-Lamma Ala Tareek El Ein
09-Medley 1
10-Medley 2
11-Teala We Tetaamar Ya Dar
12-Ya Dalaa
13-Eyam El Loulou
14-Saat Saat
15-Yana Yana
16-Habibet Ummaha
17-Amourty El Helwa
18-Eateeny Ya Teita
19-Saute Petit Lapin
20-Ya Meallemty
21-Stop Taxi D'amour
22-Mama

Nothing Reminds Me Of Mom Like Laila Mrad Does

This is kind of strange to see a singer who has passed away in the company of a singer that you like and still makes music. Three leading females of Arabic entertainment talk about their work. Laial Murad was the guest and she rightfully had the right to be and speak about her work.

Moroccan singer Samir Said sat in during the interview and so did Iraqi singer Susan Attiah. Both up and coming singers who know the great divas when they see them. Composer Baligh Hamdi was present, he was the talent scout who brought those three ladies together. The gifted musician was also a heart breaker himself.

This is a valuable video form many of us who follow Arabic music news,

ليلى مراد تتحدث لبليغ حمدي عن منير مراد بوجود سميرة سعيد وسوزان عطيية